NFL reinstates Saints' Payton after yearlong suspension
Sean Payton is back with his team after a year's suspension over the team's bounty scandal.
January 22nd, 2013
11:31 AM ET

NFL reinstates Saints' Payton after yearlong suspension

Sean Payton's season of exile from the National Football League is officially over.

The NFL on Tuesday reinstated the New Orleans Saints head coach after he served a seasonlong suspension for the Saints' bounty scandal. The reinstatement came after Payton met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and "acknowledged ... his responsibility for the actions of his coaching staff and players," an NFL news release said.

"Sean fully complied with all the requirements imposed on him during his suspension," Goodell said in the release. "More important, it is clear that Sean understands and accepts his responsibilities as a head coach and the vital role that coaches play in promoting player safety and setting an example for how the game should be played at all levels.”

Payton said he was "thankful today Commissioner Goodell has granted me reinstatement."

"As I stated back in March, I, along with (Saints General Manager) Mickey Loomis, take full responsibility for all aspects of our football program,” Payton said in a statement released by a Saints spokesman.

"I clearly recognize that mistakes were made, which led to league violations. Furthermore, I have assured the commissioner a more diligent protocol will be followed."

Payton's reinstatement is immediate, meaning he can attend this week's Senior Bowl, a college all-star game featuring NFL Draft prospects.

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Filed under: Football • Louisiana • New Orleans • Pro football • Sports
soundoff (28 Responses)
  1. Wayback

    Are you a beavis or a butthead, Benn.

    January 22, 2013 at 8:58 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Wayback

    In fact, there were so many buttheads who attended gladiator games, workers had to be hired to pour perfume on the walkways to cover the stench of death. Fans who would have left because of the putrid smell now stayed.
    Of course modern organized sports mirror these things... my point is there have been beavis and butthead type sportsfans before. We KNOW what they did, and we know what happened to their games because of it. They ended.

    January 22, 2013 at 9:08 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Wayback

    So you have no stand on this issue. You have no side to defend. "A little of both" loses every time as a house divided falls. Next.

    January 22, 2013 at 9:26 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Wayback

    You walked around to the ass-end of my camel, and want to debate with one of the gnats on his ass.
    The issue is bigger than Peyton being reinstated, as I described beavis and butthead, and is descibed in the book "The Fix is In".

    January 22, 2013 at 9:49 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Wayback

    And, who is this "Peyton" you speak of? Peyton Manning? LOL (Sean Payton there bub)
    Yay! Yer happy! I'll give you that one. You haven't even tried to refute any of my points! I made my points, and your is you are happy. he he. Good night, Benn. Have fun at the game and . 🙂

    January 22, 2013 at 9:58 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Wayback

    Benn, get this...it's been proven in court that it's legal for the NBA commissioner to order refs to throw games. Check it out for yourself.

    January 22, 2013 at 10:01 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Wayback

    It's perfectly legal for NASCAR, a family owned business, to predetermine the outcome of races.
    These are things along with all those other things listed in above comments that need fixed in sports. (rather than the games themselves being fixed)
    Have a good one, Benn.

    January 22, 2013 at 10:04 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Hamsta

    the practice is so old they even made high school football movies about it, they just made an example of Sean Payton and the Saints because he took the NFL's crappiest team and beat all odds to win the Superbowl after a hurricane destroyed their home field and city. Haters!!!!!!!!!!

    January 22, 2013 at 10:47 pm | Report abuse |
  9. alpeaston

    Another partison witch hunt! Partisan posturing has prevented the US government from moving forward for over 4 years leaving our country and economy in complete disarray! The majority of the blame can be squarely placed on the shoulders of house and senate Republicans.

    Play time is over guys and gals! America is on to your slimy political power plays and we're sick of them! If you don't stop, the voter WILL stop you – we will vote out everyone who, using partisan politics to obstruct the government, is guilty of preventing our government from functioning. I suspect one or two more election disasters for Republicans like the last one and there will not be a Republican party to be concerned about any longer!

    January 23, 2013 at 11:53 am | Report abuse |
  10. Bassmaster22

    Who cares. It's amazing the amount of importance people put on guys running up and down grass with an oval shaped airbag.

    January 23, 2013 at 12:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • masternola

      because it's a billion dollar industry, that's why.

      January 23, 2013 at 12:46 pm | Report abuse |
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