Most Saints fans should probably thank Hale Boggs, Sen. Russell Long for their diligent, hard-fought, shrewd and in a good way, hard-ball negotiations tactics in convincing a skeptical, perhaps unwary Pete Rozelle of putting two, new NFL expansion franchises in what was then kind of undiscovered territory, NFL teams in the Deep South. Up until the mid-60's, both the NFL and the AFL had mostly avoided expansion into the Deep South due to socio-political issues like the nasty political and physical war against segregation, perception that the Deep South wasnt supportive of corporate NFL teams and more of NCAAF diehard-dominated. territory, which in many respects it still is. The closest proximity the NFL had in terms of teams to the South were the Redskins and the old, Baltimore Colts.