Assistant Coach Joe Vitt Named N.O. Saints Interim Coach

Assistant Coach Joe Vitt has been named the New Orleans Saints interim head coach for the 2012 season.

Vitt, who is also the linebackers coach, will run the team during the 2012 season despite his six-game suspension for his role in "bountygate." Vitt briefly stepped in as interim coach last season when head coach Sean Payton broke his leg. While with the St. Louis Rams, Vitt also served as the interim coach for the club during the 2005 season, a year before he joined Payton after Payton was hired to take over the Saints.

Vitt will be able to oversee the offseason training program and training camp before stepping aside for the first third of the regular season.

Payton's suspension begins Monday and runs through next February's Super Bowl after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld Payton's punishment earlier this week.