The Saints begin training camp today with expectations of making a deep run in the playoffs. New Orleans won the NFC South last year and since that time they’ve drafted a potential pass rusher in Marcus Davenport and signed free agent wide receiver Cameron Meredith and veteran tight end Ben Watson to provide additional targets for Drew Brees. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the Saints have a deep roster and one of the stories to follow in camp is who will be able to nail down punt return duties…
cut 17 (17) “…hidden yardage”
The Saints first practice is tomorrow and wide receiver Brandon Coleman will not be on the field. The role player on the Black and Gold last season has an undisclosed injury that also forced him to miss all of the team’s offeseason conditioning work.

The Pelicans have signed free agents Garlon Green and Kenrich Williams. Both players will get a chance to earn a roster spot in training camp. The 27-year-old Garlon Green went undrafted out of TCU in 2013 and has played professionaly in Japan, Germany and Beligium. He played on the Pels Summer League Team and averaged nine points a game. Williams played on the Nuggets Summer League team and averaged five points and five rebounds a game. He also played at T-C-U, where he averaged 13 points and nine rebounds his senior season.

In college football…Tulane is picked to finish fifth in the West Division of the American Athletic Conference. Memphis is the preseason favorite in the West, while Central Florida is expected to repeat as champs in the East. The third season of the Willie Fritz era begins with a Thursday night matchup against Wake Forest.

The Astros scored six runs in the tenth inning last night and beat the Colorado Rockies eight to two. Alex Bregman hit his 21st home run in the first inning. Rough night for the Rangers as they blew a 10-2 lead and lost to Oakland 13-10.