The Saints begin their first full week of training camp today and it’s still a little surreal seeing tight end Jimmy Graham back on the practice field and wearing Black and Gold. Graham signed with the Saints last week re-joining a franchise that drafted him in 2010, but traded him to Seattle in 2015…:
Cut 16 (20) “this city” (2x)
The 36-year-old was a two-time All Pro and three-time Pro Bowler who had 51 touchdowns during his five seasons in New Orleans, but he hasn’t had the same level of success in recent stints with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Graham is now hoping to help make the Black and Gold a Super Bowl contender again.

The LSU Football Team landed another huge commitment with three-star offensive lineman Ory Williams joining the 2024 recruiting class. Williams, the number 40 offensive tackle in the country, becomes the 21st commit for next season and third on the o-line for the Tigers this recruiting cycle.

Twelve Louisiana legends from sportswriters, MLB players, basketball players and coaches highlighted the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class which was inducted over the weekend. They included longtime LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri, Shreveport native Wendell Davis, who shattered LSU football receiving records before heading to the NFL. Also inducted on Saturday were two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and four-time WNBA All-Star Alana Beard.

Ascension Parish Little League baseball has captured the Louisiana state championship in the 12u division. The team will now represent the state in the Little League Southwest regional in Waco Texas. The winner will advance to participate in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Tough news to hear about Saints Guard Trai Turner. The former LSU and St. Aug star is reportedly done for the season after tearing his quadriceps at practice yesterday. The 30-year-old was expected to provide depth at the guard position. He just signed with the team on Tuesday.

Also signing on Tuesday was 36-year-old tight end Jimmy Graham. It’s unkown if Graham will make the team, but according to fellow tight end Juwan Johnson, Graham has already made an impact….
cut 19 (29) “…to us”
And the Saints have signed long snapper Zach Wood to a four-year contract extension.

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Tayler says quarterback Joe Burrow will likely miss several weeks after suffering a right calf strain during practice on Thursday. It’s unclear if Burrow will return in time for the regular season opener on September 10th against Cleveland.

Tonight, the 2023 class gets inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Eli Manning arrived in Natchitoches yesterday for the festivities. Joining the two-time Super Bowl champion Q-B is Paul Mainieri, Alana Beard, Paul Byrd, Wendell Davis, Walter Davis and few others. Former Tulane running back Matt Forte is also part of the class. The Slidell High graduate rushed for nearly 10-thousand yards and caught over 500 passes in the NFL…
cut 13 (12) “…..I had”
Louisiana Public Broadcasting will stream tonight’s induction ceremonies at 7 PM.

Three days into Saints training camp and a recently signed player is reportedly done for the season. ESPN is reporting five-time Pro Bowl guard Trai Tuner tore his quadriceps at practice today. The former LSU star and St. Aug standout just signed with the team this week.

The Saints announced today they’ve resigned long snapper Zach Wood to a four year contract extension. Wood has been very consistent over the last six years as the Black and Gold’s long snapper.

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave had a great rookie season and the hope is that he can improve on the 72 receptions and 1,042 yards receiving he had last year. Olave says he got stronger in the offseason and he’s ready to contribute to what he thinks will be an explosive offense…
cut 16 (17) “…ready to explode”

Louisiana Tech has started preseason camp, because they play their first game a week earlier than most schools. The Bulldogs kick off the 2023 season by hosting FIU on August 26th. During the middle of the season, Tech will play a string of games not on Saturday. It starts Friday, September 29th at UTEP, the following week it’s Thursday at home against Western Kentucky and then back-to-back Tuesday games against Middle Tennessee and New Mexico State. Coach Sonny Cumbie is looking forward to the unique schedule…
Cut 19 (19) “…national TV.”

Some great coaches and athletes will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night during a ceremony in Natchitoches. The 2023 class includes Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri, Wendell Davis and women’s basketball great Alana Beard.

After catching 72 passes for 1,042 yards last season, Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is looking to improve on those numbers in his second season in the NFL. Olvae would certainly benefit if fellow receiver Michael Thomas can stay healthy. Both are from Ohio State and Olave talked about their relationship…
cut 17 (17) “…a lot”

LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson continues to work the transfer portal. His latest find is Alabama right-hander Luke Holman. He was the Crimson Tide’s Friday night starter last season and went 7-and-4 with 3.67 ERA. Hollman is on the USA Collegiate National Team and has two years of college baseball eligibility remaining.

Preseason camp has started for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs first game is August 26th against FIU. Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier is expected to get the starter at quarterback and Coach Sonny Cumbie likes how Bachmeier is picking up the air raid offense…
cut 18 (16) “…learning mode”

Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri, Wendell Davis, Matt Forte and Alana Beard along with a few others will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday in Natchitoches. Also going in is 86-year-old Walter Imahara, a decadeslong weightlifting champion. Ronnie Rantz with the Sports Hall of Fame says Imahara has a great story…
cut 15 (13) “late 50s”

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave had a great rookie season and the hope is that he can improve on the 72 receptions and 1,042 yards receiving he had last year. Olave says he got stronger in the offseason and he’s ready to contribute to what he thinks will be an explosive offense…
cut 16 (17) “…ready to explode”

Bengals fans had to be freaking out yesterday after video showed Pro Bowl QB Joe Burrow being carted off the field after injuring his calf while scrambling out of the pocket. ESPN is reporting Burrow has a calf strain.

Alabama ace pitcher Luke Holman has announced he will transfer to LSU. The junior right-hander was 7-4 with a 3.67 ERA last season. Holman also struck out 87 in 81 innings.

Preseason camp has started for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs first game is August 26th against FIU. Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier is expected to get the start at quarterback and Coach Sonny Cumbie likes how Bachmeier is picking up the offense…
cut 18 (16) “…learning mode”

Saturday night is the induction ceremonies for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. Shreveport native and former LSU star Wendell Davis is among the athletes who will be inducted. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz says for a receiver Davis put up big numbers in the 1980s and was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 1987….
cut 14 (10) “…of the Bears”
Also going into the Hall, Eli Manning, Paul Mainieri and former WNBA great Alana Beard.

All 90 players were present for the Saints first practice of training camp yesterday. If the Saints want to return to their winning ways after the team’s first losing season since 2016, they’ll need a big season from new quarterback Derek Carr. Carr signed with the Saints in March after nine seasons with the Raiders, and the vet has been adjusting to the offense. He says he understands the importance of his role…

Cut 17 (20) “…here to do.”

Four-star cornerback Cai Bates announced his commitment to LSU over Alabama, Florida St, and Tennessee. The 6-foot-1 Bates becomes the 20^th commit for the Tigers twelfth-ranked 2024 recruiting class.

LSU also signed two-time Sun Belt champion sprinter Myles Thomas. Thomas brought home both the 100-meter and 60-meter title in his first year at Arkansas State.

The LSU football season is just around the corner as players are set to report next week. The Tigers won’t have time to start slow as they begin the season with a preseason top-10 matchup against Florida State. Games like that are won in the trenches and Coach Brian Kelly lies what he has on offensive and defensive line…

Cut 20 (21)  “…outstanding player.”  

Zion Williamson and his family are facing a lawsuit from Ankr PBC, a tech company out of California. The suit alleges Williamson and his family failed to repay $1.8 million of a $2 million loan given as part of establishing a marketing relationship. Williamson’s step-father Lee Anderson is the central figure of the suit as he acted as Zion’s business manager and requested $150,000 up front to explore a possible business partnership with his stepson.

The Saints had 100-percent attendance on their first day of training camp practice. That means wide receiver Michael Thomas was catching passes from Derek Carr in seven on seven drills. Afterwards, Carr talked about the respect he has for Thomas…
cut 18 (21) “….done the work”
36-year-old Jimmy Graham was also on the practice field at he’s trying to make the team and be a threat in the red zone. He’s listed at six-foot-seven, 265 pounds after taking a year off from football.

Former LSU Tiger Trai Tuner is listed as six-foot-three, 320 pounds. Turner has played right guard for the last nine seasons. Cesar Ruiz started at right guard for New Orleans last season and his contract expires after this year.

Anticipation is building for the LSU football season as the Tigers are set to report next week. Everyone always looks forward to seeing the newcomers, but Coach Brian Kelly told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club there are guys that have been on the roster for a while that are ready for a breakout season…
Cut 19 (21) “…make impacts.”
A four star cornerback from Orlando has committed to LSU. Cai Bates from Edgewater High School is considered the 11th best cornerback in the country according to the 247 sports composite rankings. LSU now has 20 verbal commitments for the Class of 2024.

At the Women’s World Cup, the US and Netherlands played to a one-one draw.

The first practice of training camp is in the books for the Saints. New Orleans enters the season as the favorites to win the NFC South. They’ve tried to remain competitive following the retirement of Drew Brees and General Manager Mickey Loomis says they never thought about going into rebuilding mode…
cut 16 (17) “…in front of us
There was 100-percent attendance for the first day of Saints camp and that includes wide receiver Michael Thomas, who caught several passes from Derek Carr. Tight end Jimmy Graham was also on the practice field after signing a one-year deal with the Black and Gold yesterday. Safety Tyrann Mathieu joked with the media that when saw Graham yesterday, he thought Graham was here to serve as a coach during training camp.

Expectations are low outside of the ULM football program as the Warhawks have been picked to finish seventh in the seven-team West Division of the Sun Belt. Terry Bowden has big goals in mind as he enters his third season as head coach…
cut 19 (14) “….football games’

In one month, La Tech will kick off the 2023 season with a Week Zero game against FIU at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Bulldogs are picked to finish fourth in the new look nine-team Conference USA. Hank Bachmeier is expected to start at Q-B after transferring from Boise State. Coach Sonny Cumbie….
cut 20 (15) “….our offense”
Bachmeier was 20-and-9 as a starter at Boise State.

The Saints have their first practice of training camp today with numerous position battles to play out as the season approaches. One group to watch will be the running backs with new additions free agent Jamaal Williams and third round pick out of TCU Kendre Miller. Alvin Kamara’s future has been uncertain as he faced legal action following an altercation in a Las Vegas club, but now that charges have been resolved Saints GM Mickey Loomis says they’re still waiting to hear from the NFL…

Cut 17 (18) “…as you’d like.”

The NFL’s conduct policy and suspension lengths have been wildly inconsistent, but many believe Kamara will face up to a six-game suspension. Head coach Dennis Allen…

Cut 21 (09) “…part of that.”

The Sun Belt conference held their football media day yesterday at the New Orleans Sheraton. The Cajuns were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West under second-year Head Coach Michael Desormeaux. The school also had one selection to the first team All-Sun Belt team in junior tight end Neal Johnson. Desormeaux says he’ll be an important leader on his young team…

Cut 18 (19) “…be huge.” 

Offensive lineman AJ Gillie was also voted to the all-conference second team. The Ragin’ Cajuns will kick off their season September 2 against Northwestern State.

UL-Monroe was picked to finish seventh of the seven team division. Wide receiver Tyrone Howell is the Warhawks only representative on the All-Sun Belt team after getting a second team nod. They’ll kick off against Army.

The Saints will hold their first training camp practice today and fan favorite Jimmy Graham will be on the field with the Black and Gold, not as a part-time coach, but as a player. The 36-year-old Graham did not play in the NFL last season, but Coach Dennis Allen thinks he still has something left.
cut 30 (10) “…that room”
Graham caught 51 touchdown passes with the Saints from 2010 to 2014. He was traded to Seattle in the Max Unger deal and Graham never really was the same player after he left New Orleans.

The Saints have also signed former LSU Tiger and St. Aug star Trai Turner. Turner made five straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2019. New Orleans also added veteran offensive guard Max Garcia, who won a Super Bowl with Denver in 2015 and started seven games last year with the Cardinals.

In one month, Louisiana Tech will kick off the 2023 season with a Week Zero game against FIU at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Bulldogs are picked to finish fourth in the new look nine-team Conference USA. Tech returns four of their five starting offensive lineman and Hank Bachmeier is expected to start at quarterback after transferring in from Boise State. Coach Sonny Cumbie….
cut 20 (15) “….our offense”
Bachmeier was 20-and-9 as a starter at Boise State.

Tulane has been picked to win the American Athletic Conference. Southern has been picked to win SWAC Western Division. Grambling has been picked to finish fourth.

LSU pitcher Javen Coleman will pitch again for the Tigers next season. He was selected in the 16th round by the Dodgers, but Coleman has decided to return after going 1-and-2 with a 7.07 ERA last season in his first season back after undergoing Tommy John Surgery.