New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton is focused on training campas it begins today, but it’s possible the Superdome will not be at full capacity for the season opener against Green Bay because of the sudden rise of COVID cases in the Gulf South. Payton points to the Stanley Cup Finals that saw Tampa Bay play in front of sold-out crowds, while Montreal had limited capacity for their home games…

Cut 18 (26) “your players”

The Saints will be without star receiver Michael Thomas for training camp due to him having surgery on an ankle injury he suffered last season.

A week from today, LSU will report for preseason camp and the quarterback battle between Max Johnson and Myles Brennan can really begin. Coach Ed Orgeron says whoever wins the job, the team will be in great shape…

Cut 19 (29) “best man”

Orgeron says he may hold off on naming the starter until the week before the first game against UCLA.

The NBA draft is tonight and the Pelicans hold the 17^th pick and could draft former LSU star Cam Thomas.  Ruston native and Baylor star Jared Butler is also a possibility.

The Saints hit the practice field this morning for the start of training camp. New Orleans will not have star receiver Michael Thomas for the start of the season, because of ankle surgery. Defensive tackle David Onyemata will be suspended for the first six games because of a failed drug test. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore could be facing a suspension following his arrest In May on a weapon’s charge. Plus eight starters off of last year’s team are no longer wearing the Black and Gold. But General Manager Mickey Loomis still likes the talent on this team…
cut 17 (29) “….itself”

A week from today, LSU will report for preseason camp and the quarterback battle between Max Johnson and Myles Brennan can really begin. Coach Ed Orgeron says whoever wins the job, the team will be in great shape…
Cut 19 (29) “…best man.”
Orgeron also says he supports Texas and Oklahoma’s proposed move to the SEC.

Tonight is the NBA draft and the Pelicans have the 17th overall pick. Former LSU Tiger Cam Thomas could be available when New Orleans makes its first round selection. Reserve native and former Baylor star Jared Butler is another possibility.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron made his annual appearance before the Baton Rouge Rotary Club today where he previews the upcoming season. Orgeron says he has some veteran running backs that need to shine this season….
cut 18 (18) “…ever been”
Orgeron also says the safety position has turned into a strength by signing freshmen Sage Ryan and Derrick Davis and Major Burns transferring in from Georgia. Coach O says Burns has a chance to start, while Jay Ward will play free safety.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has announced Ochsner Health as the official healthcare provider of the LHSAA and Ochsner will also serve as title sponsor for the association’s championship events for the next five years.

Willie Green has officially been introduced as the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. Green comes to the Big Easy from Phoenix where he was an assistant under former Hornets head coach Monty Williams. Green actually played in New Orleans back in 2010 and he says it’s good to be back.
Cut 16 (18) “…here today.”
TMZ Sports reports that Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes was arrested early this morning following an alleged altercation with a police officer. Hayes reportedly tried to keep officers from entering a home in the Los Angeles area. The T-M-Z report says Hayes had to be treated for minor injuries after he was tased. The Pelicans say they are aware of the incident and trying to gather more information.

Willie Green has officially been introduced as the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. Green takes over a team with a lot of young talent, including forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.  Despite the talent, the Pels missed the playoffs last season but Green calls this team a sleeping giant.

Cut 17 (16) “team go”

Green played 12 years in the NBA, including one season in New Orleans back in 2010.

The Pelicans could also make a huge offer to veteran point guard Kyle Lowry.  The Pels signing a veteran of Lowry’s magnitude could give them the type of leadership that they thrived under with Chris Paul.  Lowry will be a hot commodity and the Pelicans could be a long shot to land the all-star.

Kevin O’Connor has updated his 2021 NBA Mock Draft and has LSU shooting guard Cam Thomas going 17^th overall to the New Orleans Pelicans.

LSU junior kicker Cade York has been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list.  The Groza goes to college football’s top place-kicker.  The McKinney, Texas native made over 85 percent of his field goals last season and made a career long 57-yarder at Florida, which is a school record.

With Michael Thomas being placed on the PUP list and set to miss the start of the season due to ankle surgery, the Saints have now agreed to a deal with veteran wide receiver Chris Hogan.  The 33-year-old won two super bowls with the New England Patriots during his nine-year career.  Hogan has caught 250 passes for 3,337 yards and 22 touchdowns during his time in the NFL.

The Saints have also announced they signed defensive end Kendall Donnerson and cornerback Brian Poole. Donnerson was on the Bengals practice squad last year after he was selected in the seventh round by the Packers in 2018. Poole is a former Florida Gator and in 70 career games in the NFL, he’s intercepted seven passes and has played the last two seasons with the Jets.

New Pelicans Coach Willie Green turns 40-years-old today as he embarks on his first head coaching job. He was officially introduced as the team’s new head coach yesterday and talked about the importance of creating a personal relationship with players…
cut 18 (18) “…my approach”
Green played 12 years in the NBA, including one season in New Orleans. He’s been an assistant coach with Golden State and most recently Phoenix.

Presidents and chancellors at SEC schools will reportedly meet tomorrow to discuss Texas and Oklahoma’s request to join the Southeastern Conference. Eleven of the 14 schools would have to approve the move.

The Saints have announced they signed defensive end Kendall Donnerson and cornerback Brian Poole. Donnerson was on the Bengals practice squad last year after he was selected in the seventh round by the Packers in 2018. Poole is a former Florida Gator and in 70 career games in the NFL, he’s intercepted seven passes and has played the last two seasons with the Jets.

The LSU Tigers are set to report for preseason camp on August fifth. Coach Ed Orgeron told WWL radio that he hopes fifth-year wide receiver Jontre Kirklin will have a breakout season. The Tigers open the season against UCLA on September fourth. The media predicts the Bruins to finish fourth in the South Division.

Superstar gymnast Simone Biles will not compete in tomorrow’s all-around finals at the Summer Olympics as the 24-year-old continues to focus on her mental well-being. Biles also did not compete in the team competition as the United States ended up with the Silver, while Russia took the gold.

It was reporting day for veteran players on the Saints as the first training camp practice is Thursday. The focus during Saints training camp will be on the quarterback battle, but ESPN Saints reporter Mike Triplett says there’s a lot of holes to fill on defense. He says several starters from last year’s team are no longer on the Black and Gold…
Cut 17 (16) …recent years”
On offense, the Saints know they will be without Michael Thomas for the first few games of the regular season as he recovers from off-season ankle injury. New Orleans has reportedly signed veteran receiver Chris Hogan, who won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.

Texas and Oklahoma have officially asked the SEC if they can join their league. SEC presidents and chancellors will meet Thursday to discuss.

Willie Green was introduced as the new head coach of the Pelicans today. He joins the Pels after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Pheonix Suns, who reached the NBA Finals this year…
cut 28 (28) “…this team go”
Green is known as someone who can connect with players. He spent 12 years in the league and he’ll turn 40-years-old tomorrow.

Happy birthday coach O. The LSU head coach is celebrating his 60th birthday today. Orgeron and the Tigers report for camp on August 5th.

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team took the silver today in Tokyo after Simone Biles withdrew from the finals due to what is being called a mental issue.

The post-Drew Brees era really sets in today for the Saints as veterans report for training camp. Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill will compete against each other for the opportunity to replace Brees as the team’s starting quarterback. ESPN Saints reporter Mike Triplett says there’s a lot to like about both guys…

Cut 16 (18) “Taysom Hill”

Texas and Oklahoma have officially informed the Big 12 of their plans to leave the conference.  The two schools are now seeking an invitation from the SEC, which would make it a 16-team super conference.

SEC presidents will meet Thursday as they decide whether or not to allow Texas and Oklahoma entry into the conference.  12 of 14 teams have to vote yes in order to receive an invitation to join the conference.

Cooper Fouts will join coach Lane Burroughs’ staff at Louisiana Tech and serve as the teams recruiting coordinator and pitching/catching coach.  Fouts has 16 years of collegiate coaching experience on his resume and was most recently an assistant coach at Purdue.

Tech linebacker Tyler Grubbs has been named to the Nagurski award preseason watch list.  Last season he led the Bulldogs with 99 tackles including nine and a half tackles for loss.  The Nagurski is presented yearly to the best defensive player in college football.

Also, LSU offensive lineman Ed Ingram is on the Outland trophy preseason watch list.  The Outland trophy is award to the best interior lineman in the country.

Happy birthday coach O.  The Tigers head coach is celebrating his 60^th birthday today.  Orgeron is entering his fifth season as the head man in Baton Rouge.

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team took silver after Simone Biles withdraws from the finals due to what is being called mental health issues.

The veterans for the Saints report for training camp today as New Orleans begins the post-Drew Brees era. ESPN reporter Mike Triplett says for the Saints to repeat as NFC South champs, they need members of the 2020 draft class to really develop this year, guard Ceasar Ruiz, linebacker Zach Baun and tight end Adam Trautman in particular…
cut 18 (15) “…a little while”
In an effort to add some depth at wide receiver with the likelihood that Michael Thomas will miss the first few weeks of the regular season, the Saints reportedly signed veteran Chris Hogan. Hogan made a name for himself with the Patriots. For his career he’s caught 216 passes for 18 touchdowns. Hogan was playing lacrosse for the Whipsnakes when he got the call from the Saints.

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The Pelicans have reportedly pulled off a big trade with the Memphis Grizzlies as they acquire center Jonas Valanciunas, while Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe head to Memphis. The two teams also swapped draft picks, so Memphis gets New Orleans tenth pick, while the Pels get the Grizzlies 17th pick. Memphis also receives a protected first-round selection in 2022. Valanciunas is known as a tough post player who averaged a double-double this past season, 17 points and 13 rebounds a game.

LSU swimmer Brooks Curry has won a gold medal as he helped the U-S four-by-100 freestyle relay team to a vicotry. Curry had the first leg for the squad in the prelims, as they won that heat. He didn’t swim in the finals, but still gets a medal for what he did in the prelims. Curry is the first Olympian swimmer in LsU history to take home a gold medal.

And Texas and Oklahoma have officially informed the Big 12 they play to leave the conference in 2025. The two schools are seeking an official invitation from the SEC.

Texas and Oklahoma have formally told the Big 12 they plan to leave that conference when their grants of media rights deal expires in 2025. It’s now expected that the Sooners and Longhorns will try to join the Southeastern Conference. 24-7 sports college football writer Brandon Marcello says money is behind the move, plus major conferences are looking to split away from the NCAA…
cut 15 (14) “…differently”
Texas A-and-M is the only SEC school to voice opposition to Texas joining the SEC.

The Saints have reportedly signed veteran cornerback Brian Poole to a one-year deal. He’s primarily a slot corner and the 28-year-old has seven career interceptions. He’s spent the last two seasons with the Jets after spending his first three years with Atlanta.

The Pelicans have a big draft ahead of Thursday night’s draft. New Orleans has reportedly sent Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, plus this year’s 10th and 40th pick along with a protected first-round pick in 2022 to the Grizzlies for Memphis Jonas Valanciunas. New Orleans also gets the 17th and 51st picks from this year’s draft. Valanciunas is coming off a career-high 17 points and 13 rebounds a game this past season.

Brooks Curry became the first LSU swimmer to win a gold medal as he helped the four-by-100 meter freestyle relay team to victory at the Summer Games in Tokyo. Curry swam the first leg of the prelims and finished with a time just under 49 seconds.

Curry did not swim in the Finals, but all swimmers who participate in the prelims or the finals receive a medal. LSU Associate Swim Coach Stephen Mellor says with the Summer games getting pushed back a year, Curry took advantage…
Cut 11 (12) “…that team”

Texas and Oklahoma have announced that they are leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference, which would make the SEC a 16-member league. 24-7 sports college football writer Brandon Marcello says this might mean the end of the Big 12.

Cut 13

This could make the SEC even more dominant as one of the premier conferences in college athletics.

The New Orleans Saints and Caesars Entertainment have announced a 20-year, exclusive naming rights deal that rename the stadium as the Caesars Superdome.  The Caesars Superdome will host Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

LSU swimmer Brooks Curry has won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay team.  Curry swam in the preliminaries and his team finished first in their heat.  He was replaced for the final by Caeleb Dressel, but all swimmers who participate in prelims or finals receive a medal.

LSU cornerbacks Elias Ricks and Derek Stingley Jr. have both been named to the Jim Thorpe award watch list.  The Thorpe award is presented each year to the best defensive back in college football.  Also, LSU linebacker Damone Clark was named to the Butkus Award watch list, presented to the best linebacker in the country.

The U-S Men’s Basketball team lost for the first time in Olympic competition since 2004 as France closed the game on a 16 to 2 run to win 83-76. Former Pelican Jrue Holiday led the U-S with 18 points. This was not an elimination game however, so team USA’s gold medal hopes are still alive.

Former University High golfer Patrick Reed has been added to the USA Golf team after Bryson DeChambeau tested positive for COVID-19. A positive COVID test has also knocked Spain’s Jon Rahm out of the Olympic golf tournament.

Former LSU star Aaron Nola was on his game yesterday as he allowed four hits and struck out nine in 8.2 innings as Philadelphia held on for a two-to-one win over Atlanta.