saintswhodi

Tom Orsborn: Mayor: Take Tagliabue to court

Web Posted: 12/27/2005 12:00 AM CST

San Antonio Express-News

Mayor Phil Hardberger says he would fight.

Other confidants, associates and friends of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson say they would do the same. They want Benson to take the NFL to court to block efforts by league commissioner Paul Tagliabue to return the team to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans.

But during a rare exchange with reporters Saturday after the Saints' 13-12 loss to Detroit, Benson sounded docile rather than determined.

"(Tagliabue) sets the schedule, and the league, you know, so I don't have a lot of say-so in that," Benson said when asked where he wanted his team to play its home games next season.

And this from a man who days before had received a show of support from the city's corporate giants in the form of the purchase of 17,000 tickets for the Saints' season finale at the Alamodome.

Meanwhile, Hardberger and others suggested Benson should dig in his heels and tell Tagliabue he's staying in San Antonio, where the Saints have practiced since Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans four months ago.

"I don't know if (Benson) is prepared to fight, but I would if I was in his shoes," said Hardberger, a former chief justice of the state's 4th Court of Appeals.

"There is a precedent of a team saying, 'We aren't going to do what the NFL wants us to do,' and I think that team won, not the NFL," Hardberger said.

He's right. Al Davis twice bested the NFL in court battles over whether he could move his Raiders.

But Benson isn't Davis, a maverick who relished the opportunity to stick it to the league.

Hardberger knows this. Although he reiterated Saturday his plans to discuss with Benson the permanent relocation of the Saints to San Antonio, Hardberger added this caveat: "We do have to keep in mind, those conversations are kind of contingent on the league and what Tom himself is willing to do."

For now, Benson seems to lack the stomach for a fight. But Saints insiders say he could take action after he meets with Tagliabue here this week.

Tagliabue insists the Saints should try to make a go of it in Louisiana and be part of the Gulf Coast recovery effort. But Benson is said to believe he can't make money in post-Katrina New Orleans.

"Mr. Benson is energized to protect an asset he has cared for for 20 years, an asset he would one day like to pass on to his granddaughter (Saints owner/executive Rita Benson LeBlanc)," said T.J. Connolly, former director of corporate relations for Benson Management Company, Benson's holding company.

"Prior to Katrina," Connolly added, "Mr. Benson planned on finishing his life in New Orleans with the Saints. But Katrina devastated that city beyond belief. Now, he has to look at what he needs to do as an owner to fill a stadium and keep the Saints financially viable. If that can be done in New Orleans, you can bet that is where he will be. But if it cannot economically be achieved there, Mr. Benson has a responsibility to find a location where he can be viable."

Hardberger and other city leaders say that location is San Antonio. Sources say Benson agrees. What they don't know is whether he's willing to stand up to Tagliabue.



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http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...n.d85ae37.html

saintz08

ScottyRo

Lie.
How about win some games? That will cure attendance problems no matter which city he ends up in.

Lie. He'll only remain in NO if the League forces him to remain.

A responsibility to whom? Himself and his family only as usual and that's all he ever cares about.

Halo

My feelings are exactly what ScottRo just said.

After next season when he had an out with the State, he was gone. He sucked us dry, took his share of revenue from the State's portion and now he's done with us.

Sad part about it is, he's forced himself into a move or sell scenario. He will not be able to come back to New Orleans. People will fill the stands just to boo and heckle him.

NFLDiva

I really can't say anything about that jerk that hasn't already been said, but I just had to say that the title of this thread is great!! Someone should forward it to his office

CheramieIII

The city is going to have their own problems real soon. Has Benson even talked to them about how much money he is going to want to bring his team to San Antonio or how much each year he is going to want to keep them there or how much the new stadium is going to cost.

The administration of the city of San Antonio is plain DUMB!!!!! The certainly cannot add and I hope they don't think that the citizens of the state of Texas are going to help subsidize the rape of another state.

The Saints in New Orleans will provide a foot hold for all other businesses to return but just setting the damn example that it's ok and Tags knows this and by the way there is no comparison of Benson to Al Davis. Benson just want's money, Davis want's money but he want's to win.

Golf and sex are about the only things you can enjoy without being good at them.
Jimmy Demaret

turbo_dog

I haven't heard what Jerry Jones and Bob McNair have to say on this subject, but I would imagine it would be something like this:

"DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS, F***ER!!!"

CheramieIII

You got it TD and it just so happens that the two you mentioned are on that 8 member committee.

saintswhodi

They've both said in interviews they would not oppose the team moving to TX.

No, they're not.

CheramieIII

Ok DI who's on the committee? I know you want to tell us. I thought I read it somewhere but could have been mistaken and you know I am going to look for it now.