Sean Payton Reportedly Appealing Suspension

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has decided to appeal the one-year suspension given to him by the NFL as punishment for the bounty program run under his watch, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network.

Payton has reached this decision several days before the April 2nd deadline that was set for him to appeal. League commissioner Roger Goodell has said that the appeal process would be expedited if Payton decided to go through with it, per a report from NFL.com.

Payton has been with the Saints since 2006. He has a record of 62-34 as the team's head coach and led them to a Super Bowl victory in 2009.

What It Means

That Payton has decided to appeal his suspension should come as no surprise. 

What does he have to lose? If his appeal is successful, his suspension will be reduced and perhaps even completely wiped away. Of course, the odds of that actually happening are somewhere between slim and none. 

If he loses his appeal, nothing changes. He's still suspended for the entire 2012 season.

As for how this affects the whole Bill Parcells situation, it stands to reason that the Saints will put their semi-serious pursuit of him on hold for the moment. At last check, FoxSports.com reported that the Saints haven't gotten as far as making Parcells an offer yet.

What Happens Next

La Canfora's sources told him that Payton's appeal process likely won't last longer than a "week or so" once things get going. This will not be a long, dragged-out process. 

First, Payton has to prepare his appeal and La Canfora notes that means Payton will have to try to acquire the full reports the NFL put together on the Saints' bounty program.

Payton's suspension was set to begin on Sunday. It's not clear whether his decision to appeal will push back the start of his suspension.