Last week New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was suspended for all of the 2012 season for his complicity in the Saints bounty program that paid players money for knocking opposing players out of games. Faced with an entire year of no coaching, and forfeiture of $5.8 million in salary, Payton says he’ll join his friend Jimmy Buffett’s band for his Lounging at the Lagoon Tour, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton just over a week ago but Payton is wasting no time in making plans for his year off. Starting in June, he’ll hit the road with Jimmy Buffett for the Margaritaville crooner’s Lounging at the Lagoon 2012 Tour.

Payton is an “awesome guitar player” says Buffett. “Coach has rocked with me a few times at various places in New Orleans over the years and I’m really excited to have him along on the tour.”

The Saints coach is no stranger to the music scene. After a brief stint playing semi-pro football in the early 80’s, Payton tried his luck at a career in music. His band, coincidentally named The Bounty Hunters, toured for two years from 1985-1987 with Payton on lead guitar and vocals. After minimal success, Payton decided his playing career, both musically and athletically, was over and took a job as offensive assistant coach at San Diego State University in 1988.

“I was very disappointed in the commissioner’s decision, but I thought why not make the best of a bad situation and do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Payton. “When Jimmy asked me to join the band this summer, I didn’t even hesitate. It’s such an amazing opportunity. To get to play in front of tens of thousands of music lovers is what I wanted to do all those years ago. Plus, I could use the cash.”

Jimmy Buffett took the 2012 Welcome to Fin Land Tour to Tampa on Friday night, playing a show at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater.

The show had a couple rare songs played, including “No Plane on Sunday” (hadn’t been played since 1995!) and “Hey Good Lookin'” (last played 2008). A solo acoustic version of “Nautical Wheelers” was the final encore. See the full set list here.

After the show, Jimmy boarded his jet and headed to New Orleans where he dropped in at D.B.A. and played a few songs:

photo by @rglein

Jimmy will play a free show Sunday at Woldenberg Park for the NCAA Final Four. See all tour dates currently scheduled here.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band take the Welcome to Fin Land Tour to Florida tonight for a show at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheater in Tampa.

You can listen to the show live on Radio Margaritaville on the web or Sirius XM beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

After tonight’s show, Buffett heads to New Orleans on Sunday to play a free show at Woldenberg Park as part of the NCAA Final Four festivities. He’s then got a couple weeks off before the final leg of the Welcome to Fin Land Tour gets underway. (The 2012 Lounging at the Lagoon Tour kicks off in June)

Stay tuned for more tour date announcements coming in the next couple weeks.

The Atlanta area parrothead club reports that Jimmy Buffett will perform at Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood in Atlanta this June:

Atlanta, GA
Saturday, June 9th
Aaron’s Amphitheater

No ticket information is available yet.

Check out all confirmed shows here. More dates will be added soon.

(hat tip C4Parrothead and Frosted Fins)

The Raleigh parrothead club emailed its members this week reporting a concert on Thursday, June 7th in Charlotte, likely at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

An official announcement and ticket information should come soon.

(hat tip Frosted Fins)