TheDeuce

Terry Bradshaw interested in buying Saints

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw said Wednesday he wants to put a potential ownership group together that would attempt to buy the New Orleans Saints and keep them in Louisiana, where Bradshaw grew up.


"I'm supporting the citizens of Louisiana who don't deserve to lose the Saints because of a hurricane," said Bradshaw, who starred for Louisiana Tech before winning four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.


Bradshaw, now an NFL analyst for the Fox network, was in Shreveport for his induction into the city's Walk of Stars. He also viewed the installation of the first sign marking the new "Terry Bradshaw Passway" on Shreveport's inner highway loop.


Bradshaw told The Times of Shreveport that he doesn't have the money to buy the team himself. He said he has sought out additional investors, but did not name them. He is not sure whether Saints owner Tom Benson is interested selling at this time, however.


"I have pursued other avenues to find out if Mr. Benson would be interested in selling the Saints," Bradshaw said. "I had to make sure I lined up the money. You've got to find out what Mr. Benson wants first."


Benson has said he would prefer to keep the Saints in New Orleans but does not know if the city can support it. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has joined in discussions between the Saints and the Louisiana governor's office.


The Saints have relocated temporarily to San Antonio since the storm. They've played two games there and a third is scheduled in December.


But last week, Benson agreed to move back two crucial deadlines in the team's Louisiana Superdome lease with the state. An attorney for the Superdome, Larry Roedel, said this week that moving the deadlines all but guaranteed the Saints will play a 2006 schedule in Louisiana. He added that he has received assurances to that effect from the NFL, although the NFL has yet to confirm that publicly.


"We are focused on the Saints in Louisiana, including possible arrangements for their home playing schedule in 2006. No decisions have been made," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.


Roedel said he planned to meet this week with Saints representatives to work on new contract language.


The agreed upon contractual change would push back from Nov. 27 a provision giving the Saints the option to break their contract with the state because the Superdome was not fit for football after being damaged by Hurricane Katrina. That deadline has been pushed back to Jan. 15, 2007.


The change would also extend a March 31, 2006, deadline in the current agreement that gives the Saints the right to move to another city after this season by paying back $81 million in direct subsidies the team received from the state during the first four years of a 10-year, $186.5 million deal signed in 2001. That date has been extended by one year to March 31, 2007.


State officials said the Superdome, which received an estimated $125 million to $150 million in damage, will be ready for games a year from now.


The Saints still could attempt to break the lease before the new deadline by arguing the Superdome was not fit to house NFL games.


If they try that, however, the state will take the matter to court, arguing that the dome is being repaired and that an acceptable alternative was provided in LSU's Tiger Stadium.


"Just as the Saints' contention may be asserted until January 2007, so can our defensive positions," Roedel said.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2219045

I LOVE TERRY BRADSHAW

Euphoria

Go Terry, Go Terry... you da man. I like this move, we need a new owner. We need a whole new attitude and decision making from the very top down. I am glad his comments from last weekend or taking legs. Now just added pressure on Benson from the state, fans, NFL, and now Terry.

TheDeuce

Exaclty, a new owner is exaclty what this franchise needs.... sure we need new coaching and a new QB, but the whole organization needs to be redone to instill the expectations of winning and competition at the highest level... without replacing the piece at the very top, the rest of the organization will continue to accept mediocrity

jrmllb

Terry Bradshaw for PREZ!...Benson could sell the team to TO or Tagliabue himself and I would be happy
Bradshaw ahs the huevos to get rid of AB

Crusader

Well at least it would give the Saints an owner that knows something about football and how to be succesfull. I think it would be a nice move.

Euphoria

LOL, I don't know if he knows that much about football anymore but ok... lol.

FireVenturi

ABB....anybody but Benson, Terry would be great though

jrmllb

Here is something to chew on...AP reports today that Benson was offered $800 million for the Saints and turned it down...He reportedly said he would sell the team for $1.2 Billion for the team....He said with a pinky to the corner of his mouth and a hairless cat in his lap

LordOfEntropy

Terry is a bona fide maroon. A lovable entertaining one.

But, he does have four rings on his finger, he's got a bit of charisma, and seems to care about the situation. I certainly don't see how he could do any worse than Benson & Co. I mean, when you're already on the bottom, there's no direction but up.

I support it.

WhoDat

I support it too - but then again, Benson will never sell, so this is all moot.