The Saints return to the practice field this morning for training camp practice number two. It’s the 19th training camp for quarterback Drew Brees says he still gets excited for these preseason practices because this is where it all begins…
cut 30 (18) “…this year”
Brees enters this season as the fourth oldest player in the NFL.

University High defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy, the state’s top-rated prospect, re-committed to LSU yesterday. Roy de-committed five months ago, but he re-joined the 2020 class with his announcement at a public ceremony. The 2020 class features six defensive tackles and this class is ranked third in the country, behind Clemson and Alabama.

New Ragin Cajuns Baseball Coach Matt Deggs has named two-time Major League Baseball All-Star B-J Ryan as UL-Lafayette’s new pitching coach. Ryan pitched for the Cajuns in 1997 and 1998 and went on to play eleven years in the big leagues with the Blue Jays and Orioles. Anthony Babineaux stays as the associate head coach, Jeremy Talbot also remains as the recruiting coordinator and Jake Wells continues to be the hitting coach.

LSU’s Grant Delpit has been named a candidate for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He’s one of ten defensive players on the award’s 40-player watch list. He led the SEC with five interceptions last season.

New Pelicans three-point specialist J-J Redick has declined an offer to try out for the USA Basketball team. Redick says instead of going to USA Basketball training camp in Las Vegas on August fifth, he’d rather spend this time finalizing his family’s move to the Big Easy. Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has also opted out of participating.

Saints star wide receiver Michael Thomas was not present for today’s first training camp practice as he’s seeking a new contract that would pay him an annual average salary of 20-million dollars, which would be the highest in the NFL for a receiver. General Manager Mickey Loomis wouldn’t say they are close to agreeing on a new contract with Thomas, but he says they are not far off. Loomis says some negotiations take longer than others
Cut 18 (25) “of it”
Saints defensive end Cam Jordan says he’s not worried about Thomas missing camp, until Drew Brees is worried about it.

Louisiana Tech says they plan to rebuild J-C Love Field at Patterson Park in the same location as the old facility, which was severely damaged by an EF 3 tornado in April. Bulldogs baseball coach Lane Burroughs calls it great news. But a new J-C Love field will not be ready by next season, so the Bulldogs baseball team will have to play home games at off-campus sites. No timetable has been determined for construction on a new baseball, softball and soccer complex.

New Ragin Cajuns Baseball Coach Matt Deggs has finalized his coaching staff. Deggs has hired former two-time Major League Baseball All-Star B-J Ryan to be U-L Lafayette’s new pitching coach. Ryan pitched for the Cajuns in 1997 and 1998 and went on to play eleven years in the big leagues. Anthony Babineaux stays as the associate head coach, Jeremy Talbot also remains as the recruiting coordinator and Jake Wells continues to be the hitting coach.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas’ absence is the big storyline at training camp, but the battle for starting center will be an important one to watch. Free-agent signee Nick Easton and rookie Erik McCoy will battle to replace the retired Max Unger. Coach Sean Payton is looking forward to the competition
cut 17 (19) “good leader”
It will also be a big camp for wide receiver Cam Meredith, who only caught nine passes last season after signing as a free agent.

Louisiana Tech announces that J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park will remain at its current location. The baseball stadium needs to be rebuilt following an EF 3 tornado that destroyed a number of athletic facilities in April. The school decided the baseball field will remain at the historical location due to its unique setting. A timetable has not been set on construction.

There are reports that U-L Lafayette Football Coach Billy Napier will receive a one-year contract extension. Napier led the Cajuns to the Sun Belt Championship game in his first season as head coach in Lafayette.

The Louisiana Outdoor Expo and Boat Show is this weekend at the newly renovated Cajundome and Convention Center in Lafayette. Organizer Rob Kirkpatrick says there’s something for everyone at this three-day event
Cut 12 (11) “…and boat show.”
Tickets are $12.50 for adults, while kids five and under get in for free.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas did not report to training camp as he seeks a contract that would make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. There are media reports that Thomas is looking for a deal that would pay him 20-million dollars a year. The voice of the New Orlean Saints, Zach Streif, doesn’t expect it will be a long holdout as the two sides are close to a new deal. But Streif says Thomas’ absence will help the Black and Gold build depth at wide receiver, which the team lacked last year…
cut 14 (13) “…impact”
Thomas has performed as one of the best receivers in the NFL over the last three years.

LSU announces it will sell beer and wine this season to fans over the age of 21 in the general seating areas at Tiger Stadium. A new SEC policy approved in the Spring gave the schools the option to sell beer and wine in public areas. LSU Senior Associate athletics director Robert Munson says this is something Tigers fans have been waiting for…
cut 3 (10) “…this fall”
Munson says a variety of domestic and imported beer as well as red and white wines will be available at most concession stands. The school has yet to decide how much it will cost.

The LSU basketball team has released its non-conference schedule. The 2019-2020 season gets underway on Friday November 8th at home against Bowling Green. The Tigers will host Nicholls, UNO and Northwestern State in the non-conference, while travel to V-C-U, U-S-C and Texas. The contest against the Longhorns will be part of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge in January.

Today is reporting day for the Saints as the first training camp practice is set for tomorrow, but star wide receiver Michael Thomas is a no-show. Thomas has one year left on his rookie contract, but he’s reportedly looking for a new deal that would pay him 20-million dollars a year, making him the highest-paid receiver in the country. ESPN’s Mike Triplett believes a new deal eventually gets done…
cut 10 (11) “…around him”
Thomas holds the record for most receptions through a player’s first three years with 321.

LSU announces it will sell beer and wine this season to fans over the age of 21 at concessions stands in the general seating areas at Tiger Stadium. A new SEC policy approved in the Spring gave schools the option to sell beer and wine in public areas. The school has yet to decide how much a beer or chardonnay will cost you.

LSU President F. King Alexander has heard the feedback concerning the conditions of some buildings on campus while opening a new $28 million dollar football operations center.
Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The LSU basketball team has released its non-conference schedule. The 2019-2020 season gets underway on Friday November 8th at home against Bowling Green. The Tigers will host Nicholls, UNO and Northwestern State in the non-conference, while traveling to V-C-U, U-S-C and Texas. The contest against the Longhorns will be part of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge in January.

The Saints report for training camp today with expectations of repeating as NFC South champs. But ESPN Saints reporter Mike Triplett says like with every team, the Black and Gold has some question marks. Triplett says his biggest concern with this team is the defensive line. New Orleans lost end Alex Okafor in free agency and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is starting training camp on the physically unable to peform list after tearing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs. Triplett says that puts all eyes on second-year pro, Marcus Davenport….
cut 11 (11) “…quickly”
The 22-year-old notched 4.5 sacks last season, but battled a midseason toe injury.

The Saints have reportedly signed 10-year veteran defensive end Ziggy Hood. He played in 12 games last season, splitting time between the Redskins and Dolphins. The former first round pick has 14 career sacks.

LSU has been known as a school that receives more donations for its athletic programs then its academic programs. But LSU System President F King Alexander says that’s changing, thanks to the school’s aggressive one-point-five billion dollar push for donations….
cut 9 (11) “….doing both”
Alexander made the comments at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the school’s new 28-million dollar football operations building that was paid for by private donations. He says the latest numbers show that 70-percent of the donations coming to the school are for academics, while the other 30-percent is for athletics.

Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has reportedly landed the most lucrative shoe deal for a rookie in NBA history. It reportedly suprasses 100-million dollars. The previous record was LeBron James’ seven-year 87-million dollar with Nike in 2003.

And former LSU Tiger Josh Gray has signed a two-way deal with the Pelicans.

Today the media toured the new $28 million dollar football operations building at LSU as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Athletic Director Scott Woodward says his goal is to see LSU have the best of everything.
Cut 3 (09) “…here at LSU.”
Even though there’s been some backlash against the lavishness of the facility compared to the bad shape of some academic buildings, Woodward says most of the feed back has been positive.

The Saints report to training camp tomorrow. Mike Triplett covers the Black and Gold for the Saints says one of the new additions to watch is Latavius Murray who will attempt to replace running back Mark Ingram…
cut 30 (11) “…if needed”

2-guard JJ Redick has officially signed his two year deal with the Pelicans, guaranteeing the young team one of the best shooters in the league, and a player known for his skills as a mentor and culture builder. The 35-year-old Redick, who has never missed the playoffs, could have had his pick of the litter in free agency, but he didn’t hesitate when New Orleans called…
Cut 16 (17) “…momentum.”
Redick recently finished a stint in Philly where he posted a career-high 18 points a game while shooting nearly 40 percent from 3.

D-1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reports that U-L Lafayette head baseball coach Matt Deggs plans to hire former two-time major league baseball all-star B-J Ryan as his pitching coach. Ryan is a former Ragin Cajun who played for several seasons in the majors with Toronto and Baltimore.

Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has signed a multi-year apparel deal with Jordan Brand, whose parent company is Nike. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the former Duke star is reportedly receiving 75 million dollars.

J-J Redick says he decided to sign with the Pelicans because he likes the momentum the franchise has been building since David Griffin took over as the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations. The 35-year-old three-point specialist agreed to a two-year, 26.5 million dollar deal and has no problem being a mentor for the young guys on the roster….
cut 18 (17) “….action”
Redick gained a reputation for embracing the role of a mentor during his later years in Orlando.

The Saints report for training camp tomorrow and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins will start camp on the physically unable to perform list. Rankins continues to recover from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the Saints playoff win over Philadelphia on January 13th. If Rankins remains on the PUP list when the regular season starts, he’ll be forced to miss the first six games.

LSU baseball played Texas last March, the Tigers football team will travel to Austin in September and now it’s being reported the basketball team will play the Longhorns on their home floor as part of the S-E-C-Big 12 challenge. The game will take place on January 25th according to C-B-S Sports College basketball insider Jon Rothstein.

D-1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reports that U-L Lafayette head baseball coach Matt Deggs plans to hire former two-time major league baseball all-star B-J Ryan as his pitching coach. Ryan is a former Ragin Cajun who played for several seasons in the majors with Toronto and Baltimore.

The Saints report for training camp tomorrow and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins will start camp on the physically unable to perform list. Rankins continues to recover from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the Saints playoff win over Philadelphia on January 13th. If Rankins remains on the PUP list when the regular season starts, he’ll be forced to miss the first six games.

LSU baseball played Texas last March, the Tigers football team will travel to Austin in September and now it’s being reported the basketball team will play the Longhorns on their home floor as part of the S-E-C-Big 12 challenge. The game will take place on January 25th according to C-B-S Sports College basketball insider Jon Rothstein.

D-1 Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reports that U-L Lafayette head baseball coach Matt Deggs plans to hire former two-time major league baseball all-star B-J Ryan as his pitching coach. Ryan is a former Ragin Cajun who played for several seasons in the majors with Toronto and Baltimore.

Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has signed a multi-year apparel deal with Jordan Brand, whose parent company is Nike. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the former Duke star is reportedly receiving 75 million dollars.

Another former Duke star, J-J Redick, spoke with reporters yesterday about signing with the Pelicans. He joins a growing Duke contingent in the Crescent City with newly acquired forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, along with side existing bench players Jahil Okafor and Frank Jackson…
cut 17 (19) “….real”
Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffen says targeted Redick in free agency because his veteran presence can help set the tone for the young team.

LSU football coaches and players are impressed with their new 28-million dollar football operations building that features a new locker room, cafeteria and players lounge. Meanwhile, LSU mass communications professor Bob Mann says there are several academic buildings in the need of repairs, especially the library…
cut 13 (10) “…being pumped out”
LSU’s new ops building was paid for by private donations.

Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson has signed a contract to endorse Nike’s Jordan Brand of sneakers. Williamson chose Nike over Adidas and Under Armour, even though he broke his Nike sneaker in a game against North Carolina last February.

And Williamson has decided not to participate in the USA Basketball training camp that takes place next month in Las Vegas.

At Sun Belt Media Day, UL-Lafayette Coach Billy Napier says Levi Lewis enters preseason camp as the starting quarterback. Lewis appeared in every game last season, getting a chance to play every fourth drive. Napier says they are still waiting to see if transfer Brayden Hawkins will be eligible to play this season. Hawkins transferred in from Maryland and he’ll join several other quarterbacks who are competing for playing time.

The Saints report for training camp on Thursday. Will Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Thomas have a deal done by then. Yahoo Sports reports the Saints are offering a contract that will pay Thomas 18 to 19 million dollars a year, while Thomas is reportedly looking for 20-million a year.

And former LSU star Odell Beckham Junior told G-Q magazine that he felt disrespected when the Giants traded the star wide receiver to the Browns. Beckham says the Giants have been a losing a franchise lately and he’s the only reason why the team still appeared in prime time games.