Saints go with Vitt, but he's out first six games

Joe Vitt, the Saints' assistant head coach, will take over day-to-day responsibilities of the team when Sean Payton begins his yearlong suspension Monday. Vitt, however, also faces a suspension for his role in the Saints' bounty program. He'll be unavailable for the first six games of the 2012 season. The Saints have yet to name a head coach for that time frame but have several candidates on their coaching staff.

"It is important that we keep Sean Payton's philosophy front and center during this season," general manager Mickey Loomis, who also will serve a suspension at the start of the regular season, said in a statement naming Vitt. " . . . This is the same structure we used last season during Sean's knee injury."

Saints owner Tom Benson said losing Payton will not dampen the team's expectations in a season in which they will host Super Bowl XLVIII in February.

"We are looking forward to the start of our season, as I know that all of our fans are," Benson said, "and we are looking forward to competing and winning a championship right here in our own city, in our own stadium this year."