The Saints reported for training camp today. New Orleans has been one of the breakout candidates of the offseason after finishing last in the NFC South last year. They finished the season 4-and-1 in their last five games as quarterback Tyler Shough settled into the starting role. GM Mickey Loomis says that narrative isn’t a bad thing.

Cut 19 (20) “…we just are.”

He highlighted Shough and corners Quincy Riley and Kool-Aid McKinstry as players they need to keep improving this season.

Wide receiver Mason Tipton and defensive lineman Keeshawn Silver were placed on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list to start camp. Loomis said wide receivers Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson and running back Kendre Miller are all cleared and good-to-go.

Final revisions to the Protect College Sports Act have been made. Lawmakers have sent the new language to the SEC and the Big Ten and given them a deadline of 8 a.m. tomorrow to announce their positions. The bill will either move to the U.S. Senate floor next week or be delayed and likely die completely. One of the largest changes to the bill was the addition of a 20-million-dollar retention pool that would allow schools to exceed the revenue share cap to retain student-athletes.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will play out the final season of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. Mayfield has made little progress on a contract extension to stay in Tampa and previously said he would put any negotiations on hold once training camp started. Bucs D-tackle Vita Vea also requested a trade from the organization yesterday after holding in during veteran minicamp.

Former LSU basketball standouts Max Mackinnon, Skylar Mays and Darius Days are all signing deals to play in Australia’s NBL. Mackinnon is signing a two-year deal with his hometown Brisbane Bullets where his father won a championship and League MVP in 2007.