The Saints are getting to play one of the hotter teams in the NFC this weekend. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won four in a row and moved into a first place tie with Atlanta in the NFC South. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees says Tampa Bay is doing a lot of things well on defense…:
Cut 16 (19) “opportunistic”
The Saints kick off against the Bucs in Tampa at 3:25 pm Sunday.

LSU announced the details of Dave Aranda’s contract and he is now officially the highest paid assistant coach in college football. In a three year deal, the defensive coordinator will make $1.8 million in 2017, $1.85 million the next year then $1.9 million in 2019. He also receives the title of associate head coach.

In the NBA, the Pelicans are will try to get back on track as they face the 76ers tonight in the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans has lost 5 of their last 6. Philadelphia is 4 and 18.

In college hoops, UL-Lafayette shut down Loyola New Orleans 94-60. Southern fell to Tulane 84-75. Tonight, Nicholls State travels to face Florida State.

The Jefferson Parish Coroner has released the body of Joe McKnight to the funeral home after another inspection and collection of tissue samples; but he downplayed reports that a third autopsy was performed Wednesday. The former NFL player and John Curtis star was killed in an apparent road rage incident, and the circumstances surrounding exactly where he was shot are at issue. JPSO said McKnight was killed by Ronald Gasser who is charged with manslaughter.

Former Saints running back Pierre Thomas took the stand Wednesday and described what he saw when Cardell Hayes shot former NFL player Will Smith last April. Thomas says he thought a heated argument had cooled down. But Hayes attorneys say he shot Smith, because the retired athlete went back to his SUV to get a loaded gun.