Tom Benson Quotations

Football has very direct and strong connections to New Orleans. The game of football has served as a positive beacon in our city. It has given our citizens hope in tough, trying times.

The person who lets them get you down, any kind of problem, is the person that fades out. So you've got to be strong enough; you don't like it, but you've got to be strong enough to accept what's going on and that you're going to fight it or whatever it takes to overcome this matter. That's the way I feel.

In life, you're going to have a lot of problems. Everybody's got problems. Some is worse than others. Some is sickness. Some, like me, you've got problems that you don't like that come up. But you've got to handle them.

I've had a lot of different companies. I've been in banking and automobiles and real estate and a lot of things.

If you've got a coach that overlooks the problems, then you've got problems.

Some people like to play golf; I like to come to work.

Sometimes when you make mistakes, if you learn by your mistakes, by golly, that's when you can really go forward.

You've got to enjoy every day and make the best of it and go forward.

I'm 85 years old. I've been in business since I was a teenager, practically; I was in grade school, and I even had a paper route. I always had a job so I could have money to spend on girls.

I'd like to thank the commissioner of the National Football League for stepping up to the tremendous problem we have, not only the Saints, but the NFL, of getting this behind us so now we know what our schedule (is), where we are going to play the rest of the season.

I don't know what the NFL would have done if San Antonio hadn't taken us in.

So it went back and forth to see what could be done. The Alamodome has some restrictions on what games could be here. LSU had restrictions, too. So it was a lot of conversations about different games.

Sean impressed me with his attention to detail, and his work ethic.

The only hope they got left is this football team. They need us.

Jackson, since it represented Mississippi, it represented what we needed to do in getting the whole state of Mississippi ... to be in our corner.

I expect these games to be televised nationally and it could make me not only proud of our football team, but it would also make the (San Antonio) mayor proud to show what kind of great city you have here in San Antonio. This effort and this schedule will help rebuild Louisiana and the Gulf South.

Like LSU, they had one great game on Saturday. We had one great game on Sunday. And Louisiana now has to show the rest of the world that we've got two great football teams.

Our main concern is with the people of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region who have experienced the recent tragedy. We are attempting to carry on in these difficult times and are looking out for the best interest of our coaches, staff, players and their families. My prayers are with each of those who have been adversely impacted.

I will not return to Baton Rouge for any reason, including any games scheduled for the end of this season or a contemplated next season. No person, much less the owner of NFL team, should have either he, his family or his friends subjected to this form of danger, intimidation and abuse. I was advised not to go but wanted to support the league.

I think the fact of what San Antonio did for us -- we had no other place to go where something like this was set up -- that's what made this happen.

I think this is really outstanding in the fact that we're here today and we're coming backto help make this a greater city than it was ever before.

We all need something to hang onto right now.

Us winning football games is going to mean more to the Gulf South relief effort more than money or anything else can do, ... The one thing they have got is the Saints winning football games.

We intend to present a first-class football team ... all the way to the Super Bowl.

We are now the Gulf South Saints. This entire region means a lot to us. I hope this is the first of many times we're going to be doing something like this in Jackson.

We haven't decided on the (location of the) playoffs yet, but that's where we're going to be, though. We'll get that one a little bit later. We've got time to work that one out. But after yesterday's game (a 23-20 Saints win at Carolina), our goal right now is to be in the playoffs. That's where we're going to be. Like LSU, they had one great game on Saturday. We had one great game on Sunday. And Louisiana now has to show the rest of the world that we've got two great football teams, all right.

We drafted Terrell Owens in the first round ... YOU hammer out his extension.

There are many factors that will affect the future location of our team, ... That is also true of many other New Orleans-based companies that are faced with deciding their future homes.

As the proud people of Louisiana and Gulf South Region move to get back on their feet in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints organization would like to be at the forefront of these efforts, ... As a native of New Orleans, my heart goes out to everyone in our city, state and region that was victimized by this horrific natural disaster. Our organization remains committed to being a leader in the rebuilding process and helping the people of the Gulf South. The establishment of this fund is a first step in that rebuilding process.

The Saints are committed to continue in a role as a community leader, economic engine, and integral part of the city of New Orleans.

The Saints are committed to continue their role as a community leader, economic engine and an integral part of the fabric of the City of New Orleans and the great Gulf South region. Everybody in our organization is committed to help rebuilding our great city.

There is a lot of hard work for us ahead, but the spirit of rebuilding in New Orleans, we are wholeheartedly committed to making the Saints better than ever - that's on and off the field.

Tom Benson & X FEMA Director Inside. No Open.

A little over two weeks ago we were in California, and we just played the Raiders and we didn't know where we were going,

Our facility will be fully staffed and open for player use on a regular basis by mid-January. We are committed to coming back and resuming our role as community leader.

I've got it written down here to make sure everybody will hear what they'd like to hear.

They just got behind the Saints. I really personally feel like they're the ones who reap the credit. The defense played an outstanding game, but they had those guys charged up.

The entire New Orleans Saints organization would like to extend its prayers and best wishes to all of our fans throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South region, ... a source of pride and joy in these difficult days.

The truth is it's all about business. My morning business is better because of the free coffee and doughnuts. I'm a businessman; I'm here to make money.

As we move forward together, the Saints look forward to serving as a leader in the rebuilding and revitalization of our great community.

That's the first thing we'll be working on.

It's most important for everyone involved to make certain capacity crowds attend every game that we have here, ... This is something brand new, never happened before in the National Football League.

It's most important for there to be capacity crowds to attend every game we have here. It could make me proud, not only of our football team, but show what kind of city you have here.

This is the worst performance I've seen by them in the 20 years that I've owned them. They looked just like high school kids.

I don't want to leave Louisiana, OK. Otherwise, we wouldn't be playing four games here.

For the people back home, that's a wonderful thing.