The Saints first practice of training camp is in the books. Veteran safety Jairus Byrd was seen working with the starters during the full-team drills. Coach Sean Payton says Byrd is ready to go after appearing in just 17 games the last two seasons…
cut 30 (20) “…extremely well”
A key to improving the Saints defense this season will be creating more turnovers, but so far Byrd has just one interception in his two seasons in New Orleans.

In baseball news…former LSU pitcher Anthony Ranaudo’s first major league hit was a home run, but Ranauado and the White Sox lost to the Cubs 8-1. Alex Bregman remains hitless after three games.

You never know what LSU football coach Les Miles will have to say when he addresses the Baton Rouge Rotary Club and that was the case again this year. The Mad Hatter talked about the day he was beat up by his elementary school bully, Bobby Piper, who kept stealing his lunch money…
cut 17 (21) “…ditch”
Miles and the Tigers begin fall camp next week.

The College Football playoff has listened to complaints about having the semifinals on New Year’s eve. The CFP says in future years the semifinals will either take place on New Year’s Day or Saturdays or if New Year’s eve is a federally observed holiday. So for instance, in the 2018 season, the semis will take place on December 29th.