Saints coach Payton says civil ‘process’ complicates ability to discuss Vicodin accusations

Saint coach Payton deflects lawsuit questions

METAIRIE, La. — Saints coach Sean Payton says this weekend’s rookie camp is the wrong time to address accusations that the club covered up prescription drug thefts and abuse at team headquarters.

Payton says he cannot discuss the matter while a civil lawsuit filed by former team security director Geoffrey Santini is pending.

The suit claims linebackers coach Joe Vitt was caught on video stealing Vicodin from the team’s drug locker and that the Saints tried to keep it quiet. It also claims Payton was allowed to take excessive amounts of Vicodin from team supplies.

Both coaches are going about their normal duties this weekend.

Payton says Vitt deserves as much credit as anyone for last season’s Super Bowl championship.