The defending Super Bowl Champions' head coach is currently under scrutiny.
ProFootballTalk is reporting that a lawsuit identifying two senior members of the Saints' staff allegedly received unauthorized quantities of Vicodin.
While the Saints' organization referred to them as "Senior Staff Member A" and "Senior Staff Member B," PFT has reported that multiple sources informed them that the two unnamed staff members are head coach Sean Payton and assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt.
A couple of minutes ago, Sean Payton released a statement citing that he was, indeed one of the senior staff members mentioned, but denying all allegations regarding receiving the Vicodin. The statement can be viewed on PFT (here)
"I have reviewed Geoff Santini's lawsuit and the unwarranted publicity it has received," Payton says in a statement provided to us by the Saints. "I have never abused or stolen vicodin or any other medication and I fully support the Saints' position in this matter as expressed by Greg Bensel yesterday."
Here are some highlights from the petition:
Paragraph 6 of the "Petition" filed by former director of security Geoffrey Santini alleges that trainer Scottie Patton told Santini that Vicodin pills were missing from the team drug locker. Paragraph 7 alleges that Santini noticed that "a large number of pills" had been dispensed to "Senior Staff Member A" and "Senior Staff Member B." Paragraph 8 alleges that Patton told G.M. Mickey Loomis that "[s]omeone was stealing" the medication. Paragraph 8 also alleges that Patton said the amount of pills dispensed to "Senior Staff Member A" was sufficient to constitute abuse.
Paragraph 11 alleges that video from a hidden camera placed in the room after the issue arose showed that "Senior Staff Member B" had accessed the drug locker and removed pills from a bottle of Vicodin.
The initial article from PFT citing the allegations can be viewed (here).