The New Orleans Saints had hoped general manager Mickey Loomis could remain a stabilizing front-office force following the heavy damage caused to the area by Hurricane Isaac.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell allegedly displayed sympathy - to a point.

A league source told FOXSports.com that Goodell was willing to toll Loomis' pending eight-game suspension heading into Week 1 of the regular season. Goodell, though, wanted to extend Loomis' ban to Week 9 rather than throw a small bone to a franchise rocked by severe weather and the bounty scandal that generated team-wide sanctions.

Saints owner Tom Benson unsuccessfully petitioned Goodell to give Loomis a break and waive one week of the suspension under the difficult circumstances, the source said. Goodell didn't bite, the source said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined comment to FOXSports.com in an email late Thursday night because he was unable to immediately confirm the source's accuracy.

Because of Isaac-related travel concerns, the Saints left New Orleans on Monday and headed to Cincinnati for a Tuesday practice at Paul Brown Stadium. They then picked up stakes for Nashville and the Thursday night preseason finale against Tennessee where a whopping 26 Saints players were declared inactive.

Having to stay in hotels away from team headquarters has added to the adversity New Orleans faces entering the Sept. 9 opener against visiting Washington.

While the storm damage caused wasn't as severe as in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina decimated the region, Isaac still caused considerable problems and power outages in New Orleans that have trickled down to the families of every member of the organization. The Saints had hoped Loomis could help coordinate efforts to address employee needs.

Even before Isaac came ashore, the seas weren't calm for the Saints.