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A look at the top Monday morning headlines from around the NFC South.

Although the Saints have been preaching an “us-against-the-world’’ mentality, Jeff Duncan writes that they risk turning it into “us against us’’ the longer the Drew Brees contract situation drags on. This thing has been lingering for a long time and Brees has started showing some displeasure. The Saints have the upper hand that comes with the franchise tag. But Brees isn’t going to be happy if he has to play for the franchise tag. There are a lot of unhappy people in New Orleans these days. The Saints don’t need the leader of their team going through an entire season in a bad mood.

With Brees staying away from the team’s offseason program, backup Chase Daniel is expected to work with the first team when the Saints hit the field Tuesday. Daniel said he’s ready to try to take advantage of the work with the first team.

Despite the wishes of their fans, the Carolina Panthers haven’t added a veteran receiver to go with Steve Smith. That may be because the Panthers want Brandon LaFell in the No. 2 job. Coach Ron Rivera said he’s encouraged by what he saw out of LaFell last season. But Rivera also made it a point to say LaFell hasn’t arrived. I think that’s a pretty clear message to LaFell that he has to continue to grow.

A league expert said the goal of Jonathan Vilma’s lawsuit against Roger Goodell isn’t so much to technically win as it is to compel the NFL to produce evidence of a bounty program.

New Atlanta linebacker Lofa Tatupu says he has to earn the respect of his new teammates as he attempts to win the starting job in the middle. Tatupu has a big challenge in front of him. He hasn’t played since the 2010 season in Seattle and, in a perfect world, the Falcons would like second-year pro Akeem Dent to win the job. But Tatupu had some very productive years with the Seahawks. If he can get back to that form, he could end up in the starting job.

Mike Williams said that free-agent pickup Vincent Jackson quickly has become the leader of Tampa Bay’s receiving corps. That’s a good thing because Jackson is a proven player and has been productive for a long time. The rest of Tampa Bay’s receiving corps has some potential. But Williams and the other receivers are very young and desperately need a leader to follow.

Tampa Bay kicker Connor Barth, who had been carrying the franchise tag, now has a new four-year contract.

The Bucs just announced the news.

“For the Bucs organization, [general manager] Mark Dominik, coach [Greg] Schiano and everyone to believe in me, to know that I'll be their kicker for the next four years, is awesome,” Barth said. “It's just an amazing opportunity and I want to continue to perform like I have and live up to their expectations. I want to thank everyone -- the fans, everybody, the team behind me -- and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field.”

Barth finished second in the NFL last season with a 92.9 percent accuracy rate on field goal attempts (26 of 28) and that also set a franchise record for a single season. Barth ended the season making 15 consecutive field goals and has the longest active streak in the NFL.

The franchise tag was costing the Bucs $2.6 million in salary-cap space. We don’t know the exact terms of Barth’s new deal yet. But it’s likely worth more than $3 million per season. There were eight kickers in the league that averaged at least $3 million per year last season.

The Bucs also announced they have signed wide receivers Wallace Wright and Ahmad Lewis. The team has waived offensive tackle Mike Ingersoll and tight end Tyler Urban.

For months, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees had been saying he was optimistic and confident a long-term contract with the Saints would be worked out.

Brees changed his tune a bit in an interview with New Orleans’ WWL Radio.

"What's been a little frustrating on my end, or disappointing, is the lack of communication," Brees said. "We've reached out on quite a few occasions and at times I know I've been frustrated with the lack of response."

Brees raised the possibility of missing the team’s upcoming minicamp (June 5-7). The Saints placed the exclusive-rights franchise tag on Brees, but the quarterback continues to say he wants a long-term deal and won’t sign his $16 million tender.

"There should be a sense of urgency and it just seems like there's not," Brees said.

It seems like a bit of finger pointing has started. There have been some reports saying Brees wants as much as $23 million per season. Brees said reports of his asking price have not been accurate.

There are two sides to every story, but the potential for this one to get truly ugly continues to grow with each day that Brees doesn’t have a long-term deal. The deadline for franchise players to work out long-term deals is July 16.

Brees had emerged as the most popular player in franchise history in recent years and was applauded for his work on and off the field. But the drawn-out contract situation has caused a bit of a divide among New Orleans fans. Some have accused Brees of being greedy. Others say the team simply should open its checkbook, give Brees whatever he wants and get the quarterback back with his teammates immediately.

Here’s your chance to weigh in on that. Cast your vote in the accompanying SportsNation poll and fill up the comments section below with your thoughts on whether Brees or the Saints are more to blame for the contract stalemate.

Time for a look at the top Tuesday morning headlines from around the NFC South.

• The NFL Players Association's grievance against the NFL in the Saints’ bounty situation will be heard Wednesday by an arbitrator. If that doesn’t work, the Louisiana Legislature has passed a resolution to ask the NFL to lighten the penalties against the Saints.
• The Saints’ staff came away from rookie camp particularly impressed with the performances of receiver Nick Toon, a fourth-round pick, and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, a third-round pick.
• At least one person believes the Carolina Panthers found a huge steal in undrafted BYU offensive tackle Matt Reynolds.
• The Falcons continue to shuffle their personnel department after Les Snead left to become general manager in St. Louis and took along a couple members of the scouting department. The Falcons have promoted Lionel Vital to associate director of player personnel. The Falcons also promoted scouts Bob Kronenberg and Anthony Robinson.
• We all know the Panthers were horrible on special teams last season. Joseph Person has an overview of all the things the Panthers have done to try to improve in that area.
• The Buccaneers are ready to begin the most intense phase of their offseason workouts. They’ll be on the field a bit later Tuesday morning and I’ll be heading out to One Buccaneer Place to provide some observations.
• Tampa Bay kicker Connor Barth, who has been carrying the franchise tag, tweeted Monday night that he was on his way to Tampa and planned to join his teammates Tuesday. That’s a pretty strong sign Barth may have agreed to a long-term deal or, at very least, plans to sign his franchise tag.

Lots to catch up on as several NFC South teams held rookie camps over the weekend. Let's take a quick spin through some of the headlines from around the division.

• Carolina first-round draft pick Luke Kuechly went through the team’s rookie camp working at weak-side linebacker. He could end up staying there, but I don’t think anything is set in stone right now. The Panthers want to get a look at middle linebacker Jon Beason and outside linebacker Thomas Davis in training camp before making any firm decisions. Beason and Davis each are coming back from major injuries. Beason has played a little on the outside in the past and Kuechly spent most of his college career in the middle.

• Receiver Plaxico Burress caused a stir last week when he mentioned the Panthers as a team he’d be interested in playing for. I think the real question is, do the Panthers have any interest in Burress? I strongly doubt it. Burress will turn 35 in August. I just don’t see general manager Marty Hurney signing a receiver that’s about to turn 35. Besides, the Panthers have lots of young options -- Brandon LaFell, David Gettis, Kealoha Pilares and Joe Adams -- to go with Steve Smith. Also, Carolina history has shown that it’s not always a wise idea to bring in big-name receivers (see Keyshawn Johnson). There only has been one guy who has truly fit well opposite Smith and that was Muhsin Muhammad.

• Speaking of Carolina receivers that never really worked out, Dwayne Jarrett has signed to play in the Canadian Football League. Maybe Armanti Edwards can follow?

• Mike Triplett has a good overview of the contract standoff between Drew Brees and the Saints. He points out this situation isn’t all that unusual, it’s just unexpected because many fans thought the team would give Brees a blank check or the quarterback would give the Saints a hometown discount. Don’t be surprised if this one drags on until close to the July 16 deadline for Brees to sign his franchise tag.

• New Orleans fifth-round draft pick Corey White caused a bit of a stir when he said he was looking forward to intercepting passes from Brees in practice. Brees had a good-natured response, but made it clear he doesn’t expect the rookie defensive back to be picking off very many of his passes.

• With middle linebacker Curtis Lofton leaving for New Orleans as a free agent, Atlanta outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said he needs to become a more verbal leader. That’s a good idea. It’s pretty obvious new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has big plans for Weatherspoon. He’s Atlanta’s most athletic linebacker and the Falcons believe he can be a playmaker. They wouldn’t have let Lofton go if they didn’t think Weatherspoon was ready for the next step.

• Defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi showed up at Atlanta’s rookie camp weighing about 260 pounds. That’s about 15 less pounds than Massaquoi carried in his final season at Detroit. The weight loss was by design. The Falcons believe Massaquoi can make more of an impact as a pass-rusher if he’s not carrying as much weight.

• After his first practice with the Falcons, rookie offensive lineman Peter Konz broke into the “Dirty Bird’’ dance that was popular when the 1998 team was on its way to the Super Bowl. Although Konz grew up in Wisconsin, he became a fan of the Falcons during their Super Bowl run.

• Keeping with the league-wide trend of getting draft picks signed much earlier than in past years, Konz and the Falcons agreed to contract terms. The Falcons also signed three other draft picks.

• Bradley Handwerger writes that the NFL should show all its evidence related to the Saints’ bounty program. Fans have been screaming for more evidence after the team was hit hard by suspensions of coaches and players. I understand the frustration and I also would like to see more evidence. But the fact is, this isn’t a court of law. The NFL isn’t required to show all its evidence. If grievances, appeals or lawsuits (or some combination of the three) can get this situation into a court of law, that’s the only way we’re going to see all of the NFL’s evidence.

• Those of you that have been reading this blog regularly through the years know that I’m forever indebted to legendary former Tampa Tribune sports editor and columnist Tom McEwen. He gave me my first job in this business. As the one-year anniversary of McEwen’s death approaches, McEwen’s family and friends are making sure his legacy of helping young journalists continues. University of Florida journalism student Emily Padgett is the first recipient of a scholarship established in McEwen’s name.

Joe Vitt referred to himself as a “substitute teacher’’, but he sure sounded like a football coach.

Speaking to the New Orleans media Tuesday afternoon, Vitt sounded like he was giving a pep talk. Yeah, he started off the session by saying he’s on board with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s concerns for player safety, but he then tried to move forward, which is something that’s been difficult for the Saints since news of their bounty program first broke in early March. Suspensions have been issued, allegations have been made, and there could be suspensions coming for players.

But Vitt, a man who has spent his adult life coaching football, sounded like he was trying to rally a football team -- and a region.

“Understand one thing: We ain’t down,’’ Vitt said. “We are not down. We’ve got 41 wins over the last three years and we’ve got a great building full of players. We’ve got a great scouting staff. We’ve got a great administration. We’ve got a great owner. And we are looking forward to starting the season. Again, the excuses are out there for us not to perform. But we are all held accountable for our jobs, and that’s just the truth. And we will be held accountable.’’

Vitt is in charge with coach Sean Payton suspended for the entire season. He’s been running the team’s offseason program, but he made it very clear everything he does will be done in a manner similar to how Payton has run the team in the past.

“Understand this -- I’m not taking Sean Payton’s place,’’ Vitt said. “I’m like a substitute teacher here. I’m not going to try to take his place. Our program, our beliefs will stay in place. Our calendar is made out all the way out until the coaches’ vacation. You can ask a coach on a particular date and a particular time what he’s going to be doing and it’s all mapped out. I’m just here to service our team and our organization.’’

The Saints are in good hands with Vitt, who has been Payton’s assistant head coach since 2006, running things right now. But there is a catch to all this. Vitt will be suspended for the first six games of the regular season. Vitt can work right up until the start of the regular season, but he then will have to step aside. There have been reports that offensive line coach Aaron Kromer will take over then, but the Saints have said no decision has been made. Vitt said that decision will be made by owner Tom Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis.

There’s another cloud hanging over the Saints. Quarterback Drew Brees has been hit with the franchise tag. He hasn’t signed his tender and Brees and the Saints, so far, have not worked out a long-term deal.

“Drew has earned the right to negotiate this contract,’’ Vitt said. “And he’s negotiating this contract with one of the best guys in the National Football League in Mickey Loomis. Mickey has got to have vision and try to protect our football (team) down the road money-wise. This is going to get worked out. There’s two highly competent people that have great respect for one another that have a common goal. This will get worked out.’’

That should provide some encouragement for Saints fans. Oh, and here’s a little bit more from a the football coach that should raise spirits a bit.

“I know what this football team means to our fans,’’ Vitt said. “I want to assure our fans: we are going full bore ahead.’’

We already had one item about the Falcons and a cornerback. Now, we’ve got another.

Brent Grimes has signed his tender for the franchise tag, the team announced. That tender is worth $10.262 million and that’s what Grimes could make in 2012 if a long-term deal isn’t worked out between now and July 15. I think there’s a good chance that will happen because a long-term deal would be in the best interest of both Grimes and the team.

The long-term deal would give Grimes financial security and it would create some needed cap space for the Falcons.

By signing the tender, Grimes now is expected to begin taking part in the Falcons’ offseason program very soon.

It’s possible he and fellow starting cornerback Dunta Robinson could have some company soon. As we discussed earlier, the Falcons are at least in the mix for a possible trade to get Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel. I don’t expect that situation to drag on very long. I’d expect a resolution, one way or the other, before the draft starts Thursday night.

Time for a look at the Monday morning headlines from around the NFC South.

Just when it seemed like the offseason couldn’t get any more bizarre for the Saints, it has. Jeff Duncan reports that executive vice president Rita Benson LeBlanc, who had been viewed as the likely successor to her grandfather, Tom Benson, has been away from the team for several months. Duncan writes that LeBlanc was placed on unofficial administrative leave.

The Falcons open their offseason program Monday, but cornerback Brent Grimes is not expected to attend. Grimes is carrying the franchise tag and has not signed his tender. There haven’t been any recent talks about a long-term contract, because Grimes’ agent and the team have been busy getting ready for the draft. But talks should resume after the draft.

Richard Walker writes that the Carolina Panthers should trade down from the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. I don’t think that’s a bad idea, because the Panthers could add an extra draft pick or two. But, as I always say, it’s easy to talk about trading down. But it’s hard to actually make it happen. There aren’t offers to trade down at every stop in the first round, and the Panthers might be sitting past the point where teams are looking to jump up to.

The Saints reportedly have restructured the contract of middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. No surprise there. Vilma had been scheduled to count nearly $7.7 million against this year’s cap. He’s aging and is coming off an injury, and the Saints had to knock his cap figure down because they have very limited cap room. Vilma also is facing a possible suspension for his role in the Saints’ bounty program.

Scott Reynolds writes that defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, a first-round pick by Houston in 2007, has a chance to shine with the Buccaneers. At worst, Okoye should be able to contribute as part of a rotation with Gerald McCoy, Brian Price and Roy Miller. At best, Okoye could be a starter if McCoy and Price, who each have struggled with injuries, continue to have problems.

After going through their first minicamp, the Buccaneers don’t seem to have any problems with new coach Greg Schiano’s more structured approach. They shouldn’t. Raheem Morris’ laid-back approach didn’t work. The Bucs are coming off a 4-12 season, and that’s not going to earn anyone the right to have easy practices in training camp or minicamp.

Former Atlanta safety Ray Easterling was the lead plaintiff in the first wave of concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL. He died last week, and police said his death was a suicide. For all those who say the NFL came down too hard with punishments on the Saints' bounty program, I point to this and other similar situations as to why the NFL acted the way it did. As these lawsuits move through the court system, the NFL can't afford to have the impression out there that it tolerates things like bounty programs.

As we wait for Tuesday night’s release of the NFL regular-season schedule, let’s take a quick run through some NFC South notes.

• Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano didn’t last too long into his first minicamp before clearly letting his players know things are going to be different. Schiano, who has a reputation for being very organized, didn’t like the way some of his players were lined up as they began stretching. “Football is about details -- toes on the edge, toes on the edge!’’ Schiano shouted. I don’t know if Schiano will end up being a successful NFL coach, but it already is obvious he’s about as different from predecessor Raheem Morris as a coach can be.

• Speaking of the Bucs and their toes, kicker Connor Barth was a notable no show as minicamp began. Barth is carrying the franchise tag and has yet to sign his tender. Barth clearly wants a long-term deal and I believe the Bucs want him to be their kicker for a long time. They have plenty of salary-cap room to work with, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a long-term deal comes between now and the start of training camp. If Barth ends up playing for the tender, he’ll make $2.654 million, which isn’t bad money for a kicker. The Bucs just announced that they have claimed kicker Kai Forbath off waivers from Dallas. Unless things get really ugly in the negotiations with Barth, Forbath probably won't end up staying with the Bucs for long.

• Filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, the man who released audiotapes of former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams talking to his players the night before last season’s playoff game in San Francisco, has talked to the media several times about why he did what he did. Now, Pamphilon has gone on camera to explain himself. Pamphilon also says he isn’t trying to “strong arm’’ NFL commissioner Roger Goodell into an interview in exchange for a copy of the tapes. But Pamphilon says he really, really would like to ask Goodell one question.

• The Falcons have announced their schedule for minicamps and offseason workouts.

• Friend and former co-worker Scott Fowler predicts the Panthers will get at least one and likely two nationally-televised games. I’ll go out on a limb and say before the night is over Carolina has at least two and possibly three prime-time games. Quarterback Cam Newton draws attention and the NFL and television networks like attention.

• North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples said he visited with two NFC South teams. He visited the Bucs where he got to catch up with his former college coach Butch Davis, who is working as a senior advisor. But don’t look for Coples to end up with the Bucs who have more pressing needs than defensive ends. Coples also visited the Panthers and sounded like that meeting went well. I think it’s at least possible Coples could end up with the Panthers.

• Peter King has his mock draft out. He has the Bucs taking LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne at No. 5. Absolutely no argument with that one. He has the Panthers taking Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. I agree partly. If the Panthers decide to go with a defensive tackle and Cox is available, I think he’ll be the guy. But I’m not sure the Panthers will go with a defensive tackle.

• The schedule will be announced at 7 p.m. ET. Start checking back here soon after that. I’ll be posting a quick schedule analysis for each of the four teams as quickly as possible.

Most of the NFC South gets back to work Monday, but not the division’s best player.

Barring a sudden turn in contract talks that didn’t appear to be heating up recently, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees is not expected to be in Metairie, La., as his teammates begin their offseason program. The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers also begin their offseason programs Monday.

The three teams will begin with conditioning and meetings, but the Saints begin their offseason program with perhaps the most intrigue ever surrounding an offseason program. Coach Sean Payton begins his season-long suspension Monday, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt takes over. But Payton won’t be the only leader missing for the Saints.

Brees has been hit with the franchise tag, and has not signed his tender. Brees has said throughout the offseason that he was optimistic a long-term contract would be agreed to, but that hasn’t happened. Brees could take part in the offseason workout if he signs a waiver, but franchise players almost never do that.

As much as it would appear to hurt the Saints that they’re opening the offseason program without their leader, it’s mostly just a symbolic thing. The Saints won’t hit the practice field for a couple of weeks. It’s a virtual certainty that Brees, who always has taken good care of himself, will work on conditioning on his own.

Brees’ absence isn’t that big a deal right now. But it would be in the best interest of the Saints and Brees to get a contract done before the team holds its minicamp. The exact date for that hasn’t been announced, but it’s likely to be in mid-May.

Speaking of minicamps, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin one on Tuesday. The Bucs got to start their offseason program two weeks earlier than the other NFC South teams because they had a coaching change. New coach Greg Schiano will get his first real on-field look at his team in a minicamp that starts Tuesday and continues through Thursday.

It appears the contract standoff between the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees will reach a point few ever expected.

Mike Triplett reports that Brees will not join his teammates when their offseason program begins Monday. A source close to Brees told Triplett that the quarterback is disappointed about the situation and wishes he could join his teammates to help fill the leadership void that will come when coach Sean Payton begins his season-long suspension Monday. Saints owner Tom Benson said Friday that the sides were close to a long-term extension.

I’d stay tuned on this one. In contract negotiations, things can change with one phone call. Although it’s looking like Brees won’t be joining the Saints on Monday, that possibility still can’t be ruled out. We’ll monitor the situation over the weekend and see if anything changes.

Brees currently is carrying the franchise tag, but wants a long-term deal. He could join the offseason program at any time, if he chooses to sign a waiver. But, at least for now, it appears Brees will stay away until he has a long-term deal.

There appears to be a bit of a lull in the saga of the New Orleans Saints and their bounty program. Don’t get too used to it.

This is just a momentary pause, and new developments could come at any time. Things could start happening again as soon as Thursday, and continue right up until the start of the NFL draft.

There is no timetable, because there are many variables, and the involved parties have to work through a lot of different issues. But Monday’s start of the offseason workout program provides a sense of urgency on a couple of fronts, and the start of the NFL draft in two weeks looms as another potential marker.

Between now and Monday, the Saints almost certainly will name an interim head coach. Sean Payton’s suspension starts Monday, and someone has to be in charge when the players return to the team’s facility to begin their workouts. Bill Parcells has said he’s not going to be the coach. I know Parcells has a history of changing his mind, but I don’t see that’s happening this time. He’s 71 and says he’s going to stay retired.

The Saints have to start moving on, and indications are that they’re preparing to move assistant head coach Joe Vitt into Payton’s role. The problem with that is Vitt will begin his own six-game suspension at the start of the season. But Vitt has been Payton’s top assistant since 2006, and he knows the system and the personnel as well as anyone. Putting Vitt in charge of the offseason program and letting him run the team through training camp and the preseason makes a lot of sense, because he’ll do things the way Payton did. In that scenario, the Saints would likely elevate another assistant into the top job when Vitt’s suspension begins. But Vitt could get the team ready for the season, and take control again after the sixth game.

The other issue that could see some clarity by Monday is the contract situation of quarterback Drew Brees. He currently is carrying the franchise tag, and hasn’t signed his tender. Brees was non-committal when asked if he’ll show up at the facility Monday. I’m thinking the Saints continue to talk to Brees and his agent about a long-term deal. It would make lots of sense to get something done by Monday, so this team can start the offseason program on a positive note and start the healing process.

The other issue that’s hanging out there is the possible suspension of players for their role in the bounty program. The timetable on that is even less clear. The NFL has given no strong indication of when it plans to announce any potential disciplinary action. News could come this week or next. It almost certainly has to come before the NFL draft begins April 26. We don’t know how many current Saints could be suspended or how long those potential suspensions will last. It’s only fair that the Saints know what they’re up against before the draft. If they’re going to be without several players for multiple games, they’ll need to find replacements, and the draft is one way to accomplish that.

Of the many questions facing the New Orleans Saints right now, the biggest one might not even involve their bounty program or who will step in as their head coach.

As the calendar and the clock get closer to Monday, the question becomes whether or not quarterback Drew Brees will show up when the team starts its offseason program.

Brees wants a long-term contract, but all he has at the moment is a franchise-tag tender worth $16 million for the upcoming season. Brees was asked if he’ll show up Monday at the team’s facility in Metairie, La. As he attended a golf tournament in San Diego on Tuesday.

“We’re continuing to work on a long-term deal,’’ Brees repeatedly told California reporters.

There’s still time for a long-term deal to get worked out. Even if Monday passes, the Saints and Brees still are allowed to continue contract talks.

But opening the offseason without the team’s leader (and coach Sean Payton beginning his season-long suspension the same day) wouldn’t be a good symbolic start for the Saints. There was a time when Brees missing the start of offseason workouts was completely unthinkable. But the way things have gone for the Saints this offseason, I’m past the point where anything would surprise me.

Brees addressed the fallout from the bounty program and the NFL’s suspensions of Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt, saying “This is a shock to all of us.’’

Brees also was asked about the audiotapes of former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams urging defensive players to injure specific San Francisco players the night before last season’s playoff game.

“Hard for everybody to hear,’’ Brees said.

But there was a bright spot. Brees sounded positive when asked about how the Saints will respond to all the obstacles they face.

“Whatever’s thrown at us this year, we’ll continue to thrive,’’ Brees said.

If nothing else, Sean Payton’s appeal of his one-year suspension from the NFL has bought him one more week as coach of the New Orleans Saints.

It could end up being the biggest week of Payton’s coaching career. Yeah, it’s mid-April and, seemingly, there’s nothing going on right now. But there’s a lot for Payton to take care of in the next week.

It’s been apparent that he and general manager Mickey Loomis, who will be suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season, are doing most of the leg work in finding a replacement for Payton. They’ve talked to Bill Parcells. Even if they can coax Parcells out of retirement, the Saints will have to interview at least one other candidate to satisfy the Rooney Rule, which applies only if the team brings in a coach from outside. It’s also possible the Saints could stay inside and make offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo or offensive line coach Aaron Kromer the head coach.

It’s also possible the Saints could go with one of their current assistants and still bring on Parcells in some sort of role as a consultant or special assistant. In that scenario, Parcells’ five-year clock for Hall of Fame election wouldn’t have to start over.

However the replacement part plays out, Payton has a lot of other things to do in the next week. He’s known for being extremely organized, and it’s likely he’ll want to leave a detailed plan for his replacement that will include how to run offseason workouts (which begin next week), training camp, the preseason and even some general plans for the regular season.

Payton doesn’t handle contract negotiations. That’s Loomis’ job, and his suspension doesn’t start until the beginning of the regular season. But the Saints have another brewing crisis on their hands.

They placed the franchise tag on quarterback Drew Brees at the start of free agency. Brees and the Saints have said they want to work a long-term deal, but nothing has been finalized. For another week, Payton has a lot of clout in determining what happens with the Saints.

The coach wants to leave his team set up as well as possible for the 2012 season. The best thing he can do in that time is use his influence to make sure Brees gets signed to a long-term deal.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly is expected to announce his decision on the New Orleans Saints’ appeals of their punishments for running a three-year bounty program soon, perhaps as early as Monday afternoon.

Stay tuned. I’ll be here with analysis soon after any announcement comes. But I’m guessing there’s little chance Goodell will change his mind on the one-year suspension of coach Sean Payton and the eight-game suspension of general manager Mickey Loomis. If the suspensions are upheld, it’s likely Payton’s will start immediately or close to it.

Payton initially was supposed to start his suspension April 1, but the appeal has bought him some more time.

Once a decision is made on the appeals, this story is far from over. The Saints will have to put a new coach in place and we’ll see if it’s Bill Parcells, someone else from outside, or one of Payton’s current assistants. A decision on that likely will come very soon, because the Saints begin their offseason program in one week.

Speaking of the start of offseason workouts, their start also adds a sense of urgency for the Saints to work out a long-term contract with quarterback Drew Brees. Right now, he’s carrying the franchise tag, but hasn’t signed it. If Brees hasn’t signed the tag by next week, I’m guessing he won’t be joining his teammates for workouts. That’s why it’s critical that the Saints and Brees work out something soon.

The other thing that’s hanging out there is possible player suspensions. The NFL has said 22 to 27 players were involved in the bounty program and could face fines or suspensions. League officials have met with representatives of the NFL Players Association, but the league hasn’t set any timetable for announcing player discipline.