Saints to leave empty chair in draft room to honor Benson

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the Saints plan to have an empty chair in the draft room at team headquarters in honor of their late owner.

Tom Benson, a New Orleans native who bought the Saints in 1985, died on March 15 at age 90.

His wife, Gayle, now controls both the Saints and the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, which Benson bought in 2012.

Loomis says Benson would have been excited about his sports businesses. Benson's horse, Lone Sailor, is slated to run in the Kentucky Derby and the Pelicans are in the second round of the playoffs after sweeping Portland in the first round.

Loomis says the Saints miss Benson and will be thinking about him on draft night.

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