In a city that is still recovering from the devastating blow delivered by Hurricane Katrina, few things are certain anymore. Will New Orleans retain the same character that made it so interesting? Will its population ever return to its pre-disaster level? Is New Orleans going to be ready for the next big storm? These questions still have open-ended answers. But for the time being residents of the Big Easy have been assured that they won't have to wonder if their pro football team is leaving them.

The NFL announced Friday that the New Orleans Saints will remain in Louisiana for the 2006 season and will play games at both the Superdome and Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. It's a smart move by the league and Saints owner Tom Benson, who appeared anxious to relocate his franchise to either San Antonio or sunny Los Angeles both before and after Katrina's wrath.

 Is he sincere?

Courtesy WWLTV

The Saints certainly would not have engendered any good will in New Orleans or elsewhere had they left when times were rough. Such a move would have been deemed selfish and inappropriate while making the NFL guilty by association. League commissioner Paul Tagliabue realized this and made clear he wanted the Saints to stay put. 

But it seems unlikely that the city's marriage with the Saints will last beyond next year. In the last three decades, New Orleans fans have not been exactly come out in droves to support a franchise that has won one playoff game since being founded 38 years ago. This season, the Saints averaged only 42,897 fans in their first three games in Baton Rouge. Even a Times-Picayune editorial suggested that more games should be played at the Saints' other temporary home -- San Antonio. That way, the NFL could see that when the novelty of having a professional football team wears off fans will stop coming and empty seats will become common there because no one is willing to support a loser. It's a fair argument, but not one usually made by a city looking to hold onto its favorite franchise.

In reality, by making the Saints play in New Orleans the NFL is actually giving Benson an opportunity to make his case for moving his team. Fan attendance will likely suffer next year for several reasons. If games are played in the Superdome, some people will not go there for the simple fact that it is common knowledge that unspeakable acts were committed there after residents were evacuated during the hurricane. Too many bad memories are associated with the Superdome. Fans will also not make the two-hour drive to Baton Rouge next season if they didn't this year. They would rather watch LSU, the most popular team in the state and one that has experienced a resurgency in recent years at the same time the Saints have struggled mightily.

New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin said that while he would welcome the return of the Saints, he said he was only "somewhat encouraged" by the decision, according to an AP article. “We are happy that New Orleanians who have lost so much will have an NFL team next season to call their own, "he said. "...We look forward to the day when the Saints organization will fully commit to this community and be a vital part of our recovery for many years to come.”

Don't hold your breath, Mr. Nagin. Benson doesn't want his team in your city and the fans don't seem overly happy that the Saints are coming back. This latest decision to stay for the time being just appears to be a prelude to an end.