Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Doug Marrone left to become the head coach at Syracuse, but Sean Payton may be in the market for a running backs coach since Aaron Kromer left that spot to take over Marrone's duties and may remain there. Quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael Jr. could be moved into the offensive coordinator's spot.

Among the players, the biggest question is the status of running back Deuce McAllister, who had a limited role in the offense in 2008 and is scheduled to earn as much as $7.2 million in salary, bonuses and incentives in 2009.

COACHING CAROUSEL: Saints coach Sean Payton is on solid ground after receiving a four-year contract extension from owner Tom Benson before a Week 2 game at Washington.

Payton, whose original four-year deal was to expire after the 2009 season, reportedly is now among the five highest-paid coaches in the NFL. While he has a 25-23 record and has missed the playoffs the last two years, his offense has finished first, fourth and first in total yards in his three seasons and the Saints led the league in scoring with 463 points in 2008.

Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Doug Marrone resigned to become the head coach at Syracuse, his alma mater, but running backs coach Aaron Kromer replaced him and will likely stay there since he's been mainly an offensive line coach in the NFL. Also, quarterbacks coach
Up in the air is the status of defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs, who has come under fire from fans for his lack of aggressiveness and his defense's penchant for giving up big pass plays and failing to make game-changing plays when the game is on the line. This position will bear watching.

FREE AGENT UPDATE: The Saints have four key players who could become unrestricted free agents -- middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, right tackle Jon Stinchcomb, wide receiver Devery Henderson and tight end Mark Campbell.

Vilma, Stinchcomb and Henderson are starters and the Saints will likely try to re-sign each of them, although they gave Henderson only a one-year deal a year ago. Campbell, a starter before Jeremy Shockey was brought in, is their top blocking tight end but he ended the year on injured reserve.

There are three big names among five potential restricted free agents -- starting right guard Jahri Evans, wide receiver Lance Moore and backup tackle Zach Strief. Evans, a three-year starter, will likely draw interest from other teams as could Moore, a former street free agent who this season had 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 TDs.

FEELING A DRAFT: After an 8-8 finish, the Saints will choose 14th in the first round of the draft. They were slotted in the middle of five 8-8 teams because of a strength of schedule tiebreaker.

In subsequent rounds, the Saints will alternate between the 12th and 16th spots. At this point, they only have picks in Rounds 1, 3, 4 and 7. They will give the New York Jets their third-round pick as part of the Jonathan Vilma trade, but will get back the fourth-rounder they gave the Jets last spring.

Their priorities should be safety because they don't have any play-makers in the back end of the secondary, cornerback because it's up in the air whether Mike McKenzie and Jason David will return, and defensive end because Charles Grant and Will Smith haven't produced the way a pair of $63 million ends should.

TEAM NEEDS

Safety: In addition to getting better pass coverage, the Saints need play-makers here since their top three safeties had just three takeaways this season.

Cornerback: They'll need help if Mike McKenzie, who had a season-ending knee injury for the second straight year, and/or Jason David, who has been dreadful, do not return.

Defensive end: Despite the presence of Will Smith and Charles Grant, the Saints need more pass rush after they had just 28 sacks as a team.

MEDICAL WATCH: WR Marques Colston will have arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome left knee in the next couple of weeks. RG Jahri Evans will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee as well.

DE Jeff Charleston was scheduled to have surgery on a fractured hand, which he suffered in the season finale against Carolina.

RB Reggie Bush had a second scope this season on his left knee after being injured in a Dec. 11 game at Chicago.