NFL and NBA executives joined Saints and Pelicans players and coaches and New Orleans city officials in a historic French Quarter cathedral Friday for the funeral of Tom Benson Cheap Da'Ron Payne Jersey , the owner of the city's two major professional sports franchises who died last week at age 90.

"You can see how much people really loved him," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu, looking at throngs of tourists and locals outside St. Louis Cathedral a few minutes before the midday Mass.

Church bells pealed as Benson's widow, Gayle, awaited the arrival of her late husband's hearse. Nearby were pall bearers and honorary pall bearers including Saints coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and general manager Mickey Loomis; and Pelicans general manager Dell Demps, coach Alvin Gentry and star forward Anthony Davis.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond officiated at the Mass, an invitation-only event that followed two days of public visitation at Notre Dame Seminary.

Among those attending were NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Youth Kolton Miller Jersey , NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, former Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. John Bel Edwards, who had earlier ordered flags at the state Capitol and state buildings flown at half-staff Friday in Benson's memory. Mayor-elect Latoya Cantrell, who succeeds the term-limited Landrieu in May, also attended.

"Tom was a New Orleans saint, on Earth," Aymond said during the Mass, noting that the New Orleans-born Benson was born to a poor family. Aymond recounted personal memories 49ers Game Jerseys , including Benson's joy at recounting, repeatedly, how he met Gayle at the cathedral during a service.

He noted Benson's personal losses, saying he suffered the deaths of two previous wives, two children and three siblings.

"Some of the tensions of family life brought him disappointment and another loss," Aymond said. It was an apparent allusion to his falling out with daughter Renee, and her two children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc. They had been in line to take over the Benson business empire but Benson made it known in January 2015 that he intended for Gayle Benson to inherit complete control of the Saints and Pelicans. There followed an unsuccessful attempt by the estranged heirs to have Benson declared mentally incompetent in court.

Benson was a successful automobile dealer when he bought the Saints in 1985. Under his ownership Cheap Customized Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , the team achieved its first winning seasons and a Super Bowl championship in 2010 that buoyed the spirits of a city that was still struggling at the time to recover from Hurricane Katrina, which hit less than five years earlier.

Benson bought the city's NBA franchise, the Pelicans, in 2012.

In recent years, Benson was becoming known for his philanthropy as well as his business holdings and ownership of sports franchises. Beneficiaries included the Catholic churches and organizations and a $20 million donation to the Ochsner Health System for the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center.

Free agent wide receiver Deonte Thompson has signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

Thompson joined the Cowboys on Thursday, one day after veteran linebacker Joe Thomas agreed to a two-year deal and was their first acquisition since NFL free agency opened last week.

In six NFL seasons, Thompson has played 53 games for Baltimore, Buffalo and Chicago. The 6-foot receiver has 77 catches for 1 Cheap Ronnie Harrison Jersey ,032 yards and four touchdowns, and 82 kickoff returns for a 24.8 yard average.

Thompson was cut after 11 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in five games last season with Chicago. He signed a week later with the Bills, and had 27 catches for 430 yards and a touchdown in 11 games.
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