NFL giving union time to finish its own Saints investigation

Turns out, the NFL isn’t dragging its feet on punishing the New Orleans Saints in the wake of their bounty scandal. The league is simply honoring the request of the NFL Players Assn., which asked for time to conduct its own investigation.

NFLPA spokesman George Atallah confirmed as much Tuesday to the Associated Press.

The union said last week that members of its legal team planned to look into the so-called pay-for-performance program, a system that was largely player-funded and paid rewards of $1,000 if an opponent was carted off the field and $1,500 for a knockout.

Saints Coach Sean Payton and Owner Tom Benson met at their request in New York on Monday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.