The Saints report for training camp tomorrow. The team has already placed starting left tackle Terron Armstead and center Max Unger on the physically unable to perform list. Armstead could miss the first half of the season with a shoulder injury, but Unger is hopeful to be back before the regular season as he recovers from foot surgery.

Other news, wide receiver Willie Snead has signed his tender as an excluse-rights free agent and he’ll make 615-thousand dollars this year. Snead and the Saints are expected to work towards a long term deal. And linebacker and special teams standout Michael Mauti has inked a one-year deal.

Former Louisiana Tech standout and Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon has injured his knee and he’ll undergo surgery today. Dixon is expected to miss six to eight weeks. He was already set to miss the first four games of the season as he’ll serve a suspension for violating the NFL’s policy against PEDs.

LSU’s home opener against Chattanooga on September 9th will kick-off at 6:30 PM and it will be televised on the SEC Network Alternate channel. The SEC also announced the game between the Cajuns and Texas A-and-M on September 16th will kick-off at 11 AM and it will be shown on the SEC Network.

At Sun Belt Football Media Day in New Orleans, ULM players have a positive outlook for the upcoming season, despite winning just four games last season. Senior offensive lineman Frank Sutton says last year’s team performed better than most expected and they expect to do the same again this season…
Cut 16 (24) “from there”
The Warhawks were selected to finish ninth in the league this year.

At Sun Belt Football Media Day in New Orleans, ULM players have a positive outlook for the upcoming season, despite winning just four games last year. Senior defensive end Caleb Tucker says players got comfortable with Coach Viator’s staff in 2016…:
Cut 17 (15) “this year”

Mark Hudspeth is entering his 7th season as head coach of UL Lafayette. His team has seven road games this year and the coach says none of them will be easy..:
Cut 18 (24) “at a time”
The Cajuns are projected to finish in the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt.

Saints Wide receiver Willie Snead has signed his exclusive rights free agent tag with New Orleans, according to the NFL transactions wire, locking him in for one year at $615,000. Linebacker Michael Mauti is rejoining the Saints. The Black and Gold begin training camp tomorrow in Metairie.

Fans hoping to attend the free practice sessions this weekend are scooping up the tickets. The Saints announced Monday that all spots for Saturday’s practice have been claimed, but a very limited number of seats are still available for Sunday. Fans must claim tickets at neworleanssaints.com in order to attend.

According to sources, the Pelicans and forward Darius Miller have agreed to a deal for the former Kentucky Wildcat to return to the team. The report indicates Miller officially signed a two-year deal Monday, with the second year being a team option.

Former LSU football coach Les Miles has been very vocal in expressing interest to coach again in any Power 5 position, and USA Today’s Dan Wolken reports the Mad Hatter is extremely interested in the Ole Miss vacancy.

Researchers at LSU say the 2017 NBA All-Star game had a $44.9 million dollar economic impact to the state of Louisiana. The study said visitors spent an estimated $23.7 million.

The Saints open training camp later this week. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead will miss all of camp and is not expected back on the field until at least October because of a torn labrum in his shoulder. Head Coach Sean Payton appeared on a New Orleans radio station this morning and said the team is deeper at left tackle than probably any of the years he’s been with the Saints. But Payton says it’s devastating that defensive tackle Nick Fairley will not play this season, because of a heart condition.

In recruiting news…Rummel wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has verbally committed to Florida. Chase also considered LSU and TCU.

The USA Today’s Dan Wolken says former LSU head coach Les MIles is extremely interested in the head coaching vacancy at Ole Miss. Miles has reportedly made his interests known to influential Ole Miss boosters. Miles is 63-years-old and has made it no secret that he would like to coach at another Power Five school again.

Lafayette native Andrew Stevenson becomes the 73rd former LSU Tiger to make the Major Leagues. Stevenson appeared in his first major league game after he was called up from Triple-A by the Washington Nationals. Stevenson played for the Tigers from 2013 to 2015 and was drafted in the second round by the Nationals in 2015. He came in as a pinch hitter yesterday and stayed in the game to play in left field and went 0-for-2 in the Nats six to two win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former LSU All-American golfer Sam Burns finished tied for sixth at this weekend’s PGA Barbasol Championship. The Shreveport native had three straight rounds of five-under 66s to finish 18-under par for the tournament. Bruns is expected to turn pro in September.

Twenty-three-year-old Texan Jordan Speith won the British Open by three shots over Matt Kuchar. Speith has now three legs of a career Grand Slam and can win them all next month when he plays in the PGA Championship.

Former LSU outfielder Andrew Stevenson received a Major League call-up Sunday from the Washington Nationals, and made his MLB debut in the series finale with the Diamondbacks in Arizona’s Chase Field. The Nationals had 6-2 victory in the game. Stevenson, who started in 154 games in center field during his college career, earned 2015 first-team All-SEC and third-team All-America honors at LSU, and he was a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He went 0 for 2 yesterday.

4-star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase committed to Florida over LSU and TCU on Sunday following a visit to Gainesville. The prospect out of Rummel is No. 21 in his position for the 2018 recruiting class on the 247Sports composite rankings. The service also ranked Chase as the No. 5 recruit in Louisiana in the Class of 2018. Chase can make his verbal commitment official in December during the NCAA’s newly implemented early signing period.

Sun Belt Media Day kick off today in New Orleans inside the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The UL-Lafayette football team was picked to finish 5th overall in the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll. ULM was chosen to finish ninth. Defending SBC co-champion Appalachian State is the favorite to win the conference championship for the second consecutive year. The Sun Belt’s annual media day begins Sunday.

Former LSU golf star Sam Burns spent the entire day on the leaderboard Sunday at the PGA Tour Barbasol Championship. The Shreveport native, who is expected to turn pro in September, finished the 72 holes in a tie for 6th. After the final round, Burns sent out a tweet thanking fans for their support on a great final day of the tour which was also his 21st birthday. As a professional, Burns would have earned more than $113,000 yesterday.

In the British Open, it was Jordan Spieth claimed the win by three shots closing with a 1-under 69.

College football continues to buzz over the sudden resignation by Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, who was forced out after university officials found a “pattern of personal misconduct.” The school reportedly looked at Freeze’s phone records and found several concerning calls to numbers connected with escort services. Co-offensive coordinator Matt Luke has been named the interim coach. He’s a former offensive lineman at the school. There’s speculation Ole Miss will talk with former LSU Coach Les Miles, but at this time that remains speculation.

Cajuns defensive lineman Joe Dillon has been named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team. The sophomore from Mississippi led the team in tackles for losses and sacks last season. UL Lafayette kicker Stevie Artigue also made the first team. The junior was 19-of-24 on field goals last year. Sun Belt Media Day is Monday.

Big news out of the NBA as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports Kyrie Irving has asked the Cavaliers to trade him after meeting with team officials last week. According to Windhorst’s sources Irving wants to be the focal point and no longer wants to play alongside LeBron James.

Also in the Association…San Antonio has reportedly re-signed veteran skilled big man Pau Gasol to a three-year deal.

Former Louisiana Tech baseball coach Greg Goff has found a new job as he’s been named an assistant at Purdue. Goff was unemployed when Alabama fired him after just one season as their head coach. Goff lead the Diamond Dogs to 42 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016.

The wildlife and fisheries department announces the red snapper recreational season will continue off the coast of Louisiana this weekend. The state agency says anglers have caught about 655-thousand pounds and the plan is to end the season when over one million pounds is caught.

The big headline in sports news today is that Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze has suddenly resigned. It’s reported that the school found at least one call from Freeze to an escort service on his University-issued phone. Ole Miss Athletic Director Ross Bjork said in a news conference following the announcement Thursday evening that something was brought to their attention that prompted the school to investigate Freeze’s phone records:
CUT 25 (22) “admitted the conduct”
The NCAA is investigating Ole Miss into at least 21 rules violations, but Bjork says that Freeze’s resignation had nothing to do with that.

The UL-Lafayette football team was picked to finish 5th overall in the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll. ULM was chosen to finish ninth. Defending SBC co-champion Appalachian State is the favorite to win the conference championship for the second consecutive year. The Sun Belt’s annual media day begins Sunday.

Redshirt-sophomore outside linebacker Isaiah Washington is leaving the LSU football program and intends to transfer, he announced via Twitter on Thursday. Washington, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL suffered in fall camp, ran into academic trouble during the spring. He appeared in six games during the 2015 season.

Former LSU offensive lineman Trai Turner has agreed to a four-year extension with the Carolina Panthers. Turner played for the Tigers from 2011-2014.

LSU is making a major upgrade to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center with the installation of the largest center hung video board in college basketball.

Outside linebacker Isaiah Washington announced on Twitter today that he intends to transfer from the LSU footbal program. Washington didn’t play last season after he tore his ACL in preseason camp. He also missed much of spring practice because of academic issues. The former Karr standout played in six games during his freshman campaign in 2015.

The Carolina Panthers and former LSU Tiger Trai Turner have agreed to a four-year contract extension. The deal is worth a reported 45-million dollars and there’s also a 15-million dollar signing bonus. Turner will be the third highest paid offensive guard this season.

The Pelicans have announced the signing of Rajon Rondo. The veteran point guard will reportedly receive three-point-three million dollars for the 2017-18 season.

And LSU says its new video board they are installing in the PMAC will be the largest in a college arena that hangs over the center of the floor.

Sam Houston State has been picked to repeat as Southland Conference champs as the Bearkats received all possible first-place votes. Central Arkansas is picked to finish in second. McNeese is predicted to finish third after a 6-5 2016. Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls were picked to finish fourth and fifth. Northwestern State 10th in the 11-team league.

Appalachian State is the favorite to win the Sun Belt Football championship according to the league’s 12 head coaches and selected members of the media. The Ragin Cajuns received one first place vote and is picked to finish fifth, while ULM is projected to finish 9th in the 12-team league.

Cajuns men’s basketball will tip-off the 2017-18 season on the road against Ole Miss on November 10th. The night before the two schools are scheduled to play each other in football.

Louisiana Tech has named Cory Barton as its new pitching coach. Barton spent the past three seasons at McNeese as the Cowboys pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

LSU defensive end Isaiah Washington is no longer on the Tigers football team as he’s announced that he’s transferring. The former Karr standout missed much of spring practice because of academic reasons and missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in preseason camp. Washington appeared in just six games during his LSU career, all of them coming during his 2015 freshman season.

While making the rounds at ESPN, LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron said quarterback Danny Etling is 90-percent healthy as he continues to recover from back surgery. Coach O also said on the Paul Finebaum show that he expects pass rusher Arden Key to be ready towards the beginning of the season as he rehabilitates from shoulder surgery. He says Key has resumed running.

And the Saints have placed former LSU wide receiver Travin Dural and fellow rookie defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence on the non-football injury list.

Sam Houston State is the unanimous favorite to repeat as Southland champs. The Bearkats return 2016 Walter Payton Award winner Jeremiah Briscoe at quarterback. Central Arkansas is picked to finish second. McNeese, who is coming off a disappointing six-and-five campaign is picked to finish third. Southeastern Louisiana is picked to finish fourth, Nicholls who is a surging program under coach Tim Rebow is picked to finish fifth and Northwestern State, who won just one game last year, is picked to finish 10th in the 11-team league.

LSU says a new videoboard inside the Maravich Center on the LSU campus will be the largest center hung videoboard in college basketball. Installation is expected to be completed later this month. The two sideline high-definition screens will each measure 42 feet by 21 feet. The boards facing the baseline measure 24 feet by 20.5 feet.

While making the rounds at ESPN, LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron said quarterback Danny Etling is 90-percent healthy as he continues to recover from back surgery. Orgeron also repeated that Etling goes into preseason practice as the starter, but the other QBs on the roster will compete for his job. Coach O also said on the Paul Finebaum show that he expects pass rusher Arden Key to be ready towards the beginning of the season as he rehabilitates from shoulder surgery.

Saints rookies have reported for training camp and the team has placed former LSU wide receiver Travin Dural and defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence on the non-football injury list. The team has not said why.

Conference USA Media Days are underway in Dallas and Southland Football Media Day is today in Houston. Sam Houston and Central Arkansas are considered the favorites to win the league this year.

LSU baseball has welcomed 18 newcomers to the roster and 11 of them are pitchers. The Tigers have to replace their entire weekend rotation, so several of these hurlers will have a chance at becoming the Sunday starter. Veterans Zack Hess and Caleb Gilbert are expected to be the Friday and Saturday starters. Coach Paul Mainieri says Josh Smith will start at shortstop next season and Jake Slaughter will play at either third or second. LSU opens the 2018 campaign by hosting Notre Dame next season.

In major league baseball…former LSU standout Kevin Gausman threw six innings of four-hit ball as the Orioles trounced Texas 10-2. Another former Tiger, Mikie Mahtook, blasted a two-run homer in the 9th for Detroit, but the Royals came back to beat the Tigers four to three.

And the Baton Rouge Advocate reports veteran point guard Rajon Rondo’s one-year deal with the Pelicans is worth three-point-three million dollars.

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron is making rounds in Bristol, Connecticut today, appearing on various ESPN TV and radio shows. Here’s what he had to say about the offense during an appearance on Sportscenter…
cut 30 (13) “…end of the season”
Orgeron has learned that safety John Battle will receive another year of eligibilty and has been re-classified as a redshirt junior. The Florida native received an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA to make up for his medical hardship freshman season of 2014.

Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky have been picked to win division titles in Conference USA. Tech has won two of the past three West Division titles, while the Hilltoppers are trying to become the first program in Conference USA history to win three straight outright league titles. Texas-San Antonio was selected to finish second in the West.

The LSU basketball team learned its bracket assignment and first-round opponent for the 2017 Maui Invitational in Hawaii. First year coach Will Wade and the Tigers will begin play in the 8 team event against Michigan on November 20th. Depending on what happens the first two days, LSU could face Wade’s old team, VCU.

New Orleans Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry told a New Orleans radio station that he plans on starting both guards Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday together going into the 2017-18 season. Rondo would be the point guard and Holiday would be the shooting guard. Holiday has been New Orleans starting point guard, but Gentry says they also like his ability to score and play off the ball.