saintsdoggle is reporting:
WWL radio reports this evening that Tom Benson has told Saints employees at a meeting in San Antonio today that the team’s training facility is still occupied by FEMA and National Guard troops, and that employees must stay away from New Orleans as it is “unlivable.”
Benson can go to hell. Where the hell are my parents living? Sure its hard, but they are living there.
And the Saints training facility in Metairie was not damaged, and is not occupied by anyone at this time. Tagliabue just toured the damn place and said it was in first-class shape.
It’s obvious that Benson has given up on the city, and is trying to spread his feelings among his staff. The Saints are a symbol of New Orleans, just like Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras, Jazzfest, and Cafe du Monde. That’s what the country thinks of when they think of New Orleans. When those things go, so goes the city. Just like cancelling Mardi Gras would tell the rest of the country that there is no hope of rebuilding New Orleans, so does moving the Saints out.
Ray Nagin has decided that Mardi Gras will go on, even if it is to be scaled down, but Benson has decided that he’d rather leave the city that gave him all his money to flounder on its own. Thanks Tom. Way to sell out the people who put you where you are.
I’ve heard that Haslett has stated he’s stepping down at the end of the season – I’m speculating, but maybe he’s known Benson was planning on pulling this stuff for a while and can’t stomach it
Here’s some pictures of the Saints’ occupied training facility:
The Third Battle of New Orleans.