Saints coach Allen ‘more comfortable’ in head role this time

By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints coach Dennis Allen cites his own evolution as one of the biggest differences between the last training camp he oversaw in 2014 with the Raiders and his first in charge with New Orleans this summer. Allen says he’s “much further along” and “much more comfortable” running a team than during his first head coaching job. The Saints hold their first practice of training camp on Wednesday in what is also the first season since Sean Payton retired. The Payton era ran from 2006 through 2021. General manager Mickey Loomis notes that Allen was on the Saints staff for 12 of those years and has maintained considerable continuity while also bringing his own personality to the job.