Saints owner must prove competency

Benson, 87, ordered to undergo testing in family litigation.

Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson says he wants to undergo a court-ordered examination “as soon as possible” in his effort to prevent his daughter and her children from having him declared incompetent.

His statement Tuesday came hours after New Orleans Civil District Judge Kern Reese ordered that Benson be examined by March 13. Each side in the case will choose one medical expert and the two sides will agree upon a third.

Renee Benson and her children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, filed the suit. They question the 87-year-old Benson’s competency after the three were abruptly fired from leadership roles in the sports franchises and after Benson announced that his wife, Gayle, would control the teams after he dies.

Rams: Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced deals with a power company and railroad that he said represent “concrete progress” in plans to build a riverfront stadium that could help St. Louis remain an NFL city.

Nixon held an outdoor news conference at the proposed site for the 64,000-seat, open-air stadium that would replace the Edward Jones Dome, now 20 years old. “This is a historic opportunity to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment to this area, build an iconic stadium and transform these deserted streets into a thriving destination,” Nixon said.

The Rams informed officials earlier this month that they were going to a year-to-year lease, clearing the way for a potential move.

Billionaire team owner Stan Kroenke is part of a joint venture that announced plans earlier this month for an 80,000-seat stadium in the Los Angeles area.

Steelers: General manager Kevin Colbert said negotiations have begun with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on a contract extension that would keep the two-time Super Bowl winner in black and gold for the rest of his career. Roethlisberger, who turns 33 next month, is entering the final season of an eight-year deal he signed in 2008.

Seahawks: Cornerback Richard Sherman will not have surgery on his injured left elbow and will let the ligament damage heal on its own. He played the Super Bowl without a brace on his elbow, but it initially appeared that Sherman would need Tommy John surgery to repair the damage.

Bills: Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is scheduled to stand trial for reckless endangerment and other charges nearly a year after he crashed his car into a tree during an alleged race with a teammate.

Patriots: Malcolm Butler has intercepted the delivery of Tom Brady’s new truck. Brady earned the prize for winning the Super Bowl MVP for the third time but said he would give the truck to Butler, who was an undrafted rookie. Butler took delivery of the shiny red truck at a Boston-area dealership on Tuesday.

Jets: Signed freeagent cornerback Curtis Brown, a third-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2011 out of the University of Texas. Tuesday’s Games ■ Pistons 106, (at) Hornets 78: Greg Monroe had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and D.J. Augustin added 18 points as Detroit handed Charlotte its third consecutive loss. ■ (At) Bulls 104, Kings 86: Pau Gasol led Chicago with 26 points and 16 rebounds, and reserve Tony Snell added 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Derrick Rose contributed 23 points and seven assists. ■ (At) Grizzlies 95, Nets 86: Zach Randolph led Memphis’balanced scoring with 19 points. Courtney Lee scored 15 points, and Marc Gasol added 14 points and 11 assists. ■ Rockets 127, (at) Suns 118: James Harden scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter for Houston. Josh Smith added 20 for the Rockets, who trailed 89-88 at the end of the third quarter. ■ Nuggets at Lakers: Late NBA notes ■ Bucks: Team President Peter Feigin said the franchise is standing by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal for the state to help fund an arena after the Menominee Nation offered an alternative. Feigin said he had not spoken to tribal leaders and prefers to work with state and local officials. Walker’s budget proposal calls for issuing $220 million in state bonds to help pay for the arena, a plan some fellow Republicans have criticized.

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New Orleans Pelicans and Saints owner Tom Benson (left) plans to turn the franchises over to his wife upon his death. His daughter has sued to prevent that.