Still No Concrete Decisions on Saints, Sean Payton's Suspension Appeal

While nothing concrete was decided by the NFL Monday in regard to the New Orleans Saints' pay-for-pain program that was run from 2009 to 2011, three interesting pieces of information were released:

 

1. The Commish won't stand in Tuna's Way

If and when New Orleans offers Bill Parcells the job of filling in for Sean Payton, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell won't block the move.

"That's their decision," Goodell said at an NFL store opening in New York. "They need to make those decisions and we'll move forward. These are management decisions that Tom Benson will have to sign off on."

Bringing Parcells in to coach the 2012 season isn't a done deal, not by any stretch of the imagination. Parcells hasn't decided if he wants the job, and the Saints have not heard a definitive answer to Payton's appeal of his year-long suspension. Until the Saints know if Payton truly is suspended for the season, they can't hire an interim.

2. Saints coaches get short reprieve

Payton was suspended by Goodell for an entire year for his involvement in the bounty program ran by Saints players and coaches. Assistant coach Joe Vitt was suspended for six games and general manager Mickey Loomis for eight. However, none of the trio will have to start his suspension immediately. Since all three appealed, they have until after the appeal hearing before they need to vacate their jobs and the Saints facility for the length of the suspension.

That hearing was supposed to happen on Tuesday, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Saints asked for the meeting to be pushed back. This move gives Loomis and Payton a few extra days to get their affairs in order, but only a few days. Goodell plans to rule on the appeal later this week. 

3. The NFLPA will now sift through data

Goodell and the NFL Players Association representatives did meet on Monday to talk about penalties to the "22 to 27 defensive players" that were involved in the bounty program. The NFLPA asked for the documents the league collected over the past three years so it could sift through the details and consult with the players. After that, the NFLPA will get back with the league to discuss punishing players.

Goodell is ready to move promptly on player suspensions, if any are warranted, but it's not known how long the Players Association will look over the documents from the investigation.