Why Roger Goodell Must Deny Sean Payton's Appeal

If New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton decides to appeal his one-year suspension, commissioner Roger Goodell needs to deny it. Goodell needs to uphold Payton's suspension to send the message that a bounty program like the one the Saints ran will not be tolerated and will be punished severely. 

Payton has not decided whether he will appeal his one-year ban, but even if he does it shouldn't matter. Goodell handed down the severe sanctions against the Saints, and he is the one who will rule on any appeals of those penalties. 

If this had been a one-time thing, New Orleans might have a case on appeal. But the program was run for three years and rewarded players for injuring opponents. That simply can't be tolerated. 

I've heard some Saints fans claim that this kind of thing probably goes on all over the NFL and isn't really a big deal. Well, New Orleans is the only team that got caught running a bounty program and should be punished accordingly.

I have always liked Payton and have respected the Saints as a franchise, but this whole episode has cast a pall over the organization. General manager Mickey Loomis and Payton knew of the program, were warned about it and did not take the steps to stop it.

While former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams implemented and ran the bounty program, Payton and Loomis were supposed to be the adults in charge. They should have had oversight of every aspect of the team and gotten things under control. They didn't do that.

Again, I've rooted for New Orleans, Payton and quarterback Drew Brees for years. I thought it was one of the most wonderful moments in sports during my lifetime when the once hapless Saints brought a Super Bowl title and hope back to a city that was still reeling from the damages wrought by Hurricane Katrina three-and-a-half years earlier. 

Despite my personal feelings for the team, I can't help but be disgusted by what took place under Payton's watch with the bounty program. Goodell needs to swiftly reject any appeal that comes his way from the Saints.