Sean Payton: His Recruitment of Bill Parcells Should Not Be Allowed

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did the right thing. He needed to send a message throughout the league that he was serious about protecting the safety of his players, and the harsh one-year suspension he dished out to Saints head coach Sean Payton was necessary.

Payton not only knowingly allowed his defensive players and coaches to institute a bounty system in which players were given thousands of dollars to knock out opposing players, he it also seems he lied to the commissioner when asked about it. Goodell stated at a press conference that the league investigated the Saints use of bounties in 2010, were told it wasn’t happening and in 2011 received credible evidence that it had been going on for three years.

If you blatantly lie to the commissioner, you deserve to get burned. That’s exactly what happened to Sean Payton, as he received a punishment few anticipated. Most fans and experts expected Payton to receive a two to four-game suspension but instead, he was hit with a one-year ban.

Even though his suspension was longer than most expected, there has been little questioning of the commissioner’s actions. Most believe Payton’s actions were dangerous, irresponsible and deceptive, and he deserved whatever punishment the league sent his way.

One would like to think that Payton would take full responsibility for his actions, and stay out of the spotlight for a year until he was allowed back into the league. Instead, Payton quickly shot back into the headlines.

ESPN reported a few days ago that Payton wanted Bill Parcells to replace him this season and he would take back control of the team once his suspension was complete. Payton and the general manager of the Saints met with Parcells today to discuss his interest in coaching the team this season.

The question is not whether Parcells take the Saints coaching job. The real question is why the league is allowing Payton to pick his replacement.

If you’re suspended, you should be completed separated from your team during that period. Payton committed a serious league offense that commissioner Goodell believed was means for a one year ban. The fact that Payton is recruiting Parcells in such a public fashion is undermining the authority of the commissioner.

The commissioner believed it was in the league’s best interest for Payton to be suspended. Payton staying involved with major decisions made by the organization this season is something the commissioner needs to put a stop to because it is delegitimizing the suspension.

Payton is making a mockery of his suspension by making it evident that he still is controlling things with the Saints. He should not be allowed to have any say in who his successor will be, and the commissioner should let this be known.

I realize that Payton's suspension dosen't begin until April 1, but the severity of his suspension should prevent him from choosing his successor. If a college football coach is suspended for recruiting violations, he has to stop recruiting. Commissioner Goodell should have told the Saints that they are in charge of choosing Payton's replacement and that the suspended coach couldn't be involved in the process.

The whole point of a suspension is to strip a person of his duties and power within an organization. Payton still seems to have a great deal of power within the organization despite the fact that he is supposed to be suspended.

Commissioner Goodell needs to take a stand and tell Sean Payton that he needs to completely separate himself from the Saints organization this season. If he doesn’t, the authority he has over the league may be in serious jeopardy.