Benson, 81, had a three-centimeter malignant mass removed from his left kidney last Wednesday, and his physician, John Amoss, described Benson's chances for a full recovery as "excellent." Benson was released from Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans on Sunday night and has been resting at his home.

"Our family was relieved to have such a resounding positive result from the procedure," said Benson's granddaughter, owner/executive vice president Rita Benson LeBlanc, who is among the Saints' executives representing the team at the NFL owners' meetings in Dallas this week. "The physicians and staff at Ochsner were exceptional and attentive from diagnosis through recovery. He could not have been in better hands.

"My grandfather is eager to be back in the office by the end of the week. Though he won't be traveling with us to the Detroit game (on Sunday), he will be rooting for the team from home in New Orleans."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell notified the remainder of the league's owners Wednesday about Benson's status, noting the surgery did not stop Benson from chairing the Finance Committee conference call meeting Monday.

"We were very pleased to learn that the prognosis for Mr. Benson is excellent," league spokesman Greg Aiello said. "We know Mr. B is receiving great medical care and he is very much in our thoughts."

Amoss said Tuesday that Benson will not need any radiation or chemotherapy. He said the mass could have been life-threatening if it was not detected so early, but in similar cases the rate of a complete cure is 90 percent to 95 percent.

Saints Coach Sean Payton informed the team of Benson's surgery before last Thursday night's game in Chicago.

"I just talked with him yesterday, and we all certainly miss him in the building and being on the away trips with us," Payton said. "It sounds like the procedure went well. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we're looking forward to having him back in the building and being with us, and hopefully the sooner the better."

"Mr. Benson is a fighter and I knew this setback would get his best effort," General Manager Mickey Loomis said from the owners' meetings in Dallas. "Our thoughts were with him and his family, and we're very pleased that the outcome of the surgery is very positive. We missed him in Chicago and will miss him in Detroit this weekend, but I know he is ready to get back to work. He is a steady influence daily in our office, and we look forward to having him back soon."

"Coach Payton addressed the team (before the game) and kind of let us know what was going on," quarterback Drew Brees said. "So obviously we were pretty concerned for Mr. Benson and just wanted to make sure everything was OK. Any time that happens, that's scary, and certainly for a guy who has been such a great owner, a guy who really has provided us with everything we need to be successful. So in his time of need, we wanted him to know that we were all there for him. We're obviously glad the surgery was a success."

Long snapper Kevin Houser, who has been with the Saints since 2000, said "first and foremost" that everyone is praying for Benson and his family as they go through this, but he said, "We're confident, and I'm sure his family is too, that he's overcome so much that this is just a small little hurdle and this will be another notch in his belt of things that he's beaten and he's accomplished."

"I'm glad to hear everything's going all right with his recovery," Houser said, "and we're looking forward to having him back out there on the practice field with us."

Benson underwent quadruple bypass surgery in April 2001, and less than a week later he was back in the hospital with an increased heart rate. But since then, he has been in great health, Amoss said, and he has no history of cancer.

INJURY REPORT: Defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy (hamstring) missed practice Wednesday. Left tackle Jammal Brown fully participated after missing last week's game with an ankle injury.

PRO BOWL ALTERNATES: Payton confirmed that Brown and Bush (as a return specialist) were selected first alternates to the Pro Bowl. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma also was selected as an alternate to the NFC squad, though he is farther down on the list.

Brown will likely be invited to Hawaii since Seattle's Walter Jones had season-ending knee surgery last week. That would be fitting, since Brown was unable to play when he was selected to the team in 2006 with his own knee injury.

COACHING STAFF MOVES: Payton said he expects defensive line coach Ed Orgeron to remain with the Saints, despite the apparent interest in Orgeron from LSU and Tennessee.

"I think in the end he'll be with us," Payton said, though he explained that he thinks it is "good news that people are interested in our coaches."

Payton also said Miami (Ohio) University expressed interest in Saints assistant Aaron Kromer for its head coaching vacancy, but Kromer elected to stay in New Orleans.

Kromer, who began the year as the Saints' running backs coach, took over as the interim offensive line coach last week when offensive coordinator/line coach Doug Marrone left to become the head coach at Syracuse.

Payton hasn't announced his long-term plans for his offensive staff, but it may be safe to assume Kromer will remain the line coach permanently. He worked as an offensive line coach in Tampa Bay and Oakland before he joined the Saints' staff this past offseason.

Quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael is the most likely candidate to be promoted to offensive coordinator. Carmichael turned down two opportunities to become a coordinator with the Miami Dolphins under Cam Cameron and Tony Sparano the past two years, choosing to stay in New Orleans.

Regardless of who is selected offensive coordinator, Payton has emphasized his desire to keep calling the offensive plays.

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Mike Triplett can be reached at mtriplett@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.