The Saints are putting on the pads for the first time in training camp today. It will be the first glimpse for both players and coaches of what the team can really look like. Tight end Juwan Johnson says the team has the best energy he’s seen since they started 5-and-2 with Jameis Winston in 2021.

Cut 16 (18) “…be okay.”

Rookie Tyler Shough will take the starting reps today after having a reportedly exceptional day with the twos yesterday. Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman and recent addition, safety Julian Blackmon, each snagged impressive interceptions yesterday. Stutsman saw increased work with the first team as Demario Davis had an excused absence.

Saints Tight end Taysom Hill was spotted doing some individual drills with a team trainer on the sideline at camp yesterday as he recovers from a torn ACL. Hill is still on the physically unable to perform list but seems to be making progress toward a return.

Former LSU pitcher Paul Skenes turned in a dominant outing on the mound for the Pirates yesterday in a 6-0 win over the Diamondbacks. Skenes allowed just three hits and one walk through 6 shutout innings. He struck out nine and got the win, improving to 6-and-8 on the season.

Shreveport native and former LSU golfer Phillip Barbaree shot a 13-under round of 59 Saturday on the PGA Tour Americas. The score came in the third round of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open and is only the second sub-60 round in PGA Americas Tour history. Barbaree entered the final round of the tournament leading but fell to 10th yesterday after shooting an even par.

The Saints hosted former first-round pick Noah Fant for a visit today. The free agent met with the Bengals yesterday and comes to New Orleans as tight ends Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau are still sidelined with knee injuries. Tight end Juwan Johnson says he’d be an explosive option for the Black and Gold.

Cut 19 (17) “…room better.”

Fant has 300 catches for over three thousand yards in his six-year career. He ranked 18th among tight ends with 500 yards for the Seahawks last season. Johnson compared his potential addition to Jimmy Graham and Benjamin Watson sharing a tight end room in New Orleans.

Jake Haener took the starting reps at quarterback today. Safety Justin Reid says the young group has struggled early on in camp, and it’s the defense’s job not to take it easy on them.

Cut 20 (17) “…week one.”

Spencer Rattler had his second perfect passing day in just three practices. The team will have its first practice with pads Monday.

Louisiana is establishing a new legislative task force on NIL, chaired by Homer Representative Rashid Young, a former Grambling State football player. The task force is made up of athletic directors, business leaders and college athletes and will meet monthly to discuss recommendations for future state laws on NIL compensation. Recommendations are planned for the January 2026 legislative session.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore is looking for his QB1 in a rotation among Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough and 2023 4th-round pick Jake Haener. Haener is the senior of the group but was last to receive first team reps, which he did today. Haener lost out on the starting job last year to Rattler following the Derek Carr injury, but Moore has insisted he’s involved in the competition. Haener says he’s learned the NFL doesn’t care about your feelings.

Cut 18 (13) “…totally respect that.”

Free agent tight end Noah Fant is in New Orleans for a visit today. Knee injuries to tight ends Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau have sidelined them for camp so far. Fant was a first-round pick in 2019 and has caught 300 passes for over 3-thousand yards. He also took a recent visit to Cincinnati.

Second-round pick Tyler Shough ran with the third team today, and Spencer Rattler led the twos. Both growing up near Phoenix, Arizona, Rattler says he’s known Shough for a long time.

Cut 17 (16)  “…with them too.”

Rattler flashed today with a deep ball to wideout Mason Tipton, who was a big-time camp performer last year after signing as an undrafted free agent. He threw the first interception of camp to rookie Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley yesterday.

Louisiana Tech is bringing new turf to the football stadium, and the field will now be known as Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium. The new field will replace the turf originally installed in 2015 and feature an Origin Bank logo at each 25-yard line

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough got the starting reps in the Saints’ second practice as head coach Kellen Moore searches for his starter in a three-way position battle. The quarterbacks agreed balancing competitiveness with consistency is key. Shough says each will have their highs and lows.

Cut 16 (18) “…with them too.”

Second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler was the first to throw an interception on a pass he meant to throw away. Rookie Quincy Riley made the play in the end zone.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died yesterday at the age of 71. Authorities responded to a morning call about cardiac arrest, and Hogan was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

Louisiana Tech is bringing new turf to the football stadium, and the field will now be known as Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium. The new field will replace the turf originally installed in 2015 and feature an Origin Bank logo at each 25-yard line. The blue Bulldogs end zones and midfield logo will remain the same, and installation is set to be finished by the end of July, before players report for camp.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly was fired up in his address to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club. He says he has two goals: beating Clemson and competing for championships.

Cut 20 (13) “… a championship.”

Kelly has yet to win a season opener in Baton Rouge, and the Tigers have failed to start 1-and-0 since 2019. Clemson, though, has had similar troubles losing their last two openers. A loss to LSU would also be their fourth straight against SEC teams after three last year.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly was fired up in his address to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club. He says he has two goals: beating Clemson and competing for championships.

Cut 20 (13) “… a championship.”

The Tigers will travel to South Carolina August 30.

LSU pitcher Kade Anderson signed an $8.8 million signing bonus with the Mariners. It’s the seventh-largest bonus in MLB draft history but falls roughly $700,000 short of the slot value at the number three overall pick

Tigers D-H Ethan Frey also signed his contract with the Astros for nearly one million dollars, almost 200 thousand dollars above his slot value at pick 95.

The Saints’ quarterbacks spoke for the first time after the team’s second training camp practice today. After a perfect day yesterday, Spencer Rattler threw the first interception of camp to rookie Quincy Riley on a pass he was trying to throw out the back of the endzone.  He says the quarterback room is supportive of one another, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t competition.

Cut 21 (07) “…built for this.”

Second-round Pick Tyler Shough got the starting reps today after Rattler did yesterday. The rookie says it’s important not to fall into the trap of one-upping each other.

Cut 22 (09) “…will happen.”

Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks and Alontae Taylor got into the first fight of camp after an incomplete pass in the end zone. Benches cleared, but the scuffle defused quickly. New Orleans will put pads on next week, and their first preseason matchup with the Chargers is scheduled for August 10.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly spoke to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club yesterday. He says for the first time in his career, he’s made it a focused goal to start 1-and-0. He says his players have the traits of excellence to get that done.

Cut 19 (19) “…to day basis.”

The Tigers kick off the season at Clemson August 30. After signing the nation’s top transfer class, Kelly says this is the best roster he’s put together in Baton Rouge, but Clemson returns 80% of production from last season, the most in FBS.

The Saints kicked off training camp yesterday. The Black and Gold won’t put the pads on until next week, but they’ll have a chance to get a first look at the new systems under head coach Kellen Moore and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley’s 3-4 scheme will be a new look in New Orleans, and defensive end Cameron Jordan is optimistic.

Cut 18 (11) “…I like that.”

McNeese is renaming its football stadium to Navarre Stadium in the largest naming rights gift in school and Southland Conference history. McNeese will receive five-million dollars over the next ten years. Athletic Director Heath Schroyer says investment in McNeese is investment in Lake Charles.

Cut 10 (15) “…this region.”

I’m Jeanne Burns and this sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health. When gambling is more than a game, no one wins.

Training camp is underway for the Saints, but expectations are low after the Black and Gold finished five and 12 last season. Running back Alvin Kamara says he’s ready to build back a winning culture

Cut 16 (17) “…spark back”

The Saints quickly found a replacement for Tyrann Mathieu who announced his retirement on Tuesday. New Orleans signed safety Julian Blackmon who had 10 interceptions during his five seasons with the Colts. The Saints have also signed free agent defensive end Johnthan Bullard, who started for the Vikings last season and had 41 tackles and one sack.

___________________________________________________________-

During his annual appearance before the Baton Rouge Rotary Club, LsU Coach Brian Kelly struck an optimistic tone….

Cut 20 (16) “…for LSU”

LSU will report for preseason camp on Tuesday.

Cowboy Stadium on McNeese’s campus will now be called Navarre Stadium because of a five-million-dollar naming rights agreement with McNeese alumnus and long-time supporter Ryan Navarre. Navarre says the recent success of the basketball program is a sign the university is heading in the right direction…

Cut 12 (13) “…be safe”

Former Union Parish football star Trey Holly has enrolled at Southern University as a walk-on. He’s not allowed to play at LSU, because he faces felony charges from a shooting. Jaguars head coach Terrence Graves says Holly is ready to go.

Cut 12 (11) “…our program.”

Tigers Head Coach Brian Kelly spoke to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club today. After losing the season opener his first three seasons, Kelly has placed a big emphasis on beating Clemson week one. There are Clemson paw prints and videos up in the facility.

Cut 21 (14) “…get that done.”

The Saints opened training camp today. Veteran linebacker Demario Davis says it will be a fresh start under first-year head coach Kellen Moore.

Cut 22 (18) “…or not.”

The Saints are finalizing a deal with former Colts Safety Julian Blackmon to replace the retiring Tyrann Mathieu. The 26-year-old has 7 interceptions and 174 tackles in the last two seasons. He’ll partner with safety Justin Reid, whom the Saints signed to a three-year deal averaging $10.5 million earlier this offseason.

McNeese’s Cowboy Stadium is being renamed to Navarre Stadium in the largest naming rights contract in school and Southland Conference history. The $5 million naming rights agreement spans ten years between the school and Lake Charles philanthropist Ryan Navarre.

Following the surprise retirement of Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu, the Saints are signing former Colts safety Julian Blackmon. The former third-round pick had 300 tackles and 10 interceptions in five seasons with the Colts.

The Saints began training camp today. The story of camp will be the three-way quarterback battle between Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough. Rattler got the starting reps today. Running back Alvin Kamara says he saw a group anxious to be great.

Cut 21 (15) “…be good.”

Shough will get the starting reps tomorrow.

The only players absent from the first day of practice were tight ends Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau, who were both placed on the physically unable to perform list yesterday.

Sun Belt Media Days began with the West Division in New Orleans yesterday. UL-Lafayette was picked to win the West in the conference preseason poll. Head Coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-mo) is looking to return to the Sun Belt championship after falling short last year.

Cut 16 (15) “…really want.”

Louisiana Tech Head Coach Sonny Cumbie spoke at Conference USA Media Day yesterday. The Bulldogs are coming off a 5-and-8 season, in which they were able to back their way into a bowl game. Cumbie says it was most of the players’ first bowl experience.

Cut 19 (16) “…to another one.”

I’m Colleen Crain and this sportscast is brought to you by the Louisiana Department of Health. When gambling is more than a game, no one wins.

Saints training camp begins today. With new head coach Kellen Moore and the retirement of quarterback Derek Carr, it will be a fresh start in New Orleans, but GM Mickey Loomis says there’s always an opportunity to be successful.

Cut 10 (12) “…excited about that.”

Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu has retired after 12 NFL seasons. Mathieu won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs and was a three-time first-team All Pro selection. Mathieu was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade team and had 36 career interceptions.

Loomis said Mathieu’s retirement came as a surprise as they learned of it in the last few days. New Orleans is reportedly close to signing Julian Blackmon, who intercepted ten passes during five seasons with the Colts.

Louisiana Tech was 12^th in the nation in total defense last season and the Bulldogs have a strong linebacker corps and secondary returning. Head Coach Sonny Cumbie says eight of their 13 defensive lineman, though, are new…

Cut 20 (17) “….that as well”

At Sun Belt Media Days, ULM coach Bryant Vincent was asked about Tech joining the league in either 2026 or 2027…

Cut 18 (20) “…that wants”

The last time Tech and ULM played each other in football was in 2000.