The New Orleans Saints have sold almost 250,000 raffle tickets already for the authentic Super Bowl XLIV ring the team is auctioning off to raise money for the renewal of the Gulf Coast region in light of the horrific BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

That means almost $500,000 has already been raised and tickets will remain on sale through 10 a.m. on Sept. 9. A winner will be announced that night during the NFL’s kickoff to the 2010 season – a game between the Saints and Minnesota Vikings at the Superdome.

You can click right here to buy some raffle tickets yourself. While tickets are only $2, there is a minimum purchase of five tickets. That makes it a little misleading, in our view. The winner will also received a cash prize of $2,178 that will be used to pay federal and state tax liabilities that come with the bling.

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