Paul Tagliabue Saints Quotations

We appreciate the leadership of ABC and ESPN in helping us turn this particular Monday night into far more than a primetime football doubleheader, making it part of the overall Gulf Coast relief effort. The New Orleans Saints know the importance of rising to help meet the Gulf Coast's extraordinary challenges, and we salute them, too.

I think what we need to do is recognize that the people of this region and the businesses of this region and the governmental agencies of this region have so many priorities that rebuilding the Saints and recommitting the Saints to Louisiana is just one of those priorities.

Our focus has been on doing the right thing in terms of the Saints games, and we will be very actively involved with respect to the future. But that will be at a future date.

Our focus continues to be on having the Saints in Louisiana, ... We're trying to develop what we would regard as a new model for the Saints to operate in a rebuilt Louisiana.

We had an excellent meeting this morning and quickly developed a dual consensus. The first was to continue to give priority to the needs of the region and the second to the scheduling of Saints games in a way that made sense under the total circumstances. ... We also appreciate the cooperation of the Alamodome officials and the hospitality of the people of San Antonio for their support of the Saints at this difficult time.

We had an excellent meeting and quickly developed a dual consensus. The first was to continue to give priority to the needs of the region and the second to the scheduling of Saints games in a way that made sense under the total circumstances.

We had an excellent meeting and quickly developed a dual consensus, ... The first was to continue to give priority to the needs of the region and the second to the scheduling of Saints games in a way that made sense under the total circumstances.

We have to keep emphasizing the importance of the Saints representing the entire region and make everyone understand this city has been hit so hard it takes the entire region to make it work.

To make it 1,000 percent clear, the New Orleans Saints are committed to New Orleans, La., and their fans.

We know it's going to be difficult, but we're seeking to have the Saints play all eight of their home games at the Superdome in 2006. There's a short time to get renovations done. Hopefully, we can have the Saints back in the community as soon as possible.

The business model for the Saints needs to be changed. It needs to be expanded. I think a fresh look has to be taken at the (Louisiana Superdome) lease arrangements, the master agreement arrangements. From my perspective, they were flawed.

The NFL would like to congratulate both the New Orleans Saints and the greater San Antonio community for a job well done under very difficult circumstances, ... To sell more than 140,000 tickets under such extraordinary adversity is a testament to everyone involved.

This is in many ways a real turning point in the recovery and the rebuilding effort and the Saints ' contribution to all that. We've been reading about other restaurants, other things opening up, energy coming back, and talking to other real estate people. ... It's very clear we're gaining momentum.

If you look ahead for the next two weeks, the next month, we should stay out of the way of those priorities being met. The appropriate time for the Saints to start playing games at LSU would be against the Dolphins on Oct. 30.

This is not about a football game, ... It's about the NFL and the Saints making a statement as to what we stand for as far as rebuilding in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region.