Free Republic

The likely contentious question over who will inherit Tom Benson's estimated $3 billion fortune -- including the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, his most high-profile and publicly beloved assets -- will be a key issue in the wake of Benson's death at the age of 90. Benson, who died Thursday (March 15), had said he intended to leave the teams to his wife, Gayle Benson. But a long-running family fight over Benson's empire, including the Saints and Pelicans, could reignite in the settling of his estate in court in New Orleans. Details of how Benson decided to pass on his...

SAN ANTONIO -- The Saints fired coach Jim Haslett on Monday, the day after ending a 3-13 season overshadowed by the hurricane that devastated New Orleans and forced the team to abandon the city. Haslett was 45-51 in six seasons with the Saints and had the second-most victories in team history behind Jim Mora's 93. Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Jim Haslett was relieved of his duties Monday morning, and that general manager Mickey Loomis would discuss the situation at a news conference. Haslett, 50, wasn't expected to attend the news conference. Haslett, the 2000 NFL Coach of the Year...

Tom Benson has come to be the bogeyman of New Orleans because of his understandable reservations about a city with an uncertain future following Hurricane Katrina. The owner of the Saints has been portrayed as unthinking and unfeeling, and worse, as he revisited the notion of moving the Saints to San Antonio. Yet he was only doing what anyone with a modicum of common sense would do, which is explore all opportunities in order to maintain the financial competitiveness of a business. New Orleans never has been a big-league city in the strictest sense. It is an economically limited city,...

Saints owner Tom Benson lunged at an Eyewitness News camera, ripping off a microphone and then got into a shouting match with a fan upon leaving Tiger Stadium Sunday. According to Eyewitness Sports’ Lee Zurik, he and cameraman Mike Bland were in the press box with about five minutes to go when he saw Mr. Benson leaving the game. Saints owner Tom Benson lunges at the Channel 4 camera, knocking it down and causing a microphone to fall off the equipment. Benson also got into a verbal argument with a fan. Zurik and Bland went downstairs to get some video...

Tom Benson, the wealthy owner of the Saints, has his tin cup out while money and relief workers pour into devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. If he has a heart, it is made of stone. Benson reportedly is entertaining the notion of moving the Saints to San Antonio or Los Angeles on a permanent basis, the team's vice president indicated to a television station in New Orleans. Arnold Fielkow told WDSU-TV that Benson is maneuvering to strike a deal with the highest bidder and does not care how he is perceived in New Orleans, Louisiana and nationally....