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New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, one of the most influential owners in the NFL, has ceded some of his power.


After spending more than two decades on the league's Finance Committee, including three stints as its chairman, Benson, 85, stepped down from his role during last month's NFL owners' meeting in Phoenix. In doing so, Benson also exited his positions on the NFL's Audit and Compensation committees. The Finance Committee is widely viewed as one of the NFL's most influential and time-consuming positions.

Benson, who also owns the New Orleans Hornets, said he decided to leave the committees because he wants to concentrate on his other local business interests, including the Benson Tower, Champions Square and the continued re-branding of the Hornets, who will become the New Orleans Pelicans next season.

"After serving on many of these committees, specifically chairing the Finance Committee, I felt that now was the right time for a change," Benson said. "We have many new projects here in New Orleans, not only with Benson Tower and Champion's Square but also the New Orleans Pelicans, plus our Saints and so I want to dedicate my focus to these. I cherished my time working on the many league committees that I served and valued my time with the other owners I have worked with."

Tom Benson stepped down from NFL committees to focus on other interests | NOLA.com

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."