Saints owner hopes to use LSU stadium

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, who drew criticism for his silence concerning where the team should play home games in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, prefers to call Baton Rouge home.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Benson echoed players and coaches who've said they prefer to play in Tiger Stadium on the LSU campus. Benson said he told the NFL he would like the Saints to play there "to the extent circumstances allow."

NFL spokesman Joe Browne said the league has been in contact with LSU and Baton Rouge officials and hopes the Saints eventually will be able to play home games there.

There are logistical issues potentially blocking the Saints from playing some early-season home dates at 92,000-seat Tiger Stadium about 80 miles northwest of their longtime home, the storm-damaged Louisiana Superdome. The LSU campus currently is home to relief efforts that even forced the Tigers to postpone their first home game and move their second one this Saturday to Arizona State.

Benson also assured season ticket holders they will be refunded if they are unable to attend games, wherever they may be played. He said the team was still finishing the details of its refund policy.

Rolle initially was expected to receive a one-game suspension after accepting a plea bargain from Tennessee prosecutors in April to settle a domestic violence charge involving his wife. He was arrested and charged with domestic assault in February.

"I felt fine," he said. "I wanted to take all of the snaps, but (coach Tom Coughlin) took me out and I don't argue with the head man about that. But I was making all the throws. I threw some deep ones that actually had too much on them. I have to work on the timing on some of those things, but it felt good throwing."

The decision was made Tuesday after a leg and ankle specialist confirmed the initial diagnosis. Garcia is expected to be out six to eight weeks, and the Lions have no immediate plans to sign another quarterback. They will open the season Sunday against Green Bay with starter Joey Harrington and backup Dan Orlovsky, a rookie out of Connecticut.

Rhodes, 54, was sent to a hospital by team doctors on Sunday for a series of tests. The team said he was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

The Seahawks said doctors have yet to find an explanation for Rhodes' dizziness so he will continue to undergo tests and be monitored during the next few days.

Seahawks linebackers coach John Marshall, whose 26-year NFL career includes stints as defensive coordinator in Atlanta, San Francisco and Carolina, will assume Rhodes' duties on a temporary basis under head coach Mike Holmgren.

Hetherington was cut by the Oakland Raiders on Saturday after two seasons with the club. The Yale graduate also has played for Indianapolis, Carolina and St. Louis.

The Broncos are carrying only two quarterbacks on their active roster, Jake Plummer and Bradlee Van Pelt.

To make room for Morgan, the Steelers released Lee Mays, hours after coach Bill Cowher said he would miss two weeks with a hamstring injury. The Steelers did not say if they had reached an injury settlement with Mays.