It's as simple as that, whether you think Benson is an idiot, greedy, or a good guy with a good deal. The league is the one that could care less about what anybody thinks and wants and will demand that the Saints stay in line with everyone else. Recently the state has said that they were oh so close to a deal. This of course coming after the Harry Connick investigation that was announced but never got off the ground because the statute of limitations had run out. Benson came back and said he doesn't know what they are talking about.
Nothing is close.
That's the only solid money on the table and the state wants a new 20 year lease signed. In the meantime Mike Foster has said he thinks they are close. He also thinks that somebody in the Saints organization is spreading rumors that aren't true without Benson's knowledge. And he also has said that the state has been pretty busy and haven't really had time to deal with the Saints a whole lot, but that will change in the next few weeks. He said the same thing in February.