Following an eight-game suspension for his role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, general manager Mickey Loomis returned to work with the team.
Loomis was suspended along with coach Sean Payton, who was banned from the team for a year after the scandal came to light.
During his suspension, Loomis worked as head of basketball operations for the New Orleans Hornets. Saints owner Tom Benson purchased the team over the summer.
The team has been dealing with repercussions of the bounty scandal all season, including with the week-to-week availability of linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith.
The players were suspended by the league for their alleged role in the bounty scandal, but had the penalties overturned by an appeals panel. The two players, along with free agent Anthony Hargrove and Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, will take part in arbitration with former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue to see if the suspensions will be upheld.
"You have to have a little bit of foresight should something happen. We've kind of just been under that thing all year long," defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "Once we know the week is set the way the week is, we just move on and worry about the opponent we're playing."
Loomis has a full plate to deal with as he returns to the team, including re-signing head coach Sean Payton to a new contract. The NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell voided Payton's previous extension that he signed in 2011 last week due to language that tied the contract to Loomis' status. The NFL wanted to avoid setting a "precedent" with the contract.
Loomis said he was confident that the team would sign Payton to a contract.
"I absolutely expect Sean to be our coach next year and going forward," Loomis told reporters, according to NFL.com. "These contract issues will be resolved."
"Two people familiar with Payton's contract situation told The Associated Press that the Saints and Payton still see nothing wrong with a provision in the coach's extension that would allow Payton to opt out of his contract if Loomis -- who hired Payton in 2006 -- were to leave the club. The people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL and Saints have declined public comment on the matter, say the Saints and Payton believe the provision is similar to one that allowed Bill Parcells to leave his post as executive vice president with Miami if ownership changed."
Assistant head coach Joe Vitt has led the team in Payton's absence.
"Listen, Mickey and Sean are the leaders of this building. It's not only great for Mickey to be back for our players and our coaching staff, but every person in our building," Vitt said to ESPN.com. "Slowly but surely, we're starting to get people back. Everybody knows here what Mickey means to me, but he also means just as much to everybody else in our building and our football team."
The Saints started off the season with four straight losses, but rebounded to a 3-5 record at midseason.
"Our football team loves Sean Payton. Sean Payton loves this football team," Vitt said. "Sean Payton loves this city. And this city loves Sean Payton. That goes a long way. That's what I know."
The team has won three of four games, including on Sunday night 28-13 against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Super Dome. The team faces off against the undefeated Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
"I love this football team. I love the resolve. I love the togetherness. I love their work habits," Vitt said. "All that being said, we've got to get better this week."
Drew Brees has led the team to a top-ranked passing attack, but the defense has been struggling mightily. The Saints defense is currently one of the worst in the NFL, giving up over 460 total yards per game, including over 170 rushing yards.
"We're at the point now where it seems like every week there's something new to distract us, so people are like, 'The hell with it. We'll wait to figure it out when the time comes," linebacker Scott Shanle said. "We're trying to fight our way back into something and with all the distractions we've had week in and week out, I think guys just kind of put blinders on."
