Saints could be headed to Los Angeles!

[pR0JEkT 21]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4833066

Saints could be headed to Los Angeles!
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John Czarnecki (http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/archive?authorId=211) / FOXSports.com
Their city, their stadium, their lives are a mess. And given the death toll and the economic devastation of Katrina, the franchise's future is somewhere else..



You tell me where the state of Louisiana finds $18 million to meet owner Tom Benson's deal this year? The franchise is no longer a priority, considering billions will be needed simply to rebuild homes, businesses and schools.

Everyone's first relocation guess is Los Angeles. The Coliseum there has already offered a rent-free deal for this season. Not the Rose Bowl, the Coliseum. Las Vegas would gladly take the Saints in, too, free of charge. But it could end up being San Antonio, where the Saints will live and practice this week and next prior to their regular-season opener in Carolina.

Owner Tom Benson prefers San Antonio, where he keeps a home. But, according to sources, the league is rethinking this option because this could be the perfect time to literally place a franchise in Los Angeles.

Even before commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Thursday that it was unlikely that the Saints would play in New Orleans this season, the team knew that was the case. However, the concern among many is that NFL football will never return to this Louisiana city because of the horrific human misery and economic devastation to the city and state.

Many with the team would prefer to play in Baton Rouge, but the LSU facilities are already overrun dealing with evacuees. The scope of the disaster is larger than anyone, including the federal government, initially realized, and it could take many months to restore New Orleans to a livable city. Water-damaged buildings and hotels there probably will have to be razed. Much of the city will have to be rebuilt.

To become a vagabond team, well, this is horrible news for the coaches and players of the Saints. Living out of a suitcase is no fun.

Carolina coach John Fox thought the Saints, before the hurricane hit, would be a major threat in the NFC South because of coach Jim Haslett's focus on a power running game. Now, no one is sure how the Saints will react to living and working in new surroundings and being away from their staunch fans. Their entire routine has been disrupted, and we all know how coaches and players live on a familiar weekly routine.

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/4833126_36_2.jpgWill Deuce McAllister and the Saints ever play in New Orleans again? (Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

"One thing about the NFL, and the players understand it, there's always going to be something bad that's going to happen," Haslett told reporters Thursday. "You try to turn bad into good.

"There's always adversity in the league. If you can deal with this, and this is probably some of the highest adversity we'll ever see, we'll be a better team in the long run for it. First of all, my thoughts were, if something can happen to the Superdome, what is the city going to look like? I wasn't really concerned about the playing field. I'm more concerned with the people inside the dome and really with the devastation of the city and the outlying areas."

The players will be off Friday through Sunday to reconnect with their families who were left behind in New Orleans. Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, the funny receiver with the cell phone, has plans to visit New Orleans if he can. "I'm going to try to help, donate money and try to feed the families who have been in the Superdome, do whatever it takes," Horn said. "If I have to spend a million dollars to get food, I'll do that."


That sucks pretty bad for that franchise, but hey I wouldnt mind getting the team here in Las Vegas thats where I live thats an option too. Las Vegas needs an NFL team regardless whether its the Saints or not I think. So we will find out whats going on shortly after Im sure! God bless everyone and their families and everyone that has been affected by this natural disaster!

[jimster]

although it may seem harsh, at least they could have a little more of a pernament home. This is going to be a rough season for them regardless, they may as well find a new home as soon as possible.

[Shotgunner]

I didn't touch a single Saint player in either of my fantasy drafts b/c routine is what these guys are all about, who knows how they'll react.

[Tom [Giants fan]]

It just doesn't sound right. The Los Angeles Saints. Who would have ever put LA and Saints together?

[hail2skins]

Tom, in light of the present circumstances, I would think that if they did move to LA, the league should insist that the team change its name. Then award an expansion franchise to NO (especially if they have to tear the dome down) when a stadium in the city is ready, and call the expansion team the Saints.

[jimster]

Saints and Los Angeles (The City of Angels) actually goes together.

This might actually be best fot the team.
1) They need a pernament home, and they're not going to get one any other way this year or maybe even next. - They could get back into a routine.

2) When moving a team to another city, its hard to get the new city's fans to take to the new team, but I think under the circumstances, LA would embrace them immediately.

3) Free Rent vs playing possibley for several years in college stadiums sounds pretty good right now.

[TerpsEagles]

mmmm...... i wasn't aware that there was a big Jazz scene in Utah..... those crazy Mormons....

just an example of name changes that happen and stick. I personally love the LA Saints..... love it.

[pR0JEkT 21]

The Las Vegas Saints has a ring to it sounds better than anything else I think cause Vegas is an option as well as Los Angeles and San Antonio and Baton Rouge. The problem is that there isnt a pro football stadium there unless thay play at Sam Boyd stadium home of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels a college stadium. No matter where they go I think this year they will sell out! Besides the city of Los Angeles dont deserve a team they already had many teams that always moved and left the fans hanging. Thats just plain wrong! If anything they should just create an expansion team with a new city and name then down the road bring the Saints back to New Orleans.

[fuji869]

IMHO: If the Saints do move they will be the Saints for the fist couple of years in the new city then they will changed the name, logo and uniform (like the Oilers/Titans).

Tom Benson might want to get in on the revenue that a new look could get.

[TimFolk]

Tom, in light of the present circumstances, I would think that if they did move to LA, the league should insist that the team change its name. Then award an expansion franchise to NO (especially if they have to tear the dome down) when a stadium in the city is ready, and call the expansion team the Saints.

Tags doesn't want any new teams, it would be uneven if another team was added, we'd have a division with 5 teams. Texans was the last new franchise.

I think LA makes the most sense.

-Largest area without a pro team
-They could play at the Rose Bowl until the stadium is ready

[gridironmike]

Tom, in light of the present circumstances, I would think that if they did move to LA, the league should insist that the team change its name. Then award an expansion franchise to NO (especially if they have to tear the dome down) when a stadium in the city is ready, and call the expansion team the Saints.

I think the precedent was set with the Browns. That makes sense...but not a 33rd team. I think we'd be looking at two franchises relocating for that scenario to work, and then an existing team is going to be renamed the Saints.

[Gallen5862]

New orleans should either get a new team or get paid money if the franchize is taken away from them permanently.