The four players suspended in the wake of the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal had their suspensions lifted by an internal appeals panel that is part of the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players' union. Suspensions for Saints coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams still stand because coaches are not covered by the CBA.
Overturned Saints Suspensions Do Not Apply To Sean Payton, Coaches
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season. Williams received an indefinite suspension for his role in the team’s bounty program. Vitt must serve a six-game suspension before taking over as the interim coach in New Orleans. Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer will serve as the Saints interim coach while Vitt is suspended.
Payton appealed his suspension to the league, but it was rejected by Goodell in April.
Williams was hired by incoming St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher to be his defensive coordinator there. That move was made before the league revealed the results of its bounty investigation and issued suspensions for the coaches.
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