Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson yesterday at the NFL owners meeting said that "cutting off his heirs from any involvement" with the two franchises was "the right decision for the long-term viability of the organizations," according to Larry Holder of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Benson: "You know in life, you're going to have a lot of problems. Everybody's got problems. ... You've got to be strong enough to accept what's going on and that you're going to fight it or whatever it takes to overcome this matter." Holder notes Benson "moves forward with his involvement with the franchises as if there was no legal battle vs. his estranged heirs." His wife, Gayle, "also has assumed a more prominent role, as evidenced by participation" this week's owners meeting. Benson said that he is "heartened by his employees' reaction to the new succession plan." He added that members of both franchises have "embraced Gayle Benson as the eventual successor to his sports empire" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/25). ESPN.com's Mike Triplett noted Benson has "stressed that the plan with Gayle in charge would be to keep running things the way they're set up now -- with a mostly hands-off ownership that allows the bulk of the football and basketball decisions to be handled" by Saints and Pelicans Exec VP & GM Mickey Loomis and Saints coach Sean Payton (ESPN.com, 3/24). In New Orleans, Nick Underhill notes Benson yesterday, meeting with local reporters for the first time since his new succession plan was announced in January, "appeared relaxed and coherent, and was making jokes about the number of moves the Saints have made" (New Orleans ADVOCATE, 3/25).
DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE: The TIMES-PICAYUNE's Holder said the last thing Benson "wants to do is fight with his daughter and his grandchildren, but he certainly seems like he’s willing to fight for this team." The ownership struggle "hasn’t been a real major topic as far as asking owners about what they think about the ownership plan" at the owners meeting this week, though people "understand that this is a big story." Holder: "This is going to be lingering. It affects one of 32 teams. I’d say it’s an underplayed story nationally” (NOLA.com, 3/24).
