Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson "will transfer ownership of the city's two major pro sports franchises to his wife, Gayle, when he dies, effectively ousting" his previous "handpicked successor," granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc, according to a front-page piece by Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Benson yesterday said the change is necessary to "ensure the long-term stability and success" of the sports franchises and his other business interests. Benson LeBlanc had been Saints and Pelicans Vice Chair. Her offices at the teams' Metairie HQ "recently have been vacated and her company-issued Mercedes-Benz and cell phone have been seized." She has "not participated in team-related business meetings" since the end of the Saints' '14 season. Benson originally planned for the clubs and other business properties "to be run by his daughter, Renee, and her children, Rita Benson LeBlanc, and Ryan LeBlanc." According to the succession plan the team announced last year, Renee Benson would have received a 60% "controlling interest ... of the two sports franchises, and Rita and Ryan would each receive" 20%. Renee and Ryan also "have been shut out from Benson's operations," and their offices at the team's facility on Airline Drive also "have been closed." All three were "removed from the Saints' staff directory" yesterday. Tom Benson married Gayle, his third wife, in '04, and she has "assumed a more prominent position in recent years" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/22).
END OF A TUMULTOUS FEW YEARS: CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora reported Benson LeBlanc has "had a tumultuous relationship with her grandfather and with many key figures within the team's hierarchy, and was suspended by Tom Benson for three months" in '12. She also "has clashed" with Saints and Pelicans Exec VP & GM Mickey Loomis and Saints coach Sean Payton at times, and her "absence from around the team's offices was noticed quickly" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/21). In New Orleans, Ted Lewis in a front-page piece reports it is unclear whether Benson LeBlanc "will fight for control of the teams." Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha "has been running day-to-day business operations for some time," along with Tom Benson’s other business holdings. He is "expected to continue in those roles," as will Loomis. Gayle Benson and Benson LeBlanc reportedly "have been at odds for some time, though the reasons have never been made public" (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 1/22).
INSIDE THE MOVE: In Baton Rouge, Scott Rabalais writes, "Hardly anyone could have expected this front-office disappearance, this blockbuster." Rabalais: "Talk about your palace coup." Benson LeBlanc "had been taking a bigger and bigger role as the public face of the Saints and Pelicans as Tom Benson's health declined." She was "even out front as host committee co-chair for last year's NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans." It is as though in the "Saints' world, that branch of the Benson family tree ... simply ceased to exist. Sawed off and cast into the Mississippi River like driftwood." But it is "doubtful this was a spur-of-the-moment choice" on Tom Benson's part. For a man of his "age, given the state of his health, this looks like the masterstroke of someone trying to get his affairs in order" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 1/22).
A SIGNIFICANT MAKEOVER: In New Orleans, Evan Woodberry reports after three weeks of front-office changes, former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland and Saints Dir of Pro Scouting Terry Fontenot "appear to have emerged as the executives closest to the seat of power in the reorganized Saints front office." Loomis yesterday "confirmed the hiring of Ireland," who will be "in charge of directing the team's college scouting." Fontenot is in his 11th year with the Saints and will "continue to supervise pro scouting." Meanwhile, two of Loomis' "top three executives from 2014 are gone." Dir of Player Personnel Ryan Pace "left earlier this month" to become Bears GM, while longtime College Scouting Dir Rick Reiprish "was fired Tuesday as he prepared to scout players at this week's Senior Bowl." (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/22). Loomis yesterday said that he expects the Ireland hiring to "'reinvigorate' a front office that is undergoing a significant makeover." He added that he "hasn't settled on a specific title for Ireland yet." ESPN.com's Mike Triplett reported Loomis "declined to offer specifics on why Reiprish was fired or why it didn't happen sooner." But a source indicated that Reiprish's role "had gradually diminished in recent years" (ESPN.com, 1/21).
TAKING A STEP BACK: The ADVOCATE's Lewis notes that Loomis seems to be "distancing the team" from LB Junior Gallette until his domestic violence case is resolved "spoke volumes about a franchise that always seemed on the player’s side during most previous personal conduct matters." Saints DE Will Smith "got off with community service with no suspension after a public altercation with his wife" in '10 (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 1/22).
