Saints Appeals Hearing Set for Thursday

The NFL says the New Orleans Saints, head coach Sean Payton, assistant Joe Vitt and GM Mickey Loomis will have their appeals hearing Thursday for punishment connected to the team's bounty system.

League spokesman Greg Aiello says in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams did not appeal his indefinite suspension.

Earlier, Payton's agent said they heard from the league office for the first time Tuesday and were "trying to schedule a mutually convenient time for the proceedings."

Payton's suspension for all of next season originally was supposed to begin last Sunday. Loomis was suspended for eight games, Vitt for six, and the Saints were fined $500,000 and docked two second-round draft picks.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)