NFL Had No Choice But to Uphold Saints Bounty Suspensions

The NFL handed down their rulings regarding the appeals of the suspensions of New Oleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant coach Joe Vitt in light of the "player bounty scandal" that has engulfed the team, and as was widely expected, no leniency was forthcoming.

USA Today reported Monday that Payton's one year suspension, as well as the eight game vacations handed to Loomis and Vitt, will stand, and the end of their respective suspensions won't necessarily mean at automatic return to work for the besieged trio.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the suspension of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, meaning he will sit out the entire 2012 season, for failing to reign in and later fully disclose the team's pay-for-pain bounty system. Payton's banishment will commence next Monday.

Goodell also maintained the suspensions of Saints GM Mickey Loomis (eight games) and assistant coach Joe Vitt (six games), both effective upon completion of the preseason.

Goodell will determine each man's eligibility for reinstatement upon completion of their respective suspensions.

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However, there may be a bit of a silver lining here, as the report also claimed that the league will re-examine the draft pick penalties levied against the organization, and if Peyton and company keep their proverbial noses clean, those penalties may be reduced.

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The club and the individuals will be expected to cooperate in any further proceedings and to assist in the development and implementation of programs to instruct players and coaches at all levels on principles of player safety, fair play, and sportsmanship.

If they embrace the opportunity and participate in a constructive way, Commissioner Goodell said he would consider mitigating the financial penalties on the individuals. In the case of the team, the commissioner would consider whether there are factors that would support modifying the forfeiture of the team's 2013 second-round draft choice.

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The damning audio tapes of then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams imploring Saints players to injure opponents before a January playoff game annihilated any chance the Saints' staff had of seeing their suspensions reduced (in addition to effectively destroying Williams' coaching career) and left Payton's best course of action to effectively throw himself on the mercy of the court.

The penalties that Roger Goodell levied were harsh but well-deserved, but the Saints did the best they could with a disastrous situation. Now that the appeals are exhausted and the suspensions are official the team can proceed with assembling a "Plan B" staff for 2012 and go about the business of making the best of a 2012 campaign that began in one of the worst ways imaginable.

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