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.
he knew "nothing"
Oh yea, he "conformed". Anyone ever heard of Skype? He better create some kind of transitional issues or people might start to think that twitter has been the team's babysitter all year.
Grobbbbbbbb
Once a loser always a loser !
This still does not mean Goodell will be served at any Nola restaurants.
He will be served but I wouldn't want to eat it.
oh joy he can attend the Senior Bowl. Fat lot of good that does the Saints this year.
Pathetic, he should have been BANNED PERMANENTLY from the NFL for what he did, lying to the authorities and trying to cover it up, but emails of his proved he was a part of and knew what was going on and looked the other way, the guy is rotten. The Super Bowl win should have been taken from them as they won it while using their illegal bounty program! Payton had his players purposely injure other team's players, that is a criminal offense, he should have been in jail and banned forever from the NFL.. I hope the Saints fail and never have a winning season again under this no morals coach.
Awwww, poor you, would you like a box of tissue for your tears??? Seriously dude? What the hell do you think football is all about. With or without a bounty it is common knowledge to take out certain key players to hurt the other team's chances of winning. Duhhhh!!!
Welcome back, coach. Win another one for the "sho dats".
1 and done.
Sounds like Sean was "waterboarded" by Goodel to me.
Hey Beavuth. Check thith dude out. Him and some dudes conthpired to do bodily injury to Americans and he got thuthpended.
Wonder what Beavis would add.
Yeah! Heh heh. Heh heh. They should just let 'em kill each other. Heh heh. Heh heh.
You are either a beavis or a butthead on this issue. (or you simply don't care) One or the other, in varying degrees, of course.
The beavis crowd like hard hits and bodily injury. Like toothless NASCAR fans who only spill their warm beer for crashes.
Buttheads are those who understand that law and order must reign over sports before sports kills itself as occured to the gladiator games of ancient Rome. Buttheads are the true sports fans and beavithes are the posers.
I will debate this with anyone, and win handily.
The original 'Cheeleaders' weren't leggy ladies. They were paid singers who raised their voices to cover the naturally repulive sounds made by humans being tortured to death during gladiator games of ancient Rome. Some spectators couldn't take the sound without throwing up, while others reveled in it. Buttheads and Beavises.