The Saints will practice indoors today because of the extreme heat. Today was the last scheduled fan attended practice, but since they’ll be practicing inside, the fans who had tickets for today’s practice will not be able to attend.

The team is getting ready for Sunday’s preseason game at noon against the Kansas City Chiefs. Recently signed Jontre Kirklin is hoping to make an impression. The former LSU and Lutcher standout is appreciative of a chance to play for his home team…
cut 19 (09) “…play ball man”
Kirklin lost his stepfather in April as he was fatally shot. He had a try out for the Saints last year, but that was as a defensive back. Now he’s getting a look at wide receiver. This past spring, he played for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks and caught four touchdown passes in five games. His season was cut short when he tore a pectoral muscle.

LSU Football Coach Brian Kelly says defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey’s health condition has improved. He was hospitalized before the start of preseason camp, but Kelly said yesterday that he could be released very soon. Specifics of his illness is not known.

John Jancek moved from special teams coach to D-Line coach and Kelly says former UCONN head coach Bob Diacco is doing a good job with special teams….
cut 17 (13) “….for him”
Finding a punt returner in fall camp is a priority for the Tigers. Alabama transfer Aaron Anderson has looked like a natural handling punts. Four-star freshman receiver Kyle Parker is also getting reps and so is Gregory Clayton. Clayton handled those duties last year after several other guys failed at it.

It took just four professional games before Dylan Crews hit his first professional grand slam. Crews had four hits on the night as Fredericksburg defeated Lynchburg 11 to 2. Crews is hitting .444 in his first four games as a pro.

The preseason coaches poll is out and LSU is ranked fifth. One of the reasons why LSU is considered a top five team is because of the strength of their offensive and defensive lines. The O-line returns five players who started last year and Tigers defensive end Sai’vion Jones says the experience the group has had together is noticeable….
cut 17 (15) “….with them”
LSU practices again today and Coach Brian Kelly is set to speak at around noon.

The Saints will kickoff preseason Sunday against the Chiefs. Coach Dennis Allen says the starters will play, it’s unknown how much they’ll play. But any playing time should help new quarterback Derek Carr’s chemistry and comfort within the system. Carr and tight end Juwan Johnson have already established a noticeable connection in training camp, and Johnson says Carr is like a long-lost brother…
Cut 19 (14) “…universal everywhere.”
A couple of former pro bowlers worked out for the Saints on Monday, running back Kareem Hunt and linebacker Anthony Barr. Hunt maybe needed with Alvin Kamara set to miss three games as a result of a suspension and the Saints have already lost running back Eno Benjamin with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Barr could be needed as linebacker Demario Davis has been sidelined with a calf injury.

A fight broke out today at LSU football practice involving a number of players, punches being thrown, and players being taken to the ground. Three scuffles, appearing to be initiated by one between linebacker Harold Perkins and wide receiver Kyren Lacy, interrupted an 11-on-11 period. Wide Out Malik Nabers and defensive backs Denver Harris and Major Burns were also involved. Nabers and Lacy were sent to the locker room while Perkins didn’t play another snap following the fight.

LSU was ranked fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll. Tight end Mason Taylor… 

Cut 12 

SEC rivals Georgia and Alabama were ranked numbers 1 and 3 while week one opponent Florida St. came in at 8th. Tulane, who finished last year ranked ninth, was ranked 23rd.

Southeastern was selected No. 15 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason top 25. The Lions are one of three teams to finish the last four years ranked in the top 25 and were picked to repeat as Southland champs this year. McNeese also received votes but did not make the top 25.

Shreveport’s Lee Hedges Stadium is likely to be closed for the rest of 2023 due to renovations. The stadium plays host to both Captain Shreve and Byrd high schools, and Tony Taglavore from the Shreveport-Bossier City Journal says this will affect more than just football…

Cut 7

The two schools will play their home games at Independence Stadium instead.

Saints Coach Dennis Allen announced today the starters will get the go-ahead for the first preseason game. Getting reps with new quarterback Derek Carr will be important but Allen says he’s got a new group that he’s looking forward to seeing play together. Quarterback Jameis Winston will of course make an appearance and Allen says you can expect to see a lot of fourth round pick Jake Haener…

Cut 16

The Saints will kickoff preseason this Sunday against the Chiefs.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara now knows he’ll miss the first three games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Kamara was charged with battery for his role in a Feburary 2022 fight in Las Vegas. He later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace. The 27-year-old says he definitely made a bad decision…
cut 18 (11) “…some people”
2022 was a tough season for Saints kicker Will Lutz as he was just 22 of 31 on field goals. Lutz knows he has the leg strength, consistency is what he’s searching for…
cut 21 (18) “…long ones’
Lutz has missed just three kicks this year.

Former LSU wide receiver Jontre Kirklin is getting a chance with the Saints. Kirkland played well this past spring for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, catching 15 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns in five games. Kirklin was a also a standout player at Lutcher.

The Green Bay Packers have released former LSU quarterback Danny Etling. He was on the Packers practice squad all of last season.

LSU has received a commitment from four-star wide receiver Jelani Watkins. He’s from Houston and the five-foot-ten, 160-pounder also wants to run track at LSU. He’s ranked by ESPN as the 105th best player in the 2024 recruiting class.

Both Dylan Crews and Gavin Dugas hit home runs Fredericksburg yesterday. The two former LSU Tigers are playing for the Nationals Class-A team.

And Lee Hedges Stadium in Shreveport will be closed this fall for renovations, which means Byrd and Captain Shreve will have to find another venue to play football games, Independence Stadium and Northwood High School are the other options.

LSU Head football coach Brian Kelly addressed the media after their first fall practice on Thursday. Kelly is entering his second year with the team and is expecting to build off of last year’s success.
Cut 16 (09) “…to build upon.”
One of the position battles to watch is at center. Charles Turner is back for his fifth season, but Kelly says he’s being pushed by Marlon Martinez….
cut 21 (29) “….vigilante”
LSU running back John Emery joins the team today. He missed practice yesterday as he was finishing up an internship.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approves a plan that lowers the catch limit for speckled trout. Under the plan approved, anglers would only be allowed to catch a speckled trout that’s more than 13 inches long. The maximum size allowed is 20 inches and only two fish above that limit are allowed. Also, the total catch per angler per day would go from 25 fish to 15. LDWF Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says this conservation plan is needed…
Cut 8 (07) “…concerned.”
Banks says the public will have the opportunity to comment on the plan and legislators could reject it, but if there are no hold ups, it could go into effect as early as November.

In recruiting, Sterlington offensive tackle Mitch Hodnett has committed to TCU. He’s a three-star prospect, listed as the 39th overall prospect per 247 sports.

LSU football reports for its first practice today and head Coach Brian Kelly will be speak to the media for the first time as well. The team had to shuffle its coaching staff after defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey was taken away in an ambulance from the football operations building on Tuesday night.

Kelly said that Lindsey would be away from the team for an undetermined amount of time but implied his reunion by saying quote we look forward to his return to the program. Special teams coach and outside linebacker coach, John Jancek, will take over Lindsey’s roll in the wake of his absence and new defensive analyst Bob Diaco will take over Jancek’s roll.

The Saints are continuing practice today under new quarterback Derek Carr, but he is not the only new face to the Saints offense. The Saints drafted offensive tackle Trevor Penning to fill the need for the quarterback’s blind spot, and Carr is confident in his success despite just taking a few snaps.

Cut 20 (10) “…they’ve proven it.”

The Ragin Cajun begin their fall practice today with a three player quarterback battle going into camp. Chandler Fields began 2022 as the starter, and redshirt freshman Zeon Chris took snaps under center in the Spring., but head coach Michael Desormeaux says Ben Wooldridge is healthy after last year’s season ending injury and will take first team reps.

Cut 16 (16) “…he is physically”

ULM also has quarterback depth going into fall camp. Jiya Wright is taking snaps as the starter but head coach Terry Bowden thinks the QB room has plenty of talent.

Cut 18 (15) “…that position.”

The LSU Tigers hold their first preseason practice this morning and because of a health scare involving one of their coaches, they’ve already had to shuffle the responsibilities within the staff. Coach Brian Kelly says defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey has stepped away from the program because on a personal health matter. With Lindsey away, John Jancek hired to coach special teams, will coach the defensive line, and senior defensive analyst Bob Diaco, will coach the special teams. No word how long Lindsey will be out.

At ULM, senior Jiya Wright begins fall camp as the starting quarterback and coach Terry Bowden likes the depth that he has at that position…
cut 18 (15) “….that position”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara was not a practice yesterday. He was meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York City. Coach Dennis Allen says Kamara wanted to give his side of the story to what happened when A-K and three other men were arrested for beating up another man in Las Vegas in February 2022. Kamara pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace.

On the field, it’s expected that second year player Trevor Penning will be the starter at left tackle. Quarterback Derek Carr has faith in the people that put him there…
cut 20 (10) “…they’ve proven it”
The Saints are off today. Their first preseason game is August 13th against Kansas City.

The Associated Press is reporting the Big 10 is looking to expand again and they are looking at Oregon and Washington. With the PAC-12 falling apart, Oregon and Washington could join their current conference rivals, USC and UCLA, in making the move to the Big 10.

The LSU football team reported for camp today ahead of a season with high expectations following an SEC West title last year. The Tigers were picked to finish second in the division and many fans are hoping second-year head coach Brian Kelly can follow Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson’s lead who both won national championships in their second season in Baton Rouge. Kelly has tried to taper expectations but Tiger Rag editor Todd Horne says the sentiment isn’t the same inside the locker room…

Cut 15 (14)  “…this year.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara will meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York today. Kamara faces a possible suspension under the leagues conduct policy after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace. Kamara faced felony assault charges after his involvement in a fight outside a Las Vegas night club in 2022, and would like to share his side of the story with Goodell before the NFL passes down a ruling on his suspension.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas will hope to make his return this year after playing just 10 games in the last three years after his record setting 2019 season. Thomas has been a full participant in training camp thus far and has established a good connection with new quarterback Derek Carr who says Thomas was part of the reason he came to New Orleans, but even the former All-Pro wide receiver knows he can’t just come back like he never left…

Cut 18 (25) “…chase perfection.”

The Saints announced a revised practice schedule for the remaining Open Practices on the training camp schedule due to excessive heat warnings for the New Orleans area. The outdoor portion of practice will be reduced to one hour starting at 10:00 and the earlier portion of practice will take place inside. Gates will open at 9:15

It’s reporting day for the LSU football team. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne says one of the biggest question marks is with the defensive secondary, which returns just two starters, Major Burns and Greg Brooks…
cut 14 (09) “…..in camp”
Linebacker Harold Perkins and defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo have been named to the watch list for the Bronko Naurski Trophy, which goes to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player.

The Saints have been in camp for a week, so how is the connection between new starting quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Michael Thomas? Thomas says everything is good so far…
cut 16 (14) “…job easier”
The Saints practice again today, but they’ve announced they’ll be spending less time outside because of the heat.

Sulphur tight end J-D LaFleur, who is the son of former LSU All-American tight end David LaFleur, has committed to LSU. He’s rated as a three-star prospect for the Class of 2025. The six-foot-six, 220 pounder also received interest from Florida and Texas A-and-M. His father was an All-SEC selection as a senior in 1996.

In college baseball, Calvary Baptist left hander Landon Fontenot has committed to Louisiana Tech. Fontenot was the state championship game MVP when the Cavaliers won the 2022 state title. Last season, he was 5-and-3 with a 1.15 ERA and had 78 strikeouts in 60 innings.

LSU men’s basketball will be in the Bahamas next week and is set to play three exhibition games. Coach Matt McMahon tells the Advocate that senior forward Mwani Wilkinson will be ready. Wilkinson had season-ending shoulder surgery in January.

The Southland Conference has released its conference basketball schedule. League games will be played on Saturday-Monday, instead of Thursday-Saturday.

The Saints were back on the field for training camp on Tuesday, and pro bowl wide receiver Michael Thomas has been continuously getting reps in with no playing restrictions. To help his return back into his all-pro form from just a few years ago he credits cornerback and Saints teammate Marshon Lattimore.

Cut 26 (06) “…going against him”

Lattimore has been performing exceptionally well head coach Dennis Allen says, and he anticipates that his success will translate to the regular season from having a good training camp.

Cut 17 (18) “…good to see.”

Starting left guard Andrus Peat was absent today due to an injury suffered on Monday. Despite missing practice Peat is expected to be okay.

Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is today at 5 pm CT, and the Houston Astros were buyers for pitcher Justin Verlander yet again.

The Astros have agreed to a trade with the New York Mets that will send the 3 time Cy Young winner back to Houston. Verlander won two World Series’ with the Astros including in 2022, and will be reuniting with former LSU infielder Alex Bregman along with many of the same faces that helped him earn those two titles.

LSU football’s 2023 fall practice schedule has been released with practice beginning on August 3^rd and will take place until the 19^th. LSU is set to play their first game of the season In Orlando against Florida State on Sunday September 3^rd.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is being sued by nine schools, six from Rapides Parish and five from Monroe. The schools are claiming that the LHSAA does not have the authority to alter the select/no select playoff format. The lawsuit says that the schools are seeking an injunction on this motion before the start of football season.