The NFL has hired Mike Cerullo, the "former Saints coach who testified against the Saints in the entire bounty scandal," as Dir of Football Administration, according to Fox' Jay Glazer. Cerullo will not "decide whether or not" Saints coach Sean Payton will get fined for the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he drew on Thursday night, but it is "very curious" that he is working in that department." Fox' Curt Menefee said, "I'm sure Sean's really happy about that" ("Fox NFL Sunday," Fox, 12/10). In New Orleans, Josh Katzenstein notes Payton yesterday expressed his "displeasure" with the move. He wrote on Twitter, "Troubling report by Jay Glazer regarding league hiring of fired Saints employee. Unbelievable." The Saints dismissed Cerullo after '10 because the team "claimed he lied about two personal leaves of absence." Cerullo in '11 "surfaced as one of the key whistleblowers in the NFL's case against the Saints in the alleged bounty scandal." NFL VP/Football Communications Michael Signora said Cerullo works closely with Senior VP/Football Administration & Club Services Rod Graves "on matters related to club administration and development, as well as supporting efforts involving college all-star games and project management." Signora noted discipline for on-field incidents is the responsibility of NFL Exec VP/Football Operations Troy Vincent, and Cerullo will have "absolutely no role in that whatsoever" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 12/11). ESPN's Mike Triplett noted the Saints are "skeptical about Cerullo receiving a perceived reward from the league -- especially since they made it clear during the bounty investigation that they felt like he did a poor job in New Orleans." However, Signora "confirmed that Cerullo is not involved with any disciplinary matters that would represent a conflict of interest" (ESPN.com, 12/10).
