Saints owner Benson dies at age 90

Austin restructures deal to stay with Rams; Cousins finalizes Vikings contract

Tom Benson, a successful auto dealer and longtime owner of the New Orleans Saints who brought the franchise its only winning seasons and the “Benson Boogie,” has died.

Benson also owned the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans since 2012, but the 90-yearold made his mark in pro sports with the Saints.

The teams announced Benson's death on Thursday. He had been hospitalized since Feb. 16 with flu symptoms.

Benson bought the Saints in 1985 when it appeared the club would be sold to out-of-state interests and perhaps moved out of Louisiana. He paid $70 million for the team, which is now worth close to $2 billion.

“Tom Benson's contributions to New Orleans and the National Football League were legendary. He purchased a team that had never had a winning season; by the third year of his ownership, the Saints were in the playoffs,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Tom kept the Saints together through the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, and his decision to bring the team back to New Orleans gave the entire region hope and confidence that they would recover.” Austin staying with Rams: Tavon Austin (Dunbar) is restructuring his contract to remain with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams worked out a deal with Austin on Thursday to keep the high-priced veteran receiver on their roster.

Austin got a four-year, $42 million deal with Los Angeles before the 2016 season, and he reached career highs with 58 catches for 509 yards. But after Austin caught just 13 passes for the Rams last season, the team explored a trade or a buyout.

Coach Sean McVay frequently used the speedy former No. 8 overall pick as a ball-carrier instead of a receiver for the NFC West champions. Austin rushed 59 times for 270 yards last season. Vikings sign Cousins: The leverage of free agency in his prime brought Kirk Cousins the market-setting contract with Minnesota.

Now the Vikings have their latest franchise quarterback to try to secure that elusive first Super Bowl victory with.

The Vikings wrapped up their welcome party with a three-year, $84 million contract for Cousins, banking big time on the late-blooming former Washington Redskins prospect to finally stabilize a critical position that's been infamously problematic. Raiders’ additions: The Oakland Raiders signed free agent receiver Jordy Nelson and former Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin and officially announced a threeyear contract with blocking tight end Derek Carrier that had been agreed to Tuesday. Redskins sign receiver: The Redskins signed former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a five-year deal in the hopes that he provides them the outside speed threat they lacked last season after the departure of DeSean Jackson.

Richardson had 95 catches for 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns in four seasons with the Seahawks after they drafted him in the second round in 2014. He had 44 receptions for 703 yards and six touchdowns last season.