Saints Go Marching On… Without Sean Payton

The Commissioner has heard the appeals, upheld the suspensions, and on Monday life without head coach Sean Payton began for the New Orleans Saints players and the Saints organization. Payton is not permitted to have any contact with the Saints organization or anyone around the NFL, and if he does, he must report it to league executive Ray Anderson.

The Saints started their voluntary workout program on Monday and Payton wasn’t the only notable absence. As expected, Drew Brees didn’t report to New Orleans for the voluntary workouts. Brees is waiting for a long term contract from the team and owner Tom Benson has said that the team is getting closer to making a deal with the star quarterback.

More Saints New and Notes:

• Brees isn’t the only Saints star who is upset with the quarterback’s contract situation. TE Jimmy Graham said on Tuesday that enough is enough and it’s time for the Saints to sign Brees to a long term contract. Graham went on, “I’m not sure what’s going on or all the details, but I just want him back as soon as possible.”
• Brees says there was no real progress when the NFL Players Association and the league discussed the bounty program at the league’s offices on Monday. “We didn’t get any meaningful evidence, or any meaningful truth or facts,” Brees told NFL.com after the meetings.
• The Saints schedule was released today and is highlighted by four games that will be played in prime time. The Saints will host a week five game against the Chargers on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and then travel to Denver for a Sunday Night Football game against Peyton Manning and the Broncos the last week of October. Also, the Saints will host the Eagles on Monday Night Football the first week of November. All of the NFL’s 32 teams will play at least one Thursday Night Football game and the Saints will play theirs in Atlanta against the Falcons the week after Thanksgiving.
• The Saints announced on Monday that they have re-signed WR Courtney Roby to a one year contract. Roby is expected to continue to return kicks for the team and contribute in other areas of special teams. The team also announced that they have waived LB Jeremiah Hunter.