New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed he smashed a fire alarm inside his team’s locker room before Sunday’s victory at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium, saying, “I just needed the noise to stop.”

Fire alarms had been going off throughout the stadium for an estimated 10 minutes in the hours leading up to the game, and the Saints head coach was not having it. 

“And I gladly will take care of the repair cost. And I consider the Brown family (Bengals ownership) and that organization as close allies and people we have a lot of respect for, the same way with Marvin (Lewis). And it was just something that had gone on — and in order for us as we got ready for the game, I thought that was important.”

Payton said it was not a motivational tactic designed to help his team, something he’s known. 

Whether intentional or not, smashing that alarm worked.