NFL upholds penalties against Saints

In what should come as no surprise, NFL comissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the suspensions he issued to Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, coach Sean Payton and assistant head coach Joe Vitt.

Payton was suspended for the season. Loomis was suspended for eight games and Vitt was barred for six. That means the Saints know need to appoint another head coach, be it Bill Parcells of someone else. Payton's suspension begins next Monday. Parcells told the New York Daily News that he has not talked to the Saints in 6 days and knows "absolutely nothing" about their plans for the coaching situation.

Based on the statement below, it seems Goodell would be willing to reconsider the loss of a 2013 draft pick and the loss of salary for the three.

What remains to come are the penalties for individual players.

Here is the text of the release from the NFL:

The New Orleans Saints, along with General Manager Mickey Loomis, Head Coach Sean Payton, and Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt, were notified today that after careful consideration of their appeals, Commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the discipline that was imposed for continuing violations of the league's anti-bounty rule that endangered player safety over a three-year period.

The club and the individuals will be expected to cooperate in any further proceedings and to assist in the development and implementation of programs to instruct players and coaches at all levels on principles of player safety, fair play, and sportsmanship.

If they embrace the opportunity and participate in a constructive way, Commissioner Goodell said he would consider mitigating the financial penalties on the individuals. In the case of the team, the commissioner would consider whether there are factors that would support modifying the forfeiture of the team's 2013 second-round draft choice.

Sean Payton's suspension without pay for the 2012 NFL season will begin on April 16.

The suspensions without pay of Mickey Loomis for eight games and Joe Vitt for six games will begin at the end of the preseason.

At the conclusion of their suspensions, the commissioner will review the status of each of the three individuals to determine their eligibility for reinstatement.