Saints Suspensions Overturned: Can Sean Payton Coach New Orleans in 2012?

While it appears Jonathan Vilma won't be suspended for the entirety of the 2012 NFL season, nothing has changed for Sean Payton.

The decision to overturn the suspensions of the Saints players for their role in the bounty scandal won't affect Payton or any of the other coaches that are scheduled to miss games.

The head coach won't be allowed to be on the sidelines for New Orleans for all of 2012. He'll lose $7.5 million this year.

In the offseason, Vilma was suspended for a year by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Now, Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter is reporting that the suspension has been overturned. Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove have also been reinstated.

"BREAKING: A 3-member appeals panel has overturned the player suspensions in the Saints bounty case, says a source. Details coming," tweeted the Trotter.

According to Trotter, the decision says that Goodell only has the right to punish Vilma if he finds evidence of "intent to injure beyond just a performance pool."

Saints assistant coach Joe Vitt will miss the first six games of the season. He'll take over the head coaching duties from offensive line coach Aaron Kromer in Week 8 when the team plays at Denver.

Former defensive coordinator Greg Williams' indefinite suspension and general manager Micky Loomis' eight-game ban will also stand.