Focus of Saints’ bounty case shifts to players

For one day, the bounty case audibled from the fate of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton to the players involved.

And Monday’s meeting between the NFL and its players association could turn out to be a key play for 22 to 27 players facing discipline from Commissioner Roger Goodell and possible scrutiny from the criminal justice system.

For now, it’s a league matter only. The NFL gave the union more information regarding punishment.

“We have been open about what we’ve been able to find,” Goodell said before meeting with NFLPA officials. “We have given the NFLPA two of our confidential reports, which we shared with our clubs. Hopefully we’ll have some information and a recommendation from the NFLPA.”

The NFLPA’S response could include a suggestion to members for union and legal representation after an Associated Press report Monday that crimi- nal charges could result from Saints players’ participation in the program from 2009 to 2011 that paid cash bonuses to players for knocking targeted players from games.

Spokesmen for the New Orleans Police and Louisiana State Police told USA TODAY Sports on Monday they had not had contact with the league or the Saints on the matter. That outcome would be a first for NFL players. NFLPA executive director Demaurice Smith downplayed the scenario as his union wanted to examine evidence before its next move.

“We have an obligation to ensure that our players have fair due process,” Smith said in a statement. “It is not our duty to give recommendations for discipline in a vacuum without information or without consultation with our players. . . . After that the next step will be to consult with players about what was learned. Only then will we confer with the NFL.”

Payton’s appeal of his oneyear suspension will be heard this week, with Goodell expected to rule on it within days.