There reportedly was a riff or some degree of lingering bitterness between Tom Benson and Mills or his agent for many years after he left via FA or the compensation/expansion draft for Carolina Panthers and Jaguars pre-1995 season. I think Benson saw or viewed Mills' departure as a betrayal since Saints and Benson had taken a chance on him in picking him up from the USFL expansion draft after that league folded in 1986 and during Sam's career in New Orleans, the two had a very close relationship.