Goodell upholds suspensions of Payton, Loomis, Vitt

Does this mean they can focus on the Skins cap penalties NOW.

Probably need to punish the Saints players first. Plus, I don't expect anything to get done regarding our cap penalty until the summer time. I'd assume the professor arbitrating our case won't do anything until classes are out.

Would he do anything else? There had to be new and overwhelming evidence for him to change the suspensions. And even if there was that would've meant they previously lied to goodell, the reason why they were punished in the first place.

Was never going to change his mind. They knew this and appealed as a PR move.

Would he do anything else? There had to be new and overwhelming evidence for him to change the suspensions. And even if there was that would've meant they previously lied to goodell, the reason why they were punished in the first place.

Was never going to change his mind. They knew this and appealed as a PR move.

I think part of the reason behind the appeal was to buy some time for Payton to get everything set up before he left for the year. The process itself bought Payton 15 days (April 1 was the original suspension date now it's April 16).

Payton will sneak in to the Saints training camp as a construction worker. There is construction going on at the camp now. so he could possibly slip in... i was there today and just basically had my run of the place
BTW I was wearing my Script R Redskins hat along with a Redskins shirt.. so not to stand out that much.. LOL

Sean Payton knew Goddell wasn't going to overturn his initial decision. His infraction was much to serious.

I think part of the reason behind the appeal was to buy some time for Payton to get everything set up before he left for the year. The process itself bought Payton 15 days (April 1 was the original suspension date now it's April 16).

Yup, if anything this just bought him some more time. Plus the commish may reduce the fines if everything goes smoothly, and possibly reduce the severity of the draft pick.

It's so peculiar that the Saints plan to name Joe Vitt the interim head coach, considering he can't coach the first six games of the season.

So he'll be the head coach until the opener, then they'll basically rotate responsibilities among the other assistants, and then Vitt comes back in week 7?

It's so peculiar that the Saints plan to name Joe Vitt the interim head coach, considering he can't coach the first six games of the season.

So he'll be the head coach until the opener, then they'll basically rotate responsibilities among the other assistants, and then Vitt comes back in week 7?

Wow. I would not have guessed that. In addition to the curious logistics of this move, it also seems a little like the Saints giving the middle finger to Goodell. - "Yeah, you suspended him, but we don't care".

Maybe it's not intended that way or perceived that way. At the same time, it just seems to me that the Saints organization is determined to do themselves no favors in this whole mess.

It's so peculiar that the Saints plan to name Joe Vitt the interim head coach, considering he can't coach the first six games of the season.

So he'll be the head coach until the opener, then they'll basically rotate responsibilities among the other assistants, and then Vitt comes back in week 7?

Yeah, I don't get that either. You would think they would want just one voice in the locker room throughout this whole punishment ordeal, but instead they're going to have some guy "run" the show from weeks 1-6 then have Vitt take over from there?

I know anything can happen, especially with Brees and that offense, but I'm starting to think the Saints are doomed to have a crappy season. Their defense was already a weak point and I don't think they will be able to have a good season throughout this mess.

Retired NFL players known for toughness say the New Orleans Saints and Gregg Williams crossed the line - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7799825/retired-nfl-players-known-toughness-say-new-orleans-saints-gregg-williams-crossed-line)