Football season arrives for the Saints this week as the players will report to training camp on Wednesday. New Orleans is looking to make it into the playoffs for a second consecutive season. The two big question marks heading into camp, can first round pick Marcus Davenport develop into an effective pass rusher to help out All-Pro end Cameron Jordan. And the Black and Gold coaching staff is hoping a veteran running back can emerge to fill the shoes of Mark Ingram, who will serve a four-game suspension to begin the season.

Sun Belt Media Day takes place today in New Orleans. New Ragin Cajuns Coach Billy Napier will talk about how the defense should be improved this season. UL Lafayette allowed 40 points a game last year. ULM Head Coach Matt Viator is entering his third season and the Warhawks are expected to finish near the top of the Sun Belt’s new West Division. ULM was 4-4 in the Sun Belt last year.

Francesco Molinari is the golfer from Italy to win the British Open. Molinari finished the four-day tournament at eight under par to finish two strokes ahead of a group of golfers at six-under par. Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose finished in a four-way tie for second place. Tiger Woods led briefly on Sunday and finished at five under par.

For the first time this season, the Astros allowed double digit runs as the Angels beat Houston 14 to five yesterday. Mike Trout broke out of a slump by hitting his 26th home run of the season. The Rangers blanked the Indians five to nothing as Yovani Gallardo and three relievers by combined on the five-hit shutout.

The NFL is mourning the sudden death of Tony Sparano, the Vikings offensive line coach. The 56-year-old also had stints as the head coach of the Dolphins and Raiders.

And in Canadian Football…Johnny Manziel has been traded from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Montreal Allouettes. Montreal’s head coach is Mike Sherman, former Texas A-and-M head coach and the man who recruited Johnny Football.

The LSU Tigers are picked to finish fifth in the SEC West according to a poll of media members who attended SEC Media Days. LSU hasn’t finished below fourth place in the SEC West since 1999 when the Tigers came in last place in Gerry DiNardo’s final season. Alabama is the pick to win the West and the SEC this year.

LSU linebacker Devin White and cornerback Greedy Williams were voted first-team All-SEC by the media.

In the Sun Belt, ULM wide receiver Marcus Green and Ragin Cajuns offensive lineman Kevin Dotson are preseason All-Sun Belt first-team selections. Warhawks QB Caleb Evans, along with wide receiver RJ Turner are second-team selections. Cajuns running back Trey Ragas is also on the second team.

And the Advocate reports former Saints right tackle has been offered the job to replace Jim Henderson as the Voice of the Black and Gold.

New Southeastern Louisiana Football Coach Frank Scelfo has been on the job since January and has some holes to fill on this team. He’s yet to name a starting quarterback and the Lions also have to replace some good talent on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary. Scelfo was asked at Southland Conference Media Day about the style he plans to bring to Hammond…
cut 30 (21) “…first game”
S-L-U has been picked to finish fifth in the Southland this season.

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’ Neal toured the Lafayette High School weight room on Friday. In May, Shaq donated 20-thousand dollars through South Louisiana Giving Day to help the school renovate the weight room.

LSU has been picked to finish fifth in the SEC West according to a poll of media members that attended the Southeastern Conference Media Days. It’s the lowest LSU has been picked since the 1990s. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says LSU’s difficult schedule is contributing to low expectations…
Cut 4 (14) “…under Dan Mullen.”
We are 44 days away from LSU’s season opener versus Miami, which will be played in Dallas.

The Advocate reports former Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief has been offered the job as radio play-by-play man for the Black and Gold. Strief has little broadcasting experience, but is interested in the job. Streif says he’s been calling games on his own and he graduated from Northwestern University with a communications degree.

The coaches in the Sun Belt Conference have picked ULM to finish second in the West Division and the Ragin Cajuns fourth. Arkansas State is the favorite to win the West, while Appalachian State is the pick to win the east.

McNeese State is picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference after just missing out on making the FCS playoffs last season. Cowboys Coach Lance Guidry….
cut 30 (19) “…good season”
Northwestern State’s Brad Laird is one of five new coaches in the league. Laird says his team is a work in progress…
cut 29 (14) “….as a staff”

Most of the state is under a heat advisory this afternoon. State Climatologist Barry Keim says if you plan on spending a lot of time outside today, be prepared for the hottest temperatures of the year…
cut 25 (07) “…tad worse”
Keim says we won’t get a break from the extreme heat until Tuesday.

LSU is expected to finish fifth in the SEC West, according to a poll of media members who attended the SEC Football Media Days. Alabama is once again the favorite in the West followed by Auburn, Mississippi State and Texas A-and-M. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says fifth place is even lower than he projected…….
cut 3 (13) “…first year”

Caddo Parish authorities say they have charged a 66-year-old man with cruelty to the infirm after he failed to seek medical help for his wife after several months. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says Johnny Essary did not move his wife from the couch and she became unresponsive, severely malnourished and had life-threatening wounds…
cut 12 (06) “….this bad”
Chadwick says a detective at the scene said it’s the worst case of neglect he’s ever seen.

For the first time in two years, the Louisiana Health Department has ordered the closure of a restaurant after inspectors allegedly found flies, insects, rodents and other live animals at the establishment. Regional medical director. Doctor Martha Whyte says critical violations were found at the Dupont Fish Market in Shreveport…
cut 9 (11) “….your local health department”
In order to reopen, the Dupont Fish Market must correct all cited violations.

SEC Media Days concluded on Thursday in Atlanta as Auburn was one of the final schools to go through the gauntlet of questions from reporters. Auburn Coach Gus Malzhan loved how his team rallied last year after losing to LSU in Tiger Stadium…
cut 30 (22) “…done that”
The LSU-Auburn rematch is September 15th on the Plains.

Sun Belt Media Days begins Sunday and the league has released a preseason poll that shows Arkansas State is the favorite to win the West Division, while Appalachian State is the pick to win the East ahead of Troy. ULM is picked to finish in second place in the West, while the Ragin Cajuns are expected to finish fourth in the five-team division.

There are five new football coaches in the Southland Conference this season. Northwestern State’s Brad Laird is one of them. The former defensive coordinator says he wants to build on winning three of their last four games last season…
cut 29 (14) “…as a staff'”
The Demons haven’t had a winning season since 2008.

The NFL’s new anthem policy has been put on hold so that the league’s players association can discuss with owners on a resolution to the anthem issue. Back in May, the NFL owners announced a new policy that would allow players to remain in the locker room when the anthem was played, but if they were on the sidelines they must stand. The Dolphins were reportedly looking at suspending players up to four games if they didn’t stand for the anthem.

Five players with Louisiana ties are on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, which goes to the best wide receiver in college football. Headlining the list locally, is new LSU wide receiver Jonathan Giles, who is a transfer from Texas Tech. Tulane’s Terren Encalade, ULM’s Marcus Green, Nebraska’s Stanley Morgan Junior who played at St. Aug and Louisiana Tech’s Teddy Veal.

The 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are facing a difficult schedule. They host just five games in Ruston and visit league favorites North Texas and Florida Atlantic on the road. But Coach Skip Holtz told Watch ESPN they will not make any excuses
Cut 19 (20) ” opportunity”
Tech opens the season on September 1st versus South Alabama.

Sam Houston State is picked to win the Southland Conference in a poll of the head coaches and sports information directors. The Bearkats have six first preseason all-conference picks on offense. Nicholls State has been picked to finish second. The Colonels have a league-high 14 total preseason all-conference picks. Central Arkansas is expected to finish in third place. McNeese received one first place vote and is expected to finish in fourth place. Southastern Louisiana in 5th place, Northwestern State in eighth place.

LSU’s Dave Aranda is no longer the highest paid coordinator in college football. That honor belongs to Clemson’s Brent Venables.

The Advocate reports its looking more likely that former Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief will replace Jim Henderson as the Voice of the Saints.

And the Chicago Bulls have signed former LSU Tiger Antonio Blakeney.

With training camp set to start next week, the Saints have added another veteran running back to the roster. The team inked former Patriots and Giants ball carrier Shane Vereen, who is more of a pass catcher then a true running back. He caught 44 passes for the Giants last season and rushed for 164 yards.

Louisiana Tech, who is picked to finish second in the West Division of Conference USA, appeared at the league’s media day yesterday. The Bulldogs return eight starters on offense, including four of their top five pass catchers. Teddy Veal told Watch ESPN they can be explosive on offense…
Cut 18 (21) “our offense”
Coach Skip Holtz says returning starting quarterback J-Mar Smith has grown mentally.

The Southland Conference Media Day takes place today in Houston. Northwestern State’s Brad Laird and Southeastern’s Frank Scelfo are among the first-year head coaches that will be in attendance. While McNeese and Nicholls State will be among the favorites to win the league.

Meanwhile, at SEC Media Days, Alabama Coach Nick Saban made it clear he doesn’t know who his starting QB will be between two-year starter Jalen Hurts and sophomore Tua Tagovailoa…
Cut 20 (20) we’ll see”
LSU will host Alabama on November 3rd, they’ll likely have their quarterback situation figured out before then. LSU will reportedly play this season without Jamal Pettigrew, who injured his A-C-L.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman continues to show he has that clutch bone. Bregman belted a solo home run in the 10th inning last night to snap a five-five tie and the American League went on to defeat the N-L eight to six in 10 innings. Bregman was named the game’s MVP.

NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo reports the Saints are signing former Giants and Patriots running back Shane Vereen. The 29-year-old caught 44 passes last season and rushed for 164 yards for the Giants.

In the NBA, the Pelicans have signed guard Trevon Bluiett (Trey-von Blue-IT) to a two-way contract. The undrafted rookie out of Xavier in Ohio averaged 18 points a game in four Summer League games.

And ESPN is reporting a blockbuster deal in the Association as the Spurs are getting ready to ship Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. San Antonio will get fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan in return. But there are reports Leonard and DeRozan are not happy about the trade.

LSU’s schedule features two teams that played in last season’s national championship game, Alabama and Georgia. The Bulldogs will visit Death Valley on October 13th. Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart says just because his team won the SEC last season, doesn’t mean it’s automatic they will do it again…
Cut 18 (19) “football works”
It’s been reported LSU will not have tight end Jamal Pettigrew this season, because of a torn ACL. The New Orleans native played in all 13 games last season as a redshirt freshman and caught just one pass, but he was expected to take on a bigger role this season.

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said today there are no plans to expand the C-F-P beyond the four teams.

Alex Bregman’s reputation as a clutch player continues to grow. The former LSU star hit a home run in the 10th inning last night to snap a five-five tie as the American League went on to beat the National League 8-6. Astros teammate George Springer also homered off the Dodgers Ross Stripling. But Bregman was awarded M-V-P honors. A record 10 home runs were hit in the game. Also, Baton Rouge’s Aaron Nola pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

In the NBA, the Pelicans have signed guard Trevon Bluiett (Trey-von Blue-IT) to a two-way contract. The undrafted rookie out of Xavier in Ohio averaged 18 points a game in four Summer League games.

ESPN is reporting the Spurs are getting ready to ship Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. San Antonio will get fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan in return.

Former LSU standout Garrett Temple is heading to Memphis in a trade. Temple averaged a career-high eight points last season for the Kings.

Day Two of SEC media days in Atlanta featured four teams on LSU’s schedule. Matt Luke will bring the Ole Miss Rebels into Tiger Stadium on September 29th. Luke guided Ole Miss to a 6-6 record as an interim coach last season and likes the direction of his program…
Cut 16 (19) “a lot of fun”
After the Tigers play the Rebels, they’ll visit the Florida Gators in the Swamp for a second consecutive season. Florida went 4-7 last season. Dan Mullen is entering his first season as the head coach in Gainesville and believes he can bring the Gators to the SEC championship game in Atlanta in year one
Cut 17 (16) “years from now”

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron admitted during SEC Media Days it was a mistake to hire Matt Canada as the Tigers offensive coordinator last season. But Orgeron is confident new coordinator and former tight ends coach Steve Ensminger will do a great job…
cut 13 (10) “….with Steve”
Orgeron also told reporters he’s looking to have the never-ending quarterback question solved by the time the regular season starts.

Will Ohio State grad transfer Joe Burrow be the guy that takes the first snap against Miami when LSU opens the season? Tight end Foster Moreau says Burrow is fitting well with his new teammates…
cut 30 (17) “…quarterback situation”
Fall camp begins in about three weeks.

Louisiana Tech has been picked to finish second in the Conference USA’s West Division, while North Texas was tabbed as the preseason favorite in a vote of media members. Florida Atlantic was picked to finish first in the East Division.

Former LSU standout Alex Bregman came up one dinger short in defeating Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber in last night’s Major League Baseball Home run derby. Bregman was defeated in the first round, Schwarber ended up losing in the championship round to Bryce Harper, who made a furious rally to win it all in front of his home fans. Tonight is the Major League Baseball All-Star game in DC. Former LSU stars Bregman and Aaron Nola will play in that game.

In the NBA, ESPN reports former LSU Tiger Garret Temple will reportedly be traded from Sacramento to Memphis. The Kings would get Ben McLemore and Deyonta Davis in return.