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Did Sean Payton mock Roger Goodell with clown T-shirt?

Saints head coach Sean Payton reacts after a no-call between wide receiver Tommylee Lewis and Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman during the fourth quarter Jan. 20, 2019, in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Credit: Chris Graythen

Credit: Chris Graythen

Saints head coach Sean Payton reacts after a no-call between wide receiver Tommylee Lewis and Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman during the fourth quarter Jan. 20, 2019, in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
By The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jan 30, 2019

Before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took the podium in Atlanta Wednesday for his “State of the NFL” announcement, Saints head coach Sean Payton had his own season-ending conference in New Orleans.

Payton, still upset over the missed call during the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, appeared to take shot at Goodell with his attire.

Keen viewers took note of a T-shirt Payton wore under his unzipped quarter-zip sweater. The T-shirt bears a image of Goodell with a clown nose.

The shirt is sold by Barstool Sports. It was reportedly banned from Super Bowl week activities by the league office during the 2017 Super Bowl between the Patriots and Falcons. (It was the Patriots' first Super Bowl appearance following a league ruling over Deflategate.)

Goodell for his part did not deliver good news to Saints fans. While expressing empathy, he said could not use his authority to overturn results based on routine errors and judgment calls. He said the competition committee will certainly consider changing the rules.

The Rams face the Patriots Sunday in Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta.

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