Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson says the extra time off has given him time to get his knee and body in better shape. The number one pick says he’s ready to play once the league says it’s safe to do so…
cut 30 (16) “…my teammates”
Williamson made the comments to TNT’s Ernie Johnson in an interview that ran on the NBA’s Twitter page. ESPN reports that the NBA has sent a memo to teams instructing them that they could re-open their facilities on May 8th. But local government clearance is needed first and currently, the stay at home order in Louisiana is until May 15th.

LSU point guard Javonte Smart announces he’s entering his name into the NBA draft but will retain his eligibility. Smart averaged 13 points and four assists last year.

The NFL is reportedly planning to release a schedule in early May. The league has said they plan to start the season in September, but according to Sports Business Journal they will be flexible and the season could start as late as October 15th. That would mean the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay would be played on February 28th. Bye weeks and the Pro Bowl could be eliminated if there’s a delayed start to the season.

The Saints are still expected to sign former Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston to a one-year contract. Assistant general manager Jeff Ireland told a radio station in Texas that Winston will learn more football in a year in New Orleans than he has in his lifetime.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Major League Baseball is confident there will be a season and the league hopes to have a concrete plan in place by the end of May. An 80 to 100-game regular season would start in July at 20 different ballparks where the number of coronavirus cases is not very high. If the season started in July, then you could see the World Series around Thanksgiving time at a warm-weather site.

LSU plans to have students and football return to campus for the fall. But interim president Thomas Galligan says the Tigers will only take the field when it’s safe and delaying the start of the season is a possibility. He says whether Tiger Stadium will be packed is a question they can’t answer now. Galligan says chancellors and presidents of SEC schools speak every week and there’s a lot of planning taking place.

The NBA has sent a memo to its teams that they can open their practice facilities to the players for limited workouts on May 8th. The league could push back the opening date if further developments warrant. Local government clearance will be required and once the facilities open, everyone is required to mask inside, except when players are working out.

Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson told TNT’s Ernie Johnson in an interview on NBA’s Twitter feed that he’s ready for the season to resume. Williamson says he’s living in New Orleans the extra time off has allowed him to get his knee and body in better shape.

The Saints are still expected to sign former Bucaneers quarterback Jameis Winston to a one-year contract. Assistant general manager Jeff Ireland told a radio show in Texas that Winston will learn more football in a year than he has in his lifetime.

LSU point guard Javonte Smart announces he’s entering his name into the NBA draft but will retain his eligibility. Smart averaged 13 points and four assists last year.

In baseball, LSU’s Hal Hughes has announced he’s transferring to Rice. Hughes is excellent with the glove, but struggled to hit above .200 during his two-plus seasons in a Tigers uniform.

ESPN is reporting that Major League Baseball is confident there will be a season and the league hopes to have a plan in place by the end of May. An 80 to 100-game regular season would start in July and postseason games in November will be at warm-weather sites.

The NFL is reportedly planning to release a schedule in early May. And the league is planning for the possibility of the season not starting until mid-October, which would push the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay until February 28th. Bye weeks and the Pro Bowl could be eliminated if there’s a delayed start to the season.

LSU plans to have students and football return to campus for the fall. But interim president Thomas Galligan says the Tigers will only take the field when it’s safe and delaying the start of the season is a possibility. He says whether Tiger Stadium will be packed is a question they can’t answer now…
Cut 13 (08) “…do so”
Galligan says chancellors and presidents of SEC schools speak every week and there’s a lot of planning taking place.

Longtime LSU band director Frank Wickes has passed away at the age of 82. Wickes directed the Golden Band from Tiger Land from 1980 until his retirement in 2010. A cause of death was not announced, but we know that Wickes passed away at an assisted living facility in Florida.

LSU point guard Javonte Smart announces he’s entering his name into the NA draft but will retain his eligibility. Smart averaged 13 points and four assists last year.

The Saints have a small draft class as they selected just four players over the course of seven rounds. These rookies will not have the benefit of an offseason conditioning program or O-T-As. But Saints Coach Sean Payton doesn’t believe they will be too far behind when training camp starts…
cut 17 (15) “….Saint players”

ESPN is reporting that the NBA has sent a memo to its teams that they can open their practice facilities to the players for limited workouts on May 8th. The league could push back the opening date further if developments warrant.

And ESPN is also reporting that Major League Baseball is confident there will be a season and the league hopes to have a plan in place by the end of May. An 80 to 100-game regular season would start in July and postseason games in November will be at warm-weather sites.

The Saints are reportedly close to signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston to a one year contract. The former number one pick led the NFL in passing yards last season, but he was also intercepted a league-high 30 times to go along with 33 touchdown passes.

The Saints have signed back-up quarterback and jack of all trades specialist Taysom Hill to a two-year contract reportedly worth 21 million dollars. 16-million dollars is guaranteed.

New Orleans sent four draft picks to Minnesota so they can take Dayton tight end Adam Trautman in the third round. He caught 70 passes and had 14 touchdowns for the Flyers last season. Trautman was a quarterback in high school but switched to tight end when he got on Dayton’s campus…..
cut 18 (15) “…obviously now”

LSU football has received a verbal pledge from Landon Jackson, a defensive end out of Pleasant Grove, Texas. The six-foot-six, 240-pound prospect also had offers from Texas A-and-M, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas Tech. He’s listed as a four-star prospect by 24-7 sports.

Tulane’s leading scorer in men’s basketball last season has been arrested for murder. Teshaun Hightower averaged 16 points a game last season for the Green Wave, after he transferred in from Georgia. But today’s he’s in jail in Stockbridge, Georgia and facing a murder charge, along with aggravated assault and battery. Tulane has dismissed the 22-year-old from its program. An attorney for Hightower says the shooting was in self-defense.

ESPN is reporting that the NBA will allow teams to reopen their practice facilities on Friday for individual workouts in states and municipalities that are loosening stay-at-home restrictions. At four o’clock today, Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to announce new restrictions in Louisiana.

After selecting Michigan Center Ceasar Ruiz in the first round last night, the Saints will have one pick tonight and that’s in the third round. But there are reports the Black and Gold would like to make a trade to get into the second.

A school-record five LSU Tigers were selected in the first round last night and there’s a good chance three more from the 2019 national championship team will be selected tonight, Lloyd Cushenberry, Grant Delpit and Kristian Fulton.

Draft analyst Mike Detillier says there’s also a good chance that Ragin Cajuns offensive lineman Robert Hunt and Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson will hear their names called as well…
cut 14 (10) “….play”
And last night’s first round set a new viewership record as 15-point-six million viewers watched. The previous high was 12-point-four million in 2014.

Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is officially a member of the Bengals after Cincinnati used its top pick to select the former LSU quarterback. Burrow will have to compete with veteran Andy Dalton in order to be the starting quarterback. The 23-year-old looks forward to the competition…
cut 19 (30) “….focused on”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is mourning the death of his 31-year-old brother Jace Prescott who was a star offensive lineman at Hauhgton High School and also played at Northwestern state. A cause of death has not been given, all we know is that he died at his home in Orange, Texas.

For the second straight year the Saints have used their first pick to select an interior offensive lineman. New Orleans drafted Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the 24th overall pick. He’s a two-time All-Big 10 selection and Coach Sean Payton says Ruiz will help their offensive line…
cut 30 (23) “…backup”
With Guard Andrus Peat recently signing a longterm contract, the addition of Ruiz could mean veteran Larry Warford will be the odd man out.

The Saints have just one pick today, a third-round selection and also have three picks tomorrow in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.

As expected the Cincinnati Bengals selected former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the number one pick in the 2020 draft. Under normal circumstances, Burrow would have been in Las Vegas receiving a Bengals jersey from Commissioner Roger Goodell. Instead he received a phone call from Cincinnati while watching the draft with his parents in Athens, Ohio…
cut 18 (23) “…acquintances”
Burrow was one of five LSU Tigers selected in the first round. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire went to the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

Three more Tigers should be drafted tonight, Lloyd Cushenberry, Grant Delpit and Kristian Fulton. Ragin Cajuns guard Robert Hunt also expected to be a second round pick.

As expected the Cincinnati Bengals selected quarterback Joe Burrow with the number one pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Burrow becomes the third LSU Tiger to be picked number one, JaMarcus Russell and Billy Cannon are the other two. The Heisman Trophy winner says he’s ready to go to work in the Queen City…
cut 17 (10) “…this city”
Later in the first round, four more LSU Tigers were drafted. With the 20th overall pick, Jacksonville took linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, wide receiver Justin Jefferson went two picks later to Minnesota. The Ravens used their 28th pick to take Patrick Queen and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was taken with the 32nd pick by the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The second and third rounds of the draft get underway at 6 PM tonight.

The Saints surprised many by using their first-round pick to take center Cesar Ruiz out of the University of Michigan with the 24th overall pick of the first round. Coach Sean Payton says they went into the draft wanting to pick an interior offensive lineman…
cut 30 (20) “…guard flex”
Payton also thinks last year’s starting center, Erik McCoy, could also move over to guard. Starting left guard Andrus Peat signed a five-year contract in this offseason, so you have to wonder what this means for starting right guard Larry Warford who is entering the final year of his contract.

Looking at what other teams in the NFC South did. The Panthers drafted Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown, The Bucs traded up to take offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and the Falcons picked Clemson cornerback A-J Terrell.

The Saints believe they are ready for the N-F-L draft which will look a lot different this year. Commissioner Roger Goodell will read off the draft picks from his home in New York and Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis will work out of his own home, while using video teleconferencing to stay in touch with head coach Sean Payton and other front office personnel.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Saints did not bring in any players for personal workouts. Loomis says some of the virtual pro days that players put together are useful…
cut 19 (25) big picture”
The Saints have the 24th pick in tonight’s first round.

Tonight will be a big night for LSU football as at least four members of the 2019 national champs will be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Football analyst Mike Detillier says Joe Burrow will be the first pick and Justin Jefferson, K’Lavon Chaisson and Patrick Queen will also go in the first round. Detillier says safety Grant Delpit could also be a first-round pick, even though his production fell off last season because of injuries…
cut 16 (16) “….hurt Grant”
Detillier says the Saints could use their 24th overall pick to take former LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. Former Tigers cornerback Kristian Fulton could also be a first-round pick.

Former All-American Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson will hear his name called tomorrow night in either the second or third round.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, head coach Sean Payton, and the team’s top scouts will communicate with the league office and each other from their own homes for tonight’s NFL draft. Loomis says he’s planned for internet and power outages…
cut 18 (22) “…the league”
The Saints have the 24th pick in tonight’s first round. New Orleans also has picks in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds.

ESPN reports that Payton has told the players there will not be a virtual offseason training program. The coach who has recovered from COVID-19 reportedly told the players to take care of their families, but show up in July for training camp in great shape.

Tonight will be a big night for LSU football as at least four members of the 2019 national champs will be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Football analyst Mike Detillier says Joe Burrow will be the first pick and Justin Jefferson, K’Lavon Chaisson and Patrick Queen will also go in the first round. Detillier says safety Grant Delpit could also be a first-round pick, even though his production fell off last season because of injuries…
cut 16 (16) “….hurt Grant”
Detillier says the Saints could use their 24th overall pick to take former LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. Former Tigers cornerback Kristian Fulton could also be a first-round pick.

Former All-American La Tech cornerback Amik Robertson will hear his name called tomorrow night in either the second or third round.

The Bengals are expected to select former LSU Q-B Joe Burrow with the number one pick in tomorrow night’s N-F-L draft. If that’s the case, Burrow will play for a franchise that has not won a playoff game since 1991. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says Burrow will look forward to the challenge in making Cincinnati a winner
Cut 16 (25) “…at Cincinnati”
A Cincinnati television station is reporting the Bengals have already informed Burrow that they will select the Heisman Trophy winner with their number one pick. And there’s a billboard up in Baton Rouge that has an image of Burrow thanking LSU and Louisiana.

In a time of great uncertainty, the Independence Bowl has been able to agree to a title sponsorship agreement with Radiance Technologies out of Huntsville, Alabama. If the I-Bowl is played in December, it will feature Army versus a team from the PAC-12. Radiance Technologies CEO Bill Bailey says they’ve been looking for the right opportunity to increase their brand awareness nationally and they found it with this partnership…
cut 20 (22) “…Independence Bowl”

Saints Coach Sean Payton has told his players that the team will not conduct an offseason conditioning program. He told his guys in a Zoom Call to take care of your families, health and show up for training camp in July in the best shape of your life.