The spillover into Baton Rouge of football fans attending the Super Bowl festivities and game in New Orleans fueled a 48% increase in occupancy and 117% rise in revenue for local hoteliers during the weekend of Feb. 1-3. That's according to new figures released this morning by Smith Travel Research, which tracks hotel occupancy figures in cities across the globe. Though far from sold out, Baton Rouge hotels were slightly more than 73% full during the first weekend of February—up from just under 50% during the same weekend in 2012. Collective hotel revenue during the weekend was more than $2.5 million this year, the report says, up 117% over the $1.2 million netted during the same weekend last year. "The Super Bowl offered a great opportunity to showcase our city, and this report shows how effectively we prepared and executed," says Visit Baton Rouge President/CEO Paul Arrigo in a prepared statement.
Superdome and Entergy officials say they will hire outside experts to investigate the cause of a 34-minute power failure that halted the Super Bowl Sunday evening. The announcement by the stadium's management company, SMG, and Entergy New Orleans came two days after the outage halted play in the third quarter of the game between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. The companies' joint written statement does not explain the decision, but Entergy spokesman Chanel Lagarde tells The Associated Press they have not been able to reach a final conclusion on the cause of the outage and want a third-party analysis. "We wanted to leave no stone unturned," Lagarde says. "Both [we] and SMG thought it was important to get another party looking at this to make sure we were looking at everything that we need to examine." While the cause of Sunday's outage is still under investigation, records released Monday show that Superdome officials were worried in October about losing power during...
Superdome officials were warned a few months before the Super Bowl that the venue's electrical system could suffer a power outage and rushed to replace some of the equipment in advance of the big game. While the cause of Sunday's 34-minute outage is still under investigation, records released Monday show that Superdome officials were worried in October about losing power during the NFL championship. Tests on the electrical feeders that connect incoming power from utility lines to the stadium showed decay and "a chance of failure," state officials warned in a memo dated Oct. 15. The documents, obtained through a records request by The Associated Press, also show the utility that supplies the stadium expressed concern about the reliability of the service before the Super Bowl. The memo says Entergy New Orleans and the Superdome's engineering staff "had concerns regarding the reliability of the Dome service from Entergy's connection point to the Dome." The memo was prepared for the...
In his latest column, the San Francisco Chronicle's Andrew Ross highlights all that has been going right economically for the host city of Sunday's Super Bowl. "New Orleans' recent performance in job growth, economic output and rising home prices puts it at the top of the list of major metropolitan areas surveyed by the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank," Ross says, adding: "And that includes the Silicon Valley, which ranks second, and San Francisco, which comes in, shockingly, 23rd." Meanwhile, Forbes magazine recently called Louisiana "America's new frontier for business opportunity." Ross calls the Forbes title "insult to injury," and then lists other ways in which New Orleans has been besting the Bay Area off the football field. "Louisiana boasted $22.5 billion in new capital investment last year—not bad for a state with a population of 4.6 million, compared, say, with the nine-county Bay Area's 7.1 million," he writes. "Its publicly funded...
Sean Payton can finally go back to work. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this morning the league is reinstating New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton—effective immediately—following a season-long suspension for his role in the team's bounty scandal. The announcement comes one day after Payton met with Goodell in New Orleans. At the meeting, Payton took responsibility for the actions of his coaching staff. Goodell says Payton has "fully complied with all the requirements imposed on him during his suspension." Payton says in a statement that he recognizes mistakes were made "which led to league violations," and adds that he's "excited to be back as head coach of the New Orleans Saints." He concluded his prepared remarks by saying: "Lastly, I feel we have learned from our mistakes and are ready to move forward. I want to thank our owner, Mr. [Tom] Benson, and all of our great fans for the overwhelming support throughout this past year." NFL.com has more on today's...
The NFL has announced the reinstatement of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton from his season-long suspension, effective immediately, as a result of the league's investigation into the team's bounty program. The league says the decision to reinstate Payton was made after a meeting between the coach and Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday in New Orleans. Read Daily Report AM for more details.
In light of the ongoing negotiations with Raycom Media to get CBS programming back to Cox Cable customers in Baton Rouge, a Cox spokesperson says one option for customers wanting to watch the NFL playoff game on Sunday is to buy a high-definition TV antennae. However, some area bar and restaurant owners are offering a less-expensive alternative: Watch the game at their place. Brewbacher's is among those that will have the game for customers. "I don't have Cox. I have Eatel," says owner Beau Dicharry, which means his establishments throughout Baton Rouge aren't affected by the standoff between Cox and Raycom—the parent company of local CBS affiliate, WAFB Channel 9. When Walk-On's first...
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue today overturned the suspensions of four current and former New Orleans Saints players in the league's bounty investigation of the club. However, Tagliabue found that three of the players engaged in conduct detrimental to the league. He says they participated in a performance pool that rewarded key plays, including hard tackles, that could merit fines; and he stressed that the team's coaches were very much involved. Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma had been given a full-season suspension, while defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita, and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove each received shorter suspensions. Fujita is the only player cleared of conduct detrimental to the league by Tagliabue. None of the players sat out any games because of suspensions. They have been allowed to play while appeals are pending, though Fujita is on injured reserve and Hargrove is not with a team. Tagliabue was appointed by his...
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has advised league officials and players implicated in the NFL's bounty probe that he plans to complete all hearings by Dec. 4 and make a ruling shortly thereafter. In a document obtained today by The Associated Press, Tagliabue directs the NFL to produce key witnesses in the New Orleans Saints cash-for-hits program, including former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former defensive assistant Mike Cerullo. Four players initially were suspended, but those punishments were vacated and Tagliabue was appointed to oversee new hearings. Meanwhile, Saints linebacker Jon Vilma and defensive end Will Smith are still playing. Even as Tagliabue moves the process forward, a federal judge is considering arguments by players that Tagliabue should be removed as arbitrator because he is biased in favor of the NFL. Based on the schedule laid out by Tagliabue, U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan could choose to rule as early as next week. For now,...
With the Super Bowl less than three months away, New Orleans is rushing to lay streetcar tracks through one of its busiest corridors to connect by trolley the Louisiana Superdome and the French Quarter. The Big Easy—which will be the site of the big game Feb. 3—is no stranger to Super Bowls. In the 47 years of game's history, this is the 10th time New Orleans is slated to play host. But this will be the city's first Super Bowl since Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The snarled traffic, construction crews and flying dust along Loyola Avenue where the new streetcar line is being laid reflect the frantic pace of preparations for the Super Bowl. Streets are being repaved in the French Quarter; the airport is undergoing a major renovation; and crews are fixing sidewalks, streetlights and potholes. For many locals, the new streetcar is viewed as more than a show of Super Bowl pizzazz. "For anybody who's trying to cut down on gas, walk out their front door, go a few...
In addition to being one of the highest paid and most sought after football players in the NFL, New Orleans Saints' quarterback Drew Brees has enough endorsement deals to support his family for the long term and is also the owner of two Jimmy John's franchise locations. And with the launch of his new lifestyle apparel line just last month, Forbes magazine began wondering why a seemingly financially stable football player is turning to entrepreneurship now. Brees tells the magazine he and his wife, Brittany, founded Nine Brand based on the idea that it would be an investment for the community, not just another way to earn a buck. "We were inspired just from living in New Orleans," Brees says. "We wanted to capture the charm, culture, way of life—elements that make New Orleans so unique—in the brand. The fact that we are New Orleans based, and constantly inspired by it, made us want to find more ways to help the city grow." Even with access to capital, celebrity...
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has largely remained mum on the bounty scandal situation that continues to serve as a distraction to the team's disappointing 1-4 start to the season. But this morning, Brees is making the media rounds, and he's not holding his tongue on his views about the new suspensions in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. As The Times-Picayune reports, Brees called the bounty situation "a big sham" on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning, and agreed with the statement by former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita in which Fujita blasts NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the handling of the bounty case. In a separate interview with the NFL Network's NFL AM, Brees says, "This could go on for a while because, certainly, our players are not satisfied with some of the things that Commissioner Goodell has claimed or said. It seems like so much of his suspensions have been based upon speculation and rhetoric and maybe the testimony of...
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says his investigators have found no evidence at this time that the Saints or General Manager Mickey Loomis rigged Superdome wiring with a view to intercepting opposing coaches' radio communications. Edmonson says state police investigators have run an extensive probe in conjunction with the FBI since the eavesdropping allegations surfaced in news reports in April. He says numerous interviews by his agency investigators have shown "there is no evidence that state laws have been violated." Edmonson says he cannot comment on the status of related federal probes. He also says state police will reopen their investigations if new allegations surface. Loomis and the Saints have emphatically denied the allegations, and the Saints have hired the firm of former FBI director Louis Freeh to conduct its own investigation.
A judge has heard arguments on the NFL's motion to dismiss New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's lawsuit seeking to overturn his bounty suspension without making a ruling. U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan today urged all parties to work toward a settlement. The judge could potentially rule on Vilma's request to be allowed to temporarily return to the Saints while the case proceeds. When Vilma left the courthouse, quarterback Drew Brees gave his teammate a hug and pat on the back. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Vilma for the entire 2012 season, saying the Saints linebacker was among the ringleaders of a program that improperly offered Saints defenders cash bonuses for injuring opponents.
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says he still has an investigator working with the FBI on wiretapping allegations involving the New Orleans Saints, but adds that no evidence has been turned over to federal prosecutors at this time. Authorities have been working on the case since April, when ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported Superdome wiring was rigged so Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis could listen to opposing teams' radio communications during games. Loomis and the Saints have denied those allegations, and the Saints have hired the firm of former FBI Director Louis Freeh to do its own investigation. Edmonson says his investigator has been conducting interviews along with FBI agents but that it is too early to discuss whether those interviews have produced any credible leads.
The NFL is calling an ESPN report that it has offered a settlement and reduced suspension to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma "completely inaccurate." Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the alleged Saints bounty program, which he adamantly has claimed did not exist. Citing anonymous sources, ESPN.com this morning reported that the league offered Vilma an eight-game suspension if he would drop his defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "No such settlement offer has been made," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says. "We will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time." A judge has ordered the league and Vilma's representatives to hold confidential settlement talks. A person familiar with those talks tells The Associated Press he had "not heard anything that concrete from...
The NFL asked a U.S. District Court judge today to dismiss Jonathan Vilma's motion seeking to have his season-long suspension overturned. The New Orleans Saints linebacker is scheduled to have a hearing on Thursday. But the NFL wants the case dismissed because the collective bargaining agreement reached last August to end the lockout gives Commissioner Roger Goodell the authority to punish players for "conduct detrimental" to the NFL. Vilma and Saints coach Sean Payton have been suspended for the 2012 season for their roles in the alleged bounty program the NFL says went on for three seasons. The NFL also states that Vilma and three other players suspended refused to defend themselves during the appeals process. Saints defensive end Will Smith is suspended for four games, current Green Bay Packers DE Anthony Hargrove is out eight games, and current Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita can't play in three games. "By refusing to participate in the merits of the CBA appeal process...
The Who Dat Nation can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief. Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints agreed today to a five-year contract worth $100 million, making the 33-year-old quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history. Brees took to Twitter to announce the blockbuster deal—which will see him bank $40 million in the first year alone—saying: "Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!" And, as The Times-Picayune reports, he later told ESPN's Ed Werder: "I appreciate the diligence and steadfast efforts by both sides to get this deal done. I love my organization, team, and the city of New Orleans. Thank you especially to [owners] Gayle and Tom Benson for the opportunity. Now I need to go earn it." Brees is expected to do a radio interview tonight in New Orleans but isn't planning any other interviews until a press conference, likely Sunday. The average salary of $20 million surpassed the $19.2 million per year that the Denver Broncos gave...
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement on a five-year, $100 million contract that all sides concur will guarantee Brees an NFL-record $60 million, including a first-year take in 2012 of $40 million, ESPN is reporting, citing sources with the league, players union and team. The deal was struck this morning in the latest round of negotiations between the Saints' general manager, Mickey Loomis, and Brees' agent, Tom Condon.
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit against the NFL this morning on behalf of three players suspended in connection with the Saints bounty investigation, calling Commissioner Roger Goodell "incurably and evidently biased." The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Orleans, says Goodell violated the labor agreement by showing he had determined Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita participated in a bounty system before serving as an arbitrator at their hearing. The NFL says the action is an "improper attempt to litigate," adding there is "no basis for asking a federal court to put its judgment in place of the procedures agreed upon with the NFLPA in collective bargaining." "These procedures have been in place, and have served the game and players well, for many decades," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says in an email to The Associated Press. The lawsuit asks a judge to set aside earlier arbitration rulings and order a new arbitrator to preside over the matter. The suit...
As a guest this morning on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning, Drew Brees shed little light on how close the New Orleans Saints and he are to finalizing a long-term contract for the All-Pro quarterback, The Times-Picayune reports. Brees says he believes that smaller details are preventing a deal from being completed. "Why do contract negotiations take this long anyway?" Brees wondered aloud on the show. "It should be a much more simple process than it is. Certainly, it comes down to certain provisions of the contract. There are little things here and there that take time to resolve." Brees says he still remains confident that the two sides will forge an agreement before the looming July 16 deadline to complete the contract. "I'm confident we'll reach that point, hopefully sooner than later," he says, adding he's not yet worried about what will happen if an agreement isn't in place by training camp. A question about how the league has handled its bounty program...
NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith is asking the NFL to restart from scratch its investigation into the alleged New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah confirms. Though Atallah says the NFLPA would not comment on the matter, Pro Football Talk has obtained the letter the NFLPA sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and has posted it online here. The letter calls the investigation "unprofessional, unsubstantiated and incomplete." In it, Smith also points to witnesses who have "clearly and publicly stated that the NFL grossly mischaracterized the information they provided to NFL investigators and knowingly misrepresented the facts surrounding this investigation." The letter concludes with the request for a new investigation. "I ask that you order that the investigation of this matter be redone thoroughly and...
An arbitrator ruled this morning that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority to discipline New Orleans Saints players for their role in a bounty system. The NFL Players Association challenged Goodell's power to impose penalties for what the league says was a three-year bounty program that targeted specific players. Stephen Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, took only five days to determine that Goodell has the power to punish the players under the collective bargaining agreement reached last August to end the lockout. Goodell suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire 2012 season and teammate Will Smith for four games. Former Saints defensive end Anthony Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers, was suspended for eight games, while linebacker Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, was docked three games. Those players have appealed the suspensions. And the players union says this morning it expects to appeal Burbank's decision because...
UL Lafayette great turned NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme—currently a free agent after playing for the Houston Texans last season—will be helping call some of the plays for MidSouth Bank as an advisory director to the bank's board of directors. "The MidSouth Bank Board, like anyone who knows Jake, has long been impressed by his energy, enthusiasm and drive," says MidSouth Bank President and CEO Rusty Cloutier in a news release. "Never has anyone been told 'no' so many times and proven people wrong so many times as Jake Delhomme." Cloutier says the bank plans to utilize the leadership skills Delhomme honed on the football field to inspire and encourage young leaders at the bank and to help instill a strong work ethic in them. Delhomme was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997 and went on to a successful career with the Carolina Panthers, where he holds multiple franchise records and led the team to Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2003, setting a Super...
William Cary Koch
To have power, you have to have balance.
Super Bowl gave big boost to B.R. hoteliers
The spillover into Baton Rouge of football fans attending the Super Bowl festivities and game in New Orleans fueled a 48% increase in occupancy and 117% rise in revenue for local hoteliers during the weekend of Feb. 1-3. That's according to new figures released this morning by Smith Travel Research, which tracks hotel occupancy figures in cities across the globe. Though far from sold out, Baton Rouge hotels were slightly more than 73% full during the first weekend of February—up from just under 50% during the same weekend in 2012. Collective hotel revenue during the weekend was more than $2.5 million this year, the report says, up 117% over the $1.2 million netted during the same weekend last year. "The Super Bowl offered a great opportunity to showcase our city, and this report shows how effectively we prepared and executed," says Visit Baton Rouge President/CEO Paul Arrigo in a prepared statement.
Outside experts to probe Super Bowl power outage
Superdome and Entergy officials say they will hire outside experts to investigate the cause of a 34-minute power failure that halted the Super Bowl Sunday evening. The announcement by the stadium's management company, SMG, and Entergy New Orleans came two days after the outage halted play in the third quarter of the game between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. The companies' joint written statement does not explain the decision, but Entergy spokesman Chanel Lagarde tells The Associated Press they have not been able to reach a final conclusion on the cause of the outage and want a third-party analysis. "We wanted to leave no stone unturned," Lagarde says. "Both [we] and SMG thought it was important to get another party looking at this to make sure we were looking at everything that we need to examine." While the cause of Sunday's outage is still under investigation, records released Monday show that Superdome officials were worried in October about losing power during...
Concerns about Super Bowl blackout first voiced months ago
Superdome officials were warned a few months before the Super Bowl that the venue's electrical system could suffer a power outage and rushed to replace some of the equipment in advance of the big game. While the cause of Sunday's 34-minute outage is still under investigation, records released Monday show that Superdome officials were worried in October about losing power during the NFL championship. Tests on the electrical feeders that connect incoming power from utility lines to the stadium showed decay and "a chance of failure," state officials warned in a memo dated Oct. 15. The documents, obtained through a records request by The Associated Press, also show the utility that supplies the stadium expressed concern about the reliability of the service before the Super Bowl. The memo says Entergy New Orleans and the Superdome's engineering staff "had concerns regarding the reliability of the Dome service from Entergy's connection point to the Dome." The memo was prepared for the...
New Orleans has more to celebrate than Super Bowl XLVII
In his latest column, the San Francisco Chronicle's Andrew Ross highlights all that has been going right economically for the host city of Sunday's Super Bowl. "New Orleans' recent performance in job growth, economic output and rising home prices puts it at the top of the list of major metropolitan areas surveyed by the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank," Ross says, adding: "And that includes the Silicon Valley, which ranks second, and San Francisco, which comes in, shockingly, 23rd." Meanwhile, Forbes magazine recently called Louisiana "America's new frontier for business opportunity." Ross calls the Forbes title "insult to injury," and then lists other ways in which New Orleans has been besting the Bay Area off the football field. "Louisiana boasted $22.5 billion in new capital investment last year—not bad for a state with a population of 4.6 million, compared, say, with the nine-county Bay Area's 7.1 million," he writes. "Its publicly funded...
Payton gets OK to go back to work
Sean Payton can finally go back to work. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced this morning the league is reinstating New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton—effective immediately—following a season-long suspension for his role in the team's bounty scandal. The announcement comes one day after Payton met with Goodell in New Orleans. At the meeting, Payton took responsibility for the actions of his coaching staff. Goodell says Payton has "fully complied with all the requirements imposed on him during his suspension." Payton says in a statement that he recognizes mistakes were made "which led to league violations," and adds that he's "excited to be back as head coach of the New Orleans Saints." He concluded his prepared remarks by saying: "Lastly, I feel we have learned from our mistakes and are ready to move forward. I want to thank our owner, Mr. [Tom] Benson, and all of our great fans for the overwhelming support throughout this past year." NFL.com has more on today's...
News alert: NFL reinstates Sean Payton
The NFL has announced the reinstatement of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton from his season-long suspension, effective immediately, as a result of the league's investigation into the team's bounty program. The league says the decision to reinstate Payton was made after a meeting between the coach and Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday in New Orleans. Read Daily Report AM for more details.
NFL playoff game on CBS available in some B.R. establishments
In light of the ongoing negotiations with Raycom Media to get CBS programming back to Cox Cable customers in Baton Rouge, a Cox spokesperson says one option for customers wanting to watch the NFL playoff game on Sunday is to buy a high-definition TV antennae. However, some area bar and restaurant owners are offering a less-expensive alternative: Watch the game at their place. Brewbacher's is among those that will have the game for customers. "I don't have Cox. I have Eatel," says owner Beau Dicharry, which means his establishments throughout Baton Rouge aren't affected by the standoff between Cox and Raycom—the parent company of local CBS affiliate, WAFB Channel 9. When Walk-On's first...
Tagliabue overturns NFL player suspensions in bounty case
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue today overturned the suspensions of four current and former New Orleans Saints players in the league's bounty investigation of the club. However, Tagliabue found that three of the players engaged in conduct detrimental to the league. He says they participated in a performance pool that rewarded key plays, including hard tackles, that could merit fines; and he stressed that the team's coaches were very much involved. Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma had been given a full-season suspension, while defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita, and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove each received shorter suspensions. Fujita is the only player cleared of conduct detrimental to the league by Tagliabue. None of the players sat out any games because of suspensions. They have been allowed to play while appeals are pending, though Fujita is on injured reserve and Hargrove is not with a team. Tagliabue was appointed by his...
News alert: Tagliabue vacates all discipline against NFL players in bounty case
The NFL says Paul Tagliabue has vacated all discipline against players in New Orleans Saints bounty case. Daily Report PM will have further details.
Tagliabue expects to rule on bounties by Dec. 4
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has advised league officials and players implicated in the NFL's bounty probe that he plans to complete all hearings by Dec. 4 and make a ruling shortly thereafter. In a document obtained today by The Associated Press, Tagliabue directs the NFL to produce key witnesses in the New Orleans Saints cash-for-hits program, including former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former defensive assistant Mike Cerullo. Four players initially were suspended, but those punishments were vacated and Tagliabue was appointed to oversee new hearings. Meanwhile, Saints linebacker Jon Vilma and defensive end Will Smith are still playing. Even as Tagliabue moves the process forward, a federal judge is considering arguments by players that Tagliabue should be removed as arbitrator because he is biased in favor of the NFL. Based on the schedule laid out by Tagliabue, U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan could choose to rule as early as next week. For now,...
N.O. creating new streetcar line for Super Bowl XLVII
With the Super Bowl less than three months away, New Orleans is rushing to lay streetcar tracks through one of its busiest corridors to connect by trolley the Louisiana Superdome and the French Quarter. The Big Easy—which will be the site of the big game Feb. 3—is no stranger to Super Bowls. In the 47 years of game's history, this is the 10th time New Orleans is slated to play host. But this will be the city's first Super Bowl since Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The snarled traffic, construction crews and flying dust along Loyola Avenue where the new streetcar line is being laid reflect the frantic pace of preparations for the Super Bowl. Streets are being repaved in the French Quarter; the airport is undergoing a major renovation; and crews are fixing sidewalks, streetlights and potholes. For many locals, the new streetcar is viewed as more than a show of Super Bowl pizzazz. "For anybody who's trying to cut down on gas, walk out their front door, go a few...
'Forbes' delves into Brees' entrepreneurial spirit
In addition to being one of the highest paid and most sought after football players in the NFL, New Orleans Saints' quarterback Drew Brees has enough endorsement deals to support his family for the long term and is also the owner of two Jimmy John's franchise locations. And with the launch of his new lifestyle apparel line just last month, Forbes magazine began wondering why a seemingly financially stable football player is turning to entrepreneurship now. Brees tells the magazine he and his wife, Brittany, founded Nine Brand based on the idea that it would be an investment for the community, not just another way to earn a buck. "We were inspired just from living in New Orleans," Brees says. "We wanted to capture the charm, culture, way of life—elements that make New Orleans so unique—in the brand. The fact that we are New Orleans based, and constantly inspired by it, made us want to find more ways to help the city grow." Even with access to capital, celebrity...
Brees: Bounty scandal is 'a big sham'
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has largely remained mum on the bounty scandal situation that continues to serve as a distraction to the team's disappointing 1-4 start to the season. But this morning, Brees is making the media rounds, and he's not holding his tongue on his views about the new suspensions in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. As The Times-Picayune reports, Brees called the bounty situation "a big sham" on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning, and agreed with the statement by former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita in which Fujita blasts NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the handling of the bounty case. In a separate interview with the NFL Network's NFL AM, Brees says, "This could go on for a while because, certainly, our players are not satisfied with some of the things that Commissioner Goodell has claimed or said. It seems like so much of his suspensions have been based upon speculation and rhetoric and maybe the testimony of...
State Police: No evidence of Saints wiretapping
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says his investigators have found no evidence at this time that the Saints or General Manager Mickey Loomis rigged Superdome wiring with a view to intercepting opposing coaches' radio communications. Edmonson says state police investigators have run an extensive probe in conjunction with the FBI since the eavesdropping allegations surfaced in news reports in April. He says numerous interviews by his agency investigators have shown "there is no evidence that state laws have been violated." Edmonson says he cannot comment on the status of related federal probes. He also says state police will reopen their investigations if new allegations surface. Loomis and the Saints have emphatically denied the allegations, and the Saints have hired the firm of former FBI director Louis Freeh to conduct its own investigation.
Judge does not rule in Saints LB Vilma lawsuit
A judge has heard arguments on the NFL's motion to dismiss New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's lawsuit seeking to overturn his bounty suspension without making a ruling. U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan today urged all parties to work toward a settlement. The judge could potentially rule on Vilma's request to be allowed to temporarily return to the Saints while the case proceeds. When Vilma left the courthouse, quarterback Drew Brees gave his teammate a hug and pat on the back. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Vilma for the entire 2012 season, saying the Saints linebacker was among the ringleaders of a program that improperly offered Saints defenders cash bonuses for injuring opponents.
State police: Saints wiretapping probe ongoing
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says he still has an investigator working with the FBI on wiretapping allegations involving the New Orleans Saints, but adds that no evidence has been turned over to federal prosecutors at this time. Authorities have been working on the case since April, when ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported Superdome wiring was rigged so Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis could listen to opposing teams' radio communications during games. Loomis and the Saints have denied those allegations, and the Saints have hired the firm of former FBI Director Louis Freeh to do its own investigation. Edmonson says his investigator has been conducting interviews along with FBI agents but that it is too early to discuss whether those interviews have produced any credible leads.
NFL disputes report of Vilma settlement offer
The NFL is calling an ESPN report that it has offered a settlement and reduced suspension to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma "completely inaccurate." Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the alleged Saints bounty program, which he adamantly has claimed did not exist. Citing anonymous sources, ESPN.com this morning reported that the league offered Vilma an eight-game suspension if he would drop his defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "No such settlement offer has been made," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says. "We will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time." A judge has ordered the league and Vilma's representatives to hold confidential settlement talks. A person familiar with those talks tells The Associated Press he had "not heard anything that concrete from...
NFL asks court to dismiss Saints player's claims
The NFL asked a U.S. District Court judge today to dismiss Jonathan Vilma's motion seeking to have his season-long suspension overturned. The New Orleans Saints linebacker is scheduled to have a hearing on Thursday. But the NFL wants the case dismissed because the collective bargaining agreement reached last August to end the lockout gives Commissioner Roger Goodell the authority to punish players for "conduct detrimental" to the NFL. Vilma and Saints coach Sean Payton have been suspended for the 2012 season for their roles in the alleged bounty program the NFL says went on for three seasons. The NFL also states that Vilma and three other players suspended refused to defend themselves during the appeals process. Saints defensive end Will Smith is suspended for four games, current Green Bay Packers DE Anthony Hargrove is out eight games, and current Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita can't play in three games. "By refusing to participate in the merits of the CBA appeal process...
$100M contract makes Brees the NFL's highest paid player
The Who Dat Nation can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief. Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints agreed today to a five-year contract worth $100 million, making the 33-year-old quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history. Brees took to Twitter to announce the blockbuster deal—which will see him bank $40 million in the first year alone—saying: "Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!" And, as The Times-Picayune reports, he later told ESPN's Ed Werder: "I appreciate the diligence and steadfast efforts by both sides to get this deal done. I love my organization, team, and the city of New Orleans. Thank you especially to [owners] Gayle and Tom Benson for the opportunity. Now I need to go earn it." Brees is expected to do a radio interview tonight in New Orleans but isn't planning any other interviews until a press conference, likely Sunday. The average salary of $20 million surpassed the $19.2 million per year that the Denver Broncos gave...
News alert: Brees, Saints reportedly agree to $100M contract
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement on a five-year, $100 million contract that all sides concur will guarantee Brees an NFL-record $60 million, including a first-year take in 2012 of $40 million, ESPN is reporting, citing sources with the league, players union and team. The deal was struck this morning in the latest round of negotiations between the Saints' general manager, Mickey Loomis, and Brees' agent, Tom Condon.
NFLPA sues, calls Goodell 'biased' in Saints bounty case
The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit against the NFL this morning on behalf of three players suspended in connection with the Saints bounty investigation, calling Commissioner Roger Goodell "incurably and evidently biased." The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Orleans, says Goodell violated the labor agreement by showing he had determined Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita participated in a bounty system before serving as an arbitrator at their hearing. The NFL says the action is an "improper attempt to litigate," adding there is "no basis for asking a federal court to put its judgment in place of the procedures agreed upon with the NFLPA in collective bargaining." "These procedures have been in place, and have served the game and players well, for many decades," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says in an email to The Associated Press. The lawsuit asks a judge to set aside earlier arbitration rulings and order a new arbitrator to preside over the matter. The suit...
Brees: Small details getting in the way of big contract
As a guest this morning on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning, Drew Brees shed little light on how close the New Orleans Saints and he are to finalizing a long-term contract for the All-Pro quarterback, The Times-Picayune reports. Brees says he believes that smaller details are preventing a deal from being completed. "Why do contract negotiations take this long anyway?" Brees wondered aloud on the show. "It should be a much more simple process than it is. Certainly, it comes down to certain provisions of the contract. There are little things here and there that take time to resolve." Brees says he still remains confident that the two sides will forge an agreement before the looming July 16 deadline to complete the contract. "I'm confident we'll reach that point, hopefully sooner than later," he says, adding he's not yet worried about what will happen if an agreement isn't in place by training camp. A question about how the league has handled its bounty program...
NFLPA asks NFL to restart Saints bounty investigation
NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith is asking the NFL to restart from scratch its investigation into the alleged New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah confirms. Though Atallah says the NFLPA would not comment on the matter, Pro Football Talk has obtained the letter the NFLPA sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and has posted it online here. The letter calls the investigation "unprofessional, unsubstantiated and incomplete." In it, Smith also points to witnesses who have "clearly and publicly stated that the NFL grossly mischaracterized the information they provided to NFL investigators and knowingly misrepresented the facts surrounding this investigation." The letter concludes with the request for a new investigation. "I ask that you order that the investigation of this matter be redone thoroughly and...
NFL wins arbitration ruling in Saints bounty case
An arbitrator ruled this morning that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority to discipline New Orleans Saints players for their role in a bounty system. The NFL Players Association challenged Goodell's power to impose penalties for what the league says was a three-year bounty program that targeted specific players. Stephen Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, took only five days to determine that Goodell has the power to punish the players under the collective bargaining agreement reached last August to end the lockout. Goodell suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire 2012 season and teammate Will Smith for four games. Former Saints defensive end Anthony Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers, was suspended for eight games, while linebacker Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, was docked three games. Those players have appealed the suspensions. And the players union says this morning it expects to appeal Burbank's decision because...
Free agent QB Delhomme joins MidSouth Bank roster
UL Lafayette great turned NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme—currently a free agent after playing for the Houston Texans last season—will be helping call some of the plays for MidSouth Bank as an advisory director to the bank's board of directors. "The MidSouth Bank Board, like anyone who knows Jake, has long been impressed by his energy, enthusiasm and drive," says MidSouth Bank President and CEO Rusty Cloutier in a news release. "Never has anyone been told 'no' so many times and proven people wrong so many times as Jake Delhomme." Cloutier says the bank plans to utilize the leadership skills Delhomme honed on the football field to inspire and encourage young leaders at the bank and to help instill a strong work ethic in them. Delhomme was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997 and went on to a successful career with the Carolina Panthers, where he holds multiple franchise records and led the team to Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2003, setting a Super...