The LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has decided to honor football legend Dr. Billy Cannon with a statue of him on the Baton Rouge campus. Cannon says having a statue of him at his alma mater was the farthest thing from his mind. He hopes it looks like he did in his glory days, young with a lot of hair….
cut 5 (09) “…present him”
Cannon won the Heisman Trophy in 1959 and led the Tigers to a national championship in 1958.

All purpose back Slade Bolden of West Monroe High School has committed to Alabama. Bolden plays a number of positions for the Rebels, quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back. He’s listed as a three-star prospect and some compare him to Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman.

In major league baseball…Alex Bregman went three for four with a run scored and an RBI but the Astros lost their third straight as the Tampa Bay topped Houston five to three.

Former Saints kicker Morten Andersen will become the second kicker in history to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on saturday. The native of Denmark is the leading scorer in NFL history. The Saints selected Andersen in the fourth round of the 1982 draft and and finished his 25-year career with 2,544 points and 565 field goals made.

At Saints camp, starting left guard Andrus Peat is entering his third season. Peat says he’s trying to help out first round pick Ryan Ramczyk, who could be the starting left tackle for the injured Terron Armstead…
cut 17 (15) “…that aspect”
Peat says at first he didn’t feel comfortable at guard, but now he enjoys playing the position and is up to 325 pounds.

After missing all of last season while recovering from his third torn ACL injury, Saints edge rusher Hau’oli Kikaha (ha-OH-lee key-KAH-hah) is ready to make a big impact on the Black and Gold defense. He’s battling with veteran Alex Okafor for starting weak side defensive end. Kikaha says he’s making progress…:
Cut 16 (20) “we’re advancing”
Yesterday’s practice, day 7, was moved indoors due to weather, but Coach Sean Payton said the intensity was still there and he liked what he saw..:
CUT 25 (10) “this tape”
The Saints open preseason action at the Browns Thursday.

The LSU football team will start the 2017 season at No. 12 in the Coaches Preseason Top 25 poll. Alabama is No. 1, then Ohio State, Florida State, USC and Clemson round out the top five. The AP Top 25 comes out August 21st.

The LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has unanimously approved a proposal that a statue honoring football legend Dr. Billy Cannon be erected on campus. The Baton Rouge native was the winner of the 1959 Heisman Trophy as a halfback, and led the Tigers to the 1958 national championship. Details about the design and construction of the Billy Cannon statue will be announced in the coming months.

The Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium was dedicated during a ceremony that included the unveiling of a life sized likeness of the Saints and Pelicans owner, just before the Hall of Fame Game between Arizona and Dallas. Benson gifted $10 million in November 2014 towards the building of the stadium. In that first taste of football for fans this season, the Cowboys edged the Cardinals 20-18.

Offensive lineman Maea Teuhema has been granted his release from the LSU football team and will transfer to another school. Teuhema was suspended for a violation of team rules and Head Coach Ed Orgeron said earlier this week that the two-year starter was dealing with academic issues.

With Teuhema no longer on the team, Lloyd Cushenberry from Dutchtown High School has the first chance to take Teuhema’s starting spot at right guard. Starting left guard Garrett Brumfield says Cushenberry has been waiting for his chance after taking a red-shirt last season….
cut 17 (15) “…you need him”
LSU is ranked 12th in the coaches poll, which came out today. Alabama is number one, followed by Ohio State, Florida State, USC and Clemson.

At Saints training camp, Head Coach Sean Payton talked about how running back Mark Ingram could be a bigger part of the passing game this season…
cut 30 (20) “…as a runner”
The 27 year-old has caught 96 passes over the last two seasons. He had four touchdown catches last year.

The Saints announced today that they’ll hold their training camp practice on Sunday at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium. It will get underway at 7 PM and it is open to the public.

The Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium was dedicated today in Canton, Ohio. The facility is named after Benson, because he donated 10-million dollars to the building in 2014. The first preseason game of the year will be played there tonight as the Cowboys take on the Arizona Cardinals.

LSU announces offensive lineman Maea Teuhema has been granted his release from the team and will transfer to another school. This comes on the heels of a prior announcement that Teuhema had been indefinitely suspended. Now the Tigers have just eleven scholarship players on the offensive line, but starting left guard, Garrett Brumfield, says they still have what it takes
Cut 16 (22) “special happen”
Teuhema’s suspension and subsequent departure likely had to do with academics which Coach O mentioned at the start of practice Monday. With Teuhema gone, Lloyd Cushenberry of Dutchtown High School will take the spot at starting right guard.

The Saints returned to practice field Wednesday after taking Tuesday off. It marked the first of six straight days at camp before two days off, leading up to the preseason opener in Cleveland one week from today. Is it possible that coach Sean Payton is looking for a new punt returner? He’s been frank about Thomas Morstead struggling at camp…:
CUT 25 (18) “when you have it”
But analysts say it would be a big surprise to see anybody but Thomas Morestead punting for the Saints when the 2017 season kicks off.

According to a post he made on twitter, Justin Jefferson, a three-star wide receiver out of Destrehan High School, is scheduled to join LSU. He’s the third Jefferson brother to be a Tiger, the younger of former quarterback Jordan Jefferson and former safety Rickey Jefferson.

A two-year starter on LSU’s offensive line has been suspended indefinitely. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Maea Teuhema violated team rules. Earlier in the week, Orgeron said Teuhema was not at practice because of academic reasons. He is the projected starter at right guard.

There is some positive news about LSU’s offensive line. Starting right tackle Toby Weathersby says he feels good as he’s coming back from an injury that forced him to miss all of spring practice due to an unspecified offseason surgery. Weathersby also says the younger guys working behind him are doing well…
cut 18 (14) “…are ready”
Meanwhile, quarterback Danny Etling says he’ll be ready for the opener against BYU as he’s in the final stages in his recovery from back surgery.

Saints guard Senio Kelemete practiced for the first time in training camp today as he was removed from the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury. Kelemete was working with the second-team at center. Cornerbacks Delvin Breaux and Marshon Lattimore did not practice and the same goes for tight end Coby Fleener. Head Coach Sean Payton says Lattimore tweaked a knee and he’ll be fine.

Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has hundreds of trophies and he’s decided to put them towards good use. The first round pick of the Jaguars will have the trophies melted down, so they can be used as an entire weight set for a Jacksonsville-area high school. Fournette said he wanted to do something positive with the trophies, because they were just sitting at home collecting dust.

Former Chalmette basketball star Mitchell Robinson has been granted his release from Western Kentucky, but he’ll need a waiver from the NCAA in order to play this season. Robinson is a potential lottery pick in the 2018 NBA draft.

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron announced starting right guard Maea Teuhema has been indefinitely suspended for violation of team rules. Orgeron said earlier this week that Teuhema was not at practice, because of academic issues.

LSU Quarterback Danny Etling says he’ll be 100-percent by the season opener against BYU after undergoing surgery on his back. Etling also likes the progress the offense has made when it comes to learning offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s offense…
cut 17 (19) “…good about ourselves”

A major priority for UL Lafayette during preseason camp is to find a primary ball carrier to fill the shoes once occuppied by Elijah McGuire. Coach Mark Hudspeth says he likes what he sees from true freshman Elijah Mitchell from Erath….
cut 30 (18) “…backs too”
Darius Hoggins, Jordan Wright and Raymond Calais Junior are also battling for playing time at running back.

At Saints camp….cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Devin Breaux remain out because of unspecified injuries.

Former LSU Tiger and Arizona Cardinals star safety Tyrann Mathieu says he’s the best player in the world. But the Honey Badger is coming off a season where he had just one interception and one forced fumble. He’s also yet to play a full 16 game schedule, because of injuries.

LSU Quarterback Danny Etling says he feels a lot better than he did in the spring. Etling underwent a back procedure earlier this year and the senior from Indiana says he’s close to 100-percent…:
Cut 16 (15) “better and better”
Following Day 2 of practice, Etling said he also likes the progress the team has made when it comes to learning offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s system.

The Bayou Bengals could have their live mascot back by football season. LSU says it has found a tiger that could become Mike VII. Ginger Guttner with the LSU Vet School says the new tiger could arrive in mid-August, but he will be kept in the night house for about a week and not visible to the public…:
Cut 12 (08) “in August”

The UL-Lafayette football team’s new offensive coordinator Will Hall has clearly been doing some yelling over the Ragin’ Cajuns first days of practice…:
CUT 25 (09) “for me to be here”
Head coach Mark Hudspeth sung Hall’s praises Tuesday saying he’s brought a new dynamic to the offense, and that the Cajuns are about to throw something at the conference that they have not seen before.

College Football Playoff tickets for the January 1st Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will go on sale to the public on September 1st.

According to sources, the New Orleans Pelicans have added Free-agent guard Ian Clark on a one-year, $1.6 million deal. Clark is a four year NBA Veteran and served as a helpful backup guard for the league champion Golden State Warriors last season.

The Saints, who had the day off Tuesday, have released veteran Guard Orlando Franklin, according the NFL transaction wire. Franklin signed right before the Saints opened training camp.

LSU Quarterback Danny Etling said today he’s getting close to being a 100-percent since undergoing back surgery. Here’s Head Coach Ed Orgeron’s observations about the passing game after the first day of practice…
cut 30 (26) “…today”
Dillon is a sophomore from Pine High School in Washington Parish. He’s also expected to contribute on special teams.

Orgeron says starting guard Maea Teuhema (My-uh Tay-uma) is dealing with academic issues, so he’s not at practice. Lloyd Cushenberry from Dutchtown High School in Ascension Parish has moved from center to right guard to fill that spot.

One guy that’s looked good during the first week of camp is wide receiver Brandon Coleman, who could see more playing time this season now that Brandin Cooks has been traded. Coleman understands he needs to be a more consistent performer….
cut 25 (12) “….that now”
Coleman averaged just 11 yards a catch last season after averaging 15 yards a grab during the 2015 campaign.

During a question and answer session with season ticket holders, Jets safety and former LSU Tiger Jamal Adams said the football field is a perfect place to die. Adams made the comment after he was asked about player safety. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was part of the Q-and-A session.

Ruston’s J.D. Moore says he’s more than honored to share the number 18 jersey with fellow senior Christian LaCouture. Number 18 at LSU is synonmous with success—both on and off the field—as well as a selfless attitude. Moore says he was completely shocked to find out his jersey number was changing….
cut 20 (15) “….number 18”
Speaking of changing, five star prospect JaCoby Stevens is moving from safety to wide receiver. Head Coach Ed Orgeron explains why….
cut 30 (15) “…and help us”
Stevens had 34 catches for 689 yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The Saints have a day off from training camp. It comes at a good time as the team’s top two cornerbacks are already battling injuries. Delvin Breaux did not practice yesterday and first round pick Marshon Lattimore had to leave during yesterday’s practice because of an unspecified injury.

One guy that’s looked good during the first week of camp is wide receiver Brandon Coleman, who could see more playing time this season now that Brandin Cooks has been traded. Coleman understands he needs to be a more consistent performer….
cut 25 (12) “….that now”
Coleman averaged just 11 yards a catch last season after averaging 15 yards a grab during the 2015 campaign.

During a question and answer session with season ticket holders, Jets safety and former LSU Tiger Jamal Adams said the football field is a perfect place to die. Adams made the comment after he was asked about player safety. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was part of the Q-and-A session.

LSU’s first practice of preseason camp was Monday afternoon. Head coach Ed Orgeron says senior quarterback Danny Etling looks healthy following back surgery…:
Cut 18 (08) “very healthy”
Orgeron says creating more turnovers is a focus on defense this year.:
Cut 19 (18) “last year”
LSU will have two number 18s on the field this season as both defensive end Christian LaCouture and fullback J.D. Moore will wear the jersey that is synonymous with success, both on and off the field.

On the heels of a study indicating 99% of former NFL players suffered the potentially fatal brain damage called CTE, former LSU defensive back Jamal Adams said in a question and answer that the football field is the perfect place to die. New York Jets first-round draft pick made the comments while talking about player safety seated alongside teammate and Louisiana native Matt Forte as well as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Adams implied he isn’t a huge fan of NFL rules that often protect offensive players.

The Saints wrapped up their fifth practice of training camp Monday morning before a day off today. Coach Sean Payton says the team is already showing improvement day to day…:

CUT 25 (16) “better practice”
Adrian Peterson, Zach Strief and Manti Te’o all returned to the field after taking Sunday off.