Saints Sign New Lease, Will Stay in New Orleans Through 2035
The New Orleans Saints are staying home. On Thursday, the franchise announced a new 10-year lease extension with the state of Louisiana that ensures the team will remain in the Caesars Superdome through at least the 2035 season.
A Deal Years in the Making
The agreement concludes a lengthy negotiation process that stretched across two state administrations and major events such as Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it.
“Discussions about this agreement have spanned two administrations, a global pandemic and Hurricane Ida,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said. “Now today, I am totally happy that we will be sending a signed copy of this agreement to the NFL for their approval.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the agreement a victory for both sides: “This is what winning looks like.”
Keeping the Saints in the Superdome
The Superdome has been home to the Saints since opening on August 3, 1975. Under the new lease, the building will continue to serve as the team’s home while also benefiting from ongoing capital improvements.
“Each time, we formed a better partnership with a clearer vision for mutual success for both the state and the team,” Benson said. “But more importantly, for our fans. And today, I feel certain this is the case.”
Gov. Landry emphasized that the deal was necessary not only for the Saints but also for the Superdome itself.
“To me, this Superdome and the Saints are not two different things; they are actually one.” Landry said. “Think about what the Superdome would be without an NFL team. This was a deal that had to be done.”
Eyes on Another Super Bowl
While the Saints missed the initial deadline to bid on the 2031 Super Bowl, Benson made it clear the organization intends to pursue hosting another one soon.
“Once the NFL approves this lease extension – which I know they will – we will then be allowed to petition the NFL to bid on future Super Bowls,” she said.
The Superdome last hosted the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025 (Super Bowl LIX), following a $450 million renovation. Benson said she has already spoken with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about resuming talks to bring the game back to New Orleans in the near future.
More Than Just Football
Beyond Saints games, the lease ensures the Superdome continues to host premier events such as the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Bowl, major concerts, and other large-scale gatherings.
Gov. Landry credited Benson for her role in finalizing the deal, saying: “She is an unbelievable ambassador, not only for the city of New Orleans but for the state of Louisiana. She’s an icon in my opinion … I’ve never seen someone who works so tirelessly to promote both Louisiana and the city of New Orleans.”
With the deal done, fans in New Orleans can rest assured the Saints aren’t going anywhere anytime soon—and the city remains firmly in the running for another Super Bowl.
Broncos CB Riley Moss Breaks Silence on Refs’ Excessive Flags
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss has been penalized 11 times this season for 178 yards. In the Broncos' 22-19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Moss was dinged three times, twice on pass interference penalties (totaling 87 yards) and once on defensive holding, which wiped a Jahdae Barron pick-six off the board.
"Listen, I will absolutely own up to the last one, the underthrown ball. I can’t be grabbing him like that," Moss said post-game. "It’s tough. It’s already a tough position, and I have to be able to, in those situations, play the ball."
Moss' two pass interference penalties led to Chiefs' points — a field goal and a Travis Kelce touchdown. Considering that his defensive holding foul erased a touchdown, Moss cost the Broncos 16 points in a tightly contested, crucial divisional game that went down to the wire.
After the game, Moss acknowledged the troubling pattern and expressed a resolve to finally tackle it. The Broncos' Week 12 bye affords him the opportunity to do just that.
“In practice, it’s going to be a big emphasis. We are going to put the boxing gloves on me, we’re going to tape them up. So there’s no chance," Moss said. "It’s a repetitive thing. People can have their opinion on it, but me, as a professional athlete, I need to be able to realize that, 'Okay, this has happened multiple times.'"
Moss Penalties Become Part of Opponents' Game Plan
Now, has Moss been unfairly targeted by the refs? The optics say yes, so much so that the Chiefs included it in their game plan against the Broncos.
After all, Moss has been targeted 69 times this season (most in the NFL). With 11 penalties, that means the flags fall on 15.9% of targets thrown his way.
The Chiefs recognized that and they won't be the last. Just chuck a few balls deep with Moss in coverage and watch the yellow laundry fall.
Surtain's Defense of Moss
Patrick Surtain II, who's missed the past three games with a pectoral strain, went to bat for Moss a couple of weeks back on his podcast, jokingly saying that the refs are targeting his cornerback partner due to racial profiling (because he's white). Many a truths are said in jest.
"Riley [is] balling, bro. I ain't going to lie. I think they're racial profiling my dog, though, man," Surtain said with a smile on his Closed On Sundays podcast with co-host Terrion Arnold. "They're calling all these flags on my boy, man. I ain't going to lie; the flags is egregious."
Surtain's comment was tongue-in-cheek, but his point about the refs having it out for Moss was the truthful component. However, Surtain's words seemed to have resonated with NFL officials, as Moss went two straight games without drawing a single penalty.
But those chickens came home to roost in a big bad way vs. the Chiefs. The Broncos are fortunate they were able to survive the yardage and points that Moss' penalties cost them.
"Yes, it’s unfair sometimes, and it sucks. But I can’t be in that position as much as I have been," Moss said. "So that is something to work on. Again, everyone has their opinion, but as a competitor and as an athlete, I have to own up to some of it and get better from it.”
A Very Good CB
Moss is one of the NFL's best No. 2 cornerbacks. With very few exceptions, he'd probably be the No. 1 cornerback for most teams. And while Surtain has been out, Moss has been Denver's No. 1, doing some heavy lifting in the secondary.
Moss has relinquished one of the lowest completion percentages when targeted this season. He can be a dominant player, but he's got to clean up his penalty issue before reaching his full potential.
On one hand, the Broncos need Moss to stay physical and aggressive, while on the other, figuring out how not to be so grabby at the catch point. He's not going to sacrifice his aggression in his pursuit of penalty Shangri-La.
“I’m going to continue to be aggressive. I’m going to continue to play, but I’m going to work on (it)," Moss said post-game via KOA Radio. "Because it’s been a consistent thing, so it’s time to figure it out.”
After the bye, Surtain is expected back, which will take some of the pressure off Moss. Teams will continue to test Moss, though, in hopes of drawing a flag.
Right now, Moss is caught up in the same situation that Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles dealt with early on in his NFL career. The refs whip out the magnifying glass on every single rep, instead of letting him play with the benefit of the doubt.
The Takeaway
Moss ranks fourth on the team in tackles, with 52 (38 solo). He's also broken up 10 passes, but he's still looking for his first interception of the 2025 campaign.
The Broncos may be willing to live with Moss' penalties as a sunk cost of sorts, because he's so good in every other aspect of his cornerback responsibilities. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and head coach Sean Payton have been patient in their willingness to live the penalties because Moss is so lock-down in coverage, and he's a phenom in run support.
This is an issue the Broncos won't want to come back to haunt them in the playoffs. As Moss said, it starts in practice, and the Broncos will have two weeks to help him figure out the technical flaws to his game that are leading to the most penalties by a cornerback in the NFL this season.
