New Orleans Saints ownership features cat-fights at Superdome

Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints owners Tom Benson, center, his wife Gayle Benson, left, and his daughter Rita Benson LeBlanc, right, on the sidelines before their game against the Baltimore Ravens at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints owners Tom Benson, center, his wife Gayle Benson, left, and his daughter Rita Benson LeBlanc, right, on the sidelines before their game against the Baltimore Ravens at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Orleans Saints women who surround owner Tom Benson have reportedly gotten physical with each other prior to games at the Superdome.


Each of the 32 owners in the National Football League are powerful men. They are handpicked fellas who receive the honor and privilege of controlling a powerhouse entity.

Though various positions underneath, such as president, general manager and head coach, they each have a unique way of setting up the chain of command.

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Some franchises have a clear chain of command which more than not lends to success, while others continue to have a very foggy hierarchy which usually creates complete chaos.

The new trend spreading through the league is to have both the head coach and general manager report directly to the owner. This is a clear departure from the coach reporting to the general manager.

The same confusion can often be said for successors.

When owners get older, family members often duke it out to get their name next in line for ownership responsibilities.

For Tom Benson and the New Orleans Saints, utter chaos seems to be taking place.

According to NOLA.com, Rita Benson LeBlanc got into a physical confrontation with with Gayle Benson prior to a a Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Who are these ladies?

Well, LeBlanc, who most people report was the aggressor in this particular situation, is Mr. Benson’s granddaughter and the previously assumed successor of the ownership title. Gayle Benson is Tom’s third wife.

The incident occurred in a Superdome suite do to hostile feelings over the fact that Mr. Benson recently announced a change in his will. Benson reportedly changed future ownership duties from his daughter and her two girls (his granddaughters, including LeBlanc), to his now third wife Gayle is the reason the two women got into this situation and so many feelings are so hurt at the moment.

According to witnesses, LeBlanc went up to Gayle Benson and grabbed the 67-year old women and shook her by the shoulders repeatedly.

Via NOLA.com:

"“[Rita] was shaking [Gayle] to emphasize her point and to be heard,” a source who witnessed the incident told Duncan.  “It was pretty ugly.”"

Six days after the incident, it has been said that Benson mailed her daughter a letter explaining that he didn’t want them involved in his business anymore and no longer wanted to see them again.

Last month saw Mr. Benson finalize his will. In it includes Gayle Benson as his successor to take over the New Orleans Pelicans upon his death. A lawsuit from his daughter and grandchildren promptly followed, claiming his mental capacity was under par.

I guess Saints fans can take solace in the fact that it’s not called Bounty-Gate.

H/T ProFootballTalk

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