Saints Quarterback Drew Brees announced on Instagram today that he and his wife are pledging five million dollars to various causes to help Louisiana residents impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Brees says the donations will help pay for 10-thousand meals per day throughout Louisiana for as long as it takes. Brees ended his message by saying let’s all do your part, maintain hope and get through this together.

Brees is not the only professional athlete in Louisiana who has donated money to help out those who have lost paychecks as a result of the economic shutdown. Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson volunteered to cover a month’s pay lost by Smoothie King Center workers. In a podcast that can be heard at pelicans-dot-com, Pels owner Gayle Benson, says it’s a terrific gesture…
cut 14 (09) “…young man”

Today was supposed to be opening day for Major League Baseball. Commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt he’s still optimistic that the season will begin in mid-May, but they will not have a 162-game schedule. You might see some seven-inning doubleheaders.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is one of several GMS who would like to see the NFL draft pushed back, so the teams can gather more info on the players. But the league still plans on holding the draft a month from now.

Saints coach Sean Payton told WWL Radio last night that’s he’s been cleared by doctors after testing positive for COVID-19. Payton says over a week ago he felt flu-like symptoms and developed a low-grade fever. He’s now feeling better but remains quarantined.

Safety Vonn Bell is moving on from the Saints as he reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year, Bell led the NFL in fumble recoveries with five, even though he missed the last three regular-season games with a knee injury. His departure seemed inevitable after the team signed Malcolm Jenkins.

Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson’s teams may be shut down, but she’s busy trying to help those impacted by COVID-19 through her Community Assistance Fund. Benson donated one million dollars to the fund and says she’s inspired by the amount of charity and solidarity she’s seeing in New Orleans.
Cut 13 (09) “…come back.”

Saints coach Sean Payton told WWL Radio last night that’s he’s been cleared by doctors after testing positive for COVID-19. Payton says over a week ago he felt flu-like symptoms and developed a low-grade fever. He’s now feeling better but remains quarantined.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is one of several GMS who would like to see the NFL draft pushed back, so the teams can gather more info on the players. But the league still plans on holding the draft a month from now.

The Saints have reworked cornerback Janoris Jenkins’ contract which has resulted in the veteran receiving a two-year contract extension. His new deal also gives New Orleans more salary-cap flexibility this year.

Former Saints safety Vonn Bell has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He led the NFL in fumble recoveries last year with five, even though he missed the last three regular-season games with a knee injury.

Today would have been opening day for Major League Baseball. Commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt he’s still optimistic that the season will begin in May, but they will not have a 162-game schedule. You might see some seven-inning doubleheaders.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hopes NBA can return in mid-May. Cuban says he came up with that projection by talking with the CDC and other places.

Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow has tweeted out a video message asking everyone to follow the directions of the government as we fight the COVID-19 pandemic….
cut 30 (35) “…go Tigers”
Burrow is set to become the N-F-L’s number one pick when the draft takes place from April 23rd to the 25th. There’s a push by general managers to move the draft back, but the N-F-L says they are not postponing the draft.

Former Saints safety Vonn Bell has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Black and Gold drafted Bell in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Ohio State. This past season, he had 89 tackles, five passes defensed, one interception and two forced fumbles.

The head baseball coach for seventh and eighth graders at Lusher Charter School in New Orleans has died while on a ventilator with COVID-19 symptoms. Cornell Charles also known as Coach Dickey was also a varsity assistant baseball and football coach and the longest-tenured coach on Lusher’s staff. NOLA-dot-com says Charles was in his 50s and was awaiting the test results on whether he had the coronavirus.

A former football player from Scotlandville High School in Baton Rouge died Tuesday night inside his apartment in Pullman, Washington. 22-year-old Bryce Beekman played football for Washington State. Law enforcement went to his apartment because they reportedly received a call concerning “breathing problems” with an individual. The local coroner has not released any other details.

The NFL’s general manager subcommittee unanimously voted to push back the NFL draft which is scheduled for April 23rd to the 25th. G-Ms are concerned there’s not enough time to do essential pre-draft tasks, such as conducting player physicals. But NFL leadership is moving forward with holding the draft in late April.

The Tokyo Olympics has been officially postponed until 2021. But an official start date for the summer games has not been agreed upon. They will still be called the 2020 Olympics. The Olympics has been canceled before, but that was because of World War One and World War Two.

The Advocate reports that LSU Basketball Coach Will Wade has been keeping busy by getting his non-conference schedule finalized for next season. The Tigers will host ULM, V-C-U, and U-S-C at the Maravich Center, play Louisiana Tech in Shreveport on November 24th. They also have neutral site games planned in Atlanta and one in New York City against Syracuse.

Quarterback Cam Newton is officially a free agent as the Panthers have released the former NFL MVP after a nine-year run in Charlotte. Newton posted on his Instagram account that he’s hungrier now because he is unemployed.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns released an emotional video on his Instagram late last night about his mother, who is in a medically induced coma showing COVID-19 symptoms. Towns says he’s sharing his story so that everyone takes this virus seriously and stay at home.

The NCAA will allow Clemson Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and his girlfriend to have a Go Fund Me page designed to raise funds for coronavirus victims.

The Saints have reportedly restructured the contract of cornerback Janoris Jenkins. It results in the Black and Gold getting more salary-cap relief and Jenkins getting an opportunity to become a free agent after this season.

The Saints have announced the signing of cornerback Deatrick (DEE-trick) Nichols. Nichols played for the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks this spring and led the league with three interceptions. The Miami native played his college ball at South Florida and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cardinals following the 2018 draft. In 2018, he played in two games with Arizona.

The Carolina Panthers have cut ties with quarterback Cam Newton giving the 2015 NFL MVP a chance to sign with any team. Newton has battled injuries since his MVP season and ESPN reports he passed a physical in Atlanta on Monday as his shoulder and foot checked out well.

The decision has been made to postpone the Summer Olympics in Japan by one year to 2021

One of the nation’s top high school quarterback prospects lists LSU among his top five final choices. Caleb Williams from Gonzaga High School in Washington D-C says he’s whittled his list of potential college destinations to LSU, Clemson, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Maryland. But 24-7 sports reports that Oklahoma is the likely destination for Williams.

Also, John Ehret Safety Kaine Williams has LSU listed in his top three. Williams is ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the state and is also considering Texas A-and-M and Alabama.

In NFL news, ESPN reports the Saints and cornerback Janoris Jenkins have agreed to a restructured contract in order to reduce his hit to the 2020 salary cap. The adjusted deal allows Jenkins to become a free agent after this season. And the Saints are bringing back defensive end Noah Spence who they signed in December, after playing in seven games with the Redskins.

New Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders says he’s happy to be in a pass-happy offense. Sanders has signed a two-year, 16-million dollar deal. The Texas native also said his family wanted him to sign with the Saints. The 33-year-old caught 66 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins is glad to be back with the Saints again. New Orleans selected Jenkins with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and helped the Saints win a Super Bowl in his rookie season. Jenkins spent his first five seasons in New Orleans and then went to Philadelphia and won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. After he was cut by Philly, he signed a four-year deal to return to the Saints and he’s glad to be back
cut 17 (20) “…again”

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, some might be worried about whether football can played in the fall. LSU interim president Thomas Galligan was asked about that possiblity on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster…
cut 11 (10) “…normal life”
The football program brought in 55 million dollars last year.

An IOC member has told the USA Today that the 2020 Summer Olympics will be postponed. The games are scheduled to start on July 24th, USA Today has learned they will not start on that date and the Summer Olympics will likely move to next year, with the details to be announced over the next month.

And another Saints signing to tell you about. The team has reportedly inked a deal with defensive end Noah Spence. He played in seven games with Washington last season and had three tackles. 7.5 sacks during his four-year NFL career.

Looks like the Saints have found a number two wide receiver to compliment Michael Thomas. New Orleans announced yesterday they signed unrestricted free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on a two-year contract. He’s 33-years-old and over the last seven seasons, he’s averaged 63 catches for 825 yards.

32-year-old Malcolm Jenkins returns to the Saints after a six-year run in Philadelphia. Jenkins says he’s yet to talk with the Saints about his role as a leader…
cut 18 (20) “….that is”
The Saints have also re-signed veteran safety D-J Swearinger to a one-year deal.

The I-O-C says it will discuss over the next month whether the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo should be postponed. The Olympics are set to begin on July 24th. World Athletics president Seb Coe says July is neither feasible nor desirable. U-S Swimming and Track Associations have both called on their national Olympic officials to push for a postponement.

The coronavirus pandemic has halted the NASCAR season, but NASCAR I-Racing held a virtual race from the Homestead-Miami Speedway yesterday. Three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin beat Dale Earnhart Junior. Timmy Hill, Chase Briscoe, and Garrett Smithley rounded out the top five.

No word on when Major League Baseball will begin its season. Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro says when baseball does resume, the players will need a second spring-training lasting about four weeks before regular season play can begin. Shapiro says they are waiting to see some sort of flattening of the curve before play can begin.

Left guard Andrus Peat is staying with the Saints. New Orleans and the former first-round pick have agreed to a five-year, 57.5 million dollar contract. 33-million dollars is reportedly guaranteed. Peat started in 10 regular-season games last year and in the playoff loss to the Vikings. Since his rookie season, New Orleans has ranked first in the NFL in net yards per game and points per game. Peat has been named a Pro Bowler the last two seasons.

Tom Brady has officially signed with Tampa Bay. ESPN reports it’s a two-year deal, worth 50-million dollars and all of it is guaranteed.

Todd Gurley will also play in the NFC South in 2020. One day after the Rams released the former Georgia Bulldog, the Falcons signed Gurley to a one-year six-million dollar contract.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says he’s feeling well, even though he’s tested positive for the coronavirus. Payton will spend the weekend quarantined.

The coronavirus outbreak has not stopped LSU football coach Ed Orgeron from receiving a verbal pledge. Three-star Florida safety Dakota Mitchell has announced his commitment to the Tigers. 24-7-sports rates Mithcell as the nation’s 27th best safety. He’s the fifth member of the 2021 recruiting class to commit to LSU.

The Saints have restructured the contracts of wide receiver Michael Thomas and offensive tackle Terron Armstead, converting their base salaries to bonuses. The new deals save the Black and Gold 16 million dollars against the salary cap.

ESPN’s Field Yates reports New Orleans has also picked up the fifth-year options for both cornerback Marcus Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

The summer Olympics are set to start on July 24th in Tokyo. Today USA Swimming called for a one-year postponement of the Games because of the global coronavirus pandemic. So far Japanese organizers and the International Olympic Committee have said there is no need for any drastic decisions at this moment.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is the first person from the NFL to test positive for COVID-19. Payton said he started not feeling well on Sunday and took the test Monday and found out he was one of the 392 people in Louisiana to test positive for the virus on Thursday afternoon. Payton says he does not have a high fever or respiratory issues. The 56-year-old posted a picture of himself and his dog hanging out at his house and said he’s feeling better and has four more days of isolation at his home.

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and two unidentified Los Angeles Lakers have also tested positive for COVID-19.

Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata says the brotherhood he has with the rest of his defensive line is the reason why he re-signed with the Black and Gold. Onyemata is coming off a season where he had three sacks and 32 tackles.

The Saints have restructured the contracts of wide receiver Michael Thomas and offensive tackle Terron Armstead, converting their base salaries to bonuses. The new deals save the Black and Gold 16 million dollars against the salary cap.

ESPN’s Field Yates reports New Orleans has also picked up the fifth-year options for both cornerback Marcus Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

And Former Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood has reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Panthers to catch passes from Teddy Bridgewater. Kirkwood caught 13 passes in New Orleans but did not catch a pass last season after injuring his hamstring during warmups before the Saints played the Rams in week two.

The coronavirus outbreak has not stopped LSU football coach Ed Orgeron from recruiting. The Tigers have received a verbal commitment from three-star Florida safety Dakota Mitchell. He’s the fifth member of the 2021 recruiting class to commit to LSU