Nagin's a bada**, Benson's a turd
 

Nagin blasts Saints owner for trying to move team


NEW ORLEANS -- Mayor Ray Nagin disparaged Saints owner Tom Benson on Wednesday for working with San Antonio officials to permanently keep the NFL team in Texas.

The mayor's comments came after the departures of two top Saints executives who were supportive of keeping the Saints in Louisiana. Nagin is concerned that San Antonio officials said publicly that Benson is working with them to relocate the franchise to Texas.

"We want our Saints, we may not want the owner back," Nagin said while attending the reopening of Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter.

"I'm ready to go to the NFL and to [commissioner Paul] Tagliabue and say, 'Give us the Cleveland plan,'" Nagin added, referring to the league awarding Cleveland an expansion team almost immediately after the Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season. "Whatever the Saints want to do, you let them leave, but they can't take our logo, they can't take our name, and you give us a promise to give us a franchise when this city's back."

A Saints spokesman did not return a telephone call and e-mail seeking a response to Nagin's comments.

"For them to be openly talking to other cities about moving is disrespectful to the citizens of New Orleans, disrespectful to the Saints fans who have hung in with this franchise through 30-something years under very trying times," Nagin said.

The Saints joined the NFL in 1967. In 1986, Benson was part of an ownership group that bought the team to ensure it would stay in Louisiana. Benson eventually bought out other members of the group.

During Benson's ownership, the state of Louisiana has built him a new headquarters, including spending $6.75 million for an indoor practice field in 2003. The state also has paid for repeated improvements to the Louisiana Superdome at Benson's insistence during the past two decades.

On Monday night, Benson fired Arnold Fielkow, the team's top business executive since 2000. Fielkow had overseen a 36-game sellout streak at the Superdome and negotiated an unprecedented stadium lease that called for the state to pay Benson $187 million in direct subsidies over 10 years.

But Fielkow has said he believed the Saints needed to be leaders in New Orleans' rebuilding process after Hurricane Katrina and repeatedly praised Saints fans in Louisiana as the best and most loyal in the NFL. Fielkow has since said that stance led to his dismissal.

On Tuesday, Conrad Kowal, senior director of marketing and business development, also resigned.

Nagin called Benson's recent actions a "doggone shame."



Thank you Mr. Nagin.... my thoughts exactly

He just got my vote to repeat as mayor. Of course Blanco is history in my mind. I hope Jindal reruns and wins this time.

Nagan mayor again wont happen...

Backwards you said that, didn't you?

Seems like we are getting to the point where the NFL may step in and force Benson to sale the team. I thought it would never come to this but I agree the name and symbol should never EVER leave the state. Its like if told Americans "hey we the government are moving and taking the flag wtih us along with the Eagle..."

You are correct....a bit..
uhh..that would be "sell the team".....
but I feel ya...

This is exactly what i say! The logo is a symbol of our culture. and besides, its a way to get rid of Brooks hehe

Hey Ray.. Got School Bus?

Really, though. What does a fleur-di-lis have to do with San Antonio. Its a symbol of French culture. There is little to no French culture in San Antonio. Why not name the San Antonio team something that has to do with the city. I mean, isn't that what most sports teams do anyways? You don't call San Diego State Univerity's mascot the Ragin' Cajuns. San Antonio has so much history behind it. Be original.

As far as Benson goes, I'm starting to almost completely agree with the mayor on this one. Let Benson, Brooks, and the rest of the misfits go. We'll get a BRAND NEW N'AWLINS and BRAND NEW SAINTS!

First plan of action for the new Saints team, give ol' Arny his job back.

Doesn't San Antonio mean Saint Anthony? I could be wrong.
And isn't the Fleur-de-lis also a catholic symbol 1st and foremost? I could be wrong.
And isn't San Antonio predominantly catholic? I could be wrong.

Actually, the San Antonio Saints fits perfectly. But, you know, I could be wrong.