A month-long suspension for Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs begins Sunday.
Saints coach Sean Payton announced the development Friday, noting that his former first-round pick will miss the rest of the regular season. According to The Advocate in New Orleans, Vaccaro recently dropped his appeal.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Vaccaro's penalty is tied to a positive test for Adderall.
The Saints (5-7) are close to bottoming out of the playoff race altogether (recent Football Outsiders odds place them at a 6.6 percent chance of making the postseason), so this news might not sting as much as it would have a month ago. Word of a potential suspension arose in early November.
With the chance to play spoiler against the surprising Buccaneers (7-5) this weekend, New Orleans will have to get creative on defense. Already the 27th-ranked defense in football (374.8 yards per game), the Saints will miss the services of the best player in their defensive backfield (though Vonn Bell has been a comparable talent this season).
A 2013 draft pick, Vaccaro likely will take the field again on his fifth-year option. He technically becomes a free agent in 2018.
