New Orleans Saints: Why Sean Payton Suspension Is an Absolute Joke

No doubt about it. When Commissioner Roger Goodell assigns a punishment, he is rough.

This punishment could make even James Harrison raise an eyebrow.

Thanks to "Bountygate," the New Orleans Saints have been under large amounts of scrutiny since reports came out that from 2009-2011 (former defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams and Saints players were running an illegal "pay for delivering injuries" program.

While suspensions have been hard and heavy (Joe Vitt out six games, Mickey Loomis out eight), none hit the Saints harder than the season-long suspension of Head Coach Sean Payton.

New reports have surfaced now, however, that Sean Payton may have "absolutely no contact" with anyone involved with the NFL.

This is an extremely large blow dealt to Sean Payton, and it makes me wonder just how well the NFL could actually enforce this policy.

How can this even work? The NFL wants Payton to have absolutely no contact with the coaching staff, the players, members of the Saints organization, coaches or players of any other organization, and anyone currently associated with the NFL in any other way.

For example, both Payton and Loomis have beach houses within a mile apart of each other. If they happen to visit the beach anytime before the Super Bowl and see each other and share something as simple as a "hello," the NFL wants to be notified and provided with documentation of the incident.

Crazy, right?

Want to wish someone a happy birthday, coach? Make sure you provide the league with the proper documentation in order to do so. Did one of the Saints players get married or celebrate the birth of their child? Be sure to tell him the day after the Super Bowl how excited you are for him.

And whatever you do, don't talk about the NFL.

Payton had been linked to a few rumors of possibly doing some analysis/broadcasting work with a television station. Sure is going to be quite difficult to pull that off now when you aren't allowed to talk to any players about football.

Hey, Payton, want to go see a college football game? Make sure you apply for permission to early; it will have to be approved before you're allowed to attend.

Also, we better not hear of any talk about how "that guy could really perform at the next level." You'll have to keep those thoughts to yourself.

If you can't tell by now, I have two strong feelings about this punishment.

1. It is way, way over the top.

2. There is no chance this thing gets enforced completely.

This suspension is warranted, and Goodell wanted to send a message. These stipulations, however, are an absolute joke and there is no way they could be easily reinforced.

How could the NFL govern over every single second of Payton's life until February? I've heard the suggestions of a ghost cell phone, secret messengers to the team and a variety of other ways that I don't believe the NFL could track.

I'm not saying that Payton is going to go behind the NFL's back and try hanging out at the Superdome, but he will find a way to stay in contact with the team.

Follow Brandon Wheeland on Twitter @BrandonWheeland for the perfect mix of sports news, analysis and satire.