Ryan, Payton Place Nice

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan are going out of their way to play nice this week after multiple reports surfaced about growing tension between the two. Payton has been seen ripping into Ryan on the sidelines, likely because of an underperforming defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed and dead-last in third-down defense.

“I love Sean Payton,” Ryan said this week. “I can’t speak for him about me. Probably likes me, too. But I love him and I respect the (expletive) out of him. But he’s great people.”

The Saints are currently tied for the lead in the NFC South at 5-7, despite grossly underperforming for much of the season. They finish the season with three games against NFC South teams and a trip to Chicago, who will be playing without Brandon Marshall since he will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ribs in Thursday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

How the Saints finish the season will go a long way toward determining whether Ryan is back in New Orleans next season.

“The qualities he has are those that he could have worked for Bill (Parcells), because he’s passionate,” Payton said of Ryan. “He’s there late. It means everything to him. And he’s got thick skin. Shoot, I’m in his office eating — he’s got a candy store in there at midnight, everything under the sun — and (he’s) looking at third-down film. It means so much to him, and that’s what you want in an assistant coach.”

The Saints are being careful to say all the right things, not wanting the situation to get messy like it is in San Francisco, but it appears there is at least a small fire causing all this smoke. If the Saints cannot put out that fire by playing better on defense and rallying to win their division, Ryan will likely join his brother Rex in the unemployment line this offseason. That would be great news for teams in search of a defensive coordinator but bad news for a Saints defense that could benefit from some continuity.

Grice’s Big Gamble May Pay Off

Marion Grice made a peculiar move back in September. A member of the San Diego Chargers’ practice squad at the time, he appeared primed to get a call-up to the active roster when Ryan Mathews (knee) and Danny Woodhead (leg) were knocked out with injuries. But right before the Chargers could make the move and add him to their active roster, he surprised everybody by accepting a two-year deal to join the Arizona Cardinals.

The move appeared to backfire at first. San Diego’s third-string runner, Donald Brown, was lost to a concussion a week later, leaving nothing but opportunity in the Chargers backfield. Undrafted rookie Branden Oliver was the only runner left who was in training camp with the Chargers and he made the most of the opportunity, rushing for over 100 yards in Weeks 5 and 6 and getting at least 13 rushing attempts every week from Week 5 through Week 11.

By comparison, Grice, a rookie sixth-round pick from Arizona State, does not even have 13 rushing attempts on the season with the Cardinals. But all of that could change this week, as Cardinals starter Andre Ellington has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a hip injury. That could open the door for Grice to pick up where he left off last week, when he had eight touches for 40 yards.

Especially dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield, Grice could play a big role as a check-down target for Drew Stanton if he gets in trouble against Kansas City’s pass rush, led by league-leading sacker Justin Houston (14 sacks on the season).

In other injury news, Bruce Arians said receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be a game-time decision.

“He’s practiced all week,” Arians said of Fitzgerald. “He’s gotten better all week but he’s still not 100 percent.”

Rams Ink Hekker to Extension

With as many problems as the St. Louis Rams have had at quarterback, they couldn’t let the best passer on the team get away. Unfortunately for St. Louis, that person may be punter Johnny Hekker.

Hekker signed a six-year extension worth $18 million on Friday, including $9 million guaranteed. The amount of guaranteed money is the most ever given to a kicker.

“I want to earn every cent in this contract. I want to push through and maybe get another big one as a Ram,” Hekker said. “I just want to keep working every day, enjoy the heck out of this football team. I’m so blessed to be around the guys that I have been to put me in this position, because I couldn’t have earned this contract by myself.”

Hekker joined the Rams as an undrafted rookie from Oregon State in 2012. He quickly emerged as one of the best young kickers in the game, earning All Pro and Pro Bowl honors last season. This season, his 41.4 net average ranks sixth in the league.

Hecker, who played quarterback in high school, is also a dangerous weapon on fake punts. He has attempted six passes on fake punts in his brief career, connecting on five of them. He is 2-for-2 this season, including a fourth-quarter completion that allowed the Rams to upset the Seahawks in Week 7.

“He’s going to be our punter — and passer — for a long time,” said head coach Jeff Fisher.

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