NFL

Commissioner Roger Goodell brought the hammer down, as expected. Perhaps just as debilitating, the Saints will lose second-round picks in each of the next two years; they won't draft before the third round next month. GM Mickey Loomis has been suspended eight games and fined $500,000 while the franchise has been fined an additional $500,000. Assistant coach Joe Vitt is suspended six games, likely leaving DC Steve Spagnuolo as interim head coach. OC Pete Carmichael gained valuable experience calling plays during the team's explosive late-season run, though the harsh discipline removes the Saints as favorites in the NFC South this season. Players, such as MLB Jonathan Vilma, are still facing potential discipline as well.