Tonight the NFL releases the regular season schedule for the Saints and all 32 teams. At this time we know, New Orleans will play its division rivals twice and they’ll also have games against the Rams, Seahawks, Lions, Cardinals, 49ers, Giants and teams from the AFC West. We’ll find out today when those games will occur.

The NFL Draft begins two weeks from today and it’s being reported that Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch visited the Saints. New Orleans has the 12th overall pick and the six-foot-seven Lynch is considered one of the top quarterbacks in this class.

The Pelicans season is finally over. New Orleans ended the 2015-16 campaign with a 30-52 record after losing to Minnesota 144-109 last night. Coach Alvin Gentry says because of all of the injuries, he would grade the season as an incomplete. Gentry declined to speculate whether there will be any changes in the front office.

The LHSAA’s executive committee voted today to hold a special meeting so principals can vote on a plan that would bring Classes 5A and 4A back together for football, ending the public-private school playoff split for those two classes. The proposal would also split classes 3A, 2A and 1A between rural and metro schools. It’s unclear when this special meeting will take place.

The LSU baseball team scored multiple runs in the first four innings and went on to beat Grambling 14-11 last night. Jake Fraley drove in three runs for the Tigers, Austin Bain won his third game of the season as he struck out six in two innings of relief. Wesley Drain hit his sixth homer of the season in a losing effort.

McNeese won its sixth straight last night as the Cowboys defeated Louisiana Tech three to one. McNeese will now get ready for a Southland series at 25th ranked Lamar this weekend. Lamar has won eight straight at home.

The LSU baseball team scored multiple runs in the first four innings and went on to beat Grambling 14-11 last night. Jake Fraley drove in three runs for the Tigers, Austin Bain won his third game of the season as he struck out six in two innings of relief. Wesley Drain hit his sixth homer of the season in a losing effort.

McNeese won its sixth straight last night as the Cowboys defeated Louisiana Tech three to one. McNeese will now get ready for a Southland series at Lamar this weekend. The Bulldogs are home to take on FIU.

LSU-Eunice is ranked number one in the latest junior college division two poll. The Bengals are 38-1.

The Saints regular season schedule will be released at 7 PM tonight along with the rest of the NFL teams. New Orleans will play their division rivals twice, and they’ll alsohave games against the Rams, Seahawks, Lions, Cardinals, 49ers, Giants and teams from the AFC West.

The LHSAA Executive Committee is meeting in Baton Rouge today and the split championships in football and several other sports is part of the discussion. LHSAA past president Todd Guice says the executive committee could call for a special meeting to have the principals’ vote again on the issue…
cut 18 (14) “….for that”
Guice believes a compromise could be reached that would bring the association back together again.

A disappointing season for the Pelicans ended last night with a 144-109 loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota. The Pels suffered through numerous injuries and finished with a record of 30-52. Coach Alvin Gentry says because of all of the injuries, he would grade the season as an incomplete.

A witness saw retired football star Will Smith with a gun the night he was shot and killed, according to statements by the suspect’s lawyer. John Fuller says his client, Cardell Hayes, was acting in self defense. He questioned the investigation into the shooting and how a gun that belonged to Smith wasn’t recovered that night…:
CUT 2 (11) “that’s odd”
A lawyer for the Smith family said Smith did not ever brandish a weapon in the incident, and that the gun cops say he had never left a compartment in his vehicle.

The Pelicans did not go out with a bang in their last game of the season as they gave up 144 points to the Timberwolves last night. The Pels scored 109. The injury filled New Orleans team finishes the year with a 30-52 record. They had only seven healthy players Wednesday night.

The LSU baseball team defeated Grambling Wednesday 14-11 in Alex Box Stadium. With the win, the No. 9 Tigers improve to 22-11 on the year, and the Grambling Tigers dropped to 15-17.

Also last night, McNeese State, coming off a memorable win over LSU the night before, topped Louisiana Tech 3-1. The Pokes have won six in a row.

The LHSAA Executive Committee holds its spring meeting today, and they’ll continue to discuss the expanded public-private school playoff split that’s been in place for football and will impact other sports next school year. Todd Guice, LHSAA past president, says he still hopes that something can be done to end the split…:
Cut 17 (05) “found this”
A bill that seeks to end the public-private split is waiting to be heard on the House floor. There’s been talk of creating another organization where public and private schools could both compete.

The attorney for the family of Will Smith said the former Saints star was shot 8 times and the lawyer for the accused shooter is spreading lies about what happened. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Funeral arrangements have been set for former football star and Saints analyst Hokie Gajan. Visitation will start Friday at 10 AM at St. Anselm Catholic Church in Madisonville. Eulogies will begin at 2:30 and the funeral mass will be at 3 PM.

The rain has moved out of Baton Rouge and they will play baseball at Alex Box Stadium tonight. The Fighting Tigers will host Grambling at 6:30. LSU was held to just two hits last night in a seven to nothing loss to McNeese.

The Cowboys are in action again tonight as they’ll host Louisiana Tech. It’s the end of an eight game road trip for the Bulldogs.

The Pelicans season ends tonight as they face Minnesota in the regular season finale. Coach Alvin Gentry will hold an end of season media availability tomorrow. Jake Madison, with Bourbon Street Shots, expects Gentry to be back next year despite this disappointing season. Madison also doesn’t see the team signing a big name free-agent, instead they’ll look to improve their roster in the draft…
cut 28 (14) “…the team”
Tip-off for tonight’s game is at 7 PM.

After getting shutout seven to nothing last night by McNeese, the LSU baseball team will try again tonight against Grambling. The Tigers were held to two hits as McNeese pitcher Austin Sanders held LSU to just one hit in six innings to improve his record to 3-2. Cowboys first baseman Connor Crane hit his sixth home run of the season and drove in two runs.

UL Lafayette crushed Tulane nine to two. Joe Robbins and Brian Mills combined to drive in seven runs as the Cajuns improved to 22-11 on the season. UL Lafayette’s game at UNO tonight has been postponed because of rain and it has been rescheduled for May 17th.

Also last night, South Alabama edged Southeastern Louisiana two to one, Arkansas defeated ULM 3-1.

It’s being reported that ESPN’s College Gameday will be at LSU’s season opener in Green Bay at Lambeau Field against the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Pelicans close out the regular season tonight in Minnesota. It’s been reported former McNeese star and Detroit Pistons player and executive Joe Dumars could be hired to replace Pelicans GM Dell Demps and current Milwaukee Bucks general Manager John Hammond will also be added to the Pelicans front office staff. But Jake Madison, with Bourbon Street Shots, doesn’t see that happening…
cut 17 (11) “…this year”
New Orleans is 30-51 on the year.

Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler has been invited to attend the NFL draft. He’s the only college player from Louisiana who will be in Chicago to hear his name called. The defensive lineman is expected to be a late first round or second round pick.

Former Zurich champions Vijah Singh and KJ Choi have committed to play in the tournament this year which will take place April 28th to May 1st.

A recent discovery could change the whole dynamic of the Will Smith murder case. Police say a loaded 9mm gun was found in the former-Saints defensive end’s vehicle. Legal analyst Chick Foret says the perspective on the charges against Cardell Hayes may continue to change as more evidence comes to light…:
CUT 12 (07) “to be determined”
Surveillance video also shows that a hit and run that took place prior to the shooting appears to be Smith rear-ending Hayes before driving off.

The Saints are holding an open casket visitation for guests wishing to pay their final respects to Smith on Friday from 2-7 at the team’s indoor practice facility in Metairie.

Funeral arrangements have also been announced for beloved Saints color analyst Hokie Gajan. The Baker native lost his battle with cancer Monday night at the age of 56. A balloon release for Hokie will take place tonight in Madisonville — then visitation will be Friday at St. Anselm Church in Madisonville. A funeral mass will follow at 3 p.m.

What happened to the LSU baseball team last night? McNeese came to play and they ended up blowing out the No. 9 Tigers 7-0 as the Cowboys extend their win streak to 5. This is the first win over a top 10 opponent for McNeese. LSU will host Grambling tonight. The Cowboys head home to take on Louisiana Tech.

The 22nd ranked Ragin Cajuns defeated NO.22/24 Tulane last night, 9-2. Nicholls State takes on Southern tonight in Baton Rouge.

ULM was edged by Arkansas 3-1 last night. Southeastern fell to South Alabama 2-1.

The Pelicans disappointing season ends tonight. The expectation was another trip to the playoffs, instead a mountain of injuries crushed the team’s playoff chances. Because of the injuries, Jake Madison a writer with Bourbon Street Shots, does NOT expect the team to fire general manager Dell Demps or head coach Alvin Gentry…:
Cut 16 (13) “this year”
The Pels will take on Minnesota.

A recent discovery could change the whole dynamic of the Will Smith murder case. Police say a loaded 9mm gun was found in the former-Saints defensive end’s vehicle. Legal analyst Chick Foret says the perspective on the charges against Cardell Hayes may continue to change as more evidence comes to light…:
CUT 12 (07) “to be determined”
Surveillance video also shows that a hit and run that took place prior to the shooting appears to be Smith rear-ending Hayes before driving off.

The Saints are holding an open casket visitation for guests wishing to pay their final respects to Smith on Friday from 2-7 at the team’s indoor practice facility in Metairie.

Funeral arrangements have also been announced for beloved Saints color analyst. The Baker native lost his battle with cancer Monday night at the age of 56. A balloon release for Hokie will take place tonight in Madisonville — then visitation will be Friday at St. Anselm Church in Madisonville. A funeral mass will follow at 3 p.m.

What happened to the LSU baseball team last night? McNeese came to play and they ended up blowing out the No. 9 Tigers 7-0 as the Cowboys extend their win streak to 5. This is the first win over a top 10 opponent for McNeese. LSU will host Grambling tonight. The Cowboys head home to take on Louisiana Tech.

The 22nd ranked Ragin Cajuns defeated NO.22/24 Tulane last night, 9-2. Nicholls State takes on Southern tonight in Baton Rouge.

ULM was edged by Arkansas 3-1 last night. Southeastern fell to South Alabama 2-1.

The Pelicans disappointing season ends tonight. The expectation was another trip to the playoffs, instead a mountain of injuries crushed the team’s playoff chances. Because of the injuries, Jake Madison a writer with Bourbon Street Shots, does NOT expect the team to fire general manager Dell Demps or head coach Alvin Gentry…:
Cut 16 (13) “this year”
The Pels will take on Minnesota.

Tributes are flowing today for former LSU and Saints running back and radio analyst Hokie Gajan. The football star died last night at the age of 56 from cancer. He was born in Baton Rouge, played at Baker High and starred at LSU. He blocked for former LSU running back Charles Alexander, when he was a Heisman finalist. Alexander says Gajan always put the team first and never worried about being in the headlines…
cut 11 (11) “…good guy”
After his career at LSU, Gajan appeared in 45 games for the Saints and still ranks second in franchise history for yards-per-carry. After his playing career, he served as a scout for the Saints and in 2000 he was named the color analyst for the team on WWL radio.

Ex-Saints running back Pierre Thomas used social media to share some of his thoughts about his former teammate, Will Smith, who was killed in a shooting late Saturday night. Thomas had dinner with Smith just before he died. Thomas says the images at the murder scene will never leave him and asks when is the senseless killing going to stop.

A preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing Smith, Cardell Hayes, will take place April 28th. Surveillence video has surfaced that shows there could have been a hit-and-run accident involving Smith and Hayes’ vehicles before the shooting.

Those wishing to pay their final respects to Smith can do so this Friday at the Saints indoor practice facility in Metairie. The team is hosting a public visitation from two to seven PM.

In other Saints news, the team has reportedly exercised the fifth-year contract option for safety Kenny Vaccaro. The move likely keeps Vaccaro in Black and Gold through the 2017 season.

Longtime Saints radio analyst and a man who had been involved with sports in Louisiana for more than 40 years, Hokie Gajan, died at the age of 56 Monday. Gajan was diagnosed with cancer last year, and his daughter, Kristin Gajan Sell told WWL he was moved to ICU over the weekend. She says the outpouring of affection from everyone has been a true blessing…:
Cut 19 (10) “for him”
Arrangements are pending.

More information keeps coming out about the fatal shooting of former Saints defensive end Will Smith. Surveillance video has surfaced that appears to show Smith was involved in a hit-and-run incident with a vehicle driven by the man that is accused of killing him. Cardale Hayes is facing a second-degree murder charge and his attorney has said Hayes was not the aggressor in this incident.

Pitcher Jake Latz makes his long-awaited debut in an LSU uniform tonight when the Tigers take on the McNeese State Cowboys. Latz couldn’t pitch last season and for the first half of this season, because of an elbow injury. Latz, who was selected in the 11th round of the 2014 draft, is expected to pitch a couple of innings. McNeese enters the game with an 18-11 record and they’ve lost 11 straight to the Tigers.

In other action…24th ranked Tulane is at UL Lafayette, Southeastern visits South Alabama and ULM battles Arkansas in North Little Rock.

In the NBA…the Pelicans closed out its home schedule with a 121 to 116 loss to Chicago. New Orleans was 21-20 at the Smoothie King Center. They close out the regular season on Wednesday at Minnesota.

Sports fans throughout Louisiana are waking up to the news that former Saints and LSU star, Hokie Gajan, passed away peacefully at the age of 56. The color analyst for the Black and Gold was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer near the end of 2015. Gajan is survived by his wife, Judy, and daughters Jennifer, Kristin, Megan and Alexis (Peanut).

The defense attorney in the murder case of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith believes once all of the evidence comes out, his client will be innocent. Cardell Hayes has been charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting, stemming from what cops call a road rage incident. Hayes’ lawyer John Fuller hopes more details of the incident will come out in a preliminary hearing…:
CUT 7 (11) “knowledge of”
Fuller has filed a motion to preserve all ballistic evidence.

In college baseball, LSU is making big moves in polls as the Tigers are No. 11 in D1 Baseball, No. 9 in Baseball America and No. 17 in Perfect game. LSU plays five games this week, beginning with McNeese State today, Grambling tomorrow and a weekend series against Missuori.

UL-Lafayette also plays five games this week against in-state foes Tulane and UNO starting today against the Green Wave. Ragin Cajun Sophomore right-hander Evan Guillory was named Pitcher of the Week by the Sun Belt.

Southeastern travels to face No. 21-ranked South Alabama. The Lions and the Ragin Cajuns play a weekend series.

ULM and Arkansas will meet on the diamond for the first time since the 2009 season.

In their last home game of the season, the New Orleans Pelicans fell to the Chicago Bulls, 121-116 Monday night. Analysts say with the loss, the Pels are locked into the sixth slot for NBA draft lottery odds, and can move either up or down from there.

The NFL Network reports that Cal quarterback Jared Goff is expected to visit the Saints this week.