updated 2:46 a.m. ET May 12, 2005

NEW ORLEANS - An attorney for New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson told a newspaper that Benson is interested in moving the football team out of Louisiana and possibly to San Antonio, Albuquerque, or Los Angeles.

Benson already has implicitly threatened to move the NFL franchise when discussing negotiations with the State of Louisiana over the Saints' Louisiana Superdome lease.

He said last year that the state could accept his stadium proposals or "tell us to leave."

But Benson has declined to comment specifically about what his options would be if he left New Orleans.

On Wednesday, the San Antonio Express-News quoted Benson attorney and friend Stanley Rosenberg as saying that Benson has a strong interest in moving the Saints out of New Orleans and is considering invoking an exit clause in his lease with the Louisiana Superdome after the 2005 season.

"Tom has a house in San Antonio, a ranch in San Antonio and business interests in San Antonio," Rosenberg said. "He likes San Antonio very much."

Last month, Benson broke off lease negotiations with the state, saying he preferred to wait until after the 2005 season to resume talks. Under the current lease, the Saints will have 90 days after next season to inform the state of their intentions to stay or leave. If Benson leaves, he would have to repay the state about $81 million in cash subsidies he has received since the current lease took effect in 2001.

Benson initially asked for a new stadium but said he would settle for a renovated Superdome along with a package of cash subsidies and other incentives. The state has offered to renovate the dome but has asked Benson to pay part of the cost and to accept lower cash subsidies than he currently receives once the renovation is complete.

Saints officials did not immediately respond when called about Rosenberg's comments on Wednesday. A message left at Rosenberg's San Antonio law office, seeking further comment, was not returned.

Rosenberg told the newspaper he's received several offers from parties interested in either buying the Saints or persuading Benson to move the team. One offer exceeded $1 billion, Rosenberg said.

"Tom has many alternatives when it comes to the Saints and he has received many different offers, including one from Los Angeles," Rosenberg told the newspaper.

Rosenberg said he met last week with representative of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson about the possibility of the Saints moving to Albuquerque.

"They have an interest, a real interest, in having a National Football League team," Rosenberg said. He said Richardson's representatives already have requested a follow-up meeting.

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