Gulf Coast Offense

Kicking us while we're down

2012-01-17T10:32:00.005-06:00

Heartbreaking ... Sting ... Agonizing ... Hurt ... Stomach Punch ... Unbelievable ... Finality. Whatever word you want to use to describe the feelings after the Saints last minute loss to the 49ers, none of them sound good to Saints fans. Then, to make matters worse, the Giants destroyed the Packers the next day in a game that would have set up the NFC Championship in New Orleans. Talk about adding insult to injury.

What a week it has been for Louisiana football fans. First LSU no-shows the BCS National Championship game, then the Saints fight back from one of their worse performances with 5 turnovers only to lose with 9 seconds left, and lastly, news broke last night that LSU commitment and #1 QB in the country Gunner Kiel was taking his talents to Notre Dame. Anyone else want to kick us while we're down?

Back to the Saints game. I've never had a loss linger with me for days afterward like this one has. Honestly, it does hurt. This team was posed to do something special and everything was lining up for them, only to have it snatch away, not once but twice. After the Saints defense played admirable for 3 1/2 quarters, their coverage disappeared and Alex Smith and Vernon Davis took over and put the Saints away.

Sure Drew Brees and company wouldn't go down quietly. First Darren Sproles grabbed the lead only to see Alex Smith run untouched for a touchdown minutes later. Then Jimmy Graham went beastmode and seemed to have put the Saints in the NFC Championship. But then the curse of Gregg Williams struck. The curse of putting safeties in single coverage on tight ends bit the Saints defense and a couple of plays later and Vernon Davis is crying on the sidelines. You have to give credit to both Smith and Davis for excellent throws and catches, but the Saints could have put themselves in better position to stop those plays.

With a minute and a half left in the game, the goal is to let the clock run. Keep everything in front of you and tackle in bounds. Sounds hard? Not really. But the Saints stuck by what they did all year and played man on Davis and he burned them for a long gain. When they finally went zone in the red zone (with everyone thinking the 49ers would play for OT), Davis and Smith stuck the dagger in Saints fans hearts and the dream was over.

Looking back, this was an amazing season, but it will always be remembered for what could have been. Could this have been the Saints last chance to get to the promise land? As long as Brees and Coach Payton are around, this team will compete, but they could lose a lot this offseason. They already are losing Gregg Williams, but not many fans will see that as a big loss. Williams changed the defensive culture in New Orleans, but it is a good time for a change.

There are some big decisions to be made this offseason. The core of this team is in place, but with free agents like Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Carl Nicks, Tracy Porter and Robert Meachem, there are some tough decisions to be made. Brees, Colston and Nicks will be priorities, but it will be tough to keep them all. Brees isn't going anywhere, so it will depend how fast his deal gets done and what money is left for the rest of the free agents. I'd like to see both Colston and Nicks stay, but if I had to guess, I'd imagine Nicks has played his last game in the black and gold. They already invested a lot of money in Jahri Evans and do you need big money tied up in your two guards. Nicks may be the better of the two, but it's easier to replace a guard than some of the other positions.

This will be a long offseason, but an important one. The Saints don't have a 1st round pick thanks to the Mark Ingram trade, so free agency is that much more important. With Brees now 33, the window of opportunity will be closing soon, so the team needs to reload and get right back to work to make another Super Bowl run. It will be hard, but fans need to forget the "what could have been" season and get ready for next year. The Super Bowl is in New Orleans, so the Saints will have even more motivation to become the first home team in the big game.

NFL Divisional Round Predictions

2012-01-13T15:21:00.003-06:00

Some big games this week in the NFL's 2nd round, most notably the Saints at 49ers. A lot is being made of the Saints 0-4 road playoff record and the notion that the Saints can't win outdoors. Are people forgetting their Super Bowl victory, which the last time I checked wasn't in New Orleans and was outside?

The tougher test will be the 49ers defense. They may be able to slow down the Saints power offense, but even then, the 49ers offense won't be able to keep up.

Predictions:

Saints 31

49ers 20

Broncos 21

Patriots 34

Texans 10

Ravens 24

Giants 27

Packers 23

The Rematch

2012-01-09T14:33:00.003-06:00

It's game day for the rematch apparently nobody wanted, except Alabama. To be sure, the second LSU-Alabama game will be more exciting than the first for most of the country. Around the country, fans want to see touchdowns, but in the South, fans like football and the first LSU-Alabama game was old school football. So what's in store for the BCS title game?

I, like most, see more points being scored but I also don't see it being as close of a game as last time. I think one team will pull away and we won't get a dramatic ending. I think there's a major factor to the game that has been talked about, but not enough. The home "dome" advantage has been written off quickly and Alabama actually is coming into the game as a 1-point favorite.

The Superdome is LSU country. It's LSU's second home and they've won a lot of big games there recently -- both BCS title games (against Oklahoma and Ohio State) and Sugar Bowls (Illinois and Notre Dame), not to mention the epic matchups with rival Tulane ... well maybe not, at least playing at Tulane gives them more experience in the dome. That's gives the Tigers the edge and Les will pull out the victory against his arch rival Nick Saban.

Prediction:

Alabama 16

LSU 27

Wild Card Picks

2012-01-06T16:17:00.002-06:00

What a big weekend coming up for Louisiana football fans. The Saints take on the Lions in their first round playoff game on Saturday and LSU takes on Alabama in the BCS Championship game Monday night. New Orleans is going to be rocking, and it's going to be crazy.

Here's my predictions for Wild Card Weekend:

Bengals 21
Texans 13

Lions 20
Saints 38

Falcons 23
Giants 28

Steelers 17
Broncos 6

He's Back!

2012-01-03T14:31:00.001-06:00

Congratulations Drew Brees and the Saints

2011-12-27T08:42:00.003-06:00

The Hobbit Looks Awesome

2011-12-21T10:49:00.003-06:00

I wish it was Christmas today!

2011-12-20T09:23:00.000-06:00

Moving On

2011-12-15T11:18:00.009-06:00

Hornets fans it's the end of an era. It's a new day. It's time to move on. Last night, the NBA-owned Hornets sent franchise player Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a 1st round pick (the better of Minnesota's unprotected #1 or the Clippers own pick).

For the past week, trade proposals have been leaked, the league has been criticized and the Hornets looked to be in a mess, but this trade is the best possible outcome a Hornet fan could hope for (short of CP3 having a change of heart and resigning in NOLA long-term ... keep dreaming). While fans may be looking through their teal glasses, NBA players know the truth: the Hornets are not a destination team at the moment. They are a sma

ll-market franchise with no owner. The league took them over last year because there were tons of concerns about the operations of the team. But looking at where the team was last year and where they are going, the future is bright.

Credit the NBA and Dell Demps for getting a good deal (almost all NBA pundits calling a a good haul for the Hornets). They now have pieces in place to build for the future. It remains to be seen how happy the incoming players will be about being traded. Gordon is the key piece in the puzzle. He will be up for an extension in the near future, and the Hornets have to do everything they can to convince him to resign here. He is the building block this team needed. Aminu is a recent lottery pick and while an unknown player, he could blossom into another building block. Kaman is an older piece with an expiring contract, so the team could hold onto him or flip him for some other players.

The key is the first round pick. Hornets fans will watch Minnesota basketball intently this season with a rooting interest (rooting against the T-Wolves), so the pick could be a higher one. You never know what could happen in the Draft Lottery, and it just gives fans one more thing to talk about and creates buzz around a franchise that is a distant second fiddle to the Saints in New Orleans.

With David West leaving in free agency and now Paul being moved, the Hornets team that fans have watch over the past few years is no more. It's a new era of Hornets basketball, one with a bright future. All indications are that a new owner will be in place in the near future. A new lease agreement is being worked on with the city and state, and the fans have really stepped up by buying more than 10,000 season tickets. Maybe New Orleans can be a basketball town after all.

And to Chris Paul, thank you for making basketball in the Crescent City relevant. Thank you for diving right into New Orleans. Thank you for carrying this team on your back for all these years. It was a fun run and you were a class act throughout your time here. Fans hate to see you go, but understand the business of basketball. It was better to move on now and not create a circus throughout the season. Good luck in the other LA.

SEC Champs!

2011-12-04T09:04:00.006-06:00

It wasn't the prettiest first half, but thanks to the Honey Badger and LSU playing like LSU in the second half, the Tigers solidified their place as the #1 team in the country with its 42-10 win over Georgia in the SEC Championship. Now the speculation begins about who the Tigers will play for the BCS title in New Orleans. Will it be a rematch with Alabama or a date with Les Miles' former team, Oklahoma State, who destroyed Oklahoma in their last shot to impress voters.

It will be interesting either way, and we'll have one fan base upset with either outcome ... college football, you gotta love it.

In either scenario, it's hard to envision LSU losing in the Superdome. I think Alabama will be a tougher contest, just looking back at the 9-6 nail bitter earlier this year. But I'd stil

l give the edge to LSU in that game. Against OSU, LSU would be more heavily favored, but it seems to be the game most fans and media are hoping for. There's also the case that if Alabama would beat LSU, there might be a split champion since LSU has such an impressive resume and beat 'Bama on their home turf. No one really wants that, so LSU would just have to take care of business.

Someone on Twitter said the Honey Badger, Tyrann Mathieu, should pick the #2 for LSU to face. Since he takes what he wants anyway, he just might be the ultimate voice in this typical, crazy year for the BCS. He already decides where the goal line is, why not choose LSU's next opponent?

12-0

2011-11-28T09:33:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas

2011-11-22T08:37:00.000-06:00

The Game of the Century

2011-11-04T13:03:00.002-05:00

What more can be said about college football's most hyped game? #1 vs. #2, two storied SEC powers battling, the Nick Saban Bowl, etc. When LSU plays Alabama Saturday night, the biggest question is will the game live up to all the hype?

I'm saying nope. I think LSU walks away with this one in impressive fashion. Yes, I respect and appreciate everything Alabama has done this year, but I see LSU as the better team. LSU is more road tested and will relish the opportunity to play in front of 100,000+ fans in Alabama. This isn't the first time LSU has felt the pressure of playing a top 5 foe this year. Alabama has had a much easier road so far this year, and this will be the game that it comes back to haunt them.

Prediction:
LSU 41
Alabama 17

Movember

2011-11-04T09:59:00.009-05:00

Looking for a good cause to support? Wondering why you are seeing a so many new mustaches on the fellas? It's Movember, of course.

I'll let my friend Josh explain it:

"It's Mo'vember, which is a cause that's been around for several years if you don't know. Basically guys, and some ladies if they're so inclined, grow mustaches and get people to donate money. It's like running a marathon but you burn no calories and look like a child molester at the end of it.

So if you want to donate even a $1, no pressure, go here:
mobro.co/TheDupeAbides. I'm part of Adam Richman's team. Yes the guy from Man v. Food. So if you don't do it for me, do it for Adam.

Thanks,
Josh"

Josh is on Adam Richman's (Man vs. Food) team and even got retweeted by Adam. Some of my other friends are participating as well (http://mobro.co/Dbricou, http://mobro.co/dwguidry). So hit up one of them with a donation to support this great cause.

One more time, with feeling ...

2011-11-01T09:28:00.002-05:00

Are these getting old yet?

A must read on Steve Gleason

2011-09-26T16:15:00.003-05:00

Former Saint Steve Gleason was the honorary captain for the Saints vs. Texans game. Gleason is battling ALS and the Times-Picayune had a must read piece on him this weekend.

LSU at Mississippi State

2011-09-15T12:00:00.004-05:00

Tonight on Thursday night football, LSU takes on the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who are coming off a tough loss at Auburn. After LSU's opening win against Oregon, they had a cake walk last week against Northwestern State.

The short week will be tough for both teams, but LSU is more rested and is the better team.

Prediction: LSU 34 Miss St. 20

LSU Unveils Pro Combat Uniforms

2011-09-13T16:16:00.002-05:00

So what do you think?

Here's the official unveiling article on LSUSports.net. And here's UniWatch's take on all the Pro Combat uniforms released this year.

LSU vs. Northwestern St. Prediction

2011-09-09T16:13:00.005-05:00

Not much of a game here. LSU will get some playing time for lots of backups and newcomers. Fans should be excited to see Zach Mettenberger in the second half and be on the lookout for LSU alum Shaquille O'Neal roaming Tiger Stadium.

Prediction:
LSU 48
Northwestern St. 0

Ready for some football?

2011-09-07T15:21:00.003-05:00

The NFL season kicks off tomorrow night with the Saints and Packers. What better way to start the season than with some inaccurate predictions:

NFL Playoffs:
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC West: San Diego Chargers
Wild Cards: Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets

NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
NFC West: St. Louis Rams
Wild Cards: Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons

AFC Championship: Chargers over Patriots
NFC Championship: Saints over Cowboys

Super Bowl: Saints over Chargers

#1 Pick in 2011 Draft: San Francisco 49ers

League Awards:
MVP: Drew Brees, QB, Saints
Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Vick, QB, Eagles
Defensive Player of the Year: Ndomakong Suh, DT, Lions
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller, LB/DE, Broncos
Comeback Player of the Year: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
Coach of the Year: Steve Spagnuolo, Rams

LSU Helps Former NFL Players Transition to Life Off the Field

2011-09-07T09:01:00.004-05:00

This summer, more than a dozen former NFL players attended "Personal Branding for Athletes" at LSU. The program is put on by LSU Executive Education, in partnership with NFL Alumni. Check out the story at LSU.edu.

LSU Moves up to 2nd in AP Poll, Stays 3rd in Coaches

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

The AP Top 25

Record Pts Previous
1. Oklahoma (32) 1-0 1,4481
2. LSU (17) 1-0 1,415 4
3. Alabama (9) 1-0 1,409 2
4. Boise St. (2) 1-0 1,310 5
5. Florida St. 1-0 1,196 6
6. Stanford 1-0 1,154 7
7. Texas A&M 1-0 1,033 8
8. Wisconsin 1-0 1,031 11
9. Oklahoma St. 1-0 981 9
10. Nebraska 1-0 947 10
11. Virginia Tech 1-0 906 13
12. South Carolina 1-0 843 12
13. Oregon 0-1 828 3
14. Arkansas 1-0 752 15
15. Ohio St. 1-0 606 18
16. Mississippi St. 1-0 594 20
17. Michigan St. 1-0 530 17
18. Florida 1-0 382 22
19. West Virginia 1-0 357 24
20. Baylor 1-0 284 NR
21. Missouri 1-0 242 21
22. South Florida 1-0 221 NR
23. Penn St. 1-0 147 NR
24. Texas 1-0 135 NR
25. TCU 0-1 130 14

Others receiving votes: Arizona St. 119, Auburn 85, Southern Cal 69, Georgia 52, Northwestern 40, Maryland 34, BYU 33, Iowa 29, Houston 27, Utah 24, Notre Dame 22, Michigan 17, Air Force 11, Pittsburgh 11, UCF 10, NC State 8, Hawaii 6, Tennessee 6, Arizona 5, N. Illinois 5, Southern Miss. 4, Clemson 1, Georgia Tech 1.

USA Today Coaches Poll
Sept. 6, 2011

Rank, Team (first-place votes), Record, Points, Last week's poll
1, Oklahoma (43), 1-0, 1,454, 1
2, Alabama (9), 1-0, 1,412, 2
3, LSU (7), 1-0, 1,366, 4
4, Florida State, 1-0, 1,198, 5
5, Boise State, 1-0, 1,197, 7
6, Stanford, 1-0, 1,180, 6
7, Oklahoma State, 1-0, 1,038, 8
8, Texas A&M, 1-0, 997, 9
9, Wisconsin, 1-0, 988, 10
10, Nebraska, 1-0, 910, 11
11, Virginia Tech, 1-0, 863, 13
12, South Carolina, 1-0, 827, 12
13, Arkansas, 1-0, 786, 14
14, Oregon, 0-1, 752, 3
15, Ohio State, 1-0, 686, 16
16, Michigan State, 1-0, 584, 17
17, Mississippi State, 1-0, 497, 20
18, Florida, 1-0, 375, 23
19, Missouri, 1-0, 309, 21
20, Penn State, 1-0, 247, 25
21, Texas, 1-0, 231, 24
22, Auburn, 1-0, 197, 19
23, Arizona State, 1-0, 189, NR
24, West Virginia, 1-0, 185, NR
25, TCU, 0-1, 140, 15

Dropped out
No. 18 Notre Dame (0-1, lost to South Florida 23-20), No. 22 Georgia (0-1, lost to then-No. 7 Boise State 35-21).

Others receiving votes
Baylor 117; South Florida 97; Iowa 44; Utah 42; Georgia 35; Houston 31; Northwestern 30; Arizona 28; Central Florida 18; Hawaii 17; Michigan 15;North Carolina 15; Clemson 13; Northern Illinois 13; Southern Mississippi 12; Air Force 10; Notre Dame 8; Tennessee 5; Brigham Young 4; Maryland 4; Georgia Tech 3; Washington 3; California 1; Cincinnati 1; Texas Tech 1.

LSU vs. Oregon Prediction

2011-09-02T15:18:00.003-05:00

The LSU-Oregon game could be called the "Distractions Bowl" with both teams having faced off the field issues over the summer, but all that can be put behind them with a win this weekend. Both teams have national championship hopes with LSU being ranked #4 and Oregon ranked #3. A win on Saturday could propel either team for a special year.

LSU will be starting senior QB Jarrett Lee after Jordan Jefferson was suspended. Lee can sling it, but mistakes have proven costly in the past. If he can take care of the ball and rely on his talented running game, the LSU offense should be fine. On defense, LSU will have to deal with Oregon's fast-paced offense and the new faces stepping into more prominent roles don't get a cupcake game to get acclimated to the new season.

Les Miles is an x-factor in every game he coaches. He has the ability to get his players up for big games and his teams perform for the stage they are playing on and the college football world will be watching this game. Give Miles weeks to prepare for an opponent (just look at his bowl record at LSU), and he has his team ready to play. He's been preparing for Oregon all offseason, so LSU will come ready to play, despite the off-the-field distractions.

Prediction:
LSU 23
Oregon 13

Preseason Week 2: Saints at Texans

2011-08-19T16:28:00.004-05:00

The Saints are on the road this weekend for their second preseason game against the Houston Texans. The biggest news of the week was that veteran right tackle Jonathan Stinchcomb was released. The move was a bit of a surprise, but after he played injured most of last season, the writing was on the wall for the former Pro Bowler. The Saints are groaming a new right tackle and it looks like fan favorite Zach Streif will get the first shot at the position.

A few veterans are battling through training camp injuries, so it will be interesting to see who plays and how much they play on Saturday. It will also be another chance for rookies and new comers to shine in game action. Mark Ingram, Josh Morgan and Johnny Patrick got Saints fans buzzing about their potential after their preseason debut. It will be interesting to see how they follow it up and if anyone else steps up.

In looking toward the game, I mostly want to see production from the first team offense. They didn't do much in limited opportunity against the 49ers. I'd like to see them come out like the Patriots offense has done in the preseason and fire on all cylinders, but as it is preseason, however they look, it's important to remember that we are still weeks away from these games counting and mattering. The players and coaches are more concerned with getting reps through live action and executing the play how it was drawn up. So fans need to just sit back and enjoy football and not be too critical if things aren't clicking 100 percent. Don't worry though, I'm sure Gregg Williams will make things exciting by bringing the house on blitzes even though its preseason.

As always though, here's to hoping there are no injuries!

Saints to Open Preseason Against 49ers

2011-08-12T11:08:00.004-05:00

The Saints get the 2011 preseason underway tonight versus former division-rival San Francisco. Fans are geared up because football is back, so what to watch for tonight?

Here are some players I'll have my eye on to see how they perform:

Mark Ingram, RB, #28 - of course all eyes will be on the former Heisman Trophy winner. This is the guy the Saints traded back into the 1st round for and reviews from camp so far have been glowing. This will be most Saints' fans first time to see Ingram in the black and gold.
Cameron Jordan, DE, #94 - just like Ingram, Jordan was the Saints first 1st round pick this year and reviews have also been stellar so far. The Saints lacked a pass rush from their ends last year, let's see what Jordan brings.
Patrick Robinson, CB, #21 - with Tracy Porter being out with an injury, Robinson has been seeing more reps and should get lots of playing time this year. Let's see what kind of improvements he's made from year one to year two.
Men in the middle (Shaun Rogers, DT, #92 and Aubrayo Franklin, DT, #99) - the Saints beefed up the middle of their d-line with the additions of Rogers and Franklin. Let's see these two giants in action.
Linebacker battle (notably Will Herring #53, Martez Wilson #95, Scott Shanle #58, Jonathan Casillas #52, Clint Ingram #57, others) - all training camp reports note OLB as the tightest and toughest race on the roster. Let's see who starts to separate themselves in this crowded group.
Who's that guy? - every year fans latch onto to a "camp beast." We've seen fan favorites such as Junior Gallette (watch for him tonight as well), Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Rod Harper, Onome Ojo, Boo Williams, Zach Hilton, among others catch everyone's attention in the preseason. Who's it going to be this year? Some names that are being talked about in 2011 so far include Joseph Morgan, WR, #13; Joique Bell, RB, #20; Korey Hall, FB, #35; Tom Johnson, DT, #72; and Jarred Fayson, WR, #88.
The Reggie Bush Factor - Reggie was a fan favorite, so everyone will want to see what we got for him (Jonathon Amaya, S, #40) and the man who is replacing him (Darren Sproles, RB, #43).

There will be lots to look for and lots of things to nitpick after tonight's game, but one thing we don't want to see is any injuries, especially to starters. *Keeping my fingers crossed*

Newest Saints at Training Camp

2011-08-05T12:01:00.005-05:00

Yahoo Sports has lots of training camp pictures, including some of the newest faces at Saints camp. Here are some pictures of some of the bigger names.

The man traded for Reggie Bush, Jonathon Amaya:

Free agent signings:

Darren Sproles:

Aubrayo Franklin:

Saints 1st round picks:

Cameron Jordan:

Mark Ingram:

LSU is ranked 4th in Preseason Coaches Poll

2011-08-04T11:57:00.002-05:00

Aug. 4, 2011 - preseason poll
Rank	Team (first-place votes)	2010 record	Points	Final 2010 ranking
1.	Oklahoma (42)	12-2	1,454	6
2.	Alabama (13)	10-3	1,414	11
3.	Oregon (2)	12-1	1,309	3
4.	LSU (2)	11-2	1,296	8t
5.	Florida State	10-4	1,116	16
6.	Stanford	12-1	1,101	4
7.	Boise State	12-1	1,065	7
8.	Oklahoma State	11-2	933	10
9.	Texas A&M	9-4	885	21
10.	Wisconsin	11-2	829	8t
11.	Nebraska	10-4	814	19
12.	South Carolina	9-5	779	22
13.	Virginia Tech	11-3	767	15
14.	Arkansas	10-3	750	12
15.	TCU	13-0	687	2
16.	Ohio State	12-1	631	5
17.	Michigan State	11-2	536	14
18.	Notre Dame	8-5	440	NR
19.	Auburn	14-0	329	1
20.	Mississippi State	9-4	301	17
21.	Missouri	10-3	266	18
22.	Georgia	6-7	260	NR
23.	Florida	8-5	240	NR
24.	Texas	5-7	162	NR
25.	Penn State	7-6	161	NR

Cha-Cha-Cha ... Changes

2011-07-29T14:34:00.003-05:00

The second day of free agency turned out to be a crazy, busy day for the Saints. Let's take a look at all the names that were involved in deals:

Reggie Bush was dealt to Miami
Remi Ayodele signed with Minnesota
Jermon Bushrod resigned
Usama Young signed with Cleveland
3rd round pick Johnny Patrick signed
Scott Shanle, Chris Reis and Jo-Lonn Dunbar resign
Danny Clark resigned
Randall Gay was cut
Darren Sproles was signed

Wow, take a breath. All that happened in one day. That's not to mention Lance Moore and Leigh Torrence who announced their own deals via Twitter the day before. It's safe to say that the Saints roster will be completely different than last year. It's safe to say that that roster will be changing daily in the new look NFL. The Saints official site even put up a .pdf version of the roster dated July 28, 2011, showing that they too realize this is a very fluid time for the league.

Looking at the moves, the obvious big one is trading Reggie Bush. While Bush was loved and hated by Saints fans, he was great for New Orleans. He helped put the Saints on the map and gave the team star power when it needed it most. Now he's moving on to Miami, so to fill the void and not have to alter the offense too much, the team signed Darren Sproles. Sproles is smaller than Reggie Bush, but he is a similar player to Reggie. I think this is a solid move and the spotlight won't be nearly as big on Sproles as it was on Reggie, which will be a good thing. I with Reggie Bush the best of luck in Miami. I enjoyed watching him and rooting for him. Now, let's see if can really take this opportunity to be the man and fulfill his promise.

Out of the other signings, Bushrod is probably the most important. The Saints have one of the top O-lines in the league, so keeping continuity there is important. Now, the Saints biggest move will be signing all their draft picks and resigning Roman Harper ... Oh, and there's the tiny matter of Drew Brees' contract being up after this season.

Saints get busy in free agency

2011-07-27T15:54:00.003-05:00

After the free agent floodgates opened yesterday, the Saints are getting involved today. The biggest news is that Lance Moore resigned with the team for five years (Moore broke the news himself on Twitter). Moore is a favorite of Drew Brees and a key part of the Saints offense. The Saints also signed LB Will Herring from Seattle and announced the signing of 20 undrafted free agents.

Finally ... the NFL has come back to business

2011-07-25T11:27:00.005-05:00

I haven't posted much about the lockout through this frustrating ordeal, but now the news is spreading like wildfire that the players and owners have agreed on a new CBA.

Media are scrambling to get the timeline straight on when free agency will start, when teams can sign rookies and their own players, when trades can happen, when teams will report (Saints are rumored to be reporting for camp on Thursday). No matter what the logistics are, this will be a wild, wild week. Things that normally happen over the entire offseason are being squeezed into less than a week. Teams will report to camp before a large portion of the roster is even signed. It will be tough to keep up with, but fans across the country won't mind because America's game is back in business.

Welcome back NFL, now let the fun begin. WHO DAT!!!

Lost Deleted Scene

2011-07-25T09:01:00.001-05:00

At Comic Con, Lost creators showed a "deleted scene" from season 1. See they planned it out from the beginning:

New Doctor Who Trailer

2011-07-25T08:46:00.005-05:00

Second half of season 6 looks pretty exciting:

and here's a wrap-up of the Doctor Who panel from Comic Con.

History of Rap 2.0

2011-07-20T09:43:00.003-05:00

It was great the first time around and Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon deliver again on "History of Rap 2"

Matt Smith Coming Back for Doctor Who Season 7

2011-06-08T09:05:00.003-05:00

There's constant speculation surrounding the current and future actors playing The Doctor on Doctor Who. Ever since Matt Smith took the role, people have wondered how long he'll stay on. Yesterday, it was confirmed that he will indeed be back next season and that is great news for Who fans. Smith has taken the reigns of The Doctor and has never looked back. People were skeptical on whether he could follow David Tennant, but he's more than followed him. He is The Doctor.

One Year Ago Today

2011-05-23T16:13:00.001-05:00

We saw this for the first time:

Do you miss it?

Saints Nail the Draft

2011-05-02T11:00:00.007-05:00

The Sean Payton/Mickey Loomis regime has done it again. After successful drafts that brought players like Reggie Bush, Sedrick Ellis, Roman Harper, Marques Colston, Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks, etc., the Saints brain trust are getting praised for their bold moves in the 2011 draft.

In the first round, top-15 talent Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal, started slipping and the Saints eagerly scooped him up at #24 overall. Jordan doesn't blow you away as a speed rusher, but he fills a huge need and was one of the top defensive ends in the entire draft. But the Saints didn't sit on the hands waiting for their second round pick. They started asking, how can we get Mark Ingram as well, the top RB in the draft, and started making calls to get back in round 1. They found a suiter in the Patriots and sent their #2 and next year's #1 picks for the #28 pick and the opportunity to select Ingram.

This started a firestorm of debate regarding Reggie Bush's status and his future in New Orleans, especially after Bush tweeted that it's been fun New Orleans. But as Coach Payton said, Bush shouldn't be affected by Ingram. They are two different runners and Ingram is more of a Deuce McAllister-type than a Bush type. If I were Pierre Thomas or Chris Ivory, I'd be more worried than Bush should be. Payton loves Bush's diversity and caters his offense (sometimes too much) to Bush's abilities. With the injuries the Saints suffered at RB last year, they had to get the top runner in the draft and Ingram will look nice in the black and gold.

The Saints focused on defense in the rest of the draft. In the 3rd round, they had two selections: LB Martez Wilson, Illinois, at pick 72 and CB Johnny Patrick, Louisville, at pick 88. Wilson should compete for a spot on the outside and Patrick will start on special teams and could battle guys like Randall Gay and Leigh Torrence for playing time.

In the 7th round, the Saints took a chance on DE Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh, who is recovering from a torn ACL, at pick 226. If he comes back healthy, he could be a steal. With their last pick, #243, they took another special teams player in LB Nate Bussey, Illinois. Bussey is a tweener LB/S prospect, but he may be in the Steve Gleason/Chris Reis special teams mode.

All in all, it was a solid draft for the Saints, but fans won't really know the impact for a couple of years. Immediately, Jordan and Ingram should contribute, with Wilson competing with the other young LBs on the roster for playing time.

Draft Grades:

The Eve of the NFL Draft

2011-04-27T12:26:00.002-05:00

It's been one of the most uncertain offseasons in history and the past week has been part of the craziness. The lockout was lifted, but was it really? Nothing really changed and everyone's still waiting to see what judges and courts say before the league year begins. Fans just want to see football, and having free agency and trades take place around the draft is what everyone except the NFL wants.

Regardless of what the courts rule this week, the draft will still take place Thursday. The Saints are said to be looking for help on defense, specifically front seven help. There are some surprises in the mock draft universe, some thinking the Saints will look for running back help, others feel the team will target a new offensive lineman.

Here's a look at what mocks have the Saints doing:

SI.com Peter King: Adrian Claiborne, DE, Iowa
SI.com Don Banks: Adrian Claiborne, DE, Iowa
Times-Picayune Mike Triplett: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
Times-Picayune James Varney: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
NFL Draft Countdown: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
Walter Football: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
CBS Sports Pete Prisco: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
Scout.com: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Fox Sports Peter Schrager: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
ProFootballTalk: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh

NFL Releases Schedule

2011-04-20T09:04:00.003-05:00

For what it's worth, the NFL released the schedule for the upcoming season, if there is one. The exciting news for Saints fans is that the team will play in the Thursday night opener for the second year in a row, this time against the defending Super Bowl champion Packers. It will be a tough way to open the season, but hopefully the Saints become the first visiting team to knock off the champs in the opener.

Here's the rest of the schedule for New Orleans:

Sept. 8 at Green Bay Packers (Thursday)
Sept. 18 CHICAGO BEARS
Sept. 25 HOUSTON TEXANS
Oct. 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Oct. 9 at Carolina Panthers
Oct. 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oct. 23 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (Sunday Night Football)
Oct. 30 at St. Louis Rams
Nov. 6 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Nov. 13 at Atlanta Falcons Noon
Nov. 20 BYE
Nov. 28 NEW YORK GIANTS (Monday Night Football)
Dec. 4 DETROIT LIONS Noon
Dec. 11 at Tennessee Titans
Dec. 18 at Minnesota Vikings
Dec. 26 ATLANTA FALCONS (Monday Night Football)
Jan. 1 CAROLINA PANTHERS

MLB Predictions

2011-03-31T11:22:00.003-05:00

It's MLB opening day! What better time than now for some guaranteed to be wrong predictions?

AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL West: LA Angels of Anaheim
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
Wild Card: Oakland A's

NL East: Atlanta Braves
NL West: San Francisco Giants
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals
Wild Card: Colorado Rockies

ALCS: Red Sox over White Sox
NLCS: Braves over Rockies
Wold Series: Red Sox over Braves

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, New York
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis

AL Cy Young: John Lester, Boston
NL Cy Young: Tommy Hanson, Atlanta

AL ROY: Michael Pineda, Seattle
NL ROY: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta

Saints On the Clock

2011-03-23T09:51:00.001-05:00

Doctor Who Mini Episode

2011-03-22T09:48:00.001-05:00

The next season of Doctor Who is still weeks away, but in the meantime, here's a mini episode, "Space," made for the BBC’s Comic Relief Night.

First Look at Zach Mettenberger

2011-03-14T09:37:00.002-05:00

The most anticipated LSU quarterback recruit since Josh Booty? Hopefully this one works out better than that one did. Here's the new LSU "savior" Zach Mettenberger at the start of spring practice (pic courtesy of LSUSports.net):

Saints Make Key Signings as CBA Nears Expiration

2011-03-04T09:46:00.012-06:00

The Saints have been active this week, as the NFL labor situation hangs over the entire league.

The Saints first locked down free agent DT Shaun Rogers to a one-year deal, which should help the defensive line and the run defense. Rogers is getting older, but upgrades across the defensive line were needed, and the Saints have taken chances with older d-linemen in the past.

Next, the team signed kicker Garrett Hartley to a five-year contract. Hartley has had an up-and-down first couple of years in the league, but despite some early struggles last season, he had a solid year. Hartley remains a fan favorite and has a well-established place in Saints history based off his game winning field goal in the NFC Championship game, sending the Saints to the Super Bowl. Holding the record for three 40+ yard field goals in the Super Bowl, also accentuates his resume. Locking down Hartley was another good move for the team, since kicker has been a revolving door since Sean Payton took over (John Carney, Olindo Mare, Taylor Mehlhalff, Hartley, Carney again, Hartley, and on and on ...).

Lastly, the Saints made a somewhat surprising move yesterday in signing a four-year deal with RB Pierre Thomas. The move isn't surprising that they'd resign Pierre, it's just that it came virtually out of nowhere. After the two sides remained far apart on an extension before last season, there seemed to be bad blood and then he got hurt. Rumors surfaced of the coaching staff questioning Thomas' toughness/healing ability; Thomas questioned team doctors as misdiagnosing his injury. All in all, many felt that it was Pierre's last year in the Black and Gold. Then out of the blue, he is signed to a four-year extension.

Thomas is a solid player and fits the Saints offense well. He can get tough yards and is one of the top screen-play running backs in the league. Brees loves checking down to him, and Payton loves calling screens for him. Pairing him with Chris Ivory creates a great 1-2 punch in the backfield. The signing does open up more questions, though, about the future of Reggie Bush. Will Bush be willing to take a pay cut, and if so, how much? Peirre reportedly got a $12 million deal over four years, Bush should get similar, but what if he gets more? How will that change the dynamic of both deals and the feelings of both running backs? Also, with three quality players at running back now, how do you split the load?

The signings of Rogers and Thomas fill needs for the Saints and they can now focus on other areas in the draft. Many had the Saints looking for a new running back in the offseason, but now I don't see them going in that direction. They may still bring in another defensive tackle, since Rogers is older and on a one-year deal, but it's no longer as big of a priority.

In other news, former Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey has signed with division rival Carolina and former kicker John Carney is looking to be brought onto the coaching staff as a consultant or coach. Good luck to Shockey, except for when he plays NOLA and I like the Carney move, as he has filled that role before, consulting Hartley during the Saints Super Bowl run.

First Game at The Box

2011-03-03T15:21:00.000-06:00

Last night, I took Trace to his first LSU baseball game at the new Alex Box Stadium. LSU beat Southeastern 7-3, and we had a great time.

Here are some of the highlights of the night:

Eating all the popcorn he wanted:

Watching the game with his friend Cole:

Wait, there's a park here? This definitely put going to an LSU baseball game at the top of his LSU sports list:
Oh yeah, there was a baseball game going on too:

Congratulations Green Bay!

2011-02-08T08:58:00.001-06:00

Super Bowl Prediction

2011-02-03T16:29:00.005-06:00

This weekend is the big game. Packers vs. Steelers. Almost everyone is picking the Packers. They are the hot team coming in, having to win three in a row on the road to make the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh seems to win ugly, but they still win.

I see this as a defensive battle and I don't think the Packers will be able to move the ball on Pittsburgh the way they have the past couple of weeks. While I will probably be rooting for Green Bay, I think Pittsburgh's poise and experience will provide them with an edge.

So who's going to take home the Lombardi trophy?

Predictions:
Steelers 20
Packers 13

MVP: Troy Polamalu

Best Commercial Ever

2011-02-03T11:30:00.002-06:00

A Look at the Saints Draft Targets

2011-02-01T11:57:00.009-06:00

It's Super Bowl Week, but fans of 30 teams have their eyes focused on another area this time of year: the NFL Draft. The Senior Bowl was held this past weekend, and fans are learning all about the top prospects who will head to the Combine in a few short weeks. With the labor dispute and a hold on free agent signings, the Draft will get more attention than ever.

Here's a look at who the Saints may be targeting with the #24 pick:

Sports Illustrated's Don Banks: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Foxsports: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Mike Detillier: Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
DraftCountdown.com: Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
Walter Football: J.J. Watt DE, Wisconsin
NE Patriots Draft: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
NFL Draft Today: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
Running the Zone: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Fantasy Football Xtreme: Cameron Hayward, DE, Ohio State
Optimum Scouting: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
FootballFanSpot: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
NFL Draft Blitz: Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
New NFL Draft: Adrian Clayborn, DE/DT, Iowa
NFL Draft Updates: Bruce Carter, OLB, UNC
Football Draft Analysis: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
New Sport Draft: Adrian Clayborn, DE/DT, Iowa
Fantasy CPR: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Draft King: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
Draft Tek: Mikel LaShoure, RB, Illinois
Ultimate Mock: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
Xtra Point Football: Allen Bailey, DE/DT, Miami

Weekend Picks

2011-01-21T14:42:00.002-06:00

The NFL has reached its final four. Two teams advance to the Super Bowl, two go home. Out of the four teams left, here's the order of who I'd most like to see win the Super Bowl:

Green Bay (NFC #6)
Pittsburgh (AFC #2)
Chicago (NFC #2)
New York (AFC #6)

The top two are the ones everyone is picking, so you know what that means? That won't be the Super Bowl matchup. So what will it be? Two #6 seeds? Two #2 seeds or #2 vs. #6 (but which one)?

Here are my picks:

Packers 20
Bears 27

Jets 17
Steelers 21

I'll be rooting for the Packers, but I just have a feeling. Everything lined up for the Bears this year and they already beat Green Bay once. The weather and field conditions will be a factor, and as awesome as Aaron Rogers has been playing, it'll be tough for him to repeat it against a division opponent (who they played in week 17), on the road at Soldier Field.

For the other game, I just don't want to see the Jets make the Super Bowl. I don't know if I'd be able to take the 2-week buildup with Rex Ryan. The Jets have been a circus this year starting with Hard Knocks, but the media love New York and the Jets play up everything. The Steelers are a working class team, and while many still despise Ben Roethlisberger, I could live with them making the Super Bowl. They've been there before and act like it. The Jets haven't been in years, yet act like they win every year.

Both games should be fun.

A letter to Saints fans

2011-01-20T10:52:00.005-06:00

Saints fans,

I know this year's playoffs haven't been fun to watch (besides the Falcons getting destroyed against the Packers), but remember one thing. These 14 teams:

Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles
Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills
San Diego Chargers

have never won the Super Bowl. Heck, the Jaguars, Browns, Texans and Lions have never played in the big game.

So Saints fans, even though we lost to the Seahawks in the first round and the NFC playoffs shaped up in a way that the NFC Championship game could have been played in the Superdome, remember that none of those 14 teams will be hoisting the Lombardi trophy this year either (All four teams left in the playoffs have won the Superbowl), so their fans are going another year without enjoying the biggest celebration in sports.

Weekend Picks

2011-01-14T16:03:00.003-06:00

College football is over, the Saints season is done, but the NFL Playoffs are still going strong. Here are my picks for this weekends Divisional Playoffs:

Ravens 17
Steelers 22

Packers 21
Falcons 20

Seahawks 27
Bears 20

Jets 13
Patriots 38

Les Miles Staying at LSU

2011-01-12T08:28:00.002-06:00

Sorry Les Miles haters, the Mad Hatter is staying in Tiger Town and not going to Michigan and there's really no reason he should leave LSU. Four 11 win seasons (and LSU has six total), a national championship, a 5-1 bowl record, top 5 recruiting classes every year. Why leave all that for a rebuilding situation?

Disappointment

2011-01-10T10:31:00.005-06:00

Where to start? The defending Super Bowl champions were an 11-point favorite on the road to a team with a losing record, but records don't matter this time of year and that's why they play the game.

The Saints looked lackluster, especially on defense, in their 41-36 wild card loss to Seattle. But it's been that kind of year for these Saints.

Gone from this team was the hunger, the fight to finish, the killer instinct. To finish the year 11-5, the second best record in the conference, as the defending Super Bowl champ is actually a major accomplishment. Look back at past Super Bowl winners. Many of them didn't sniff the playoffs the following year. But this season can be nothing but a disappointment for the boys in black and gold.

Each and every week they got their opponents' best efforts, as evidenced by losses to Arizona and Cleveland. But they stepped up in big games against the NFL's best. Just look at the games against Pittsburgh, at Tampa and at Atlanta. That is how the Saints were supposed to play each and every week, but the consistency just wasn't there and in the end, the inconsistencies were exposed. That and the injury bug hit them hard. I firmly believe that the outcome of the Seattle game would be different had Malcolm Jenkins been healthy, but there's lots of room for what-ifs in the offseason now that the Saints have been eliminated.

So where do they go from here? The Saints are still one of the top teams in the league, but if there is football next fall, they will look differently than they do now. Tough decisions will need to be made with key free agents like Pierre Thomas, Heath Evans, Lance Moore, Jermon Bushrod, Zach Strief, Carl Nicks, Jeff Charleston, Leigh Torrence, Usama Young, Roman Harper and restricted free agents like Jonathan Goodwin, Darren Sharper, Scott Shanle, Remi Ayodele and Anthony Hargrove. That's a lot of the Saints starters and key contributors. But how many will they be able to retain and improve the roster?

That's not even bringing up the biggest decision of all: What do you do with Reggie Bush? He's important to the offense, but obviously injury prone and not worth the $11 million or so that he'll be due. He's got to restructure or be let go. It's unfortunate, but if the Saints truly want to model themselves after the Patriots, then you have to let stars go sometimes for the betterment of the team.

It is sure to be an interesting offseason and here's hoping that the owners and players can come an agreement soon (hopefully one that doesn't expand the season to 18 games) so we have football to look forward to again in the fall.

Weekend Picks

2011-01-07T13:43:00.006-06:00

Lots of big games this weekend. The bowl season is wrapping up and the NFL playoffs are starting.

LSU finally gets to play their bowl game, the longest layoff they've had since playing in the BCS national championship game. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Cotton Bowl is that it's held in the new Cowboys Stadium, so LSU gets to preview the venue before opening up next season there against Oregon. There is some intrigue with the Tigers. I'll be especially interested in seeing if the extra practice time has been beneficial to the QBs, but the most intrigue could come after the game with the almost annual Miles to Michigan talk.

The Saints will start their Super Bowl defense on the road at 7-9 Seattle. Lucky for the Saints that they get the worst playoff team in NFL history because the injury bug has bitten the team hard. RBs Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory are on IR and starters Malcolm Jenkins and Jimmy Graham are likely out as well. On a normal day, Drew Brees will be enough to beat the Seahawks, but the game will be in rainy Quest Field, one of the NFL's toughest venues, and the Saints will be shorthanded. Also, to tempt fate a little more, the team has chosen to wear their awful black pants (the same pants that they repeatedly play bad in). Why not hang it all out there and really stack the odds against a Super Bowl repeat?

There are lots of other great games this weekend, including the BCS Championship on Monday.

Here are my predictions:

Cotton Bowl:
LSU 19
Texas A&M 14

Wild Card Weekend:
Saints 28
Seahawks 14

Jets 23
Colts 32

Ravens 31
Chiefs 16

Packers 20
Eagles 17

BCS National Championship:
Auburn 31
Oregon 38

Basketball in NOLA is in Trouble

2010-12-06T15:19:00.004-06:00

If you like having NBA basketball in Louisiana, it's time to step up and support it. The NBA is buying the team and for it to stay in New Orleans, fans have to show the league that they'll support the product. If fans continue to not show up and attendance dwindles, any potential buyer for the team will be free to move the franchise (only having to pay $10 million exit fee to the state).

I'll admit that I've only made a few games, and haven't been since before Katrina. I've never seen Chris Paul play live and my last game saw Speedy Claxton at point guard. But I do keep up with the team and watch them on Cox Sports any chance I get, but that's not going to keep them here.

I'd be upset if the team left and enjoy New Orleans being a major league city with two major sports franchises. Everyone loves the Saints, more so now, but the Hornets have been slow to catch on. So Hornets fans, do you want to keep the Hornets or let them leave?

Here are some potential cities that would be interested in the Hornets.

SI Sportsman of the Year

2010-11-30T16:26:00.000-06:00

Congratulations Drew Brees!

Doctor Who Christmas Special Trailer

2010-11-22T15:13:00.004-06:00

Series 5 of the "new" Doctor Who, featuring the 11th Doctor Matt Smith and show runner Steven Moffat, upped the ante on everything the new series was under Russell T. Davies. Smith was great as the Doctor and followed fan favorite David Tennant brilliantly. The show gained momentum throughout the season and ended with an exciting finale. So what's next for Who fans? The Christmas special, of course:

LSU Bowl Projections

2010-11-19T15:47:00.002-06:00

LSU football season is winding down and man, what a wild ride it has been. We've gone from middle of the rankings to let's fire Les Miles to our QBs stinking up Tiger Stadium to an win over Alabama and Miles eating grass to being the #5 team in the BCS rankings. You got all that?

So what does LSU's #5 ranking and 9-1 record get them? Well, it gives them a very, very, very outside shot at the BCS title game, but a good shot at a BCS Bowl. If not one of the big games, LSU will still be playing in one of the better SEC bowl tie-ins.

Here's a look at where a few sites are projecting the Tigers to play in the postseason:

Sports Illustrated: Sugar Bowl vs. Ohio State
CBS Sports: Cotton Bowl vs. Oklahoma State
College Football News: Outback Bowl vs. Iowa
NBC Sports: Orange Bowl vs. Virginian Tech
ESPN's Mark Schlabach: Outback Bowl vs. Iowa
ESPN's Andrea Adelson: Cotton Bowl vs. Oklahoma State

Braves Strike First

2010-11-17T08:44:00.003-06:00

With MLB's offseason just getting underway, the Braves made the first big move by acquiring All Star Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins for All Star utility player Omar Infante and pitcher Mike Dunn.

Infante was fun to watch last year, but Uggla is a major improvement in the power area. By the end of last year, most of the Braves big bats were injured, and with Chipper Jones nearing retirement, they needed to bring in someone who could help Jason Hayward in the power/RBI department. Uggla should help in those areas, but his acquisition also means Martin Prado won't be manning second base next year. Prado is set to move to the outfield, or fill in for Chipper if he is slow to return from his knee injury or if Chipper decides to hang up his cleats.

Needless to say, the Braves roster will look a lot different than the one they fielded in the postseason, including the coaching staff.

Pierre Thomas' Days with Saints Numbered?

2010-11-04T16:09:00.003-05:00

What is up with the Saints and Pierre Thomas? There is obviously more than meets the eye with this story.

A week or so ago, Jay Glazer talked about how Thomas was in Coach Payton's doghouse and could be inactive, even when he comes back from his injury. Coach Payton then had to address the issue, but never really said anything. He said that everyone is frustrated at the amount of time the injury is taking to heal and both sides said that they are on the same page.

Thomas has a high ankle sprain and the injury keeps lingering. The Saints are tight with injury news and when this first occurred it seemed it wouldn't take long to heal, but that could just be the Saints way of downplaying injuries.

But now the frustration has reached a new level and a new report says Thomas was almost traded to the Patriots for a corner back. So what does this mean in the short- and long-run? Thomas may come back after the Saints bye week, which means he'd return against Seattle on Nov. 21. That's also the target date for Reggie Bush's return. Thomas is a valuable member of the Saints, but he's not irreplaceable. I think the team really likes Chris Ivory and I could envision them with a Ivory/Bush RB tandem next year.

Thomas has been trying to get a long-term contact, paying starting RB money, but he's a platoon guy in NOLA. The Saints aren't going to break the bank on him and he needed a huge year to get the deal he wanted. Now, he's missed most of the season and his replacement may already be in place.

With all these reports on Thomas being on the outs and almost being traded, his days as a Saint are likely numbered. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Hornets Improved to 3-0

2010-11-04T11:20:00.002-05:00

Perhaps the biggest early surprise of the NBA season are the Hornets. They are now 4-0, give all-out effort and are fun to watch. I like the new pieces they've added, especially Marco Belilleni. The Hornets may have finally found a legitimate two-guard to start opposite Chris Paul. Hopefully, the team keeps it up and CP3 sees that he can win in New Orleans.

Weekend Predictions

2010-10-15T16:13:00.003-05:00

One cupcake game and one big-time division game is on tap for LSU and the Saints this weekend.

LSU gets an unofficial week off after two down to the wire games with Tennesse and Florida. The undefeated Tigers welcome McNeese State to Tiger Stadium for the first cupcake game on their tough 2010 schedule. LSU finally has the offense in gear with Jarrett Lee getting more playing time. Maybe this is the week that Jordan Jefferson also contributes to the passing game. Can he complete more than 50 percent of his passes or throw for 150 yards? We shall see.

Prediction:
LSU 48
McNeese 0

The Saints on the other hand face an ulmost "must win" game at Tampa Bay. The 3-2 Saints sit in 3rd place in the division and can't afford to lose anymore ground the the Falcons or Bucs. Drew Brees will right the ship this week and the offense will have its breakout game.

Prediction:
Saints 31
Bucs 17

Thank you Bobby Cox

2010-10-12T16:11:00.003-05:00

Thank you for making me a Braves fan. Thank you for being the only manager I ever watch coach my team. Thank you for all the playoff appearances. Thank you for the World Series title. Thank you for fielding the best pitching staff in baseball. Thank you for the ejections and the passion you brought to the game. Thank you for your slow walk to the mound. Thank you for the memories.

Panic Time?

2010-10-12T15:57:00.003-05:00

After a disappointing, inexcusable loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Saints fans are wondering if its time to panic. Now it looks like panic moves are being made. First it was adding John Carney, now the Saints have added RB Julius Jones.

Coach Payton said that he was sticking with Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory, despite the mistakes that both have made in the last couple of games. Well, the next day, the team has signed Jones. What this move really means is that Pierre Thomas isn't coming back any time soon and when he and or Bush comes back, they may not be 100%.

I'm not sure what the issue is with the Saints this year. The defense is solid, yet unspectacular, but they haven't been the issue at all. The offense isn't firing on all cylinders and that starts with Payton and Drew Brees. Is Brees hurt worse than the Saints are letting on? I'm not sure if that's it, but he is a competitor and unless he couldn't walk, he'll be under center. The o-line isn't performing up to their standards either, add to that a subpar running game and receivers dropping passes, and you realize why the Saints have struggled thus far.

But is it time to panic? I don't think so. This is the "soft" part of the schedule (including last week's loss to the Cardinals) and I think the Saints will be fine. But they need to find their groove quickly.

Weekend Predictions

2010-10-08T16:08:00.003-05:00

I'm feeling good about both LSU and the Saints this weekend. Neither have looked great, but a win over Florida would do wonders for LSU's national image, especially after that Tennessee game, and the Saints should be able to get on track with UDFA Max Hall starting for Arizona.

Predictions:
LSU 18
Florida 14

Saints 38
Cardinals 17

Les Being Les

2010-10-04T11:03:00.001-05:00

Saints Sign John Carney and Keep Garrett Hartley

2010-09-29T14:42:00.005-05:00

After Garrett Hartley's chip-shot miss against Atlanta, the Saints have brought back veteran kicker John Carney. But Hartley isn't being shown the door. Instead the team cut WR Adrian Arrington.

On Arrington first, many fans are upset that he's the one who got chopped. We'll see if he clears waivers, and if he does, he'll likely go back on the Saints practice squad. If he doesn't get claimed, then it shows that fans have overvalue a player who, although he shined in this year's preseason, has been hurt and underachieved in his previous years.

Onto the bigger issue, now that the Saints have two kickers, who do they go with on Sunday? I still think Hartley will get the nod and feel that Carney was brought in more as a mentor/coach relationship, similar to last year. It's obvious that Carney doesn't have the leg strength anymore for deep field goals and there's no way they activate two kickers and a punter on game day, is there?

I think Hartley is in a funk, but the schedule is easier these next four games, so he should have a chance to kick a few field goals with out pressure. The question remains is how confident are the Saints in Hartley right now? Will we see Coach Payton going for more fourth downs instead of FGs? This will be interesting to watch play out.

Weekend Predictions

2010-09-24T15:27:00.004-05:00

This weekend, the Saints and LSU have two big games.

#12 LSU will take on #21 West Virginia Saturday night in a tough out of conference game. LSU's passing game has yet to show up and many fans, including myself, are calling for Jarrett Lee to get some major playing time. Jordan Jefferson is the "safer" quarterback as he doesn't make as many mistakes as Lee (in Lee's defense he was a freshman starter at the time), but the safer Jefferson throws for under 100 yards per game. On the flipside, LSU's defense has been lights out and CB Patrick Peterson is a sure-fire top 10 NFL draft pick next year. They will have their hands full with West Virginia and I'm predicting a tight contest.

Prediction:
LSU 24
West Virginia 20

The Saints return home to face division rival Atlanta on a short week. The Saints have had two tough games to start the season, and they haven't shown the high power offense that Drew Brees and Sean Payton are accustomed to, but 2-0 is still 2-0. Losing Reggie Bush for a few weeks will hurt, but just look for the Saints to air it out even more. Atlanta comes in at 1-1, having blown out the Arizona Cardinals last week. The Cardinals look to be a mess though, so it's not clear yet how good the Falcons are this year. This is their chance to make a move at the NFC South crown.

Prediction:
Saints 27
Falcons 21

Hornets Make a Trade

2010-09-23T14:44:00.003-05:00

The Hornets have made a trade today, acquiring PG Willie Green and C Jason Smith from the 76ers for F Craig Brackins and F Darius Songaila.

The Hornets needed a backup point guard, so they must like what Green brings. I don't know much about him, but more fans seem to be happy to acquire more size coming off the bench in Smith. Fans also seem upset to lose rookie, 1st rounder Brackins, but I'm glad they didn't give up their second 1st rounder, Quincy Pondexter. I'm excited to see him, and I'm not as sure about Brackins.

All in all, right now fans have to trust the new coach/GM regime and they are bringing in "their" players and filling the roster with "their" guys.

Saints Beat 49ers 25-22, Lose Reggie Bush to an Injury

2010-09-21T11:58:00.006-05:00

The said it wouldn't be easy. They said the Saints would have a target on their backs and they'd get opponents best each and every week. They were right. The Saints took it on the chin last night against the 49ers and still managed to escape with a 25-22 victory to improve to 2-0.

There were some positives (ex. Garrett Hartley finding his kicking stride, Saints forcing turnovers) and some negatives (Saints run defense, Saints run game) to take away from the game, but it's still early in the season. This team is proving one thing though, they are not the 2009 Saints. This is a totally different football team than last year and one that will have to scratch and claw and do everything it takes to pull out victories.

No, it wasn't pretty, but 2-0 still feels like 2-0.

On a bad note, it looks like Reggie Bush has a broken leg and will miss about 6 weeks of the season. On the brightside, its just a bone break and not ligament damage, which would cause him to miss the season. The Saints run game was already struggling and the offense has yet to find its groove, so losing Bush is a blow.

Look for the Saints to bring in another running back while Bush heals. Right now, the team has Pierre Thomas (who should get a ton of touches now), DeShawn Wynn and Chris Ivory (who is nursing a knee injury). Ladell Betts was with the team and he may be brought back as a short-term fix.

MNF: Saints at 49ers

2010-09-20T15:31:00.003-05:00

The Saints will end the second week of the season on the road at San Francisco. This could be a "trap" game for the Saints as the 49ers look to be in shambles after their week 1 blowout loss to Seattle, but this is a good team. They have a tough defense and they could cause problems for the Saints.

The 49er offense shouldn't be much of an issue for the Saints. Really, if they can stop Frank Gore, then the Saints will be fine. But it's always tough going on the road, especially playing all the way on the West Coast. Add to that the Monday Night Football atmosphere plus the 49ers retiring Jerry Rice's #80 jersey, and this could be a tough night for the Saints.

I'm not really seeing it though. The Saints are at the top of their game, and they'll be ready for this game. The big win against Minnesota last week becomes less meaningful if they lose to the 49ers.

Prediction:
Saints 27
49ers 13

Saints Beat Vikings, Drop Super Bowl Banner

2010-09-10T16:17:00.003-05:00

Sure it wasn't the 34-31 shoot-out that most people envisioned, but a 14-9 victory is still impressive. The Saints left a lot of points on the field (Garrett Hartley, I'm talking to you) and could have made the game much more lopsided. But the end result is still the same. The Saints are 1-0.

There were lots of bright spots, especially on defense. It looks like Gregg Williams will have his guys playing even better in his system this year and they seemed to surprise the Vikings by showing them different looks (3-4, dropping more in coverage, not focusing on the blitz), proving that the Saints can beat you in multiple ways with multiple looks. That's scary, especially if the offense can get out of their mini-funk and put up the close to 30 points per game that Drew Brees and Sean Payton average.

Ah yes, times are good for Saints fans. Enjoy it Who Dat Nation and doesn't it feel great to have football back?

WHO DAT!

Saints vs. Vikings

2010-09-09T15:16:00.002-05:00

It's game day! Saints fans have been celebrating since February, but it's time to put 2009 to bed and get ready for 2010. So let's see what the 2010 version of the Saints can do against the team they beat to get to the Super Bowl.

Get ready to hear all about Brett Favre, Brett Favre and Brett Favre tonight. While the Saints are favored heading into the game (all the ESPN analysis picked New Orleans to win), there are some questions surrounding them. Can the defense produce the turnovers they did last year, especially with Darren Sharper out? Can they stop the run? How will Malcolm Jenkins fair at safety? Who is going to fill in at linebacker? As you can see all the "questions" are about the Saints defense. As long as Drew Brees is throwing it and Sean Payton is calling the plays, the offense will be fine.

So what will happen tonight? I think this game will remind Saints fans of the Monday Night home opener against the Falcons, the first game in NOLA since Katrina. There was no way the Falcons were winning that night and the Saints dominated them. The crowd was nuts and they were the 12th man for the Saints. I see more of the same tonight. From the moment the banner drops to when Drew Brees leads the dome in a Who Dat chant, the crowd will be fired up. The team will respond and we'll see Favre on the ground.

Prediction:
Vikings 20
Saints 34

NFL Preview 2010

2010-09-08T16:15:00.006-05:00

It's football season! Fake football is over and the real stuff gets underway in the NFL this week. The Saints and Vikings will kickoff the season on Thursday so what will this year in the NFL look like? Here's my worst guesses:

NFL Playoffs:
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC East: New England Patriots
AFC West: San Diego Chargers
Wild Cards: Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans

NFC North: Green Bay Packers
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys
NFC West: San Francisco 49ers
Wild Cards: New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons

AFC Championship: Patriots over Colts
NFC Championship: Saints over Cowboys

Super Bowl: Saints over Patriots

#1 Pick in 2011 Draft: Buffalo Bills

League Awards:
MVP: Drew Brees, QB, Saints (Drew should have won the MVP award before; finally he gets it)
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson, RB, Titans (Johnson is not easy to root for, but he does put up amazing stats)
Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware, LB, Cowboys (Michael Strahan, your sack record is in jeopardy)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego (Filling L.T.'s shoes will be tough, but Matthews will show that he's the real deal)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brandon Graham, DE, Philadelphia (Graham can rush the passer and that will get him noticed
Comeback Player of the Year: Jake Delhomme, QB, Cleveland (Delhomme is coming off a couple of tough years in Carolina. After a strong preseason, he returns the the Jake of old)
Coach of the Year: Mike Singletary, San Francisco (A bad division will help them reach the playoffs, but Singletary will get recognized for leading the 49ers back into the relevancy)

Here are the Sports Illustrated experts' opinions on the upcoming season.

LSU to Open Next Season vs. Oregon in Dallas

2010-09-07T15:51:00.003-05:00

LSU announced today that they will open next season versus Oregon in "Jerry's World" in Dallas. The game is dubbed the "Cowboy Classic." The only question is who will be LSU's coach?

Here's the 2011 schedule:

2011 LSU Football Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. Oregon, Arlington, Texas
Sept. 10 Northwestern State, Baton Rouge
Sept. 17 at Mississippi State, Starkville, Miss.
Sept. 24 at West Virginia, Morgantown, W. Va.
Oct. 1 Kentucky, Baton Rouge
Oct. 8 Florida, Baton Rouge
Oct. 15 at Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
Oct. 22 Auburn, Baton Rouge
Oct. 29 Open
Nov. 5 at Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Nov. 12 Western Kentucky, Baton Rouge
Nov. 19 at Ole Miss, Oxford, Miss.
Nov. 26 Arkansas, Baton Rouge

Saints Wrap Up Preseason

2010-09-03T14:11:00.006-05:00

The Saints finished the preseason with a 27-24 loss to the Titans. The fourth preseason game is typically the most meaningless and this year, the Saints took it a step further and rested most of the starters, since they open the season in one week on a Thursday night.

Now fans and players can look toward real football and the Minnesota Vikings. But there's still some housekeeping to do. The Saints have to get down to their 53 man roster by tomorrow. Names are already coming out as cuts, including DE Bobby McCray and RB Ladell Betts.

I'm not surprised that McCray was let go, again. He is a solid speed rusher, but he hasn't produced this preseason. Jeff Charleston and Junior Galette have outplayed him and both of those players contribute on special teams. Galette even blocked a punt against Tennessee, further helping his cause. Betts is coming off of a knee injury and the team may have placed more value on special teams, as DeShawn Wynn is younger, healthier and can provide more on special teams. RB Chris Ivory looks to have won the 3rd RB spot, as long as his injury from last night's game isn't too serious.

Look for other cuts to trickle in throughout the day.

Update: The Saints have announced all of their cuts. The most surprising and toughest news is that LB Jonathan Casillas has been placed in IR, ending his season. He was projected to start and was having a good preseason.

Saints Defeat Chargers, Look to be in Mid-Season Form

2010-08-30T15:06:00.004-05:00

It didn't take long for the Saints to start to resemble last year's explosive team. After a dominating performance last week against Houston, the Saints continue to look impressive as they defeated the Chargers 36-21. What was most impressive is that the Saints outgained San Diego 552-323 in total yards, in a game that the starters played into the second half.

Here are some other thoughts on the 3rd preseason game:

There are no more questions. Chris Ivory, you have made this team. Ivory runs hard and then showed in the second half that like Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, he is a threat to bring it to the house at anytime from anywhere on the field.
Patrick Ramsey played well and the race for Drew Brees' backup is still too close to call. I wouldn't be surprised if the Saints kept both Ramsey and Chase Daniel, with Ramsey getting the early nod as #2 QB. He has a stronger arm and brings more veteran intangibles to the table than the second-year Daniel.
Ladell Betts and DeShawn Wynn saw their first action in the black and gold, but neither was overly impressive in limited action.
The Saints had Adrian Arrington try his hand at returning punts. He didn't look all that comfortable, but it shows that the team realizes they will likely be keeping him around. As the #6 WR, he'll be inactive on gamedays, but he's one injury away from having to suit up and you want him to be able to do multiple things for you, not sure play receiver.
The reason Arrington is only #6 WR right now is that Courtney Roby is also having a solid preseason. Along with being one of the better all around special teams on the Saints, Roby is showing more as a receiver this preseason, and the Saints should have confidence inserting him into the lineup there.
David Thomas hasn't racked up much on the stat sheet this preseason, but the more I see him, the more I enjoy watching him play. He genuinely seems happy to be playing football and give 110% on every play.
Some guys have all the luck (or is it just skill), huh, Devery?
The Saints defense doesn't look much different that last year either. They can still get the takeaway, but they'll also give up some yards here and there and blow an assignment as well. Who's fault was the Chargers' second TD with the receiver wide open in the corner of the endzone?
The coverage units were better this week, save for one return, but now the biggest area the team needs to address is penalties. Leigh Torrance is lucky he got the pick-6 late in the game because before that he was a penalty waiting to happen. Two on the same play, just before his interception.
The Saints still have some really tough roster decisions, especially at defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker and safety.

The Saints will finish the preseason this Thursday at the Tennessee Titans.

Saints Start the Cuts

2010-08-25T10:06:00.002-05:00

The Saints have started making cuts to their roster. Yesterday, they released LB Troy Evans, WRs Mark Bradley and Rod Harper, G Tim Duckworth and CB Danny Gorrer.

None of these are major surprises, but Evans was a major contributor on the team the past couple of seasons, especially on special teams. With the poor special teams play in the first two preseason games and the depth at LB, the Saints are giving him a chance to latch on with someone else in the middle of the preseason.

Rod Harper was a fan favorite last preseason, but he hadn't done much this year. Bradley was brought in during the preseason, but I don't think he's seen the field in two games. Gorrer had little chance to make the team and Duckworth was also stuck in a numbers game along the o-line. His spot has been taken by rookie G/C Mark Tennant.

Saints Beat Texans in Preseason Week 2

2010-08-23T14:25:00.003-05:00

The Saints played their first home game since winning the Super Bowl and defeated the Houston Texans 38-20. There were a lot more positives to take away from this game than last week's:

Chase Daniel is making a case for the #2 QB job. He played most of the game and completed 15/21 passes for 182 yards, 3 TDs and 1 Int. Besides the interception, which was a terrible decision, he looked great. It's surprising that Patrick Ramsey didn't even see the field, but I guess the coaches wanted to see what Daniel could do and he delivered.
Adrian Arrington is making the WR cuts really difficult. Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Lance Moore have the top four WR spots nailed down. Arrington is competing for the 5th spot with Courtney Roby, but Roby brings much more to the table via special teams. This will force the Saints to consider keeping six WRs.
The backup RBs continue to impress. Both Chris Ivory and P.J. Hill once again showed that Lynell Hamilton's injury may not hurt the Saints. Ivory runs hard and Hill contributed on offense and special teams. Unfortunately, Hill suffered an injury and was placed on season ending IR today. The Saints have signed DeShawn Wynn to take his roster spot, so just when you think the backup RB spot is in good hands, there's more uncertainty now.
Pierre Thomas may be the best RB in the NFL on the screen pass. How many times has he taken a screen to the house in the past two years? He did it in the Super Bowl and he did it again this week.
Reggie Bush is running like a man possessed. He looks like he has set out to earn the $8 million that many feel he is overpaid to earn this year. On the Saints first drive, I was seeing #5 running for the Trojans, not the indecisive #25 of the Saints we've seen in the past.
The Saints forced two Texan turnovers so Gregg Williams won't have to make them do extra work this week. On special teams, there's still some work to be done on coverages and thanks to Trindon Holliday still having trouble holding onto the ball, one of the turnovers came on a return.
On defense, Sedrick Ellis and Troy Evans each recorded a sack but Anthony Hargrove still gets stupid penalties. Two weeks in a row, he's been flagged for something.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

2010-08-18T11:17:00.003-05:00

You want two hours of fun, go see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I saw it last night and had no expectations going in. I had never seen or read any parts of the graphic novels that the movie is based on and had only seen the trailer.

I actually thought I wouldn't like it, but only minutes into the movie me and the group of friends I was with were laughing and the laughs kept coming. There was subtle humor, outrageous situations and great music.

Scott Pilgrim is a fun flick and while it may not be for everyone, if you grew up in the Super Mario Brothers generation, you will like this movie.

Saints Sign Ladell Betts

2010-08-17T15:37:00.002-05:00

The Saints have signed RB Ladell Betts to replace the injured Lynell Hamilton. I'm not sure what Betts has left in the tank. He's about to turn 31 and is coming off of a knee injury, but he will battle P.J. Hill and Chris Ivory for the 3rd RB spot. It will be interesting to see how Betts looks with the Saints and if the 3rd RB job comes down to special teams ability. Betts was a kick returner early in his career, but what can he give the Saints at this stage of his career.

In a surprising move, the team cut WR Larry Beavers to make room for Betts on the roster. You may have last seen Beavers returning a kick 94 yards for a touchdown against the Patriots last week, or you may remember him for muffing a punt but recovering it in that same game. With his kick return TD, many fans were giving him a roster spot similar to the way Rod Harper earned his way onto the team last year with his punt return ability. I guess the Saints didn't see much from Beavers in practice.

Saints Kickoff Preseason

2010-08-13T10:30:00.003-05:00

The Saints kickoffed their preseason schedule last night at New England and fell 27-24 to the Patriots. There were highs and lows for the Black and Gold and definitely lots of areas to improve.

But that's what the preseason is for. There's a reason the season doesn't start in December. Here's a look at what stood out to me based on the first preseason game:

The starters put together a 10 minute, 20 play scoring drive, but it didn't happen until their 3rd possession. This forced the starters like Drew Brees and Reggie Bush to play a little more than Sean Payton anticipated. Hopefully, this doesn't go back to the old trend of the Saints being slow starters.
Garrett Hartley did a solid job filling in for Thomas Morestead when the punter hurt his shoulder, but you don't want your starting kicker to have to kick FG/PATs, kickoff and have to punt. That's a lot of work for one guy's leg. If Morestead missing some time, look for the Saints to bring in another punter as a camp body.
Besides Morestead, the Saints seemed to have come out of the game relatively healthy.
Larry Beavers is making some noise for a roster spot. His kickoff return for a touchdown in the second half will make the coaches notice him more, but his bobbled return later won't. He's got an uphill battle, but being a good returner in the preseason last year helped Rod Harper make the team.
The Saints will probably be OK at running back, even with Lynell Hamilton's injury. P.J. Hill and Chris Ivory looked solid, and I'd like to see more from them in the next few weeks.
Tackling and coverage (special teams and in the secondary) was poor. This is the first game and there wasn't much, if any, scheming taking place, so coverage isn't as big a deal as the poor tackling on defense. The special team coverage left a lot to be desired.

All in all, not great, but not terrible either. The guys fighting for a roster spot (like Adrian Arrington and DeMario Pressly) made some plays but overall, the team has work to do. I think a game like this is exactly what Sean Payton wants at this time. Sure, these are the Super Bowl champs, but he can point out a lot of things that need work. I hope to see some improvements by next week's game against the Houston Texans.

Hornets Wheeling and Dealing

2010-08-11T15:40:00.003-05:00

New Hornets GM Dell Demps wasn't kidding when he told Chris Paul that they had a plan and had some trades in the works. The team pulled off two of those trades today. Dare I ask what's next?

The first trade involved four teams. The Hornets received Trevor Ariza, the Rockets got Courtney Lee, the Nets received Troy Murphy and the Pacers got Darren Collison and James Posey. Basically, the Hornets traded Collison for Ariza and forced Indiana to take on Posey's contract in the process. It's tough to give up such a young, promising point guard in Collison, but if the Hornets have to convince CP3 that they are in it to win it the next two years, it'll take moves like this.

Not long after the four-team deal was announced, news broke that the Hornets weren't done. They sent the disappointing Julian Wright to Toronto for Marco Belinelli. Wright was given opportunities to succeed in New Orleans and never took advantage of it. He's got all the athleticism in the world, so a change of scenery might be good for him. His fate was probably sealed with he refused to play in Summer League. I don't know much about Belinelli, but anything he gives the Hornets will be more than Wright did the past few years.

So CP3, what do you think?

Saints Suffer First Training Camp Injury

2010-08-11T15:35:00.003-05:00

The Saints have been lucky thus far in training camp with injuries. Jeremy Shockey bumped knees with a teammate and Reggie Bush sat out a practice with dehydration. Other than the guys on the PUP list, the team is relatively healthy.

But today they suffered their first "major" injury when Lynell Hamilton hurt his knee during practice with the Patriots. Early reports are that it's serious and he'll miss the season. This may not be a huge blow to the team, but Hamilton was set to take over Mike Bell's role as the power runner and #3 RB.

Look for the Saints to bring in another RB for camp. The new guy may not make the roster though, as P.J. Hill and Chris Ivory have had their moments at RB in camp so far. The team did bring Ladell Betts in for a workout earlier in camp, so he may be the logical addition.

NBA Schedule Released

2010-08-10T16:57:00.003-05:00

The NBA released its schedule today and the Hornets open the season against the Milwaukee Bucks. Here's a nice breakdown of the Hornets slate of games and here are 20 games to watch.

Saints visit the White House

2010-08-10T08:40:00.005-05:00

In case you haven't heard, the Saints are the Super Bowl champions! Yesterday they had their visit to the White House, and it's still surreal to see the Saints recognized as the champions of the NFL. Well, enjoy this one last moment Saints fans because now that the White House visit has been made, it's time to put the 2009 season to bed. The Saints have started training camp for the 2010 season and will open the preseason Thursday night against the Patriots.

But before you move onto 2010, you can relive the White House visit below:

Congratulations City Champ!

2010-08-09T10:32:00.003-05:00

The first true New Orleans Saint has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Congratulations Rickey Jackson!

Lost Spoilers?

2010-08-04T08:47:00.002-05:00

It's crazy that Lost ended months ago, yet there's still news and "spoilers" coming out about it. How can there still be spoilers with a series that is complete?

Well, the upcoming DVDs will have loads of answers and even an epilogue section with Hurley leading the island, called New Man in Charge. Some people on the Web have seen this epilogue and you can find a recap of it, if you look hard enoug h. I started to read it, but then realize that this is the last episode of Lost we'll ever get. Why would I want to spoil it?

There's also talk of another DVD extra where Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse basically provide answers to some of the lingering island mysteries. I'm not sure if this is just a rumor or if it has been confirmed yet, but I hope it's true.

Lastly, it looks like Man in Black had a name all along. My guess is that the creators had a name for him, but then when they didn't reveal it right away they noticed how much fans grabbed hold of the fact that they didn't know his name and it became one of the shows big mysteries. My thinking is that they were having fun with us and decided to hold it back. Well, if you'd like to know his name, you can check it out here.

Ready for Some Football?

2010-07-29T13:31:00.004-05:00

All but one draft pick is signed, most if not all of the veteran additions have been made (most recently resigning DE Bobby McCray and signing QB Patrick Ramsey) and the Super Bowl celebrations can finally start winding down ... that's because football season is here! The Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints reported to camp today and will begin practicing tomorrow morning to start their quest to "Two Dat!"

The Saints are still picked as one of the top teams in the league. Sports Illustrated's Don Banks has them #2 in his rankings, Peter King has them #5 and ESPN has them #2. ESPN's ranking is odd since all the experts picked the Saints #1 except John Clayton, who ranked them 7th, yes 7th. Unbelievable, but what else would you expect from ESPN.

The good thing, as always, the NFL lets play on the field decide their champion (BCS, we're looking at you), so these rankings are just preseason fodder for fans.

A few positions that fans will have their eye on in camp is LB, backup QB and all the draft picks. The best battle will be to see who replaces Scott Fujita at linebacker, and the coaches seem excited about the young guys on the roster. Backup QB is interesting with Patrick Ramsey battling Chase Daniel and rookie Sean Canfield. As for the draft picks, fans will be most excited about watching TE Jimmy Graham, who is raw but will be fun to watch practice.

I just can't wait to see the boys in the Black and Gold take the field again, this time as the defending Super Bowl champion!

Chris Paul Meets with The Hornets

2010-07-26T15:39:00.003-05:00

The most anticipated meeting in recent memory finally took place today between the Hornets and All Star point guard Chris Paul. Following weeks of rumors about the possibility of Paul being traded and behind the scenes trade demands, the two sides finally met and from the reports, the meeting went well.

Following the meeting, Paul released this statement:

The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with Coach Williams, President Weber and our new general manager Dell Demps. I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come.

This could be a PR move and damage control or it could mean that the trade rumors and demands were blown out of proportion. ESPN was one that kept fueling the trade rumor fire and they love to keep stories like this going.

Or it could mean that Paul has no leverage right now with 2 years left on his contract, so he has to toe the company line and give the Hornets a chance. This is far from over, but if the Hornets make some moves in free agency or with some trades and can get off to a fast start when the season begins, this will all be forgotten. Wins cure everything.

Hornets Get Their Man

2010-07-21T16:22:00.004-05:00

The Hornets have hired Dell Demps to be the team's new general manager and from all accounts, it looks to be a good hire.

Demps, who previously worked for the Spurs, was coveted by both the Suns and Hornets. For a bit it looked like the Hornets would lose out on their #1 choice once again, as they did when they targeted Tom Thibodeau for head coach. Thibodeau went to Chicago instead and the Hornets settled for Monty Williams. This time it appears they landed their #1 guy and since the Suns fought so hard to get him too, Hornets fans should be pleased that they got a solid GM in place.

Now it remains to be seen how he'll be able to operate with a roster that needs upgrading and a shaky ownership situation. With star Chris Paul making noise in recent weeks, this is an important year for the Hornets to show that they can and will compete in the loaded Western Conference.

Braves Make a Move for the Playoff Push

2010-07-15T11:17:00.003-05:00

On a normally quiet sports day (the day after the MLB All-Star Game), the Braves made some news by suring up a weak link in their lineup. Yesterday, the traded SS Yunel Escobar and P Jo Jo Reyes to Toronto for SS Alex Gonzalez and two prospects.

Escobar is a talented, young short stop and his presence allowed the Braves to trade now All-Star Elvis Andrus a few years ago, but Escobar is in the midst of his worst season ever with a .238 batting average and zero home runs. There's also been rumors for a couple of years that he has issues in the clubhouse, so the move isn't too surprising.

Alex Gonzalez is older, but he's having one of his better power hitting years. He is a great defensive short stop and with the Braves being built to win now, the Braves had to make the move. The two prospects they received, pitcher Tim Collins and SS Tyler Pastornicky, also have promising futures. Everything I've seen on the trade has praised the Braves for the move.

On another note, a belated congratulations to Braves catcher Brian McCann for winning the All-Star MVP!

Hornets Part Ways with GM Jeff Bower

2010-07-15T10:32:00.002-05:00

The Hornets and GM Jeff Bower have decided to part ways and now the Hornets are searching for a replacement general manager. Many fans are excited about the move, especially with all the rumor and speculation surrounding Chris Paul. It's too early to tell if this change will help the Hornets retain Paul long-term, but it can't hurt.

In recent years, the Hornets haven't made the best personnel moves and are now strapped with bad contracts and not great depth on the bench. It was clear that changes needed to be made.

Rumors are flowing about who will replace Bower and many fans are hoping that former Portland GM Kevin Pritchard gets the job. Pritchard would bring a more aggressive approach, as in recent years he was a master at working the draft by moving around and acquiring more selections. The Hornets, in recent years, seemed more likely to trade out of the draft completely than to make a good move.

Bower always seemed to have a better reputation outside of New Orleans than he did here. He got fans excited with guys like Peja Stojakovic, Emeka Okafor and James Posey, but those same guys are the ones who's contracts are hurting the team now.

Chris Paul has made it known that he wants to win and wants to win now. Hopefully this change will allow the team to make some moves and keep the team competitive enough to keep CP3 excited about playing in the Big Easy for the long term.

Sean Payton: "Home Team"

2010-06-28T09:59:00.001-05:00

My next book purchase? Definitely, "Home Team" by New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton. Everything I've read so far about the book gives it high praise. Of course any Saints fan will love to get a peak behind the curtain and learn what their team's head coach is thinking. Want a taste of what's included in the book? Check out the Times-Picayune's 10 Memorable Quotes. I'll be sure to put up my thoughts after I get a chance to read it.

Hornets Draft Recap

2010-06-28T09:49:00.007-05:00

The New Orleans Hornets didn't sit back quietly with their one draft pick last Thursday. They decided that two is better than one and turned the #11 pick into two first rounders and shed a bad contract in the process.

At #11, the Hornets took center Cole Aldrich from Kansas. I was pleased with the pick, but we soon learned that Aldrich would be heading the Hornets former, temporary home of Oklahoma City. Initially, the reports were that the deal was for picks 18 and 21, but it turned out to be for picks 21 and 26. The Hornets also shed some cap space and sent the disappointing Morris Peterson to the Thunder as well. Peterson was signed a few years ago as a free agent, one that the Hornets coveted for a few years, but he never panned out in the Big Easy.

With their newly acquired picks, the Hornets took forward Craig Brackins of Iowa State and forward Quincy Pondexter of Washington. I don't know much about either player, but both should be able to contribute right away.

All in all, it was a good night for the Hornets. They got two young players that could give them solid minutes this year and shed a contract, making them able to be active in free agency.

NBA Draft Day

2010-06-24T14:26:00.009-05:00

Happy NBA Draft Day! Growing up, I was a big basketball fan, but then again that was when we were watching guys like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Shawn Kemp, Hakeem Olajuwan, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, and on and on and on. In other words, the NBA was in great hands and fans ate it up.

Anyway, I'm less of an NBA fan nowadays, but I do follow the Hornets and enjoy having a local team to follow. Over the years, the NBA Draft has slacked off as a must see event, but I still enjoy watching it (I enjoy any draft though).

The trouble in recent years is that fans don't know most of the players. With all the high school, one-and-done college and international players, fans didn't have a chance to learn about the new prospects. At least now, there aren't high schoolers in the draft, but that doesn't mean I'll know a whole lot of the players picked. But who cares, the NBA Draft is a good time. There's the pundits drooling over upside and length, the crazy suits, the international guys picked late in the 2nd round who happen to be in the audience and they make their way to the stage for a photo with the deputy commissioner, even though they are the 51st pick. What's not to love?

Anyway, the Hornets pick 11th and could go in many different directions, including trading Chris Paul. I'd put the likelihood of a Chris Paul trade at about 1 percent, but there could be some moves involving the Hornets whether its trading down (please don't trade completely out of the draft for financial reasons), getting rid of some contracts like Peja, Mo Peete or Emeke Okafor (I know Okafor is due a lot of $, but I'd like to see him stay), trading away backup point guard Darren Collison ... or some combination of all of these.

If the Hornets stay pat at #11, here's a look at what a few mock drafts have them doing:

Times Picayune: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
SI.com: Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada
HoopsHype: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
WalterFootball: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
NBADraft.ne t: Paul George, SF, Fresno St.
DraftTek: Paul George, SF, Fresno St.
NBADraftDepot: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
HoopsAddict: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
MyNBADraft: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
NBA-Draft.com: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
SpoonHoops: Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada
CollegeHoopsUpdate: Gordon Hayward, F, Butler

Chris Paul on the Trading Block?

2010-06-23T08:39:00.004-05:00

No way the Hornets would ever consider moving Chris Paul, right? He's the face of the franchise and the main reason the Hornets have had any success since they moved to NOLA. Well, don't get too attached to him now because I can definitely see scenarios where CP3 is traded.

Rumors have been rampart for a few weeks now and with the NBA Draft taking place tomorrow night, there's a chance that by Friday, Paul will no longer be a Hornet. How can this be, you might say? Consider this, the Hornets are in clear rebuilding mode. Last year, the GM took over as head coach. Now they have a 1st time NBA head coach in Monty Williams, who is also the youngest NBA coach in the league. CP3 has made it clear that while he wants to stay in NOLA, he wants to play for a winner more. So this whole rebuilding thing isn't for him.

Then, take a look at last season, Paul missed half the season with injuries. Rookie Darren Collison filled in and did a great job, especially for a rookie (And if they don't move Paul, Collison is the next valuable asset that could be traded). While Collison's no Chris Paul, he did average 12.5 points and 5.7 assists per game, and those numbers are surely to only improve with more experience.

The last thing to consider is that Paul only has two more years on his contract. That's something big to consider. His trade stock would only diminish the longer the Hornets hold onto him, since the closer he gets to free agency, teams will just wait until he hits the open market. With the Hornets ownership situation in limbo, the team may have to take Paul's contract into consideration. Can they even afford to pay him for his last two years of his deal? Then you have to look at what CP3 will do when his contract is up. If the Hornets have two more seasons of sub-40 win seasons and miss the playoffs, why would Paul want to stay? Let's even consider that they do make the playoffs in the next two years, are they better than the 6th or 7th seed in the loaded West? Being bounced in the 1st round surely wouldn't entice CP3 to want to hang around the Big Easy much longer.

So all this leads to the Hornets listening to offers for their franchise player. Fans won't like a trade involving Chris Paul, but it's better to get something for him now (and offers have included the #3 pick in this year's draft), and plan for the future.

Saints Cut Bobby McCray

2010-06-22T14:51:00.004-05:00

In a surprising move, the Saints cut DE Bobby McCray yesterday. I was initially caught by surprise, but after reading more about McCray, I'm starting to understand it more.

This is not to label McCray as a bad guy at all, but there were reports that he was late for meetings a few times and missed assignments on the field. Pair that with the Saints signing veteran ends Alex Brown and Jimmy Wilkerson, and McCray's one-note pass rushing was no longer a top need for the team. Since he was due a roster bonus soon, the Saints decided to part ways with him.

Depth and competition is always a good thing for a football team, but who am I to question this Saints front office? They've pushed all the right buttons over the past couple of years and brought the city its first Super Bowl championship. I just hope that they aren't thinking they are better than they are and are just making moves because "we're the Saints and we won the Super Bowl, so we know best." If they feel that departing with Bobby McCray was the best thing for the football team at this point, than I'm cool with it.

Good luck elsewhere Bobby and thank you for your great hits on Kurt Warner and Brett Favre in last year's playoffs.

Saints Trade Jammal Brown to Redskins

2010-06-21T10:38:00.009-05:00

The Saints have traded Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown to the Washington Redskins. The return compensation is complicated, to say the least. The Saints will receive either a 3rd or 4th round pick and possible a 6th rounder in 2012 based on playing time or if Brown goes to the Pro Bowl. The 3rd or 4th rounder is tied to the Donovan McNabb deal, so if the Eagles end up with Washington's 3rd rounder, the Saints get the 4th and will send a 6th or 7th round pick back to D.C. If the Eagles get a 4th, then the Saints get the 3rd and will send a 5th rounder back. Clear as mud right?

Basically, the best thing for the Saints is for the Redskins to have a bad season, but Jamaal Brown to play great. Then they'd get a 3rd and 6th the following year for Brown and a 5th.

Many Saints fans think that Mickey Loomis got hosed in the deal, but I don't agree with them. Loomis was stuck with a disgruntled player who obviously wanted out. He lost his job to injury and missed out on the most historic season in franchise history, a season that proved the Saints would be fine without him. But decent left tackles are hard to come by, let alone a two-time Pro Bowl player so fans have inflated Brown's value.

There are a couple of issues here. Fans think players are worth more than they really are and there has to be a market for your players. Brown is coming off a season in the IR. No one really knows how he'll play after a year off, plus there have been rumblings ever since he got to New Orleans that his knees were shot and he wouldn't have a long NFL career. Along with his refusal to participate or sign his tender, the Saints decided to get rid of a distraction and get what they could for him. NFL teams don't like giving up 1st or 2nd round picks, but if they get the 3rd rounder, great. If its the 4th, great too.

I'm pleased with the deal. Brown wasn't in the long term plans for the Saints, especially after left tackle Charles Brown fell to them in the 2nd round this year. The Saints are set at tackle and have been good in the draft recently and now they have an earlier pick to work with next year.

It's Now Official

2010-06-17T14:29:00.003-05:00

The last rubber stamp on the Saints Super Bowl win was taken care of last night when the team received their Super Bowl rings. It's hard to believe that in only a couple of months the Saints will be back on the field getting ready to "Two Dat" and repeat as Super Bowl champions. With their ceremony last night, the 2009-10 team can be put to rest and it's time to focus on the future.

But check out that ring. Who would have ever thought a Super Bowl ring would have the fleur-de-lis on it? For fans, the Lombardi Trophy is the ultimate prize in sports. That's true of players too, but you hear more players talk about getting a ring or how many rings does a guy have than the Lombardi. This is what the players play for and to read their quotes from the ceremony ... they were like little kids again. WHO DAT!