The NFL investigation into an alleged bounty scheme run by the Saints' defense “accelerated Monday with a high-level meeting in New York and hints that the league's penalties could be announced later this week,” according to James Varney of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. The Saints said that Owner Tom Benson and coach Sean Payton requested a meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell at league HQs. The “gist” of the meeting “remained unclear.” Benson reportedly “is trying to craft an image of complete cooperation with the league.” Saints officials have “painted an image of Benson as an unusually active owner since news of the scandal broke over the team March 2.” Benson has been “visible throughout the halls of the team's remodeled Airline Drive headquarters during the past couple of weeks trying to keep morale high among employees, and he has also reached out to the league in a model of contrition and cooperation that could soften the coming blow from Goodell” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/13). In N.Y., Bart Hubbuch reports the league is “prepared to announce BountyGate penalties soon -- perhaps by the end of the week.” Goodell is “expected to come down ferociously” on former team defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and the Saints, with Payton and several players “expected to receive multi-game suspensions while the team is fined and docked several draft picks” (N.Y. POST, 3/13).
