The overall tone of Tagliabue's ruling points very negatively at the Saints staff and front office for overseeing such a program. Yet, it must be noted, he did not speak to GM Mickey Loomis or Payton as part of the appeal process. So for as much as anyone might say this ruling negatively impacts them, it must be noted the role they played once Tagliabue took over the appeal was scant. And Payton never met with investigators until March, sources said, while the investigation had long been going on, so his degree of obstruction could be argued as well.