New Orleans’ American football team: saints or sinners?

The New Orleans Saints American football team have been recast as sinners.

Louisiana’s US Attorney’s office is investigating allegations that the team’s Superdome stadium was secretly re-wired to allow the Saints’ general manager to eavesdrop on visiting coaches for three seasons.

If investigators find proof, the practice could result in criminal charges and a violation of NFL rules. The US Attorney’s office is investigating reports that the Saints had the capability to listen to the opposing teams’ tactics from 2002 to 2004, sports channel ESPN reported, citing unnamed “sources familiar with the Saints game-day operations.

Loomis faces suspension

General manager Mickey Loomis, who already faces an eight-game suspension from the National Football League over another scandal, denied any involvement in the eavesdropping scandal.

“I have never listened to an opposing team’s communications. I have never asked for the capability to listen to an opposing team’s communications. I have never inquired as to the possibility,” Mr Loomis said.

The Saints were once the hope of Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans after the natural disaster left thousands homeless and sleeping inside the Superdome.

‘Cash for crunches’

Mr Loomis faces suspension in the so-called “cash for crunches” scandal, in which players were offered thousands of dollars cash to hurt opposing players deliberately. In one recorded conversation, an official can be overheard discussing plans to injure San Francisco 49ers’ running back Frank Gore.

“We want him running sideways. We want his head sideways,” Saints’ players were told.

In that particular game, however, the Saints lost anyway. Now they stand to lose the respect of their opponents and fans.