The City calendar is set to roll into Mardi Gras, but Superdome and Entergy officials have a serious Super Bowl hangover after last night's Superdome blackout. On Monday morning, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Doug Thornton, Vice President of Dome managers SMG, and other officials met the media to discuss what they'd learned so far about why the outage happened, and what the snafu will mean for New Orleans going forward.

Having a target around his face apparently doesn't bother Roger Goodell. In fact, the NFL Commissioner seems to like it. After taking his turn on Reddit earlier this week, the man responsible for Bountygate gave his pre-Super Bowl presser on Friday morning, where he praised the people of New Orleans for putting his face in every restaurant (as a man not to serve) and depict him on Mardi Gras floats (in a Krewe du Vieux float. There was a vagina eating him).

by Sarah Esenwein

He hasn't been seen around town yet, but Roger Goodell already braved the masses this week. The NFL Commissioner opened himself up to a Q & A session on Reddit’s Ask Me Anything (AMA) board.  He faced inquiries about possible rule changes, his stance on celebrations in the end zone, expanding the NFL to across the pond with a London franchise, even questions on sock-height made it into the thread. Oh ya, and there were also a few about the Saints.

After a year of bongos and motivational speaking, Sean Payton can finally get back to the sidelines where he belongs: the Saints'. The Black and Gold head coach was freed (aka reinstated) this morning by Roger Goodell after the two sat down face-to-face for a meeting on Monday, according to a statement from the league. That means Payton's unprecedented yearlong suspension in the wake of Bountygate is now but a bad memory for Who Dats.

If the increased frequency of road closures and likelihood of an Arctic Krewe du Vieux weren't reminder enough, Super Bowl XLVII is almost here. New Orleans' tenth time hosting the NFL's championship game and attendant kerfluffle will bring together two of the National Football League's premiere teams (that aren't the Saints), media mavens from around the world, a Bud Light hotel and, yes, more of those road closures. So what's really in it for locals? Well, you guessed it: a huge festival featuring music and food, quality time with local reality TV subjects and graciousness toward Roger Goodell. Wait, that last one can't be right...

Once again, Breesus has emerged from the mountain with new wisdom, and it didn't include kind words for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. At a press conference Wednesday, Brees weighed in on the decision by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to reverse the Bounty suspensions of Jon Vilma, Will Smith and two former Saints. "Basically what got overturned was 31 games of suspension, millions of dollars of salary, but most importantly their reputations," Brees said.

by Jillian Firnhaber

Many New Orleanians have spent their showers dreaming up what they’d say to Roger Goodell if they ran into him on the street. One Saints fan got a chance to go face-to-face with the Commish, and he has the picture to prove it. Known only as 2009ring on SaintsReport.com, a local man got a picture with Goodell, wearing none other than one of the immensely popular “Free Sean Payton” T-shirts. (Dirty Coast edition, for those keeping score at home.)

It just may be Jonathan Vilma's lucky day. NFL Commissioner Goodell has recused himself from any bounty proceedings, handing the decision-making over to former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. This comes only days after all four Bounty-gate players implored Goodell to remove himself from the proceedings. Although not officially backed by the NFL Players' Association, Goodell says he consulted with the executive director before formally announcing his dis-involvement with the matter.

Drew Brees was all over the tubes this morning, and it's not to hang with boy bands or hawk soda. The Saints QB took to the airwaves to take it to Roger Goodell. Breesus let loose with his thoughts about Bountygate on the NFL Network, accusing the NFL commissioner of not having airtight sources. He said the Black and Gold players plan to prolong the bounty saga with appeals of their new suspensions. 

Bountygate ain't over yet, Saints fans. The Black and Gold players who were punished, then unpunished for their alleged roles in Bountygate will have to serve time away from the team after all, according to a statement issued by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Current Saints linebacker Jon Vilma, who is currently out with an injury, and defensive lineman Will Smith will have to serve their suspensions, as will former Saints Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove, the site reports.