Saints GM Mickey Loomis happy to have Sean Payton back

MOBILE, Ala. -- Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was making his way into Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Tuesday when reporters broke the news to him about head coach Sean Payton getting reinstated early from the NFL. Upon hearing the news Loomis smiled as if a heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders.

Payton's suspension was scheduled to end following the Super Bowl, but the early dismissal means he can return to work as soon as this week at the Senior Bowl. Loomis wasn't sure if that would be the case, nor did he believe this brought closure to "Bountygate." Ultimately he was relieved this was over.

"I think anytime you talk about the head coach of a football team, and a coach as successful as he's been and as important as he's been to everybody in our building and even in the city, I don't know that I can put into words what that means except that he's a great leader for us, he's a great coach, he's a great offensive mind. I'm looking forward to having him back," Loomis said.

As for Payton's reputation as a notorious notetaker on a pile of legal pads, Loomis expected a lot.

"There's going to be a few knowing him," Loomis said. "He's probably got nine months' worth."