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Notes: Saints Linked to Free
Agent RB Alexander
Saints owner starts media company, buys TV station;
Bush faces deposition, again
posted May 5, 2008 - print
me!
neworleansprofootball.com
Alexander To Visit: The Saints will visit
with free agent runningback Shaun Alexander after the veteran's
visit with the Bengals, according to the NFL Network.
The long-time Seattle Seahawk, former University
of Alabama product, and Kentucky native fired Seattle to the Super
Bowl with a 27 touchdown year just three seasons ago, but since
that huge year and a huge contract following, Alexander played
in only 20 games and averaged 3.51 yards per carry. Once a slashing,
powerful touchdown machine, Alexander has significantly dropped
off in production, has looked slower and has fought through injuries
the past two seasons.
Alexander, 5'11, 228 pounds, will be 31 in August
and was cut by the Seahawks after the draft on April 28. The Seahawks
signed Julius Jones and TJ Duckett in the offseason to help replace
him.
Alexander's signing would likely signal the end
of Deuce McAllister's career, but the Saints' interest in him
indicates their worry in McAllister's knee problems.
Its not the first time the Saints have been looking
at potential replacements recently. During last season after McAllister's
injury the Saints met with free agent veteran RB Corey Dillon,
and this past offseason the Saints were interested in free agent
RB Michael Turner, who signed in Atlanta.
McAllister's agent, Ben Dogra, works for Alexander's
agent, Jim Steiner.
Benson's Company Buys WVUE: A media company
owned by the Saints' owner, Tom Benson, has purchased WVUE, a
FOX affiliate television station in New Orleans, from Emmis Communications.
Regulatory action will delay the actual transfer
for several months.
Louisiana Media Company, LLC, is making the purchase
and is owned by Benson. WVUE airs FOX-carried football games including
most Saints games.
The move can be seen as a welcome one for Saints
fans. Outside the Saints, most of Benson's business interests
lie in San Antonio, where he made his fortune in banking and still
owns car dealerships. Benson has made large charitable donations
to religious and educational organizations in San Antonio.
Bush To Be Deposed: A judge has ordered the
re-scheduling of Reggie Bush's deposition in the NCAA's investigation
into potential illegal benefits during Bush's USC career. Bush
skipped his own deposition in February, after the plaintiff
in a related lawsuit fled
his own deposition when Bush's bodyguards flashed firearms
in a private office.
The case is scheduled to go to trial on March 13,
2009.
Current Southern Cal head coach Pete Carroll could
be subpoenaed as part of the lawsuit, where one-time promoter
and sports agent Lloyd Lake is suing Bush for backing out of a
agreement in which Lake allegedly gave Bush nearly $300,000 in
benefits while Bush was a student athlete at USC.
Lake's new deposition date is June 5th or 6th and
Bush will be deposed three weeks later, followed by his mother
and stepfather.
Notes: A bill in the Louisiana Legislature
would officially establish the fleur-di-lis, the symbol on much
New Orleans architecture and on the Saints' helmets, as the official
Louisiana state symbol. House bill 455 was entered by a congresswoman
from Slidell... Former Saints draft pick and quarterback J.T.
O'Sullivan is in the middle of a three-man race for the starting
job in San Francisco with former #1 overall pick Alex Smith and
veteran Shaun Hill... Hornets PG Chris Paul on New Orleans sports
fans: "I went to a lot of the Saints games early in the season
and the game is crazy to see all the fans. I thought that we need
these people at our games, we need this energy. Soon enough, it
got like that. It’s been crazy ever since. The people in
New Orleans really know how to support a team; we’ve been
riding their wave to the playoffs.”
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