Sean Payton: Embattled Saints Coach Releases Statement on Bounty Punishment

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton spoke for the first time on Friday after being suspended for one year by the NFL.

Payton said, via ESPN:

"

I share and fully support the league’s concerns and goals on player safety. It is and should be paramount. Respecting our great game and the NFL shield is extremely important to me. Our organization will implement all necessary protections and protocols and I will be more vigilant going forward. I am sorry for what happened and, as head coach, take full responsibility. Finally I want to thank (Saints owner Tom Benson), our players and all Saints fans for their overwhelming support.

"

The Saints allegedly had a bounty program for injuring opponents while Payton was in charge for three years. While it was former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams who orchestrated the program, Payton was aware and did nothing.

Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted on Wednesday:

"

Sean Payton suspended one year. Mickey Loomis 8 game and $500,000 fine. Saints fined $500,000 and a second round pick in 2012 and (2013).

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 21, 2012"

The news has undoubtedly hurt the Saints organization and those associated with it. Williams has been suspended indefinitely and Payton's legacy, if not job, has been threatened. The Saints have yet to announce what they will do about the coaching staff.

For an organization just two years removed from a championship, everything has been turned on its head. It doesn't help that the scandal reportedly happened from 2009 to 2011 and the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010.

Payton's statement on Friday was very formulaic, but he will undoubtedly be asked plenty of questions by the media if he attends next week's NFL meetings. It's quite possible that commissioner Roger Goodell orders Payton to the media session on Wednesday to further explain himself.

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