Roger Goodell Expected Make Decision on Sean Payton for Saints' Bounty This Week

There are conflicting reports regarding Sean Payton's appeal, but a decision is still expected this week, according to NBC's Mike Florio.

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"On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the league would hear on Tuesday the appeals of Saints coach Sean Payton and G.M. Mickey Loomis.

On Monday, Schefter reported that the hearings won’t be held on Tuesday.

Multiple sources tell PFT that the hearings were never scheduled for Tuesday.

So when will the hearings be held?  At this point, it’s not clear.  But Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier today that a decision is coming by the end of the week."

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was originally expected to hear the appeals of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis on Tuesday at the NFL offices in New York, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

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Saints HC Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis are planning to be at the NFL's New York offices Tuesday to have their appeals heard.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 1, 2012"

Goodell suspended Payton for the entire 2012 season and Loomis for eight games as a result of the team's bounty program that occurred through the 2009-11 seasons.

These appeals usually take a good amount of time, even weeks, but the commissioner will make this one progress more quickly than normal.

Via ESPN.com:

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The appeal process will mirror the in-season player process, which is expedited for competitive reasons. It should be a matter of days, not weeks, with one person saying "a very few days at that."

Payton has said an advantage to an appeal is it would give him the opportunity for another face-to-face meeting with Goodell, in order to clarify the terms of his suspension. Goodell said Monday that while Payton definitely cannot "coach from home," he would not necessarily be banned from all contact with the team.

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Aside from the decision made by Goodell on the appeal, the most interesting part of this discussion between him and Payton is how much contact with the players that the Saints coach can have during the season.

Payton's suspension was set to start on April 1 and last until the conclusion of the Super Bowl, while Loomis' suspension isn't set to begin until the conclusion of the team's fourth and final preseason game in September.

I can't imagine Goodell softening the punishment he previously handed down to Payton and Loomis. He needs to send a strong message to the league that bounty programs will not be tolerated.  

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