And Now Sean Payton Loses His Cool...

((HT: The Big Lead/WVUE/@TylerBouldin))

Sean Payton has every right to be bent out of shape over how the Detroit Lions scored twice in the last 4:30 and came from behind to beat Payton's New Orleans Saints.

So, this happened in the Payton presser when someone asked a question


Yeah, it was a game they should have won and that is what happens more than not...

The frustration levels are on the increase...

Bears, Saints, and who is next...???

Especially when you're 2-4 in a winnable division...

Very Cool: Saints Sign Paralyzed former Tulane Safety

((nola.com))

The NFL and it's teams, players and coaches aren't always angels, but nothing makes any of them happier than doing something good for someone else who needs it.

That's how former Tulane Green Wave Safety Devon Walker, paralyzed from the waste down after a hit in a September 2012 football game, found himself heading towards the New Orleans Saints practice facility Saturday afternoon. Right after his college graduation ceremony.

Walker got his degree in cell and molecular biology and then thought he was heading for some celebratory Oysters with his family only to find out he had a planned meeting scheduled.

That meeting with New Orleans Saints G.M Mickey Loomis and Head Coach Sean Payton. Both men had a gift waiting for Walker.

The gift, a contract for him to sign so he could become a Saint on Day 1 of the teams Rookie Camp.

Of course Walker signed and from all reports, the smile still hasn't left his face.

Though those same reports also say he's still looking for those Oysters too...

The Saints website posted the story RIGHT HERE

You can also watch this video posted by Tulane Unversity themselves:

 

Drew Brees REALLY Wants Jimmy Graham To Stay...

((HT: Dan Patrick Show))

And he even went to the highest point of the first floor of the Manscraper to express his desires for Saints GM Mickey Loomis to keep his favorite tight end around...

Go the the 8:55 mark...


See what the Roman Numeral Classic does to folks...???

Causes them to channel Rocky during his run...

Or something...

Report: Joe Vitt: "Gregg Williams Wanted Players To Take Out Opposing Coaches"

Gregg Williams

((nola.com))

Really? Gregg Williams did what?

According to a report in Wednesday's New Orleans Times-Picayune, New Orleans Saints Assistant Coach Joe Vitt made some strong allegations against former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who is accused of running a bounty program.

Among the nuggets the paper found after obtaining Vitt's testimony with former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: Williams once promised to reward players for knocking down or going for the knees of opposing teams assistant coaches if on or near the sidelines.

Vitt says he went behind Williams and told players to not even think about actually doing that.

The story goes on to describe former assistant Mike Cerrulo as a "liar" and "idiot" who scared his fellow assistant coaches and head coach Sean Payton.

Read the entire NOLA.com story RIGHT HERE

We find it less than coincidental that (a) the Super Bowl is about to be played in New Orleans where commissioner Roger Goodell is reviled and (b) Williams is up for a job as an assistant coach job with the Tennessee Titans.

If Vitt's allegations are even remotely true, Williams has no business ever coaching again. Yes, he served a 1-year suspension, but this may even be too much to get him back. Seriously, why would any time go through having him on their sidelines.

Sure, we get football is a violent game, and yeah, some odd things happen on the field. But going after coaches? Seriously?

Report: Sean Payton is a Coaching Free Agent

((ht: schefter/ESPN.com))

Well, this should be interesting. And amazingly, the news that the NFL voided suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton's contract should make the folks in New Orleans nervous.

Very nervous.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the extension Payton signed over a year ago, was cancelled by the league quietly and with some questions still remaining. Perhaps the biggest being "Can they legally do it?"

Schefter says the question is more about a clause that would let Payton leave if Saints GM Mickey Loomis got suspended, fired or quit.

Interesting.

Read Schefter's always insightful column RIGHT HERE

What should concern Saints fans is the REAL possibility Payton has coached his last game in New Orleans.

Payton's family lives in the Dallas area and there is a REAL possibility the Dallas job is going to be open at the end of the season. Jason Garrett has done little to inspire the Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones or a fanbase with growing anger.

And Payton would be a perfect fit.

We'll see how this plays out, but considering Payton isn't gonna coach in 2012 and Jerry Jones has no qualms about throwing money in people's faces, we would not be surprised to see Payton on the sideline in Jerry World for the 2013 season.

The Shield Reissues BountyGate Suspensions

The NFL has re-issued the suspensions to the four players involved in the New Orleans Saints Bounty Gate investigation.

To wit:

Jonathan Vilma will be suspended a full season again,
Scott Fujita will be suspended three games again but it was reduced to one,
Will Smith will be suspended four games again and,
Anthony Hargrove will be suspended eight games again, but it was reduced to seven.

Those suspensions were overturned over a month ago by an arbitor who claimed that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell went down the wrong path in trying to investigate and suspend the four along with Saints coaches Sean Payton, Gregg Williams, and Joe Vitt. If Goodell were to follow proper protocol, the suspensions would have stuck and the arbitor intimated as much in his ruling.

Goodell resubmitted and, voila!

Here's the release from the league that was shared with Vilma:

“At our meeting, you confirmed that cart-offs and knockouts were part of a broader program in place among the Saints’ defensive players. You confirmed that these terms referred to plays in which an opposing player has to leave the game for one or more plays. You confirmed that, as Coach Vitt testified, an opposing player’s need for smelling salts under a trainer’s care was a consequence of the kind that the program sought to achieve and for which players were offered cash rewards from the incentive pool.

“I also find that you engaged in conduct detrimental by offering a substantial financial incentive to any member of the defensive unit who knocked Brett Favre out of the Saints’ 2009 NFC playoff game against the Vikings. (There is also credible evidence that you made a similar pledge regarding Kurt Warner in the immediately preceding playoff game against the Cardinals, but whether you made multiple pledges of that kind does not matter for purposes of the discipline that I have decided to impose.)"

The NFLPA, which probably, will appeal rather quickly (again) came back with this:

"For more than six months, the NFL has ignored the facts, abused the process outlined in our collective bargaining agreement and failed to produce evidence that the players intended to injure anyone, ever. The only evidence that exists is the League’s gross violation of fair due process, transparency and impartiality during this process. Truth and fairness have been the casualties of the league’s refusal to admit that it might have made a mistake."

The NFLPA has 72 hours to file their appeal and the players still, presumably, can participate in team activities until a final verdict is reached...

Ed Werder has more with FOSG Mike Hill and Michael Kim... and Werder's in your head...
((HT: ESPN))

"Bountygate" Suspensions Overturned

((HT: Fox8Live.com))

The suspensions of Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, and Will Smith have been wiped off the books for now, thanks to a three-person appeals panel.

Leave it to Vilma to quote "Family Guy" on his Twitter feed:

"Victory is mine!!!! -stewie griffin"

The panel believes that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell overstepped his authority in hearing the appeals.

"Whether the commissioner tries to readdress the situation or not is his call," said Peter Ginsberg, Vilma's attorney, in a statement. "We are certainly hoping the appeals board has made it clear the commissioner tried to grab jurisdiction and impose penalties over an area he does not have oversight. ... The factual record in the court makes it clear he has acted in a biased and inappropriate manner."

NFL legal counsel Jeff Pash came back with the idea that "nothing in today's decision contradicts any of the facts found in the investigation into this matter, or absolves any player of responsibility for conduct detrimental. Nor does the decision in any way suggest what discipline would be appropriate for conduct that lies within the authority of the Commissioner."

Evan Andersen has the understandable reaction...
New Orleans Local News, Weather, Sports, Investigations

Smith and Fujita could possibly play Sunday while Hargrove can now look for an employer and Vilma could play in the next few weeks as he's still recovering from off-season surgery.

This now brings the HQ the question of Sean Payton and Joe Vitt- since Gregg WIlliams, apparently, signed his life away for his suspension.

Jus' axin...

Free Payton movement in Louisiana

((ht: theadvocate.com))

This is kind of funny, we only wish there was a photo of it.

Apparently, a big New Orleans Saints fan and United Airlines Pilot was tasked by some Saints fans to fly a plane over the teams training camp in Metaire, Louisiana with a banner in tow.

That banner spelled out: "Free Payton".

The plan was hatched by a group calling themselves FreePayton.org is doing this they say to draw the attention of NFL Commish The Jolly Roger Goodell. They want Goodell to rescind his 1-year suspension of the Saints head coach and they say they'll keep flying the plane until that happens.

Read the full story from the Baton Rouge Advocate RIGHT HERE

Uh...hope they have a lot of money, cause that ain't happening.

We admire the chutzpah for trying it, but they aren't getting Sean Payton back this year. Yes, indeed there are some indications that at least Saints LB Jonathan Vilma may get a restraining order against his suspension, but don't expect much more than that.

It's hard not to respect Saints fans for standing up for their guys, but they are "Tilting at Windmills" here, the league isn't going to back down. They aren't going to cower in fear. The NFL believes they are right in this case and if they really do have the evidence to prove the bounty system existed, then they are totally justified in doing so. 

Sean Payton Coaching Arkansas? Not That Far Fetched

The rumor mill has been swirling all over Arkansas in the SEC as to who will be the next head coach at Arkansas.

OSG Sources close to the situation say Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long is going the interim route for the 2012.

Smart decision, now who will that interim be.

It would seem that Arkansas assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Horton should Long decide to hire from within is the favorite.

If Long doesn't and goes outside the program, it wouldn't surprise me if suspended New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton gets a call.

Before you dismiss this think about it. Payton can't do anything right now football wise in the NFL and can't have contact with his team, the Saints, for a year.

By all accounts Payton is a football lifer, it's in his blood so how will he spend his time filling the void.

Arkansas fired its head football coach, Bobby Petrino, in the middle of spring football, the timing was awful.

The two parties might be very attracted to each other.

Can Payton coach Arkansas still under contract with the Saints?

The answer is maybe. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Mike Florio at profootballtalk.com that Payton's suspension would not prevent him from taking the Arkansas job.

The language in Payton's contract with the Saints might however Saints owner Tom Benson may not have a problem with Payton keeping his coaching skills sharp in Fayetteville, Arkansas for a season. The SEC is arguably second to the NFL as far as the level of football on the field.

Jeff Long has proven if he zero's in on a candidate to fill a coaching position he will get it done. Two examples, the way Long hired Bobby Petrino in 2007 and the hiring of Mike Anderson for the men's basketball team.

Anderson left a Final Four quality team at Missouri to rebuild the Arkansas men's basketball program. The Razorback fans wanted Anderson back and Jeff Long made it happen.

That's why I don't think an arrangement with Sean Payton is as far out there as you might think. Jeff Long needs to fill the head football coach position on an interim basis. Sean Payton needs something to do to kill time while serving a suspension and a way to not be tempted to contact Joe Vitt, the Saints interim head coach, and Drew Brees.

This seems like a great idea.

DEVELOPING: A Bounty On The Bounty In New Orleans

The NFL is suspending former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator (and now-almost current St Louis Rams DC) Gregg Williams indefinitely and Saints head coach Sean Payton for one year because of the team's bounty program.

And the league wasn't done...

The NFL is also suspending Saints GM Mickey Loomis for the first eight games in 2012, and Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt for the first six games.

And the league still isn't done...

The Saints will also be fined $500,000 and forfeit their second-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 NFL drafts.

Oh, crap...

Here's early returns from the four-letter...
((HT: ESPN))


And when Mike Hoss interviewed former Saints exec Jim Miller over the weekend, Miller knew something was up...
((HT: WWL-TV New Orleans))


Si.com's Maggie Gray catches up with Jim Trotter

Sean Payton Wants None Of Your PUP Lists For His Knee

((HT: NFL on FOX/youtube))

Okay, here's the play... it's pretty gross...


So, Saints head coach Sean Payton gets rolled, and blows out his knee... there will be no "Joe Paterno calling the plays from the press box" for Payton.

He called the plays from the bench (the next best place) and kept things moving...

How will he address his status for next week...???
The HQ's guess will be "day-to-day"
Aren't we all...???

From the Saints Twitter feed...
Coach Payton has been taken in the locker room for x-rays. Will call plays from the second half in the booth

Jay Glazer is reporting that Payton has a broken knee, broken tibia, and a torn MCL.