NFL Lifts Suspension Of Saints Coach Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton’s suspension for his role in the bounty scandal has been reinstated:

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Payton is back as coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Payton’s season-long suspension for his role in the Saints’ bounty program was lifted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday, nearly two weeks earlier than expected.

The decision allows Payton to attend the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday, where some of the top college players available for the NFL draft will be competing.

Payton, along with assistant head coach Joe Vitt, general manager Mickey Loomis, and four players including Jonathan Vilma, was suspended after an investigation found the club had a performance pool offering cash rewards for key plays, including big hits. The player suspensions eventually were overturned.

“I clearly recognize that mistakes were made, which led to league violations,” Payton said in a statement. “Furthermore, I have assured the commissioner a more diligent protocol will be followed.”

The suspension was scheduled to end after the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, but was moved up after Payton and Goodell met on Monday.

“Coach Payton acknowledged in the meeting his responsibility for the actions of his coaching staff and players and pledged to uphold the highest standards of the NFL and ensure that his staff and players do so as well,” Goodell said in a statement. “‘Sean fully complied with all the requirements imposed on him during his suspension.

“More important, it is clear that Sean understands and accepts his responsibilities as a head coach and the vital role that coaches play in promoting player safety and setting an example for how the game should be played at all levels.”

Saints owner Tom Benson welcomed back his coach.

“We are all thankful that Sean Payton has been reinstated,” Benson said. “We have a lot of work to do and we are in the middle of it right now.”

There remains one outstanding issue for the Saints stemming from the bounty probe: What will become of the Saints’ second pick next spring. As part of the bounty punishment, Goodell fined the Saints $500,000 and took away second-round picks in 2012 and 2013. However, Goodell left open the possibility of restoring the 2013 second-rounder and instead docking the team a later-round pick if he is satisfied with the club’s level of cooperation in the bounty matter.

What the Saints do know is that the 49-year-old Payton is set to return to New Orleans for the next five seasons. Earlier this month he signed a contract extension running through the 2017 season.

The coach is the last person punished in the bounty probe to return to work.

Payton’s suspension would have ended when the Super Bowl was over in less than two weeks, so it’s unclear that this is really a big deal beyond letting Payton appear at the Senior Bowl. In all honesty, though, nearly all of the sanctions that Goddell originally imposed on the Saints ended up being significantly reduced. All that’s left now are the draft pick sanctions, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see those lifted.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. OzarkHillbilly says:

    New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton’s suspension for his role in the bounty scandal has been reinstated:

    I know what you meant, but that did give me a good laugh Doug.

  2. C. Clavin says:

    I bet it was lifted so he could be hired by the Cowboys…THEN go to Senior Bowl.

  3. JAG says:

    Clavin that’s obviously not possible since Payton signed a 5 yr contract.

  4. Anderson says:

    He really said “mistakes were made.”

    Yep. Like “not banning Sean Payton from the NFL for life.”

  5. Neil Hudelson says:

    In all honesty, though, nearly all of the sanctions that Goddell originally imposed on the Saints ended up being significantly reduced. All that’s left now are the draft pick sanctions, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see those lifted.

    And let that be a warning to any future coach that wants to run a bounty program!

  6. C. Clavin says:

    @ JAG…
    My understanding is that the NFL voided the contract extension.
    I certainly could be missing something though.

  7. James Joyner says:

    @C. Clavin: They did. But he was allowed to negotiate a new deal with the Saints, which he signed a couple weeks back.

  8. C. Clavin says:

    Got it.
    I guess I’ve been working too hard and not watching my RDA of Sportscenter.