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Following up on the ongoing story. ... As first reported by NFL.com, the New Orleans Saints, along with general manager Mickey Loomis, head coach Sean Payton and assistant head coach Joe Vitt, were notified Monday that after careful consideration of their appeals, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the discipline that was imposed for continuing violations of the league's anti-bounty rule that endangered player safety over a three-year period.

The club and the individuals will be expected to cooperate in any further proceedings and to assist in the development and implementation of programs to instruct players and coaches at all levels on principles of player safety, fair play, and sportsmanship.

If they embrace the opportunity and participate in a constructive way, Goodell said he would consider mitigating the financial penalties on the individuals. In the case of the team, the commissioner would consider whether there are factors that would support modifying the forfeiture of the team's 2013 second-round draft choice.

Payton's suspension without pay for the 2012 NFL season will begin on April 16.

The suspensions without pay of Loomis for eight games and Vitt for six games will begin at the end of the preseason.

At the conclusion of their suspensions, the commissioner will review the status of each of the three individuals to determine their eligibility for reinstatement. ...

Gregg Williams, the former Saints defensive coordinator who masterminded the operation, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and he didn't appeal. He can apply for reinstatement after one year. Given the audio tape of Williams his players to injure specific San Francisco 49ers the night before January's NFC divisional-round playoff game, that seems unlikely.

(You can listen to the audio HERE -- parental advisory for languague.)

That means the St. Louis Rams will need a new coordinator this season -- and likely beyond.

Meanwhile, the Saints will have to figure out their coaching situation.

Payton has been in contact with Bill Parcells in hopes of getting his friend and mentor to fill in during his suspension.

Some have criticized the idea of Payton hand-picking his successor, but Goodell sees the situation differently.

"If it ends up being Parcells, and they've gone through the full process, that's their decision," Goodell said during the recent owners meeting -- stressing the Saints would have to interview minority candidates in accordance with the league's Rooney Rule before making an outside hire. "They need to make those decisions."

Goodell added: "Bill's a great coach, and he will add a lot of personality and intrigue, and he's as competitive as they get. I'm sure he'll do a great job. ..."

Parcells has said he would consider coaching the Saints if asked. It's safe to assume discussions in that regard will continue.

Fallback options?

The Saints have three in-house candidates they can move into the interim head coach role without complying with the requirements of the Rooney Rule: Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael; new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was previously head coach in St. Louis; and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.

Why would Parcells be a better choice?

As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio recently suggested, Payton’s smart enough to know that, if an in-house assistant coach thrives as the interim head coach, owner Tom Benson could decide at the end of the 2012 season to give the job permanently to whoever leads the team through the coming turmoil.

Florio added: "What better way to keep Benson from deciding to promote Carmichae, Spagnuolo or Kromer (and in turn to let Payton go) than to have the job go to a guy who’d want it for only one year?"

Stay tuned. ... I'll be following up as needed.