The Saints have re-signed linebacker Kwon Alexander to a one-year deal worth a reported three million dollars as he’s recovered from tearing his Achilles tendon on December 25th. Alexander played in 12 games for New Orleans last season and Coach Sean Payton says they wanted the former LSU standout back…
cut 20 (20) “…to go”
Payton says he’s been impressed with Alexander’s social media workouts.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Pelicans are hiring Mike D’Antoni as a consultant for new head coach Willie Green. The 70-year-old was an assistant for the Nets last season and he’s a two-time coach of the year award winner. He’s known for his offensive mind.

A month from today, LSU will be in the Rose Bowl taking on UCLA in the season opener. A lot of Tiger fans are planning on making the trip. United Airlines said today it’s adding 74 flights to help football fans get to those big games. That includes direct flights from Baton Rouge to Los Angeles for the game in Pasadena and there will be additional flights to Birmingham for the LSU-Alabama game on November sixth. United also says it’s adding a flight between Green Bay and New Orleans so cheeseheads can come to the Big Easy for the season opener in the Superdome.

In college baseball news…Louisiana Tech has promoted Mitch Gaspard to Associate Head Coach. He’s credited with helping the Bulldogs lead Conference USA in batting average, on-base percentage hits, and walks.

Former Nicholls head coach Seth Thibodeaux has officially been named Associate head coach and pitching coach for the Ragin Cajuns.

Ladd Rhodes has been named the new hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Nicholls. Rhodes was on Charleston Southern’s staff last season and in 2020 he was a volunteer assistant coach at Southern Miss.

Max Johnson is set to be LSU’s starting quarterback after an injury to Myles Brennan’s non-throwing arm that required surgery.  With Brennan sidelined for the foreseeable future, that leaves LSU with just two scholarship quarterbacks. Max Johnson is certainly a capable starter but his backup will be true freshman Garrett Nussmeier.  The Athletic’s Brody Miller says while Nussmeier lacks experience, the coaching staff is confident he can perform if called upon.

Cut 20 (20) “week four”

With three Minnesota quarterbacks being placed on the team’s Covid list, the Vikings have now claimed LSU quarterback Danny Etling off of waivers.  Etling was drafted by the Patriots in 2018 and has spent time in New England, Atlanta, and Seattle.

New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Pete Werner has shown some flashes so far in training camp and has caught the attention of the coaches and has even ran through drills with the first-team defense.  The Ohio State alum says his ultimate goal is to one day be a starter for the Black and Gold.

Cut 28 (27) “in the future”

The Saints have brought back linebacker Kwon Alexander on a one-year deal that’s worth a reported three million dollars. The 27-year-old played in 12 games for the Black and Gold last year and had 57 tackles. His season ended on Christmas Day when he tore his Achilles tendon.

LSU quarterback Myles Brennan announced on Twitter that his surgery to repair his broken non-throwing arm went well and he thanked everyone for all of the prayers. With the Tigers set to report for preseason camp tomorrow, Coach Ed Orgeron has announced Max Johnson as the starting QB and called Johnson a great championship quarterback. Brody Miller covers LSU for the Athletic and says the unfortunate injury to Brennan should really benefit Johnson…
cut 19 (19) “….situation”
Freshman Garrett Nussmeier goes into camp as the team’s primary backup.

The Saints have brought back linebacker Kwon Alexander on a one-year deal that’s worth a reported three million dollars. The 27-year-old played in 12 games for the Black and Gold last year and had 57 tackles. His season ended on Christmas Day when he tore his Achilles tendon.

The Saints had their first full padded practice yesterday and rookie linebacker Pete Werner went through drills with the first team. Coach Sean Payton says Werner looks really smart and he’s picked things up quickly. Werner believes he’s getting better every day…
cut 18 (19) “…a little bit

Lafayette’s Mondo Duplantis is really good at what he does. The former LSU star won the gold medal in the men’s pole vault as he cleared the bar at 19-feet, nine inches.

LSU Quarterback Myles Brennan has suffered an injury to his non-throwing arm and he underwent surgery today. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins has learned Brennan broke his humerus bone…
cut 6 (08) “…for him”
The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan suffered the injury this past weekend while fishing. Max Johnson is now set to be LSU’s starting Q-B.

Lafayette native and former LSU star Mondo Duplantis won a gold medal in pole vaulting at the Tokyo Olympics. The 21-year-old Duplantis won at a height of 19-feet, nine inches. He becomes the first current or former LSU athlete to win an individual gold medal in 85 years. He did so for the country of Sweden, which is the home country of his mother.

And gymnastic star Simone Biles returned to Olympic competition to win a bronze medal on the balance beam.

Former Falcon and new Saints running back Devonta Freeman says it’s surreal to be wearing the Black and Gold after spending the first six seasons of his NFL career in Atlanta. Back in 2017, Coach Sean Payton made a choking gesture towards Freeman during a game in 2017. But Freeman says they put the incident behind each other the next day…
cut 18 (19) “…was cool”
The Saints have also signed a couple of veteran cornerbacks, former New York Giant and Chicago Bear Pince Amukmara (ah-Moo-kah-MAIR-rah) and former Cincinnati Bengal and Green Bay Packer KeiVarae (kee-VAR-ay) Russell. Amukmara did not play last season.

LSU quarterback Myles Brennan has suffered a significant injury to his left arm that will require surgery due to a broken humerous bone.  The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan suffered the injury while fishing. Max Johnson is now set to be LSU’s starting Q-B. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says freshman Garrett Nussmeier is the only other healthy scholarship quarterback on the roster…

Cut 7 (10) “game 3”

St. Thomas More Quarterback and LSU commit Walker Howard is now listed by 24-7 sports as the number one quarterback in the nation for the Class of 2022. Also, the Tigers have received a commitment from North Caddo wide receiver Omarion Miller who is entering his junior season.

LSU’s Mondo Duplantis won gold in pole vaulting at the Tokyo Olympics with a vault of 6.18 meters.  He came up 1 centimeter of the world record of 6.19 meters.

After reaching a one-year deal with the Saints, former Falcons running back Devonta Smith had his first practice with the Black and Gold yesterday.  Freeman played in five games for the Giants last season, but before that he spent six years in Atlanta. The former Florida State standout has always been impressed with how Coach Sean Payton uses his running backs…

Cut 17

The Pelicans have reportedly reached a sign and trade deal with the Bulls that will send 23-year-old Lonzo Ball to Chicago and in return, New Orleans received Tomas Satoransky, former LSU Tiger Garrett Temple, and a second-round pick. Ball gets a four-year, 85-million dollar contract with Chicago.

To make up for the loss of Ball, New Orleans has reportedly reached a deal with Charlotte for Hornets guard Devonte Graham, who shot 38-percent from three-point territory last season.

When LSU reports for fall camp later this week, there will not be an intense competition for starting quarterback. Coach Ed Orgeron says fifth-year quarterback Myles Brennan suffered a left arm injury that will require surgery. A timeline on when he can return has not been established. That means Max Johnson will most likely be the Tigers starting Q-B when they open the season at U-C-L-A.

After reaching a one-year deal with the Saints, former Falcons running back Devonta Freeman had his first practice with the Black and Gold yesterday. The 29-year-old has rushed for over four thousand yards in his career and he has over two thousand receiving yards. Coach Sean Payton says Freeman gives them added depth and versatility at the running back position…
Cut 16 (12) “..about that.”

The Pelicans have reportedly reached a sign and trade deal with the Bulls that will send 23-year-old Lonzo Ball to Chicago and in return, New Orleans received Tomas Satoransky, former LSU Tiger Garrett Temple, and a second-round pick. Ball gets a four-year, 85-million dollar contract with Chicago.

Satoransky is six-foot-seven, 210 pounds and he averaged eight points and five assists a game last season. Temp has been in the NBA a long time and averaged eight points a game last season.

To make up for the loss of Ball, New Orleans has reportedly reached a deal with Charlotte for Hornets guard Devonte Graham, who shot 38-percent from three-point territory last season.

St. Thomas More Quarterback Walker Howard is now listed by 24-7 sports as the number one quarterback in the nation for the Class of 2022. He’s an LSU commit. Also, the Tigers have received a commitment from North Caddo wide receiver Omarion Miller who is entering his junior season.

Former LSU baseball coach and athletic director Skip Bertman have joined the thousands that have tested positive for COVID as a fourth surge of new infections continues to impact the state. Bertman and his wife have both tested positive, but they are both experiencing mild symptoms at the age of 83. They are encouraging anyone who has yet to get the vaccine to do so.

Alabama’s board of trustees approved a contract extension for Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban. The 69-year-old will make 8-point-7 million dollars this year, an increase of 400-thousand dollars. The new contract also lasts through the 2028 season.

Some good and bad on the recruiting front for LSU, five-star safety Jacoby Matthews of Ponchatoula has decided to decommit from LSU. But the Tigers have received a commitment from Catholic High of Baton Rouge offensive lineman Emery Jones.

Lake Charles College Prep receiver Keshlon Jackson has committed to Louisiana Tech. The six-foot, 170-pounder is a three-star recruit.

Saints Quarterback Taysom Hill no longer looks as he did in the past as he slimmed down to be the starting Q-B. Hill has shown he can run the football, but he wants to demonstrate during training camp that he can get the ball down the field…
cut 16 (20) “…plays”
Hill is locked up in a quarterback battle with Jameis Winston. Both Q-Bs will not have Michael Thomas at the beginning of the season, because of offseason ankle surgery. Winston believes Thomas will come back stronger than ever…
cut 18 (14) “….Saints organiziation”

After a day off on Sunday, the Saints return to the practice field today. With Michael Thomas set to miss the start of the season the Saints are now thin at receiver. This could lead to running back Alvin Kamara becoming a bigger part of the passing game. Quarterback Taysom Hill says while Kamara will definitely get his touches, they plan to utilize everyone in the passing game.
Cut 17 (17) …check it down.”
The Saints have signed free agent running back Devonta Freeman. The former Florida State Seminole has played in the NFL for seven seasons, six of them for Atlanta and last year with the New York Giants. He only played in five games last season, rushing for 172 yards and one touchdown.

In football recruiting news…Ponchatoula Safety Jacoby Matthews has de-committed from LSU. He’s a five star prospect and 24-7 sports ranks him as the second best safety in the nation.

But one of the top offensive lineman in Louisiana has committed to LSU. Catholic HIgh of Baton Rouge’s Emery Jones has given a verbal pledge to LSU after also considering Florida State. He’s six-foot-five, 342 pounds and a four-star prospect. He’s rated as the 13th best prospect in Louisiana’s 2022 class.

Lake Charles College Prep receiver Keshlon Jackson has committed to Louisiana Tech. The six-foot, 170-pounder is a three-star recruit.

In Olympics news, former LSU tennis All-American Michael Venus has won bronze medal in men’s doubles. He’s the first person from LSU to win a medal in tennis and it’s the first for New Zealand.

Former LSU standout JuVaughn Harrison finished seventh in the high jump. He entered the event as the third best in the world in the high jump.

On a 14-to-nothing vote, the SEC invited Texas and Oklahoma to join the Southeastern Conference. The paperwork says the Longhorns and Sooners will join the SEC in 2025, but some believe it will happen for the 2022 season. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron is fine with the SEC becoming a super conference…
cut 20 (29) “…them in”
LSU has received a tight end from tight end Mason Taylor from Fort Lauderale, Florida. He’s the son of Dolphins Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor.

_________________________________________________

The Pelicans used the 17th pick in last night’s NBA draft to select Virginia’s Trey Murphy. He averaged 11 points a game for the Cavaliers last season and shot a team-high 43-percent from three-point territory. Before his lone season at Virginia, he played two years at Rice, where he averaged 14 points a game as a sophomore.

Former LSU Tiger Cam Thomas gets a chance to play with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. The Brooklyn Nets took the Tigers leading scorer last season with the 27th overall pick.

With Saints quarterback Drew Brees gone, running back Alvin Kamara becomes the focal point of the offense. Kamara is not concerned about the defense keying on him…
cut 17 (20) “…get at you”

The Saints held their first training camp practice today and star wide receiver Michael Thomas was not on the field and will not practice with the team for several weeks after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle in June. General Manager Mickey Loomis says Thomas tried to rehab the injury, it just didn’t work
Cut 16 (19) “…than later.”
And there’s an issue with another Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris. The punt returner was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol about two weeks ago in his hometown of Baltimore. His police report says he was traveling 77 miles per hour in a 55-mile per hour speed zone. He was also charged with negligent and reckless driving and faces a suspension from the NFL.

So what does Coach Ed Orgeron think about Texas and Oklahoma possibly moving to the SEC. Orgeron likes the idea….
cut 20 (29) “…them in”

High School football is just around the corner and fall practice will begin shortly. The rise in Coronavirus cases has many across the state wondering if the start of the season will be delayed. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine does not expect a delay because we know more about the virus now.
Cut 9 (10) “..for that.”
Bonine also says he has confidence that coaches can keep the players safe because they had to work through the same thing last season.