NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the suspension of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, meaning he will sit out the entire 2012 season, for failing to reign in and later fully disclose the team's pay-for-pain bounty system. Payton's banishment will commence next Monday.
Goodell also maintained the suspensions of Saints GM Mickey Loomis (eight games) and assistant head coach Joe Vitt (six games), both effective upon completion of the preseason, for their failures regarding the illegal program implemented by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who has been suspended indefinitely.
Payton et al. were initially suspended March 21, when Goodell said in a statement:
"There is no place in the NFL for deliberately seeking to injure another player, let alone offering a reward for doing so. Any form of bounty is incompatible with our commitment to create a culture of sportsmanship, fairness, and safety. Programs of this kind have no place in our game and we are determined that bounties will no longer be a part of the NFL."
Payton, Loomis and Vitt appealed their cases to Goodell in New York on April 5; Williams did not. Vitt's lawyer, David Cornwell, deemed Williams a "rogue coach" following the appeal.
The commissioner will determine each man's eligibility for reinstatement upon completion of their respective penalties.
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However Goodell will consider some leniency for the franchise, which was docked a second-round pick in both the 2012 and 2013 drafts as well as $500,000. Per an NFL statement Monday:
"The club and the individuals will be expected to cooperate in any further proceedings and to assist in the development and implementation of programs to instruct players and coaches at all levels on principles of player safety, fair play, and sportsmanship.
"If they embrace the opportunity and participate in a constructive way, Commissioner Goodell said he would consider mitigating the financial penalties on the individuals. In the case of the team, the commissioner would consider whether there are factors that would support modifying the forfeiture of the team's 2013 second-round draft choice."
Such assistance from the team might be required as Goodell ponders sanctions for the 22-27 New Orleans players who participated in Williams' bounty program from 2009-11. MLB Jonathan Vilma is specifically known to have offered a $10,000 bounty for any teammate who knocked Vikings QB Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game following the 2009 season.
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Goodell has consulted the NFLPA about the players' role and is expected to issue a ruling prior to the draft, which begins April 26.
The immediate attention will turn to Payton's replacement for the 2012 season. Longtime NFL head coach Bill Parcells has talked to Payton, his former protege and long-time friend, and other members of the Saints management about coming out of retirement.
Parcells told USA TODAY Sports last week he's not sure he wants to return to coaching and that many details had to be determined before moving forward, among them what kind of access Payton will be allowed to have.
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"I don't know what the end result will be and whether or what in fact (the Saints) want to do," Parcells said. "None of this has been discussed or decided. We're a long way off."
Other candidates for the interim head coaching position include offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael (who called plays after Payton was injured in a sideline collision in Tampa last October), defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.
Contributing: Peter Barzilai
Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomSports-TopStories/~3/c-e-Cjw6V-0/1
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