| Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Denies Vicodin Theft Allegations | | | Sources have indicated that New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton and Saints linebackers coach Joe Vitt are the unnamed "senior staff members" who were referenced in a lawsuit filed Friday by former Saints security director Geoff Santini, and that Vitt is the staff member accused of stealing prescription painkillers from the team's drug cabinet. The Saints have denied the allegations, however, and Payton released a statement this afternoon stressing that he has never stolen or abused Vicodin or any type of pain medication. "I have reviewed Geoff Santini's lawsuit and the unwarranted publicity it has received," Payton said in the statement. "I have never abused or stolen Vicodin or any other medication and I fully support the Saints' position in this matter as expressed by Greg Bensel yesterday." Payton is not named in the lawsuit, but sources have confirmed that he is the one referred to as "Senior Staff Member A," who allegedly was recorded as having been dispensed a large number of Vicodin pills despite having no medical condition. Source: The Times-Picayune | | |