NFL • New Orleans Saints

Fans love Saints, still hate Benson

NEW ORLEANS - There was a lot of celebrating in the streets of the Big Easy Saturday night following the New Orleans Saints 27-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, but despite the big Divisional round playoff win, rowdy fans refused to show any love for team owner Tom Benson.

“The Saints are awesome this year,” Jeffery Baily, one of thousands of revelers, said. “I just wish Tom Benson didn’t own the team. He’s a complete jerk.”

Coming off a dismal 3-13 season during which the team was forced to play home games in San Antonio and Baton Rouge due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints rallied this year to a 10-6 regular season finish, earning a first round bye for the first time in franchise history. The team made more history by beating the Eagles to advance to New Orleans’ first appearance in the NFC Championship.

But while the team has earned the love and respect of the community, Benson, who has owned the Saints since 1985, continues to be something of a pariah in these parts. “Tom Benson is a fucktarded old man and he should sell the Saints to someone who cares about New Orleans,” was the opinion of Kate Winserly Saturday night. “That greedy old bastard was ready to take our team away from us last year.”

Benson, a billionaire who made his fortune in the used car business, appeared to be negotiating a relocation of the team to Texas on a permanent basis last year after the hurricane destroyed much of New Orleans and the Superdome, drawing the ire of fans and community leaders alike. He also drew scorn after attacking a TV cameraman following a Saints loss to the Dolphins, during which fans heckled and booed the team owner.

“Imagine if the league had let him move the team to San Antonio,” said long-time season ticket holder Paul Washington. “Then they would be the ones out partying all night and not us. Would that be fair?” Describing himself as a “hardcore Saints fan,” Washington said he’d “bust Tom Benson in the mouth” rather than congratulate him.

“He better not show his face around here tonight, I guarantee all these people would lynch him.”

Asked if more playoff success might improve Benson’s standing with the fans, Baily said he was doubtful. “Even if they win the Super Bowl and go back to the playoffs next year, I’d still hate that nasty old coot.”

Winserly was even more pessimistic. “Who knows,” she said, “Benson might still try and move our Saints to Los Angeles.”

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