Saints’ Move Not Ruled Out

New Orleans Saint owner Tom Benson says he will not sell the struggling team. He did not rule out moving it to another city, however.

Benson on Thursday responded to criticism that has included calls for him to sell the team, which has not had a winning season since 1992.

“My commitment is even stronger to do everything possible to make the Saints a winning football team,” Benson said in a written statement. “We, in fact, have made every effort to do so this year. Nevertheless, the present situation does not evidence the result we wanted. Notwithstanding, I will not sell this club, nor abandon our goals.”

In his statement, however, Benson implied a move is not out of the question.

“Some of the recent comments that have been made by various media sources unfortunately remind me of the lack of support and problems that Bud Adams endured in Houston a few years ago, criticism that eventually resulted in his relocation of the club to Tennessee,” Benson said. “I pledge to do my part to try to avoid a similar outcome in New Orleans.”

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Defensive tackle Robert Harris of the New York Giants will be out the rest of the season after surgery to stabilize his ankle.

Harris will be replaced by Christian Peter, who blocked a field-goal attempt and deflected the pass that defensive end Michael Strahan returned for the winning touchdown in Sunday’s overtime victory at Philadelphia.

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Tom Landry’s family has confirmed that the former coach of the Dallas Cowboys has not entered remission in his battle against leukemia.

The family released a statement saying Landry, 75, was in Baylor University Medical Center “as patients at this stage of treatment are susceptible to infection. While he has not yet gone into remission, the family remains optimistic that the treatment will be successful,” the statement said.

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With Eric Zeier nursing sore ribs, Trent Dilfer probably will get another shot as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback.

Coach Tony Dungy said that Zeier aggravated an injury suffered in last Sunday night’s loss at Detroit and Dilfer probably will replace him this week against the New Orleans Saints.