The Louisiana Bond Commission has approved a 450-million dollar financing plan that will pay for upgrades to the Superdome. Superdome Commission Chairman Doug Thornton says the renovations will improve an iconic facility…
cut 8 (12) “….annual basis”
Renovations will begin after this football season and take four years. The upgrades include expanded concourses, more concession stands and replacing the pedestrian ramps with escalators and elevators.

The Superdome Commission, the Saints, and the state will provide the funds to get the project done. Governor John Bel Edwards says getting the financing plan approved will help secure a deal that will keep the Saints in New Orleans for another 30 years.

Meanwhile, the Saints are out in California holding a couple of joint practices with the Chargers and then they’ll face Los Angeles in a preseason game on Sunday.

LSU freshman offensive guard Kardell Thomas will reportedly miss the next two months because of an ankle injury suffered in yesterday’s practice. Thomas was the nation’s number one offensive guard in the 2019 recruiting class. He was not getting reps with the first team, but Coach Ed Orgeron has been encouraged by his development.

Orgeron is reportedly bringing in former Saints defensive line coach Bill Johnson to coach the LSU Tigers D-Line. Current defensive line coach Dennis Johnson is in a wheelchair after badly injuring both knees while playing basketball.

ESPN reports former Pelican and current Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins suffered a serious knee injury while working out in Las Vegas. Doctors fear the four-time All Star tore his ACL. It would be Cousins third major injury since tearing his Achilles while playing with the Pelicans in 2018.

LSU basketball lost to the Dominican Republic 92-88 in an exhibition game in Spain. Sophomore forward Emmitt Williams led LSU with 28 points.

LSU All-American Safety Grant Delpit returned to practice after missing six straight practices, but the Tigers suffered another injury as freshman guard Kardell Thomas went down. Coach Ed Orgeron said after practice the injury could be serious and there’s a report out today that says Thomas will miss two months.

Fellow freshman Trey Palmer returned to practice this week after being held out because of a minor injury. Orgeron says the former Kentwood star has been impressive to watch…
cut 30 (22) “…impressed with him”
LSU will hold its second scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday.

The NFL Players Association has issued a work stoppage guide to help players prepare for the possibility of a strike or lockout following the 2020 season. The NFL and its players’ association have been discussing a new collective bargaining agreement, but little progress has been made. Sources say both sides are confident a work stoppage can be avoided. The current C-B-A will expire in March 2021, but if talks break down, a work stoppage in 2020 could be possible.

The State Bond Commission has approved a 450-million dollar financing plan to pay for renovations to the 44-year-old Superdome. The state will spend 90-million dollars on the project, the Superdome Commission 210-million dollars and the Saints will put up the rest. Saints President Dennis Lauscha…
cut 6 (08) “…150-million”
Renovations would begin after this football season and take three to four years to complete.

The LSU football team is starting to get over the injury bug. Coach Ed Orgeron says All-American strong safety Grant Delpit practiced yesterday for the first time in a week…
cut 30 (30) “….offensive line”
But Orgeron says true freshman guard Kardell Thomas suffered what appeared to be a serious injury and he expects the former Southern Lab standout to be out awhile.

The LSU basketball team will play the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game today as part of the Tigers 10-day visit to Spain. Dominican Republic is ranked 18th in the FIBA World poll.

Today the state bond commission is scheduled to vote on the financing plan for the $450 million overhaul to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington ”

The Saints will hold a joint practice with the Chargers today in California.

The Falcons have signed former LSU quarterback Danny Etling, one day after he was released by the Patriots.

The Southland Conference will hold a beach volleyball championship in 2020. U-N-O, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana have programs, with S-L-U beginning its first competitive season in 2020.

Three key players on LSU’s defense missed practice yesterday. Kristian Fulton, Grant Delpit, and K’Lavon Chaisson were not spotted during the media viewing portion. Delpit has missed six straight practices, Chaisson has missed seven and Fulton has missed six practices over the last week. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says it’s not time to panic yet…
cut 30 (25) “…these guys”
Coach Ed Orgeron will speak with reporters following today’s practice. We are 17 days away from the season opener against Georgia Southern.

The Saints will have a walkthrough at their training facility in Metairie today and then it’s off to Los Angeles for a pair of joint practices with the Chargers starting on Thursday. The Black and Gold will enjoy the cooler temperatures, with high temperatures in the 80s as compared to what the south Louisiana heat offers.

Former LSU quarterback Danny Elting’s time with the Patriots has ended. New England converted the signal-caller to wide receiver this training camp, but he only saw two snaps in the preseason opener and he was released yesterday.

Former LSU Tiger DJ LeMahieu smacked his 19th home run of the season on the first pitch he saw in the first inning as the Yankees went on to beat the Orioles eight to three.

UL-Lafayette men’s basketball has released its non-conference schedule. The Cajuns will host McNeese, Southeastern and travel to Louisiana Tech. They will also visit TCU, Arizona State and will also play two games in Las Vegas versus U-C Irvine and Detroit Mercy.

One of the big position battles at LSU camp is at nose tackle, where Tyler Shelvin is battling with freshman Apu Ika from Salt Lake City. Senior defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko gives his take on the position battle
Cut 16 (28) “…of view”
ESPN’s list of 50 best college football players for 2019 has three LSU players on it. Safety Grant Delpit comes in at number four, cornerback Kristian Fulton is at 32nd and linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson is at 36.

The Saints are off today. They fly out to the west coast tomorrow where they’ll compete against the Chargers in a couple of joint practices and then face the Chargers in a preseason game on Sunday. Undrafted rookie receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey caught a touchdown pass in the preseason opener and Coach Sean Payton calls the former Texas Longhorn a work in progress…
cut 30 (13) “…away from the defender’

Former LSU quarterback Danny Etling could not cut it as a wide receiver and the Patriots have released the former seventh-round draft pick. New England was looking to see if Etling could be another Taysom Hill.

The Cajuns have received a verbal commitment from three-star defensive back Caleb Anderson from East Feliciana High School. Also Catholic High of New Iberia’s Trey Amos gave a verbal pledge to Billy Napier. Amos plays Q-B for the Panthers, but he’ll play cornerback in college.

Governor Edwards says talks are progressing on a new lease deal with the Saints that would keep the team in New Orleans for another 30 years. In conjunction with that is a 450-million dollar plan to renovate the Superdome…
cut 28 (09) “…short period of time”
The State Bond Commission will consider a financing proposal on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Saints leave tomorrow for Los Angeles where they’ll hold a couple of joint practices with the Chargers. Coach Sean Payton…
cut 30 (14) “…our league’
The Saints and the Chargers will also face off in a preseason game on Sunday in L-A.

LSU’s offensive line is a question mark heading into the 2019 campaign. At times last season, the o-line underperformed. Tigers defensive end Breiden Fehoko likes what he sees with that unit this year…
cut 17 (17) “…reckon with”
In Saturday’s scrimmage, LSU’s defensive line produced five sacks, but LSU’s o-line was missing some second teamers.

Former LSU quarterback Danny Etling has reportedly been waived by the Patriots. Etling was working out as a receiver in training camp.

Northwestern State quarterback Shelton Eppler has been named to the F-C-S National Performer of the Year Trophy watch list. Eppler threw for 2,639 yards and 26 touchdowns in nine games last season.

And the Ragin Cajuns have received a verbal commitment from three-star defensive back Caleb Anderson from East Feliciana High School.

Governor John Bel Edwards made an appearance at Saints training camp on Monday and says the state is moving forward with plans to complete 450-million dollars in renovations to the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Edwards says it’s vital to upgrade the 44-year-old building so that it can remain competitive when attracting major sporting events…
cut 9 (10) “…and we upgrade”
The Saints, the Louisiana Stadium Exposition District through a motel tax and the state will fund the renovations, which Edwards says will begin after the football season.

The Saints are off today. Tomorrow, they fly out to Los Angeles for a couple of joint practices with the Chargers and then they’ll play the Chargers in a preseason game on Sunday.

Running back Alvin Kamara missed his second straight practice yesterday with an unknown injury.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was back at practice yesterday after missing Saturday’s scrimmage with a camp injury. Cornerback Kristian Fulton also returned to practice after missing 10 days. Safety Grant Delpit and linebacker K’ Lavon Chaisson remain out with what Coach Ed Orgeron calls minor camp injuries.

Orgeron has said he wants to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks as he’s asking his team to be more aggressive along the line of scrimmage. Defensive end Breiden Fehoko on what that means…
cut 18 (17) “…at the point”

The Pelicans 2019-20 schedule is out and the Zion Williamson era will officially begin when the Pels visit the defending champion Raptors on Tuesday October 22nd. The home opener is Friday October 25th against Dallas. Anthony Davis returns to the Smoothie King Center in a Lakers uniform on November 27th and he’ll be back on March 1st.

The Pelicans will tip off the 2019-2020 regular season in Toronto where they’ll face the defending NBA champion Raptors on October 22nd. The home opener will be on Friday October 25th against the Dallas Mavericks. T-N-T will televise the season opener, while E-S-P-N will broadcast the home opener nationally. The Pels will appear on T-N-T, ESPN and A-B-C a record 20 times. Anthony Davis makes his return to the Smoothie King Center on November 27th.

Governor John Bel Edwards visited Saints training camp today in Metairie and discussed the 450-million dollar plan to renovate the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Edwards says the massive renovation would also result in a new long-term lease agreement between the state and the NFL franchise.
Cut 17 (10) “…doing for Louisiana.”
Edwards says artist renderings could be made public later this week and the renovations would start after the football season.

LSU looks to be loaded again in the defensive secondary. It’s led by All-American safety Grant Delpit. The Tigers also feature returning starter Kristian Fulton at cornerback and at the other corner, its freshman phenom Derek Stingley Junior. After Saturday’s scrimmage, Coach Ed Orgeron gave an update on the other members of D-B-U…
cut 30 (25) “…coming along”

At the Ragin Cajuns scrimmage on Saturday, quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Lorenzo McCaskill had eight tackles and a sack.

The Saints hit the practice field in Metairie this morning on this hot summer day. Right tackle Ryan Ramcyzk left the practice field midway through the workout with trainers. No word on a potential injury. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is in a no-contact jersey for the second day in a row.

The Saints will travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday for two joint practices with the Chargers on Thursday and Friday. New Orleans will face the Chargers in a preseason game on Sunday.

The Saints lost their preseason opener to the Vikings on Friday. Back-up quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was 14 of 19 for 134 yards and one touchdown in the 34-25 loss…
cut 17 (07) “…doing that”

The LSU men’s basketball team leaves today for a 10-day tour of Spain. During that time the Tigers will compete in four exhibition games.

The NBA schedule is set to be released today. Look for it at 2 Pm.

Replacing one of college football’s best field goal kickers is a storyline to watch at preseason camp at LSU. Cole Tracy was 29 of 33 on his field goals last season. But Coach Ed Orgeron likes what he’s seen so far from true freshman Cade York…
cut 30 (22) “…the crowd”
York was 8-of-10 on field goals in Saturday’s scrimmage.

The LSU baseball program has added another left-handed pitcher to its 2020 roster. Brandon Kaminer from Wallace Community College in Alabama has been added to the staff. The Coral Springs, Florida native was 8-and-2 last season with 64 strikeouts in 60 innings.

LSU returns to practice today and we’ll see if starting quarterback Joe Burrow is back on the practice field. He missed Saturday’s scrimmage with what Coach Ed Orgeron calls a minor injury. Burrow’s absence gave back-ups Myles Brennan and Peter Parrish more snaps and Orgeron says that’s a good thing…
cut 30 (19) “…not the same”
Brennan was 8-of-13 for 158 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s scrimmage. Junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helairie was the leading rusher with 47 yards on 13 carries.

At Louisiana Tech’s first scrimmage, freshman running back Elijah Hines had a 30-yard touchdown run.

Friday night was the time to shine for Saints backup QB Teddy Bridgewater. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Undrafted rookie receiver Emmanuel Butler is back at practice for the Black and Gold. Butler suffered an injury on July 30th and didn’t return to the field until this weekend. He’s expected to get his first game action on Sunday when New Orleans visits the Los Angeles Chargers.

And former University High golfer Patrick Reed won the Northern Trust Tournament in Jersey City, New Jersey. It’s his first victory since the 2018 Masters.