saintz08

Time for Tags to exert pull

Someone asked Jim Haslett about the significance of the event.

The New Orleans Saints were playing in Louisiana for the final time in 2005.

Haslett didn't miss a beat.

"Maybe ever," he said.

The Saints went O-fer-Baton Rouge in four games at LSU's Tiger Stadium this season, losing in another dismal effort to the Carolina Panthers 27-10 on Sunday.

The Saints, or, to be precise, Tom Benson, were sent kicking and screaming to Baton Rouge, where the club played half of its home games in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The future of this NFL franchise is in doubt on multiple levels.

Haslett may have finally had enough, after six years for working for Benson, and could decide to cut his losses.

Aaron Brooks will be shopped around in the offseason, and the Saints will probably look for a veteran quarterback around whom to build for 2006.

The Saints' offensive line remains a disaster, and one of their best players, center LeCharles Bentley, is eligible for free agency.

And most important, Benson, the Saints' fumbling, bumbling owner, appears ready to draw a line in the sand with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Benson reportedly is ready to go to court to keep the Saints in San Antonio for the 2006 season, instead of returning to their home base, and their training facility built at Louisiana taxpayers' expense.

Tagliabue visited the Louisiana Superdome, as well as the Saints' training facility, earlier this month. He understands getting the heavily damaged Superdome ready for even half of the 2006 season will be a race against time, but he did pronounce the club's training facility in "excellent condition."

It seems Benson, however, would rather have his club practice in parking lots, which the Saints had to do after they had to leave the Alamodome because of the NCAA volleyball championships.

Benson has done just about everything in his power to sabotage the Saints' prospects for success in Baton Rouge, from front-office mistakes to firing personable executive Arnie Fielkow to lunging at a cameraman for WWL-TV and exchanging insults with a heckling fan.

He's no longer just a punching bag for football fans in the Gulf South. Tom Benson has become an embarrassment for the NFL.

And he wants out of New Orleans. Bad.

Maybe that's why Haslett fired the pre-emptive strike after the Saints stunk up the joint against the Panthers.

"Our players understand that," he said, "and they understood that going into the game. Who knows what's going to happen?"

I know what should happen.

The Saints should return to New Orleans. Right now.

Tagliabue said he wants the Saints to remain based in New Orleans, and that isn't going to happen as long as they're setting up shop in San Antonio.

The Saints play the equally inept Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve in the Alamodome, and somehow I'm guessing most of the fine folks in San Antonio are going to find better things to do.

Tagliabue needs to exert his influence, and convince Benson it would be in his best interests to sell the Saints.

Benson doesn't feel wanted in New Orleans, and he isn't.

But that's where the Saints belong, and Tagliabue knows it.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunhera...k/13446933.htm

\"Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn\'t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.\" - George S. Patton
On another note, I\'ll take a bite of that crow 08. - Saintfan
Brooks is a moron!! - Halo

xan

the mushroom cloud of disgust is slowly spreading...