"Today" Live Broadcast From N.O. Includes Benson LeBlanc Profile

Saints co-Owner & Exec VP Rita Benson LeBlanc was profiled on NBC’s “Today” this morning, with NBC’s Matt Lauer calling her "one of the driving forces behind the Saints" and NBC's Janet Shamlian saying Benson LeBlanc is the "face of the franchise." Benson LeBlanc said, "Saints football is, to me, the American dream. It's what you accomplish together with the people that you really care about and that you love playing with and that's worth watching." Shamlian noted with a “BlackBerry in hand and a piece of jewelry from last season's Super Bowl many men would covet, this girl-next-door is comfortable in her own shoes and not angling to join the 'Boys' Club.'" Benson LeBlanc is "next in line to take over the team, and she'll do just about anything to promote it," including rappelling down a 26-story building in New Orleans for a Special Olympics event last month. Following the taped piece, Benson LeBlanc appeared live, where Lauer asked, "You get a lot of attention for a lot of reasons. Is it a good thing for women and football?" Benson LeBlanc: "I think so. Any attention, channeled in a positive way, (is good).” She added, “It takes an incredible commitment so you have to be self-aware, and I think that's important for any role that you choose. But know that it is a massive commitment." LADIES FIRST : NBC’s Shamlian noted women "are reshaping the face of football." More women are becoming NFL fans, and the NFL's "fastest-growing business" is women's apparel. The league in New Orleans “has opened the first of its kind women's boutique. From bikinis to bling, the concept could expand to other cities." NFL VP/Consumer & Products Tracey Bleczinski: "Women definitely are the gatekeepers in most households so when you look at it from a business perspective it just makes sense to engage these women. But at the same time we're better serving them as fans." KING OF NEW ORLEANS : This morning's episode of “Today” originated in part live from New Orleans in advance of tonight’s Vikings-Saints game, with Lauer and Al Roker on location in Jackson Square. In addition to the Benson LeBlanc profile and interview, other NFL-centric components of the broadcast included a profile of Saints QB Drew Brees, an interview with Saints PA announcer Jerry Romig and a weather forecast for tonight’s game. Roker: "It's a domed stadium. Who cares about the weather? But if you’re standing outside scalping tickets, warm and humid" ( “Today,” NBC, 9/9 ).