Gov. Edwards: State Can’t End Subsidies To Saints

Gov. John Bel Edwards says it’s unfortunate to see NFL players not stand for national anthem, but that doesn’t mean the state can end it’s current agreement with the Saints.

Edwards appeared this morning on the Newell Normand show on WWL radio.

“I don’t think we have any choice but to meet whatever contractual obligations we have to the Saints.”

Edwards also says the players have a First amendment right to protest, but he disagrees with not standing for the national anthem.

“Do it in a way that’s less divisive, and I think at the end of the day, if that’s the approach that they take they’ll probably be more successful.”

Some lawmakers have called on ending state subsides to the Saints, but Senate President John Alario says that would be just as un-American as not standing for the anthem.

“We have a contract with the Saints agreeing with them to stay through 2025 in New Orleans and made some arrangements for compensation for that to happen and it would be terrible for our state to ever break a contract.”