Saints committed to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- The Saints hope to return to New Orleans as soon as possible and the NFL team does not plan to move permanently to San Antonio, a top official said.

Arnold Fielkow, Saints' executive vice president of administration, said that ticket holders unable to attend games moved out of the flood- and hurricane-ravaged city would be given refunds, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

Fielkow said his comments Saturday came from the belief resulting from a Friday meeting that Saints owner Tom Benson was leaning toward playing all home games in San Antonio this season.

However, Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said Sunday that moving the team is "the farthest thing from any of our minds."

On Monday, Fielkow issued a written statement saying: "It is the collective hope of our organization that Saints football will return to New Orleans as soon as possible."

Fielkow said some Saints home games may be played at Louisiana State University.