The suspension appeals of three key members of the New Orleans Saints for their involvement in a bounty scandal were denied.
The NFL announced Monday that the punishment levied by commissioner Roger Goodell would stand for head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach/linebackers Joe Vitt.
Payton’s suspension will begin on April 16 and he will be forced to miss the entire 2012 season. The suspensions of Loomis (eight games) and Vitt (six) will begin at the end of the preseason.
The Saints also were fined $500,000 and stripped of 2012 and 2013 second-round draft picks
