The first practice of Saints training camp is in the books and the big development is that wide receiver Michael Thomas was on the practice field. He did everything but full-team drills after missing all of last season.

Safety Tyrann Mathieu has been excused from the beginning of training camp to handle a personal family matter. Head Coach Dennis Allen expects a big season from the Honey Badger and he says free-agent addition Marcus Maye is back after tearing his achilles last November
Cut 19 (29) _“…that room”

First year Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie is participating in his first Conference USA Media Day today in Arlington, Texas. The league is changing as Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion have left for the Sun Belt, while North Texas, UTSA, Rice, Charlotte, UAB and Florida Atlantic will leave after this school year. Cumbie says he’s still excited about the direction of the conference….
cut 20 (24)
Conference USA will add Jacksonville State, Liberty, and New Mexico State next summer.

The Saints return to the practice field this morning for the start of training camp. Wide receiver Michael Thomas will not practice, but the team expects that will happen soon as the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year is still not ready after missing the 2021 season following ankle surgery.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis says it remains to be seen what happens with running back Alvin Kamara, who faces potential league discipline for a felony battery charge from an incident that occurred at a Las Vegas casino in February. His next court hearing is Monday. Meanwhile, the Saints signed veteran running back Malcolm Brown who has rushed for 13-hundred yards in 77 NFL games. Loomis on Brown’s signing…
cut 17 (20) “…part of it”

Sun Belt Media Days continues today as U-L Lafayette and ULM representatives will speak to the media day this afternoon. Commissioner Keith Gill spoke yesterday and discussed an expanded TV deal with ESPN and he says the league is moving closer to a sixth bowl tie-in.

Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie participates in his first Conference USA Media Day today. He’ll be joined by offensive lineman Joshua Mote and defensive lineman Keviei Rose. La Tech is expected to appear on a live show on ESPN-plus at 11 AM.

In NFL news…Tampa Bay has added another offensive weapon to help out quarterback Tom Brady. The Buccaneers are signing seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones to a one-year-deal.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will miss the start of training camp to undergo surgery to remove his appendix. Recovery is usually two to four weeks.

Saints football is back as veterans reported for training camp today. First practice is tomorrow morning. New Orleans had one of the top defenses in the NFL last season, allowing 20 points a game and holding teams to 94 yards on the ground. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says the Black and Gold should be good on defense again this season…
Cut 18 (13) “ …stay healthy.”
Detillier says the Saints should also be improved at wide receiver, especially if Michael Thomas is healthy….
Cut 19 (19) _“…the team.”

Tampa Bay has added another offensive weapon to help out there 44-year-old quarterback Tom Brady. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the Bucaneers are signing seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones to a one-year-deal. Jones is 33-years-old and caught 31 passes in ten games for the Titans last season.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will miss the start of training camp to undergo surgery to remove his appendix. Rapoport says Burrow will miss some practice time but better now than later.

The Pelicans announce second round pick E-J Liddell underwent successell surgery to repair his torn ACL. The team says Liddell remains out indefinitely and further updates on his recovery timetable will be provided appropriately.

Northwestern State has announced they’ve signed Hansel Enmanuel, who has one arm. Enmanuel averaged nearly 26 points per game during his senior season at Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee and also had a scholarship offer from Memphis.

The Saints report to training camp today. There are hopes New Orleans can win the N-F-C South with first year head coach Dennis Allen. But A dark cloud hanging over the team is a potential suspension for running back Alvin Kamara, who is facing a felony battery charge in Las Vegas. Kamara’s next court hearing is August 1st and Saints analyst Mike Detillier says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t hand down discipline, until a legal judgement is made…
cut 17 (13) “…2023”
Head Coach Dennis Allen and General Manager Mickey Loomis speak later today and we’ll get an update on the health of wide receiver Michael Thomas who missed all of last season after undergoing ankle surgery.

LSU unveiled its statue of Pete Maravich yesterday. Maravich is performing a behind the back pass and of course he has shaggy hair and floppy socks. Maravich died at the age of 40 in 1988 from an unknown heart defect. He remains the leading scorer in NCAA Division one college basketball history.

Sun Belt coaches pick U-L Lafayette and Appalachian State to win their respective divisions again. The Cajuns defeated the Mountaineers 24-16 in last year’s Sun Belt title game in Lafayette. ULM is picked to finish seventh. Sun Belt Media Days is underway today in New Orleans and Commissioner Keith Gill said he supports an expansion of the college football playoff to 12 teams, six conference champions and six at-large teams.

Media members that cover Conference USA has Louisiana Tech finishing ninth in the eleven-team league. UTSA is the favorite. Bulldog players, Kicker Jacob Barnes, linebacker Tyler Grubbs, wide receiver Smoke Harris, offensive lineman Joshua Mote and defensive lineman Keivie Rose were named to the 2022 preseason watch list.

Northwestern State has announced they’ve signed Hansel Enmanuel. He is a basketball star out of Florida who reached that status despite having just one arm. Emmanuel averaged nearly 26 points per game during his senior season at Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee.

LSU finally unveiled a statue Monday evening of Pete Maravich, arguably one of the greatest to play the game and all time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history. Pistol Pete joins Shaquille O’Neal and Bob Pettit as the only three players to have a statue outside of the PMAC. Maravich scored 3,667 points in three seasons at LSU.

Cincinnati Bengals President Mike Brown said Monday to reporters ahead of training camp that they are already preparing structuring finances for a contract extension with Joe Burrow when the former LSU star’s current deal is eligible after this season. Joe Brrr will likely seek a long-term deal in the $40-$50 million dollar range based on what other top NFL quarterbacks get paid.

The Northwestern State Demons have announced a 10th signee to its men’s basketball class of 2022 — and it’s a young man who has perhaps one of the best stories in sports. Hansel Enmanuel is a basketball star who reached that status despite having just one arm, and he chose Northwestern State over offers three other schools. He was rated the No. 22 overall prospect in Florida after a senior season in which he averaged 25.9 points per game.

The Saints veterans report for training camp today and one of the big issues surrounding the team is health. New Orleans went through a rash of injuries last season including a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Jameis Winston. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says the team also suffered through numerous injuries on the offensive and defensive lines…:
Cut 16 (13) “incurred”
A dark cloud hanging over the team is a potential suspension for running back Alvin Kamara, who is facing a felony battery charge in Las Vegas. Kamara’s next court hearing is August 1st and Detillier says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t hand down discipline until a legal judgment is made…:
Cut 17 (12) “2023”
Pre-Season at Houston begins August 13th.

Former Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams is set to return to the XFL when the football league relaunches in February 2023.

Tonight, a statue of LSU legend Pete Maravich will be unveiled on LSU’s campus. It’s been a long time coming for the all-time scoring leader in NCAA Division one basketball history. It took awhile because Maravich never graduated from LSU, but LSU’s Chief Brand officer Cody Worsham says Maravich’ s contributions to the game and the university are worth hundreds of statues…
cut 14 (14) “…at LSU”
Pisot Pete’s statue will stand next to the ones already up for Shaquille O’ Neal and Bob Pettit. The Maravich Statue will be unveiled at 6:30.

Former LSU pole vaulter and Lafayette’s Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record as the world championships ended in Eugene, Oregon. Duplantis cleared 20-feet, 4.5 inches on his second attempt to win the gold.

The Ragin Cajuns have been picked to win the Sun Belt’s West Division. U-L Lafayette won the Sun Belt last season and this year received 12 of 14 first place votes. Four players from the Cajuns were selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team, defensive lineman Zi’Yon Hill-Green, defensive back Eric Garror, punter Rhys Byrns and running back Chris Smith as an all-purpose performer. ULM is picked to finish seventh in the West division. Warhawks wide receiver Boogie Knight is a second team preaseason all-Sun Belt selection.

Tomorrow begins Sun Belt Football Media Days in New Orleans.

A panel of media members that cover Conference USA has Louisiana Tech finishing ninth in the eleven-team league. UTSA is the favorite. Bulldog players, Kicker Jacob Barnes, linebacker Tyler Grubbs, wide receiver Smoke Harris, offensive lineman Joshua Mote and defensive lineman Keivie Rose were named to the 2022 preseason watch list.

LSU will unveil a statue of Pete Maravich tonight next to the statues of other LSU basketball legends, Shaquille O’ Neal and Bob Petit. Pistol Pete is the all-time scoring leader in NCAA Division One College Basketball and LSU’s Chief Brand Officer Cody Worsham says he’s one of the best to ever play the game…
Cut 13 (08) “…we’re excited.”
The unveiling of the statue will be around 6:30 in the plaza of the LSU Basketball Practice facility.

Here’s how it sounded on NBC sports when former LSU pole vaulter and Lafayette native Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon…
cut 30 (10) “….done it'”
Mondo is the Michael Jordan of pole vaulting.

LSU football received its fourth verbal pledge for the 2024 recruiting class as tight end Tayvion Calloway of Ohio announced he plans on playing for the Tigers. He’s a four-star prospect and 24-7 sports ranks Calloway as the fifth-best tight end in the Class of 2024.

LSU linebacker Mike Jones Junior is on the Butkus Award watch list. Devin White won the award in 2018 which goes to the best linebacker in college football.

Tomorrow, the Saints veterans report for training camp. We will hear from general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Dennis Allen tomorrow afternoon. The Saints first preseason game is August 13th in Houston to take on the Texans.

Houston rookie wide receiver John Metchie the Third has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play this season.

The Sun Belt Conference has announced that commissioner Keith Gill’s contract has been extended through 2030. He’s been on the job since 209 and the league expanded to 14 schools this year.

LSU will unveil a statue of Pete Maravich tonight that will stand next to the statutes of two former Tiger legends, Shaquille O’ Neal and Bob Petit. The unveiling of the statue will take place at 6:30 in the plaza of the LSU Basketball Practice facility which is connected to the PMAC. LSU’s Chief Brand Officer Cody Worsham says members of Maravich’s family will be on hand along with some of the great players of LSU’s basketball past…
Cut 15 (13) “… of that program”

Former LSU pole vaulter and Lafayette’s Antoine Duplantis broke his own world record as the world championships ended in Eugene, Oregon. Duplantis cleared 20-feet, 4.5 inches on his second attempt to win the gold at his second world championships.

LSU football received its fourth verbal pledge for the 2024 recruiting class as tight end Tayvion Calloway of Ohio announced he plans on playing for the Tigers. He’s a four-star prospect and 24-7 sports ranks Calloway as the fifth-best tight end in the Class of 2024. Calloway stands at six-foot-six, 230-pounds.

Tomorrow, the Saints veterans report for training camp. We will hear from general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Dennis Allen tomorrow afternoon. The Saints first preseason game is August 13th in Houston to take on the Texans.

Houston rookie wide receiver John Metchie the Third has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia and it’s unlikely he’ll be able to play this season. Metchie said in a statement that he has A-P-L, which he says is the most curable form of Leukemia. The former Alabama star is a second round draft choice.

In college baseball news….Tulane outfielder Ethan Goff announced he’s transferring to Ole Miss. Goff hit .404 with nine home runs before a fractured his thumb ended his season in late April.

The media picks LSU to finish fifth in the SEC West, considered the toughest division in all of college football. Tiger Rag Editor Tim Buckley says LSU’s ranking is the result of not having an established starter at quarterback, the offensive line is inexperienced, unproven running backs and only one established player at wide receiver Kayshon Boutte…..
Cut 10 (08) “…preseason teams”
Alabama is the media’s pick to win the SEC West. Then it’s Texas A-and-M, Arkansas, Ole Miss and then LSU. Over in the East, Georiga is the preseason favorite, then Kentucky, followed by Tennessee.

An NCAA notice of allegations finds Tennessee committed 18 Level one violations under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt. The Knoxville News Sentinel says players and families received 60-thousand dollars in cash and gifts from Pruitt, his wife and members of the coaching staff. Pruitt was fired for caause in January of 2021 and since the university self-reported the violations and cooperated with the investigation, Tennessee might not be punished.

SWAC coaches and sports information directors pick Southern to win the league’s west division. Southern has two all preseason SWAC performers on the defensive line, Jordan Lewis and Jason Dumas. Lewis was the SWAC defensive MVP last season and Dumas is a transfer from Prairie View. Southern defensive defensive tackle Cameron Peterson is excited about the addition of Dumas…
Cut 17 (20) “…very fortunate.”
Grambling is picked to finish fourth in the SWAC West Division. Grambling offensive lineman Tyler Thomas says the Tigers are ready to surprise some folks this year…
Cut 18 (12) “ …be seen”
Jackson State is the favorite in the East Division.

The media that attended Media Days picked L-S-U to finish in fifth place in the SEC West. Alabama is the preseason favorite, receiving 177 first place votes. Texas A-and-M is picked to finish second with three first place votes and then Arkansas is picked to finish third and the Razorbacks are getting one first place. Ole Miss is picked to finish fourth and then it’s LSU. In the East, Georgia is the preseason favorite, Kentucky picked to finish second, Tennessee third and Florida fourth.

The Saints begin training camp next week and wide receiver Michael Thomas and defensive end Marcus Davenport will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Thomas has missed most of the last two seasons because of ankle injuries. Davenport had offseason shoulder surgery and part of his left pinky finger amputated because of an infection. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The Southern Jaguars have been picked to win the SWAC Western division based on a preseason poll released by the conference. Center Dallas Black was named to the All-SWAC preseason first-team…
Cut 16 (08) “…of the season”
Grambling is picked to finish fourth in the West Division. First-year head coach Hue Jackson hopes future schedules feature more games at Eddie Robinson Memorial Stadium…
cut 19 (21) “….our university”
Grambling opens the season on September 3rd in Jonesboro versus Arkansas State. Week Two the Tigers are in Shreveport to face Northwestern State at Independence Stadium.