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2B Daily News– Wednesday, November 7, 2012 NFL Saints GM returns to uncertainty that New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis has returned to work, the Saints need his crisis-man- agement skills to be sharp. The organization continues to be rife with unsettled issues, some of which have made its fan base uneasy. So there was no time for Loomis to ease back into a routine Tuesday after serving his eight-game suspen- sion in connection with the NFL's bounty probe of the Saints. His immediate tasks include clearing up the status of Sean Pay- ton's contract extension through 2015, which NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has so far refused to approve since the coach signed it in 2011. METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Now Recent revelations that Payton is still not officially under contract beyond this season have only pushed anxiety-ridden Saints fans closer to panic. New Orleans has struggled while Payton has served his season- long bounty suspension, which, in the minds of many, has only strength- ened the fiery and innovative coach's value. everybody else in our building and our football team.'' Vitt also sounded skeptical of the idea that Payton would leave. ''Our football team loves Sean Payton. Sean Payton loves this foot- ball team,'' Vitt said. ''Sean Payton loves this city. And this city loves Sean Payton. That goes a long way. That's what I know.'' ers' bounty suspensions. At 3-5, the Saints are playoff longshots as they head into next Sun- day's showdown in the Superdome with undefeated NFC South Division leaders Atlanta (8-0). Yet a sense of hope permeated team headquarters after a 28-13 victory over Philadel- phia on Monday night that marked New Orleans' third victory in four games. ''I love this football team. I love the resolve. I love the togetherness. I love their work habits,'' Vitt said. ''All that being said, we've got to get better this week.'' Loomis also will have to oversee contingency plans in the event that defensive end Will Smith and line- backer Jonathan Vilma have to serve their own bounty suspensions, which so far have been delayed by legal moves. first day back. available to reporters and he did not immediately respond to requests for comments about his return to his Saints duties. even he did not have much time to chat with Loomis when they met Tuesday morning, but Vitt stressed that people throughout the organiza- tion were comforted by knowledge that the GM was back for the last half of what has already been an extraor- dinarily eventful season. ''Listen, Mickey and Sean are the leaders of this building. It's not only great for Mickey to be back for our players and our coaching staff, but every person in our building,'' Vitt said. ''Slowly but surely we're start- ing to get people back. Everybody knows here what Mickey means to me, but he also means just as much to Assistant head coach Joe Vitt said The GM kept a low profile on his The Saints did not make him If the Saints are to get better, such strides will have to be made in an environment of uncertainty. Two people familiar with Payton's contract situation told The Associat- ed Press that the Saints and Payton still see nothing wrong with a provi- sion in the coach's extension that would allow Payton to opt out of his contract if Loomis — who hired Pay- ton in 2006 — were to leave the club. The people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL and Saints have declined public comment on the matter, say the Saints and Pay- ton believe the provision is similar to one that allowed Bill Parcells to leave his post as executive vice president with Miami if ownership changed. Goodell has not publicly specified his problem with Payton's extension, which pays more than $6 million a year. The NFL has said the commis- sioner has not made a final determi- nation about Payton's contract status for next season. Goodell has said, however, that he has discussed his concerns with the Saints and asked the club to rework part of the deal. Although Payton is suspended, he and the Saints currently may address Goodell's concerns with the exten- sion, providing some hope of resolv- ing the matter before the coach effec- tively becomes a free agent. Another major area of uncertainty involves ongoing challenges to play- Although Goodell has recused himself as arbitrator for four current or former Saints players' appeals of their bounty suspensions, the players — Smith, Vilma, Cleveland line- backer Scott Fujita and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Har- grove — objected to Goodell's deci- sion to appoint former commissioner Paul Tagliabue to handle the matter. The players say Tagliabue has a con- flict because he works for the law firm that has represented the NFL in bounty-related matters. Tagliabue has given no indication he intends to step down, leaving the matter for a federal judge in New Orleans to decide. In the meantime, Smith and Vilma keep playing, and Saints coaches make weekly game plans on the assumption they'll have the two defenders in the lineup. ''You have to have a little bit of foresight should something happen. We've kind of just been under that thing all year long,'' defensive coor- dinator Steve Spagnuolo said. ''Once we know the week is set the way the week is, we just move on and worry about the opponent we're playing.'' The Saints won't want to lose Smith and Vilma, given their leader- ship roles on a unit that needs help. The Saints are last in the NFL in yards allowed (471.3 per game) but did come through with clutch plays against the Eagles, including Patrick Robinson's interception return for a touchdown, a fumble recovery and seven sacks. Smith had two sacks and Vilma had two tackles for losses. If the suspensions are upheld, Smith will have to serve four games and Vilma the rest of the season. Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said he hopes that won't happen, but added that the Saints know worrying about it won't do any good. ''We're at the point now where it seems like every week there's some- thing new to distract us, so people are like, 'The hell with it. We'll wait to figure it out when the time comes,''' Shanle said. ''We're trying to fight our way back into something and with all the distractions we've had week in and week out, I think guys just kind of put blinders on.'' Raiders activate Curry ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders have added line- backer Aaron Curry to the team's active roster. Curry was taken off the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. Line- backer Vic So'oto was waived to make room on the 53-man roster. Curry was placed on the list at the start of training camp because of injured knees. He resumed practice on Oct. 17 and needed to be activated this week or he would have been GIANTS (Continued from page 1B) integrity and we will continue to aggressively assert and protect the rights and interests of our players,'' Levinson said. Seth In addition, the play- ers' association con- cluded it will not inves- tigate accusations by NHL (Continued from page 1B) all of those were quickly dismissed by the league — leading to nearly three weeks of no face- to-face discussions. Daly and Steve Fehr kept in regular contact by phone and agreed to meet again last week- end. toward the players' side in the contentious issue of the ''make-whole'' provision, which involves the payment of player contracts that are already in effect and whose share of the eco- nomic pie that money will come from. The NHL has moved Other core economic issues — mainly the split of hockey-related unable to play for the Raiders this season. Curry, the fourth overall pick by Seattle in 2009, was acquired in a midseason trade last year for a sev- enth-round pick in 2012 and a condi- tional fifth-rounder in 2013. He played in 11 games, starting nine, for the Raiders and had 32 solo tackles, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. former big league catch- er Paul LoDuca that the Levinsons and ACES helped him acquire per- formance-enhancing drugs from former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski and that the Levinsons and ACES reimbursed Radomski for PEDs. The Levinsons last represented LoDuca in 2006 and ACES filed a revenue — along with contract lengths, arbitra- tion and free agency will also need to be agreed upon before a deal can be reached. The players' associa- tion accepted a salary cap in the previous CBA, which wasn't reached until after the entire 2004-05 season was canceled because of a lockout. The union doesn't want to absorb the majority of conces- sions this time after the NHL recorded record revenue that exceeded $3 billion last season. ''The issues the play- ers are concerned about remain the same,'' Don- ald Fehr said. ''The players haven't seen any need to go backward, given the history of the last negotiations and given the level of rev- grievance in May against LoDuca over fees the company claims it is owed. ''Mr. LoDuca is fabri- cating this story as some measure of revenge for the filing of a fee griev- ance,'' Jay Reisinger, a lawyer for ACES, said in a statement. lective bargaining agree- ment, the union has the Under baseball's col- enue increase since then. Player-contracting rights are very important to them. ''Before we have any agreement, both sides have to see everything on paper and make sure that they all understand it right. That's about all I can say about it at this stage. I don't want to prejudge or indicate that I have any particular impressions or expecta- tions. That's what the meetings are for.'' NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Leaders 1. Jimmie Johnson 2,339 2. Brad Keselowski 2,332 3. Clint Bowyer 4. Kasey Kahne 5. Matt Kenseth 6. Jeff Gordon 7. Denny Hamlin 8. Tony Stewart 9. Martin Truex Jr. 10. Greg Biffle 11. Kevin Harvick 12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,188 2,303 2,281 2,267 2,267 2,266 2,259 2,259 2,256 2,238 MLB GMs get back to work, meet INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — After a week without power at his home in Connecticut, the New York Yankees' Brian Cashman arrived at the gener- al managers' meetings ready to do business. The weather was hot, but the trade market was not. ''Do I have something I'm looking to execute while I'm out here? No,'' he said Tuesday night. ''Whatever agents are here, I'll meet with the agents and then obviously have a chance to engage the 29 clubs. I've been with them a few times already. I think there's certain guys that I've been made aware of, but for the most part I think it will be unfolding quietly.'' The annual GM meetings, back in the Coachella Valley for the first time in seven years, start just a week after the World Series and often spark dis- cussions that lead to trades and signings later in the offseason. The largest winter meetings, where teams send larger delegations from their organiza- tions, are scheduled for Dec. 3-6 at Nashville, Tenn. While teams feel each other out to try to deter- mine what trades are possible, Cashman repeated he doesn't anticipate inquiries about Alex Rodriguez, who was benched during the playoffs. A-Rod has $114 million and five years left on his contract ''I don't see that happening,'' he said. The formal part of the meetings start Wednes- day, with mornings devoted to briefings by Major League Baseball and administrative discussions. Expanding instant replay to fair-foul calls down the lines and to traps figures to be an offseason-long discussion along with protective headgear for pitchers. A report is on the agenda for the winter meetings. Cashman said his power at home was restored Sunday, nearly a week after Superstorm Sandy hit. In contrast to the cool weather back home, the high temperature in the Palm Springs area Tuesday was 93 degrees. Talk about Hot Stove League. At least publicly, Cashman was reticent to reveal which agents he planned to talk with because of anti-collusion rules put in place a few years ago after concerns raised by the players' association. ''I'm not allowed to say if I'm going to meet with anybody or talk to anybody or if I don't want to talk to anybody,'' he said. ''I got a whole run- down.'' Ex-wrestling executive loses campaign for Conn. Senate seat A big-spending for- mer wrestling executive has lost her bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Con- necticut on a night when sports and politics met in the same arena. Linda McMahon, a Republican who once ran World Wrestling Entertainment, was beaten Tuesday by power to certify player agents. The events involved in the website are part of ongoing investigations by MLB. Since the scheme was uncovered, Shane Vic- torino, Jonny Gomes, Nyjer Morgan and Ever- th Cabrera have switched from ACES to other agencies. MLS WILD CARDS Wednesday, Oct. 31: Houston 2, Chicago 1, Houston advances Thursday, Nov. 1: Los Angeles 2, Vancou- ver 1, Los Angeles advances WESTERN CONFERENCE Semifinals San Jose vs. Los Angeles Sunday: San Jose 1, Los Angeles 0 Wednesday, Nov. 7: Los Angeles at San Jose, 11 p.m. Seattle vs. Real Salt Lake Friday: Real Salt Lake 0, Seattle 0 Thursday, Nov. 8: Seattle at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m. Championship Sunday, Nov, 11 or Monday, Nov. 12: semifinal winners, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 or Sunday, Nov. 18: semifinal winners, TBD EASTERN CONFERENCE Semifinals D.C. United vs. New York Saturday: New York 1, D.C. United 1 Today: D.C. United at New York, 8 p.m. Kansas City vs. Houston Sunday: Houston 2, Kansas City 0 Today: Houston at Kansas City, 9 p.m. Championship Saturday, Nov. 10: semifinal winners, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 or Sunday, Nov. 18: semifinal winners, TBD Democrat Chris Mur- phy. McMahon spent more than $42 million of her own wealth in the race for retiring inde- pendent Sen. Joe Lieberman's seat. NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific WL Pct GB Golden State 2 2 .500 — L.A. Clippers 2 2 .500 — Sacramento 1 3 .250 1 Phoenix 1 3 .250 1 L.A. Lakers 1 3 .250 1 Southwest WL Pct GB San Antonio 4 0 1.000 — Dallas Memphis Houston 3 1 .750 1 2 1 .667 1.5 2 1 .667 1.5 New Orleans 2 1 .667 1.5 Northwest Minnesota WL Pct GB 2 1 .667 — Oklahoma City 2 2 .500 .5 Portland Utah Denver 2 2 .500 .5 1 3 .250 1.5 1 3 .250 1.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic New York Brooklyn Boston WL Pct GB 3 0 1.000 — 1 1 .500 1.5 1 2 .333 2 Philadelphia 1 2 .333 2 Toronto Central 1 3 .250 2.5 WL Pct GB Milwaukee 2 0 1.000 — Chicago Indiana Cleveland Detroit Southeast Miami Orlando Charlotte Atlanta WL Pct GB 3 1 .750 — 2 1 .667 .5 1 1 .500 1 1 1 .500 1 Washington 0 2 .000 2 —————————————————— Tuesday's results Chicago 99, Orlando 93 Oklahoma City 108, Toronto 88 Denver 109, Detroit 97 Today's games Phoenix at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Washington at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Indiana at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m. Brooklyn at Miami, 4:30 p.m. Denver at Houston, 5 p.m. Orlando at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at New Orleans, 5 p.m. Memphis at Milwaukee, 5 p.m. Toronto at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Utah, 6 p.m. Detroit at Sacramento, 7 p.m. Cleveland at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. San Antonio at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m. Thursday's games Oklahoma City at Chicago, 5 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Portland, 7:30 p.m. 3 1 .750 — 2 2 .500 1 2 2 .500 1 0 4 .000 3 NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA Denver 5 3 0 .625 235 175 San Diego 4 4 0 .500 185 157 Oakland 3 5 0 .375 171 229 Kansas City 1 7 0 .125 133 240 East N. England 5 3 0 .625 262 170 Miami WL T Pct PF PA Houston 7 1 0 .875 237 137 Indianapolis 5 3 0 .625 159 191 Tennessee 3 6 0 .333 182 308 Jacksonville 1 7 0 .125 117 219 North WL T Pct PF PA Baltimore 6 2 0 .750 199 176 Pittsburgh 5 3 0 .625 191 164 Cincinnati 3 5 0 .375 189 218 Cleveland 2 7 0 .222 169 211 NFC West WL T Pct PF PA 49ERS 62 0 .750 189 103 Seattle 5 4 0 .556 170 154 Arizona 4 5 0 .444 144 173 St. Louis 3 5 0 .375 137 186 East WL T Pct PF PA N.Y. Giants 6 3 0 .667 254 185 Philadelphia 3 5 0 .375 133 183 Dallas 3 5 0 .375 150 181 Washington 3 6 0 .333 226 248 South WL T Pct PF PA Atlanta 8 0 0 1.000220 143 Tampa Bay 4 4 0 .500 226 185 New Orleans3 5 0 .375 218 229 Carolina 2 6 0 .250 149 180 North WL T Pct PF PA Chicago 7 1 0 .875 236 120 Green Bay 6 3 0 .667 239 187 Minnesota 5 4 0 .556 204 197 Detroit Week 9 Results Thursday's result San Diego 31, Kansas City 13 Sunday's results Green Bay 31, Arizona 17 Chicago 51, Tennessee 20 Houston 21, Buffalo 9 Carolina 21, Washington 13 Detroit 31, Jacksonville 14 Denver 31, Cincinnati 23 Baltimore 25, Cleveland 15 Indianapolis 23, Miami 20 Seattle 30, Minnesota 20 Tampa Bay 42, Oakland 32 Pittsburgh 24, N.Y. Giants 20 Atlanta 19, Dallas 13 Open: N.Y. Jets, New England, San Fran- cisco, St. Louis Monday's result New Orleans 28, Philadelphia 13 Week 10 Schedule Thursday's game Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 5:20 p.m. Sunday's game Atlanta at New Orleans, 10 a.m. Detroit at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Denver at Carolina, 10 a.m. San Diego at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Tennessee at Miami, 10 a.m. Buffalo at New England, 10 a.m. Oakland at Baltimore, 10 a.m. N.Y. Giants at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Seattle, 1:05 p.m. St. Louis at San Francisco, 1:25 p.m. Dallas at Philadelphia, 1:25 p.m. Houston at Chicago, 5:20 p.m. Open: Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington Monday's game Kansas City at Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m. 4 4 0 .500 192 188 —————————————————— WL T Pct PF PA 4 4 0 .500 170 149 N.Y. Jets 3 5 0 .375 168 200 Buffalo 3 5 0 .375 180 248 South