New Orleans Saints name Vitt interim coach
(AP) NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints have named Joe Vitt as interim coach, despite the top assistant's six-game suspension for his role in the club's bounty system.
The Saints had to find a one-season replacement for head coach Sean Payton, whose season-long suspension in connection with the bounty scandal begins Monday and runs through the next February's Super Bowl.
Vitt, who carries the titles of assistant head coach and linebackers coach, briefly stepped in as interim head coach last season when Payton broke his leg.
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Vitt also was interim coach with St. Louis in 2005 before joining Payton in his first season with New Orleans in 2006.
Vitt will be able to oversee the off season training program and training camp, before stepping aside for the first third of the regular season.