Gov. Bobby Jindal declined Monday to divulge details on the talks with the team - or even to acknowledge the time crunch.

"We don't have anything to say today about a possible extension," Jindal said during a news conference in Baton Rouge on a different issue.

Jindal said there is time to ensure that the team continues to play in the Superdome past 2010.

However, other officials said they want a deal in place to make New Orleans more attractive as a possible host of the 2013 Super Bowl.

Draft bids have to be submitted by prospective hosts to the NFL by April 1. A site is expected to be chosen at the NFL owners' meeting in May.

"It's our goal to have something done prior to that meeting," Ron Forman, chairman of the Stadium and Exposition District's Board of Commissioners, said Monday.

As chairman, Forman is one of the Jindal administration's primary negotiators in the talks with the Saints.

Greg Bensel, vice president of communications for the Saints, noted the complexity of the long-term agreement that must be worked out between the team and the state.

"Talks are ongoing, both sides know what is at stake and yes, time is of the essence," he said by e-mail on Monday.

Bensel said the Saints want to be at the table when the 2013 Super Bowl bids are proposed.

"We don't want to miss a window of opportunity," said Sam Joffray, vice president of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, which is a local organizing committee for events.

To have a strong bid, there needs to be a level of confidence that the Saints will be in Louisiana past 2010, Joffray said Monday.

The Saints currently are receiving $23.5 million a year in cash inducements from the state. The agreement - brokered by former Gov. Mike Foster - guaranteed the team $186.5 million in state subsidies through 2010.

Negotiations over the team's future in Louisiana were held by Jindal's predecessor, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, and continued when Jindal took office more than a year ago.

Under Jindal, the talks have been more low key than they were under Blanco, generating far less media coverage.

The state is struggling to meet the annual payments to the franchise. The largest problem is that hotel and motel tax collections are falling short. The state also is grappling with a budget shortfall of more than $1 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Forman said it is premature to comment on whether the cash payments to the Saints would be greatly reduced under a new agreement.

He said there is talk of the state investing in infrastructure to offset the payments.

Bill Curl, media relations coordinator for SMG, which manages the Superdome, said the state is looking at "creative" ways of helping the Saints generate more money for themselves.

The state is working with architects to determine the cost of revamping seating, widening concourses and adding more concession stands, he said.

The idea, Curl said, is to look at ways to create more revenue to decrease the amount of direct payment from the state.