Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has laid out a new succession plan and it does not include his granddaughter Rita Benson Leblanc. Instead, his wife Gayle, will take control of the Saints and Pelicans, when Tom Benson dies. The voice of the Saints. Jim Henderson, says this had to be an agonizing decision for Benson to make…
cut 3 (10) “…a rough one”
Benson says the reason for his decision is about laying the foundation for the Organiziation to continue to be successful.

Benson’s Pelicans won last night, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 96-80. Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half. The win puts New Orleans back at the five-hundred mark at 21-and-21. And they’ll be without point guard Jrue Holiday for the next two to four weeks because of a stress reaction in his right leg.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis has confirmed that former Dolphins general Jeff Ireland has joined the Saints’ front office. Ireland doesn’t have an official title yet, but he is expected to oversee college scouting and help in other areas of the organiziation. Not only is Ireland a former general manager, but he’s also worked as a scout with the Chiefs and Cowboys. Loomis says Ireland has done some great work in the NFL…
cut 20 (18) “….good fit”

In college football…Louisiana Tech has named Rick Petri as its new defensive line coach. He held the same job at Duke over the last four seasons, helping the Blue Devils win 28 games during that span. He was also was an assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 1992.