The source who sounded off anonymously on Tuesday regarding the Saints’ treatment of the local media requested anonymity due to a fear of retaliation by the Saints. As it turns out, those fears were not unfounded.
Per another source in the New Orleans media who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, the Saints have removed WWL-TV from the team’s press-release list, and the Saints have informed WWL-TV that texts, e-mails, and calls from WWL-TV reporters won’t be returned.
We’re told there’s also a chance that WWL-TV will not receive credentials for the 2010 draft.
WWL-TV apparently incurred the wrath of the Saints by releasing the text of e-mail messages in which Saints P.R. director Greg Bensel seemed to complain about the media’s interest in the story regarding the 1,200 season-ticket holders who are being displaced due to some remodeling at the Superdome.
Making the development even more intriguing is the fact that WWL-TV is a CBS affiliate, and Saints owner Tom Benson owns the local FOX affiliate.