New Orleans Saints suspensions upheld by NFL’s Roger Goodell

Upon further review… the New Orleans Saints ruling stands.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday upheld the discipline imposed on Saints Coach Sean Payton, General Manager Mickey Loomis and linebackers coach Joe Vitt for their role in the team’s pay-for-performance bounty scandal.

Payton has been suspended for a year, beginning April 16; Loomis will miss half the season; and Vitt will be out the first six games. All suspensions are without pay. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, now with the St. Louis Rams, has been suspended indefinitely. The Saints were also fined $500,000 and lost second-round picks in the next two drafts.

Goodell did say, however, he would consider mitigating the financial penalties on the individuals and would consider modifying the decision to strip the team of a second-round draft pick in 2013 (although the team has lost a second-rounder this year.) Those modifications hinge on whether the men and the Saints “embrace the opportunity and participate in a constructive way.”

Goodell, who heard appeals from the three Friday and considered the matter over the weekend, has yet to rule on sanctions for players involved with the bounty program. The league determined in its three-year investigation that between 22 to 27 players participated to varying degrees.

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