For those wondering about an appeal
 

While Payton is said to be "stunned'' by the length of his suspension without pay (which will cost him more than $7 million in yearly salary), any appeal he might choose to file before April 2 would be heard by Goodell, the same judge and jury he just got sentenced by. That's not a promising option, or well-spent time or energy. As for legal options, the standard NFL coaching contract is pretty air-tight on that front. You give up your right to sue the league and agree to be disciplined by the commissioner's office as a stipulation of employment. Add it all up and the penalties Goodell passed out Wednesday aren't likely to be changed or lessened.

Read more: Full-year suspension of New Orleans coach Sean Payton will be felt by Saints - Don Banks - SI.com

I dunno, you could argue that there was no meeting of the minds on the contract since Payton nor the organization ever expected such an absurd punishment to ever be handed down. The last two times anyone was suspended from the NFL for a year people were shot or killed (Pacman Jones/Donte Stallworth.) This doesn't even come close to that.

You forgot Vick and oh that's right Plaxico shot himself.

They went to jail, so Goodell gave them leniency

I don't believe those 2 cases were for a full year; I believe the season had already started. I could be wrong on this.

The only full year suspensions I know of were for betting on games by Paul Hornning & Alex Karas.