Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says his office has communicated with suspended New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton about his eventual reinstatement, and Goodell did not eliminate the possibility of Payton rejoining the franchise before the Super Bowl.


Payton would like an adjustment on the suspension so it would end at the conclusion of the regular season as opposed to after the Super Bowl, a source close to the coach suggests.

Goodell said Wednesday that he and Payton briefly have discussed the reinstatement process they will follow and that more focused conversations are planned after the upcoming holidays.


With former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue issuing final determinations on the Saints' bounty scandal Tuesday, Goodell was asked whether he might permit Payton to return to the NFL from his historic season-long suspension before he is eligible for consideration, which is immediately after the Feb. 3 Super Bowl in New Orleans.


"I don't want to say he could be because, again, we are in the early stages," Goodell said as he left for the airport after the NFL owners meetings in Irving, Texas. "We are starting to talk about it."


The NFL has reason to be concerned with how Goodell will be received in New Orleans during the Super Bowl and whether the week there becomes a protest of the sanctions imposed on the Saints' franchise, coaching staff and players for the bounty program. Tagliabue confirmed Goodell's findings in the bounty case but determined he punished too harshly. He then vacated the suspensions of four current or former Saints players.


There is also the possibility that Payton might not be committed to coaching the Saints and could be pursued by a team such as the Dallas Cowboys if owner and general manager Jerry Jones fires coach Jason Garrett.


Goodell recently provided Payton and the Saints permission to attempt to resolve the contractual issues that prevented the league office from approving the multiyear extension the parties agreed to in 2011. Goodell rejected it because of a clause that would have voided the agreement and permitted Payton to leave the franchise if generall manager Mickey Loomis was suspended, fired or otherwise left the front office.


Goodell said he was uncomfortable with the precedent that would have created for NFL head coaches and the instability that might have resulted. The league allowed Bill Parcells to have a similar agreement with the Miami Dolphins, but he was an executive in charge of football operations and not the head coach.


When asked whether he would consider Payton a coaching free agent if he fails to sign a new agreement with the Saints, Goodell said that was an issue for the team and Payton, not the league office

Roger Goodell begins reinstatement talks with New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton - ESPN

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Completely hypocritical. Goodell obviously has a bias against Payton, stemming from issues besides this contract, personal issues with Payton even outside of Bountygate. The NFL is a joke, with this commissioner, a freaking joke.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Oh Roger, you're such a tease

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Yuck Fou Goodell, only after the season is over do you start talking to Payton

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Well, reinstating him before the season is over would probably go a long way towards the Saints getting back the 2nd round draft pick in the coming draft.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Reinstating him now would only allow Goodell to leave New Orleans alive after Superbowl week, IMO I don't see this jackhole giving the Saints their 2nd rounder back

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Explain the correlation please?

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

If they reinstate him prior to season's end, it'll be due to the concern of demonstrations during the SB. Perhaps RG may think it would make a difference during his stay in New Orleans.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

It won't have anything to do with the pick. But it will help speed up getting the extension done because he can actually be in on the talks instead of just his agent. It also gives him enough time to prepare for the draft as well. And gives him and Loomis a head start on making decisions on which players stay and go, and which players to target in FA.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

But it won't. Just cuz he reinstates him before he comes to NOLA for the SB is not gonna change the feelings of the fans. If he wanted to save face with the fans he would have reinstated him after he served 6-8 games. Him letting Payton come back now that our season is has been officially destroyed is nothing but another slap in the face IMO. F*** Goodell!!

Letting him come back now changed nothing.His way of showing how merciful he is.I don't see us getting the pick back now,the blame has been placed on the coaches a d franchise so there will be no change there.At best they may change it from a round 2 to a later pick but I doubt it.
The whole thing is BS,now saying Williams tried to stop it but Vitt wouldn't play ball ball.So why did he get a indefinite suspension and Vitt less.Clearing the way for Williams to come back.Lower than a snakes belly the lot of them.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

I think its hilarious that NOW they're worried about Goodell's reception in NOLA.

As if ANYTHING he would do could change the fan's perception of him.

He could re-instate Payton, give us this year's pick back, retroactively award last year's pick and people will still piss in his soup given half a chance.

Some things can't be taken back rog

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

The sooner the better Goodell !!!!
Get it done and get our coach back on the sideline for THIS WEEKEND.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Roger has done what he set out to do. He singlehandedly destroyed the Saints this year. I don't want Payton back now. For what? What good will it do? The damage has been done, people.

I want Goodell to have to not only take a bite out of this "poop" sandwich; I want him to be forced to eat the entire meal; then vomit and have to eat it again for the rest of his days.

He can say what he wants. This was a "Knee Jerk: reaction on his part and he should be forced to face ALL punishment that SHOULD be thrown at his face.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

There might not be any correlation, but the way I looked at it was that SP got the harsh penalty mainly because he reportedly lied to Goodell and tried to cover up the whole "thing" that was going on with the team.

That is also the main reason why the franchise was punished so harshly, because they allowed the "thing" to happen and not enough was done to stop what was allegedly going on.

So, if RG would reinstate SP, it would in effect mean that he wasn't lying or covering up or perhaps there actually was nothing to lie about or cover up in the first place. If this is the reason why SP would be reinstated, it would only follow that if there's lack of evidence of any cover up - there can't be any real evidence against the franchise as a whole, and therefore it should follow that all punishments against the franchise should be dropped as well.

I know it's a stretch, but one can always hope! ;-)

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

I think many are misunderstanding "reinstatement talks"... This is so the slate is clean and all party's understand how the relationship is to continue from the day after the Super Bowl on... I have found nothing at all that leads me to believe these "reinstatement talks" are "early reinstatement talks"...

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

This is all about damage control. Anyone who believes that Godhell is truly merciful is retarded(oops).:rolleyes:
This is nothing more than trying to cut down the number of hacked off fans showing up with signs and bringing it back to the national attention.
They can't ignore it so they better give these fans some peace of mind. There will be so many protestors marching who are just waiting to get their message across.
And then you can go quiely about rebuilding your kingdom and dismatling the NFL to compete with the legerie league.
They think the fans are too stupid to notice because the fans get all their info from the NFL network and ESPN. Sheep.:brood:

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

and guess what.
They should be concerned about "noise" at the SB whether they do or do not reinstate. For the damage is done.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Goodell needs to pay

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Im not sure if this is a good sign or not.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

My thoughts exactly, as I scrolled through the thread. As usual, we're on the same page, RSII. And I agree with Sapper, I don't want to see him back now, it would be hollow & meaningless. The damage has been done. Don't do anyone any favors, Rog.

My perception of the NFL has been changed forever this past year, and not in a good way.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Did i just read people actually say they do not want Sean Payton back in new Orleans now?


Whu Thu Fu?

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

I'm guessing they mean if the sole purpose of him getting reinstated means he's trying to start his FA early now instead of after the SB and talk with other teams. Cuz as of right now....he can only negotiate his extension with us. No other team can offer him anything until after the SB and he's able to be reinstated.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Where is all of this coming from? Every report I have read is that Sean Payton is allowed to have discussions with the Saints... SAINTS... Not the rest of the league. I have yet to see where he is allowed to talk to anyone else but the Saints.

Some people will cut off their nose to spite their face... I dont care what Goodells intention is, I am not going to shun my Coach to spite Goodell.

Thats just crazy talk.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

All of you Payton it going to Dallas sayers need to explain TWO things to me...

1. If Sean Payton is do adamant about working with Mickey Loomis that he would force a clause in his contract that would keep them together or allow him to leave (follow Loomis presumably), why would he all of a sudden want to go to Dallas?

2. If Sean wants to go to Dallas to be closer to his family, why is he not there now? Presently he is helping with the Hornets in New Orleans.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

It's not shunning the coach, it's just at this point, Goodell allowing Payton to return would be viewed more as a self-serving act and weak attempt to reingratiate himself with the NFL fans, players, coaches & New Orleans.

Of course everyone wants the coach back, it's just too little, too late.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

That is not how I see it.

1. I dont see how reinstatement talks gives Goodell any love from anyone.
2. Reinstatement talks have to happen BEFORE reinstatement. This is not just a player, this is a teams coach, who ADMITTED to deceiving the league. Its a process that must happen again... BEFORE he can be reinstated.
3. Goodell didn't give two ****s about pissing us off, why in the hell would he bother with trying to make amends? If Goodell wanted to preform something self serving there are a hundred other things besides this. If he was truly interested in re-ingratiating him self he could Tweet "Sorry", and that would serve the purpose.
4. NOT ONE single act by Roger Goodell this season has shown that what the fans think or feel was ever a thought. Why start now?


I just dont see any logic what so ever to this being a plot by Goodell, or saying "keep Payton" to make a point that will hurt the team.

Emotions are getting the better of some peoples logic.

If Goodell wanted to have lunch with me to give me the winning Power Ball numbers... Im going rent a tux.

We gave up a season, I am not about to further allow Goodell to compromise out team by breathing "keep the coach"...


http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me...ddapo1_500.jpg

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

IDK, while I'd naturally like to see him back at any time, at this point, the season is beyond repair. Rather than see him come back the last three games as some sort of divine benevolence bestowed on New Orleans by Roger Goodell, I'd rather just take the pain and come back swinging next season.

If this was early on in the season, then I would consider it a winning PowerBall ticket ... at this point I look at it more as Roger offering me a $2 daily-scratch-off ticket.

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Just come clean Roger, I see through your little PR stunt. You have no intention of letting Payton back till after the Superbowl. All he is trying to do is make his week in New Orleans as tolerable as possible cause he knows Saints fans and some NFL fans will try to make his week a living hell

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

I would rather have him back now, so he can feel the love from the team while his contract negotiations are going on...

Re: Sean Payton reinstatement talks start
 

Yeah, I'm struggling with the whole thing ... I need a wartime consigliere to give me some advice, :lol:.