Karim Benzema has caused a storm ahead of Euro 2016 by claiming that his exclusion from the France squad was racially motivated. Under investigation over an alleged sex-tape blackmail case, Benzema told Spanish daily Marca that France coach Didier Deschamps had bowed to pressure from a racist French party in his selection process. His comments, however, have been met with indignation with politicians speaking out against the Real Madrid strikers accusations.French Sports Minister Patrick Kanner sympathised with Benzemas predicament, but rejected any attack on Deschamps just nine days ahead of the start of Euro 2016 in France.I can understand Mr Benzemas disappointment but under no circumstances are his statements acceptable regarding what he said about Mr Deschamps sporting decisions nor his personality, Kanner said.I call for calm, I would like us to concentrate on the competition and would ask everyone to get behind Les Bleus which is what the 23 squad members will be expecting of us. So lets stop this non-debate.Francois Fillon, who was Prime Minister for five years between 2007-2012 and who is hoping to run in the next presidential election, rejected Benzemas position out of hand. I cant stand for that, he said. Forever bringing the nations problems down to questions of race, religion and ethnic communities, its unhealthy. Didier Deschamps did not select Benzema for Frances Euro 2016 squad Benzemas remarks have re-ignited Frances racial tensions, and found some sympathy with Socialist Party parliamentarian Benoit Hamon.He told Frances Europe 1 radio station that Benzema was right to say we are in a country where racism is on the rise. But he insisted there was no evidence of Deschamps being a racist.Benzema was suspended from international duty in December over a legal investigation into an alleged attempt by one of his friends to blackmail France international Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.He faces up to five years in jail over accusations he encouraged Valbuena to pay the blackmailers. Benzema has denied all the blackmail accusations. 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New Orleans routed Arizona 45-14 in divisional playoffs of 2009 season, Kurt Warners final game. ... New Orleans and Jacksonville are only teams not to have winning record at any point the last three seasons. .. Saints QB Drew Brees has not thrown TD pass in last two games and was intercepted three times against Tampa Bay. ... Brees topped 4,000 yards passing for record 11th straight season. ... New Orleans needs to win two of three to finish 7-9 for third straight year. ... Arizona RB David Johnson joins Edgerrin James as only players to have at least 100 yards from scrimmage in first 13 games of singgle season.ddddddddddddNo one has done it for first 14. Record for most consecutive 100-yard games in season is 15 by Barry Sanders (1997, year he was co-MVP with Brett Favre). ... Johnson leads league in yards from scrimmage (1,830), needs 255 yards receiving to top 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. ... WR Larry Fitzgerald has caught pass in 192 consecutive games, third-longest streak in NFL history. He is second in NFL with 91 receptions. ... Against Miami, Chandler Catanzaro missed 41-yard FG and extra point and had another extra point blocked and returned by Dolphins to Arizona end zone for two points. ... Cardinals QB Carson Palmer has 20 TD passes and 13 interceptions. He threw two TDs with two interceptions vs. Miami. ... Arizona loss would give Bruce Arians his first losing season in his four years in desert. ... Fantasy Tip: Arizona WR J.J. Nelson ran for one TD and caught pass for another against Dolphins. He has five TDs in past six weeks. With release of Michael Floyd, expect Nelson to get even more work this week.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '