Wednesday, November 02, 2005


college football

Jones: No time for Saints decision

Cowboys owner says other problems take precedent


"We have to address the basic situation for the people of New Orleans and the conditions there," the Dallas Cowboys' owner said Tuesday. "There's no solution today that's acceptable." -NFL Football-

The Saints have been based in San Antonio since being driven from New Orleans in late August by Hurricane Katrina. They have been practiced in San Antonio and played some home games there at the Alamodome and in Baton Rouge, La. -NFL Football-

Their "home opener" was played at the home of their opponent, the New York Giants. -NFL Football-

Saints owner Tom Benson has not commented on the team's future. -NFL Football-

The team has a contract to play at the Superdome through 2010, but could opt out by Nov. 29 under certain conditions. The building was badly damaged by Katrina. -NFL Football-

But there have been reports Benson would like to move the team to San Antonio and has been talking to city officials there. He also fired executive vice president Arnold Fielkow, an outspoken proponent of keeping the team in New Orleans. -NFL Football-

On Monday, commissioner Paul Tagliabue attempted to quash the San Antonio talk. -NFL Football-

"The Saints are Louisiana's team and have been since the late '60s when my predecessor Pete Rozelle welcomed them to the league as New Orleans' team and Louisiana's team," Tagliabue said. "Our focus continues to be on having the Saints in Louisiana." -NFL Football-

Jones, in New York to introduce Sheryl Crow as the halftime entertainer for the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day game, said he would have no objection to an NFL team in San Antonio even though Texas already has teams in Dallas and Houston. The Cowboys have a strong fan base in San Antonio and trained there in the past. -NFL Football-

But he emphasized that he's not pushing for it. -NFL Football-

"Football has been an inspiration to people who have other troubles," Jones said. "There are problems throughout New Orleans and Louisiana. We owe to those people not to take football from them." -NFL Football-

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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