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This Sux bad for the players, they need one home to play and set up shop, They will be at a disadvantage again next year. I would like them to relocate here permanently, splitting sites will not attract any good free agents
Mike Finger
San Antonio Express-News NEW ORLEANS — In the strongest indication yet that San Antonio's NFL flirtation will be more than just a three-game dance, league commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Monday said there is a "likelihood" that a portion of the New Orleans Saints' 2006 schedule would be played at the Alamodome.
While stressing the NFL's commitment to Louisiana and reasserting the league's hopes to play at least some games in New Orleans next year, Tagliabue said his visit to the hurricane-ravaged city Monday led him to believe "there's going to have to be a split schedule" for the Saints in 2006.
And once again, San Antonio can expect to be part of it.
"I would think the likelihood is there will be some games in San Antonio in '06," Tagliabue said after touring several neighborhoods, inspecting the Saints' facilities and meeting with the region's political and business leaders. "Based on what we heard today, it would be hard to anticipate enough games in the Superdome such that it would be possible to play the entire schedule in Louisiana."
Tagliabue said league officials have begun drawing up scheduling proposals that include Saints' home games at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge and the Alamodome.
Because Tagliabue previously had made comments questioning San Antonio's viability as an NFL market and never seemed thrilled about the city hosting games even on a temporary basis, local leaders were pleased to hear him softening his stance.
"This is the exact position we anticipated the commissioner to take," said Christian Archer, mayor Phil Hardberger's chief assistant, "and we look forward to continuing to host a team that doesn't have a home."
Archer reiterated that Hardberger plans to negotiate with Saints owner Tom Benson at the end of this season for the permanent relocation of the Saints to San Antonio.
"Nothing's changed," Archer said. "The Saints are going to look at New Orleans and the condition of the Superdome and come to the same conclusion that the commissioner did, and that is that there will be a lot of games played in San Antonio next season."
Whether there will be "a lot of games" is yet to be determined.
The Superdome suffered extensive damage during and after Hurricane Katrina, but some officials have projected it can be repaired by November. This season, the league moved four of the Saints' home games to Tiger Stadium and three — the first regular-season NFL games played in San Antonio — to the Alamodome.
The two games already played at the Alamodome were well attended, drawing an average crowd of 62,125. Tiger Stadium has averaged 42,897 in its three games, although those contests were played after the Saints' 3-9 season already had begun to go south.
Tagliabue apparently isn't putting too much stock into the difference in attendance. He said the games at LSU this season "don't tell us much" and added that the league "will have more luxury in Baton Rouge to plan properly" in 2006.
"Next year will be a lot different from this year," Tagliabue said. "Because this year, the suddenness of Katrina and the suddenness of the natural disaster and the human tragedy that ensued in the aftermath of Katrina put everyone in an inflexible situation."
But even though next season figures to be a bit less hectic, Tagliabue is advocating the very idea the Saints players and coaches have complained about the most — a split schedule.
A vast majority of team members have said they want to play their games in the same city where they live and practice. The Saints have been based in San Antonio for three months, and Tagliabue said a decision about whether to move their headquarters back to New Orleans would be made by January.
The Saints' multimillion-dollar practice facility — which was used by FEMA as a staging area after Katrina — is waiting for them if they want. Tagliabue visited the site Monday and proclaimed it to be in "first-class condition" but said he wasn't sure if the Saints would return there after this season.
Benson, who has been vilified in Louisiana for his perceived overtures to San Antonio, accompanied Tagliabue on his Monday tour but did not speak to the media.
Eddie Jones, a former Saints business manager and recently retired president of the Miami Dolphins who was named by Tagliabue on Monday as his "communications liaison" to New Orleans, said Benson was upbeat during Monday's meetings.
"He was very conciliatory," Jones said. "He gave every appearance of wanting to be here for a long time."
But even Tagliabue conceded that with so much uncertainty about the future of New Orleans as a city, it's almost impossible to make long-term plans.
"We want to be part of the recovery and rebuilding process, but we want to fit within the proper order of priorities," he said. "One of the things that was made clear in talking to all of the people we met is that it's too early to tell what 2007 will hold."
Cities brace for resolution of Saints' status The NFL and the hurricane-displaced Saints are considering several options for the 2006 schedule, with games at the Alamodome a possibility. Here's what the principals said Monday in New Orleans:
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
"I would think the likelihood is there will be some games in San Antonio in '06. Based on what we heard today, it would be hard to anticipate enough games in the Superdome such that it would be possible to play the entire schedule in Louisiana."
Christian Archer, mayor Phil Hardberger's chief assistant
"This is the exact position we anticipated the commissioner to take, and we look forward to continuing to host a team that doesn't have a home."
Eddie Jones, NFL liaison to New Orleans, on owner Tom Benson
"He was very conciliatory. He gave every appearance of wanting to be here for a long time."
This Sux bad for the players, they need one home to play and set up shop, They will be at a disadvantage again next year. I would like them to relocate here permanently, splitting sites will not attract any good free agents
I say let all Saints games be played in BR. San Antonio and the Saints players don't need to be jerked by the commish like this. Besides I rather lure the Jags or the Colts here than the Saints. Louisianna, you can have your Saints back, we're done with them!
Last edited by Rescueone; 12-07-2005 at 04:26 PM. Reason: missed word
Told ya.. When Tag found out that was Jerry Jones Crack pipe in Irvin's car.. he decided to give us more games to punish the cartel master in Dallas.
I suspect this is just verbage and PR.
The Saints have been ing up a storm about getting the shaft having four places to play "home" games this year.
The league/Saints will settle on one place for next season, and I'd bet on SA
Yuk...they play the AFC Norf next year...too bad, wish it was their turn for the AFC South, maybe we could have seen Peyton and the Colts come to SA
Taglaibue never would have let the Indy game be played in SA. Expect the best games to be cherry-picked for La. Fr'instance, we'll probably get Baltimore and Cleveland, and Cincy and Pitt will probably go to La.
The with the saints and taglibum. Bring on the Florida Marlins, baby.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is just another reason why Mark Cuban should buy out the Dallas Cowboys from Jerry Jones! Mark Cuban's a better sports franchise owner, anyway, despite the fact that he owns a franchise that are rivals to the Spurs!
Let 'em play in Red Stick. Full schedule or bust.
My thoughts, exactly. When the NFL has to subsidize his ass to make up for those 30K crowds for a whole year, SA will start to look a LOT better.
This post leads me to believe it was your crack pipe in Irvin's car. What exactly has Mark Cuban done for the Mavericks since he bought them?And this, ladies and gentlemen, is just another reason why Mark Cuban should buy out the Dallas Cowboys from Jerry Jones! Mark Cuban's a better sports franchise owner, anyway, despite the fact that he owns a franchise that are rivals to the Spurs!
Yea man.. Cuban does not have Jerry Jones record or franchise income. Cuban may have more cash from the computer busines just sayin.. Franchise to Franchise Cowboys win easily. For now....
I agree...that guy is on crack.
Jerry Jones is considered one of the better owners in sports. He may not always do what is popular with knee jerk reacting fans but he is committed to his team. While cuban may have the headlines in how much he spends on his team(has any of it really done anything for the franchise?...all those dvd players and other perks have done nothing) Jerry Jones opens his wallet for whatever is necessary to try to win. By the way...3 league championships versus zilch(and a change in philosophy). While I would rate cuban as one of the better owners I'd take a Jerry Jones over a Cuban any day.
Say what you want about JJ but the dude has three rings and tons of cash. ban just has the cash.
Back to the original thread:
Nice to see the NFL ignores the players wishes.
Exactly, Mikey. The New Orleans paper did a survey of the players. 33 prefered to base and play in SA, 6 wanted to base in Metaire and play in BR, and 15 had no preference.
Why on MNF did they show the Saints in normal clothes practicing on the floor of the alamodome?
They said there was a vollyball tourny, but. They invited them but couldnt dress out?
Uhhh someone clear that up for me please.
Yep
NFL pick a place and play all the games there.
hey, when the lions come to town to play the saints next week, could you guys start up a "Fire Millen" chant? that'd be great. thanks
preferably somewhere east of Houston
Yeah, now there's talk of games in the Superdome and BR. Alright! Let's see how many fans they bring in. All this just leads to the Saints moving to L.A. in 2007.
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