I forget to tell you guys about this yesterday even though I knew about it. Amid the signings of our draft picks, the Saints also released a few players. Once again, the New Orleans Saints official website gently breaks the news to us by subtly hiding it at the end of a positive article.

The Saints also made three other roster moves today, waiving CB Anwar Phillips, QB Travis Lulay and DE Jeremy Geathers.

The staff over at The Advocate have come out with the ultimate Saints training camp preview, putting all over training camp preview to shame. They are Adobe Acrobat files in .pdf format but they are cool with lots of fancy pictures. It also has full schedule, directions, players by position, coaching roster and 2007 statistics. You should definitely check it out. Here is page one and here is page two.

The Advocate also had an article about how all of the major NFL publications have predicted the Saints to win the division. Old news.

From the Sun Herald we have, shockingly, a training camp preview! They give us 10 questions the Saints will face in the next month. Of course most of them are the usual queries regarding Deuce, McKenzie, Reggie, Smith and Grant, cornerback, wide receiver, etc. Here are two of the more interesting questions.

6. Is Sean Payton on the hot seat? Nope. The 2008 roster is too talented not to succeed and Payton is too innovative not to figure out how to run this offense. Like Bush, Payton should be closer to the coach from 2006 than 2007. And think about it, Jim Haslett lasted for six seasons despite only one postseason win. Payton also isn't hanging his coaching career on an inept quarterback.

10. Are the Saints interested in Brett Favre? I think Drew Brees will do just fine and he'd at least call someone other than Greta Van Susteren if he has some beef with Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis. He'd at least call Larry King, Barbara Walters or New Orleans native Ellen Degeneres.

In case you wanted yet another training camp preview, you're in luck! The Sports network has their own. This is what they have to say.

REPORT DATES: Rookies July 23rd, Veterans July 23rd

SITE: Millsaps College, Jackson, MS/Saints Practice Facility, Metairie, LA

CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Saints were horrible against the pass last season, and head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs need to spend July and August identifying a reliable starting cornerback tandem. Free agent pick- ups Randall Gay (Patriots), Jerametrius Butler (Bills), and Aaron Glenn (Jaguars), and rookie Tracy Porter (Indiana) will be among those with a chance to win jobs. A below-average pass rush was bolstered via the addition of ex- Jaguar Bobby McCray, and first-round draft choice Sedrick Ellis (USC) will be counted on to show progress in the run-stopping game. There isn't much new to speak of on offense for New Orleans, though Payton needs to see progress from Reggie Bush and suitable health from Deuce McAllister in order to take some pressure off of the passing game. Speaking of which, New Orleans must locate a reliable complement to No. 1 wideout Marques Colston, who bore too much of the receiving load last year.

This will soon be all over.

The Times-Pic had a short article about Drew Brees' time in San Diego and his  community efforts to raise awareness about childhood obesity.  I discussed this event yesterday in Saints News. Okay, so I didn't actually mention the community/raising awareness aspect of it, so here it is.

"This is important because childhood obesity in this country is a major problem," said Brees, a former San Diego Chargers player who still owns an offseason home in Carmel Valley, Calif. "When you talk about this Play 60 campaign, it's urging kids to get out 60 minutes a day and get some form of exercise. It can be sports-related -- whether playing a sport or a hobby -- or just playing out in the yard with their brothers, sisters, parents or friends."

CBS Sports had an update to their usual Notes and Quotes segment. Here was an interesting fact I did not know.

Each team was allowed to distribute $3.15 million to lower-salaried players, depending on the playing time they got last season. Eight Saints received at least $100,000, which is awarded on top of their base pay.

Evans earned $266,667 and ranked ninth in the league. Colston was 11th with $257,894 in extra pay. Both players had base salaries of $360,000.

The Saints' top five also included wide receiver Lance Moore ($143,226), safety Josh Bullocks ($130,456) and running back Pierre Thomas ($129,775).

They also had a quote from Deuce that didn't look familiar to me.

"I'm proud and pleased with (my progress). I don't know if there's really a 'next benchmark' to be met on my part. It's pretty much getting out there and trying to make plays. That's what I am looking forward to."

Some of you wanted more Archie and you've got it. I love Archie just as much as the next guy, and I am never really insulting him, but it is ridiculous the amount of appearances he does. This time it was with former NY city mayor Rudy Guiliani at a conference for the employees of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had the story. Archie had some words of wisdom for everyone.

"I really think, at the end of the day, that's what we come down to, whether we're selling insurance or practicing law or medicine or playing football - you've got to work," Manning said. "To me, that's really the similarity we all go through in our free enterprise system."

Another Kush spotting. This time it was at a Matt Leinart charity bowling event. You can check out a couple of pics I posted in the FanShots. What the heck is the deal with the military inspired clothing Reggie has been sporting? That is the second outfit like that he has been photographed in. Is this the new thing? I run a retail apparel store, do I need to be keeping my eye on this? Weird.

We all know about the draft pick signings so I will just start with the rest of the news.

Well, its official. Tom Benson is now the head honcho over at WVUE. The Times-Pic had the quick story.

After two months, the Federal Communications Commission has approved Tom Benson and his Louisiana Media Company to officially take ownership of WVUE-TV, which is Fox 8, it was announced today.

"This is a proud day for me, and a good day for the city of New Orleans," Benson said. "It's important to keep major employers in this city owned by local people - I believe that is a key factor in rebuilding our area. And WVUE will be a completely independent entity from my other businesses. We have a very good management team there, and they will operate independently as such with no pressure or agenda placed upon them."

It is ridiculous how many training camp/team analysis type articles there are out there. They come out of the woodwork from all types of websites. Everyone's an expert.

Here is one from EndZoneBuzz.com.

New Orleans Saints

Why They Might Win the Division
Drew Brees still leads the attack at QB and they have a plethora of receiving weapons. New Orleans also added Jonathan Vilma to the linebacking crew, and Sedrick Ellis at defensive tackle, to play next to their two talented defensive ends in Will Smith and Charles Grant.

Why They Might Not Win the Division
Right now, RB Reggie Bush is a good slot receiver, and nothing more. He simply has to become a more effective runner out of the backfield in order for them to truly excel. And that secondary which was so hideous last season is still a major concern.

Yet another look into training camp. This one is all the way from Arizona at AZCentral.com.

New Orleans Saints (7-9)

Veterans report: July 23

Site: Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss.

Fan access: Free, most practices open to the public; 504-733-0255

Key changes: The biggest addition was LBJonathan Vilma to man the middle. The Saints also traded up three spots in the draft to select DT Sedrick Ellis at No. 7. C Jeff Faine left as a free agent for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. CBs Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn, signed in free agency, add depth.

Key issues: There's uncertainty in the backfield with RB Deuce McAllister coming off two knee surgeries and Reggie Bush's inability to show he can be the featured back. At cornerback, who will start opposite Mike McKenzie, who is recovering from knee surgery and may not be ready to start himself? Ellis and newly extended DE Will Smith are cogs along the line, but DE Charles Grant has off-field issues. And they must decide between sixth-round pick Taylor Melhlaff and Martin Gramatica at kicker.

ESPN has a question for the Saints heading into training camp.

Do the New Orleans Saints realize how important it is to get Sedrick Ellis into camp?
Ellis, New Orleans' No. 1 pick in this year's draft from USC, has value because he finally gives the Saints a big-bodied defensive tackle who can eat up blocks and free up DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith. Grant and Smith were consistently double-teamed last season because opposing offensive lines had no respect for the Saints' rotating bodies inside at DT. The Saints still have question marks at cornerback and they're not going away any time soon, but it is amazing how pass-rush pressure can suddenly make mediocre corners better football players. With an offense well-equipped to bounce back, Ellis and the Saints' D-line could be the key to the whole season.

I agree with this one. I would love to see the Saints get Ellis under contract this week, but I am afraid he and Tracy Porter will be the last two to sign.

The Sporting News ranked the top ten offensive tackles in the league. Fortunately for us, and Drew, the Saints own Jammal Brown was on that list.

7. Jammal Brown, New Orleans Saints. If not for his struggles early last season, he might be rated higher here. In his defense, he is still adjusting to his move to left tackle, but he came on strong in the second half of '07. Drew Brees rarely gets sacked, and Brown is a big reason why. He's also a dominant run blocker, which would be more prominent if the Saints get a healthy back to attack between the tackles.

Speaking of Drew, SignOnSanDiego.com (I always think of Anchorman) had an article about Drew and his feelings about leaving San Diego (It means a whales vagina) and being in New Orleans.

“I wasn't bitter,” said Brees, who yesterday was running about three dozen kids through their paces at Cathedral Catholic High as part of the NFL's Take a Player to School program. “Certainly, I felt like there was one person who didn't quite believe in me like the rest (of the Chargers). That's unfortunate.”

“Things have worked out for both sides,” said Brees, who spends “six to eight weeks” in San Diego, where he still owns a home. “I think he's (Rivers) done a good job. Look at the results. I'm happy for him. The Chargers have been successful the last few years and so have the Saints. New Orleans is a very special place. Things happen for a reason.

“I definitely wanted the Chargers to sign me back, but I signed with the Saints. It's like a calling.”

Call it a win-win situation.

Drew gets into some heavy stuff next.

“Winning the Payton Award is not a reward for what you do in the past,” Brees said. “There's a responsibility for what you do in the future. That's why we remain so active with the foundation. We support the league however we can. I love athletics. I want to leave the game better than I found it.

“God has a plan. There still are areas (in New Orleans) that look like a bomb went off yesterday. When we thought about where we were going to live, we tried to pick an area that hadn't been flooded. We bought a house that still had $52,000 worth of roof damage. We wanted to be in the middle of town. Right in the thick of it.”

It's funny because his house actually does flood when it rains very heavily. This article from ESPN proves it. Though it says his basement flooded, everyone from New Orleans knows there are no basements in NOLA. He is definitely in the thick of it.

In regards to playing his old team, this is what Mr. Perfect had to say.

“We're excited, obviously, but we still have a lot of games to play before that one,” he said. “I always hoped we'd come back here to play them. Maybe in four years. I still care about this community.

“There are some educated people in London who think New Orleans is still under water. This is a chance to show we're coming back.”

Is he like the perfect person or what? I really don't think Drew has a bad bone in his body. Am I too old to be adopted?

Apparently Thibodeaux, LA is a breeding ground for athletic trainers. I found this article from CSTV.com about athletic training students getting first hand experience working with NFL teams around the league during training camp, including our very own New Orleans Saints.

The New Orleans Saints will welcome Brett Chaisson, a senior from Thibodaux, La., while fellow NFC South member the Atlanta Falcons will have Scott Hebert, a senior from Galliano, La., to assist with their camp.

Traveling far away from the friendly confines of Thibodaux will be Nathan Quebedeaux, a senior from Hammond, La., and Dexter Charles, a senior from Thibodaux, La. Quebedeaux accepted an internship with the Detroit Lions, while Charles will assume the same role with the Arizona Cardinals.

Well its that time of year. Time for anyone and everyone who writes anything about football whatsoever to do their training camp preview. Don't know if you noticed. And so I give to you, ESPN's take on training camp. This one is a little different though. It actually tells us fun things to do in Jackson other than watching training camp. Enjoy.

New Orleans Saints
• Location: Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss.
• Camp dates: July 24-Aug. 21
• Team Web site | Training camp information | Directions to campus

• What Pat Yasinskas says: The Saints will hold their third straight training camp at Millsaps College and there are plenty of other attractions in Jackson. The Mississippi State Capitol building highlights a downtown that features plenty of history dating to the antebellum days. The city has more than 690 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Medgar Evers Home Museum. If you want to get some Mississippi catfish or check out some unique Elvis décor while listening to live music, head over to Hal & Mal's Restaurant and Brewery on South Commerce Street.
• What to do besides training camp: The Mississippi Braves, the Atlanta Braves' Double-A affiliate, play their home games about 10 minutes from Jackson at Trustmark Park. If you are a New Orleans native and want to taste your traditional cuisine, the place to eat is Que Sera. Looking for culture, visit the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Mississippi Blues Trail. It's also worth noting that Vicksburg, some 50 miles west, has a few casinos and some telling Civil War history.

By the way, I am really going to try hard to make it up there at least one day to check it out and give you guys a report.

This one, originally from The Sporting News, actually came out a couple of weeks ago and I probably have already covered it, but Yahoo! has republished it on their own site. To make matters even more confusing, it was actually written by Mike Triplett of our very own Times-Picayune. Check it out for yourself, but I will just give you, well, the bottom line.

Bottom line

The Saints’ schedule might be the team’s biggest hurdle. Since they are "hosting" this year’s international game in London, they will spend nine weeks on the road. Still, they should be considered the front-runners in the NFC South.

New Orleans has one of the top five offenses in the NFL and its defense can’t help but improve after an offseason makeover. And big-time seasons look to be in store for Bush and Vilma.

SN prediction: 11-5, first in NFC South.

Well it wouldn't be a Saints News segment without your daily dose of, ugh, Kush. I know I just finished a world tour media blitz myself, but this is getting ridiculous! It's from Fox News.

"Having six kids is amazing; it’s exactly what I want. It’s what I grew up with, so I can’t imagine anything less," Kardashian told Pop Tarts at Friday’s Intermix/VH1 Rocks Honors Shopping Party to benefit VH1 Save the Music Foundation. "It is something Reggie and I have talked about. When you’re that close to someone, it’s always going to come up."

"I don’t want to adopt — that’s my personal choice," Kim said. "If I am blessed to have kids of my own, then I want to do that."

In related news, Nike, Reebok and Gatorade have already approached Kim and Reggie about the endorsement rights to the unborn babies.

Kim also responded to rumors about her body and sex life.

"At this point, blogs and the media have said everything, and I don’t think I could get hurt by it anymore. According to the world, everything on my body is fake and I’ve been with every celebrity on the planet," she said. "I know none of that is the case, but I can’t really say anything."

What's going on with the draft pick signings? I think we should start seeing some more news on that front coming shortly.

There is a ridiculous amount of news to report today, so I am gonna make you jump over. This will also allow those fantasy football virgins and newbies to check out Stujo4's nice little introduction to flea flicker and fantasy football basics.

Continue reading this post »

Welcome to the Drew Brees edition of CSC's Saints News.

Starting us off is the Sporting News and their list of the Top 25 quarterbacks in the league. In the #4 spot is our very own Drew Brees.

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints. A couple seasons removed from the Saints magical postseason run, some forget about Brees, but he is the straw that stirs one of the league's the most prolific passing attacks. Last year, he did it without a running game.

Have you noticed that he is always in the number four spot? He really should be #3, at the least. He is #1 in my heart.

More Drew Brees love coming from The Sporting News. This time they list their five players they would love to see win the Superbowl. You know who they want to see win it all.

2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints. Brees should be seen as much more than the savior of the Saints' franchise -- his consistent excellence in San Diego and New Orleans the past four years puts him just a notch below Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

Brees wasn't that far from the big game in 2006 when most of his key Saints teammates were healthy and provided great support. With a shorter injury report and an upgraded defense, the Saints have a chance to rebound big in '08. Brees was a prolific producer and winner in college, and his play is worthy of him breaking through now as a seasoned pro.

He really does deserve it. Certainly more than any of the other guys on the list in my opinion.

Just when you thought you couldn't get enough Drew in your diet, the Times-Pic brings you a little more. This quick article talks about his recent USO trip and why Drew is the greatest person, well...ever!

Okay, I'm not going to gush too much here, but have you ever noticed that Brees is always in the news, and it's always for something positive? I think Goodell should give this guy a medal (or at least a nice Christmas gift ... maybe a Wii?) for making his league look better in the wake of the Chris Henry/Pacman Jones tidal wave of negativity.

As for Brees, he apparently was tired of rescuing babies and solving world hunger and wanted to do something a little more low-key with his time by visiting troops in Afghanistan. Are you kidding me?

What a great credit to our city, and what a wonderful role model for our kids. You keep it up, Drew! (Okay, I lied about the gushing. Sorry.)

He is awesome, isn't he?

In other news, someone was released from the Saints yesterday and it wasn't Drew Brees. The New Orleans Saints official website reports that  the team has waived WR Titus Ryan, leaving them with 80 players on the active roster, the maximum number allowed by the league. They always seem to bury bad news like this at the very bottom of a contrastingly positive and upbeat story as if no one is going to notice it.

The Advocate released their five keys to success for the Saints to improve this year. Without further ado, here they are. Nothing earth-shattering here folks.

1. Do a better job against the pass.

2. Generate a better pass rush.

3. Create more turnovers.

4. Run the ball better.

5. Get more consistency out of the wide receivers.

There really is nothing to write about.

SaintsInsider.com opened up its mailbag and answered some questions from readers. Here are some of the highlights.

I don’t see any way this team finishes under .500 in 2008, unless it endures another rash of injuries or stumbles out of the gate. They’re my pick to win the division.

So is this is breakout year? Bush recommitted himself to the offseason program and by all accounts is in great shape. He appears primed to improve his per-season yardage numbers by at least 250 yards, and if he does I think he’ll improve his touchdown total and put himself in “breakout” territory. I think it has to happen this year or the Saints start re-thinking how they’ll use Bush.

It's gonna need some work. (Photo Source)

For those Saints fans who attend the home games, the Times-Pic has some good news you may like.

The state agency that runs the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Arena has taken tentative steps toward purchasing a major piece of downtown real estate near the stadiums that eventually could become a glittering entertainment district with bars, sports-themed restaurants and other attractions.

The agency hopes by the end of the week to sign an option agreement for the New Orleans Centre, a group of three buildings that includes the Dominion Tower, the mall that once held the Lord & Taylor and Macy's stores, and a parking garage across the street from the Dome. The option gives the state 75 days to inspect the buildings, after which time it can purchase them or walk away from the deal with no obligation.

"We are excited about the potential to bring life to that part of the city, but we have a lot of work to do over the next 75 days, " said Ron Forman, chairman of the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District,

"There has been no major development in this part of downtown since the mid-1980s, " Thornton said. "We have the potential to make a major investment."

You can also check out a cool training camp preview video in the multimedia section of the Saint official website. Sorry, there is no way to direct link it.

Today's Saints News segment was brought to you by...Drew Brees.

Sedrick Ellis and Tracy Porter will be the last two draft picks to be signed. So says Paul Lawrence, agent for Saints CB Tracy Porter, in an article from the Sun Herald. He also said that his client and the team were "not close" in terms of getting a deal done.

"Tracy and Sed will be the last two to sign," Lawrence said.

"The tougher of the two (Porter and Ellis) to sign will be Sed," Lawrence said.

Not worried about it.

I'm starting to get sick of the Manning's. (Photo Source)

The Monroe News Star had a pretty funny and insightful piece about, who else, the Manning's. They are seriously in danger of becoming over-exposed. If you didn't the Manning's were just the greatest, funniest, most talented family ever, than this article will set you straight. They are just good at everything they do yet they remain down to earth. Here are some of the funny parts.

Archie's tone included a chuckle, but you can tell winning and losing was a big deal. The former New Orleans Saint's 11 handicap was second-best in the group to 2007 Super Bowl champ Peyton's 6. Cooper, who Peyton jokingly described as a "social legend" at Ole Miss, and reigning Super Bowl champion quarterback, Eli, play to a 12.

Social legend? That's a nice way of saying party animal huh?

"Everybody wants to give me a hard time for kicking Eli in the backside and 'picking on little Eli,'" Peyton said. "Look, this guy is 230 pounds. He's solid rock. I said, 'before that, he's giving me a wet willie.'

"I tell the director 'don't we have that on film?' He said it's more authentic if he gets it in there every single time. Eli is just loving it. I got an ear infection doing the commercial."

"We mess with my dad," Eli said. "My dad is very neat and likes all the clothes to be picked up; your dirty clothes here and don't leave any Gatorade or water out. He doesn't get it, but we'll throw stuff on the ground and he'll come and pick it up and put it away. We'll get it back out and throw it back on the ground. He'll just keep coming and pick it up; just talking and not noticing."

If I get the Manning's to adopt me, can I be a good football player too?

Here is a random one from LancasterOnline.com. Two women from Lancaster, PA,  Glenn Cook and Heather Spire, created a special vest that is designed to keep the wearer cool.

Cook and Spire last year formed Pervormance LLC, a company that distributes European-made cooling vests in the United States.

The vests, which cool by evaporation, not with ice packs, are being marketed to anyone who toils in the heat.

The short, quilted vests, which retail for $295 apiece, are guaranteed to stay cool for 48 hours after being submerged in cool water for just 6 seconds, says Cook.

These vests contain a high-tech fleece that absorbs the water and then releases it by evaporation, cooling the people wearing them longer than any other evaporative vest, she says.

Weighing 2½ pounds when activated with water, the vests' exterior fabric stays dry, allowing them to be worn comfortably over a T-shirt.

What does this have to do with the Saints?

The Philadelphia Eagles football team also tried them at a pre-season camp and will do further testing with eight vests at their training camp later this month and next, according to Cook and Spire.

Two other NFL teams, the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens, also are trying them.

If you want to know what Vegas thinks about the Saints chances this season, look no further. The over/under for total wins has been set and its not very optimistic. Here is a team breakdown from a guy whose job really depends on getting it right.

Vegas baby!! (Photo Source)

New Orleans Saints over/under 8½ wins: Sean Payton did a sensational job in his first season, getting the Saints to the NFC Championship game, then everything went wrong last season. In an age of offense, the Saints are still loaded, No. 1 in total offense in 2006 and No. 4 last season, led by Drew Brees (4,423 yards, 28 TDs, 18 INTs), and the backfield tandem of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. This offense is tailor-made for the indoor surface in New Orleans.

The defense has been a problem, but they moved up in the draft to take USC nose tackle Sedrick Ellis with the 7th pick, along with DT DeMario Pressley (5th round, NC State). After having to duel with the AFC South last season (losses to the Texans, Colts and Titans), the Saints get the AFC West, which includes a pair of cupcakes in the Chiefs and Raiders. And remember they played in a division in 2007 where only one team (Bucs) had a winning record. Over 8½ wins is more likely.

Nice! I think this is a no-brainer. Might make a little wager myself.

armchairGM.com had a bit to say about the Saints in their regular Walkers Rants section.

Three teams that will surprise you this upcoming season; New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets…

Surprise everyone except Saints fans.

You guys ought to like this. Kim Kardashian's sister is going to the clink. Per Kim K.'s official blog.

I have been getting asked all day if Khloe is going to jail. I know my fans rely on coming to my blog for the truth...

Khloe wants you to know she was sentenced to go to jail in regards to her one DUI case last year.

Glad I added her site to my daily blogroll.

For those of you with NFL Network, here is the full preseason game lineup.

They even came up with a movie poster-like picture. Sick! (Photo Source)

In what continues to play out like the script of a Law & Order episode, there is more information regarding the whole David Jacobs murder suicide that occurred last month in Plano, TX. Just when you thought it was all over...it gets even more interesting. The Dallas Morning News has the story, and its a long one, but its a good read. There is also a video interview with Jacobs on the page.

It turns out that Amanda Earhart-Savell, the woman David Jacobs killed before taking his own life, was in love with current New Orleans Saints center Matt Lehr. The article claims that this could very well be the reason Jacobs turned to violence. Here are some of the unbelievable details.

"She was in love with me, and I loved her," Mr. Lehr, 29, said in a recent interview, acknowledging for the first time his relationship with Amanda Earhart-Savell, a 30-year-old professional figure competitor and fitness magazine cover girl who also had dated Mr. Jacobs on and off since last year.

Mr. Lehr said he met Ms. Earhart-Savell through contacts in the close-knit bodybuilding community about a month before she began dating Mr. Jacobs.

"We'd randomly e-mail each other," he said. "She would wish me good luck for the games. Nothing too serious."

"We really started to like each other. But, you know, as the situation went, we had to protect each other and make sure everything was calm," Mr. Lehr said.

It wasn't long before she was traveling to New Orleans to meet with Mr. Lehr, who on March 19 signed a contract to play on the Saints' offensive line after leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All along, though, Mr. Jacobs was suspicious. More than once, while looking at her cellphone, he found text messages from Mr. Lehr, which she explained away as unwanted advances, Mr. Jacobs told The News.

In late March, Mr. Jacobs was distraught to find an unsigned letter in his mailbox, taunting him. "Bro, Matt Lehr is [expletive] your ex-squeeze," it read. "Do the math."

Another blow came in early April, when Mr. Jacobs noticed that Mr. Lehr was one of Ms. Earhart-Savell's top friends on her MySpace page. He immediately e-mailed his attorney, Hank Hockeimer, in Philadelphia.

"I am so upset I don't know where to start," Mr. Jacobs wrote April 4, according to the e-mail conversation, which Mr. Jacobs later forwarded to The News. "I am devastated. After all I have been through, this just tops it all. This really hurts so much."

The same day, Mr. Jacobs told The News that he recently "got 20 minutes into the drive to Lehr's house [in Denton County], then turned around." He said at the time he didn't want to do "anything stupid."

Geez. Matt Lehr was so close to possibly being killed and he didn't even know it. This whole thing is insane.

"It wasn't the right time," Mr. Lehr said they agreed. "We knew that we wanted to be together. It was very hard. We both loved each other. Did we like the decision we made? No. Did it help us become closer? Yes. We talked every day."

Mr. Jacobs returned to Plano on Monday, June 2. That night was the last Mr. Lehr heard from Ms. Earhart-Savell. "Sweet dreams," he says he texted her.

For two days, no one heard from her.

On Wednesday, Mr. Lehr made a worried call to Ms. Cooke. She, too, hadn't heard from her sister, so she called the police.

Everyone feared she might be at Mr. Jacobs' Honey Creek Lane home. When family arrived there before dawn the next morning, they saw police cars. "They told us it was two bodies," Ms. Cooke said. "We knew."

They awoke Mr. Lehr in New Orleans.

"I had to go to practice that morning," he said. "I was in shock. I started breaking down in the weight room."

Shock was quickly followed by guilt, he said.

"Right when it happened, I was like, 'Why didn't I have her just move in with me if I felt so deeply about her?' " he said. "Then, you start hearing rumors like, 'I hear he found out about you and her and couldn't handle it.' How do you take that?"

"When you lose someone close to you, it's a battle every day," he said. "There hasn't been a day yet that I haven't broken down. She was an angel. This is someone who had her life taken trying to help someone else.

"God bless her for trying to help somebody who couldn't be helped."

I really feel bad for Matt Lehr now. At first I figured he was a lucky S.O.B. because David Jacobs' suicide possibly saved Lehr from prosecution but now he has turned into a victim. And that poor girl. She was really just trying to help. I wonder if there is anything more to the story that we still don't know. At this point, anything is possible. I know I have said this before, but who could have thought all of this would happen.

The Sporting News released their NFC predictions by division and they've got the Saints winning the division.

1) New Orleans Saints (11-5). The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis will improve their defense. Drew Brees directs the short passing game as well as any quarterback. The Saints march back into the postseason.

Unfortunately, we lose to the Giants in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Speaking of predictions, the Times-Pic had a piece about how all of the football experts and magazine publications have high expectations for the Saints. We already knew that.

Houma Today had their usual Sunday morning article yesterday. Really there isn't much here. Just saying that the Saints have talent and they need to get back to 2006 form and it relies heavily on the defense improving.

I forgot to give this one to you guys a few days ago. It's from ESPN Insider and they rank each teams running game. They rank the Saints at a lowly 22. Ouch. Here is what they say.

22. New Orleans Saints

Although they have some big names in the backfield, it is hard to rank the Saints much higher. Deuce McAllister can't stay healthy and Reggie Bush is not a quality starter because he is not effective between the tackles. The most productive or at least the most consistent back last season was journeyman runner Aaron Stecker. Plus, Pierre Thomas is a young player with talent. This unit is four deep, but lacks a quality starter who can pound the rock.

The Saints have finally started the process of signing their 2008 draft choices and the first was yesterday when the Saints and DE DeMario Pressley agreed to a deal. The Times-Pic broke the story. No details on the contract other than the fact that its for 3 years.

And so it begins.

Can Arrington make the cut? (Photo Source)

The Times-Pic also had this article, which gives us their attempt at predicting the final 53 man roster. As expected, the most interesting decisions came at the cornerback and receiver positions.

Just missed:

CB Jason Craft was the hardest guy to project because he could wind up as a starter or a casualty. If McKenzie is healthy, though, I don't see six cornerbacks making the roster. Veteran Aaron Glenn is in that crowded mix as well.

WR Adrian Arrington has been very impressive so far, but I think he'll start out on the practice squad because of the numbers crunch. I think QB Tyler Palko goes back to the practice squad as well.

DT Kendrick Clancy didn't make my list, but he could easily beat out Thomas, Lake or Pressley.

Not sure I agree with Arrington, but someone has to go. I think its a little too early to really be picking who will make it, but this was all done in fun. What do you guys think about it? Is Arrington in or out? Is Craft in or out?

Right here you can find a position by position breakdown and analysis from CBS Sports in preparation for training camp. Not really too much new here.

Another article on former Saints center Jeff Faine and his new team, this time from the Orlando Sentinel. They are really excited about him down there in FLA aren't they? This was a funny part about Jeff Faine and Chris Hovan talking smack to each other on the line in seasons past.

"There definitely were some words passed between the two of us during those games -- and a lot of it from my end," Faine said recently. "But it was good. I enjoyed it. And I bet he enjoyed it, too."

"We looked at each other, kind of smiled, and basically both said, 'OK, what the [expletive],' and shook hands," Hovan said. "The guy is a warrior, and I'm glad he's my teammate now."

You can find two photo galleries here and here from the Manning Passing Academy courtesy of the Lafayette Advertiser. Many of them are actual students. I have posted some of them in the FanShots. There you can also check out a photo of Kim and Reggie from their day at Six Flags.

Here are three recent audio clips from WWL's radio show Saints Talk. For those out-of-towners, this should be a treat. The first is with Mickey Loomis, the second is with Brian Young and the third is with Jamar Nesbit. Enjoy!

 New Orleans Saints - Mickey Loomis

 New Orleans Saints - Brian Young

 New Orleans Saints - Jamar Nesbit

Check out this video of Adam Schein from NFL.com talking about Robert Meachem and Reggie Bush.

The Lafayette Advertiser had an article updating us on Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. Seems he is ready to go again.

"To be honest, this was a long time coming. About three, four years I've been dealing with issues," Delhomme, 33, said of the elbow. "I was just trying to play dumb, but I knew something was wrong. Very few people knew - just my wife and parents knew I had an issue.

"I don't feel like I did when I was 22, none of us do, but I feel like I did when I was 25, 26, 27 now. This has been a blessing in disguise, because I feel better than I have in a long time. I'm excited to get going, and I don't plan on going anywhere for a long time, either."

Maybe they replaced his real arm with a robotic one? Do you think we will ever see the day where we argue over whether robotic prosthetics on players' bodies will be legal or not? Do I sound like a moron?

The Saints only yesterday officially named Brian Adams their Assistant Director of College Scouting. Here is the official announcement per the Saints official website, but we already learned all of this in Tuesday's Saints News from the Herald in Rock Hill, SC. From the Saints official website...

“We’ve restructured our college scouting department and Brian is an experienced, smart talent evaluator who we targeted as someone who can help find the right players who will make our team better,” said Loomis. “He will work closely with Rick Reiprish in training and supervising our scouting staff.”

Yahoo! Sports had an article breaking down the Saints four big defensive acquisitions this offseason and asks whether this defense has improved enough. The answer?

The Saints did well with the types of defensive personnel they added. The moves bring them back to being favorites in the NFC South, and combined with their offense, there’s a good chance for a return to the NFC title game.

This has to be the year. (Michael C. Hebert)

Reggie Bush was one of Fox Sports' 10 players on the hot seat. Here is what they say.

Reggie Bush, running back, New Orleans Saints

Once hailed as the most electrifying prospect to come down the pike in years, the former USC Heisman Trophy winner sits at 22nd on Fox Fantasy magazine's list of running backs to draft. In two years as a pro, Bush has averaged a modest 3.7 yards per carry with his longest run from scrimmage listed as 22 yards. Legendary teammate Pierre Thomas averaged 4.8 in spot duty last season and mixed in a 24-yard scamper in only 52 rushing attempts. Oh, that's right — Reggie was being used as a decoy.

B-R-O-N-W-Y-N!!! (Photo Source)

For all the fellas in the house, meet Bronwyn Burt, one of your new Saintsations!

"I'm so excited," Burt said. "I can't wait for the games to start."

Burt is the daughter of John and Sharen Burt of Fort Walton Beach. She graduated from Choctaw in 2005 after being on dance teams there and at Pryor Middle School.
"We're just thrilled to death," Sharen Burt said.

AOL Fanhouse has an early breakdown of Saints players as far as their fantasy football value is concerned. For those who will be participating in CSC's fantasy league, you may want to brush up. Here is my favorite part.

The Team DS/T
It kind of pains me to say this, but the Saints might be a sleeper defense this year. They added Jonathan Vilma and Randall Gay to a defense that stuffed the run but got thrashed through the air last year. Josh Bullocks and Roman Harper are improving, and while they aren't my first, second or third choice for a D/ST, I would consider a late round flier.

This ought to get everyone pumped about next season. Or really disappointed if you are the superstitious type. From Saints Gab.

Surprise! All four of the major NFL magazines, Athlon, Lindy’s, Pro-Football Weekly and Sporting News, picked the Saints to win the NFC South.

We are screwed!

Our poster boy. (Photo Source)

The New Orleans Saints official website announced that Drew Brees was invited by league commissioner Roger Goodell to go on a USO Trip, along with Osi Umenyiora.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, joined by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, will soon leave on a seven-day, three-country summer USO tour led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen.

And lucky for Drew and Osi, the Admiral invited other participants...

including two members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Here is Mike Detillier's weekly piece on Houma Today. It analyzes which college conference has the most projected starters in the NFL this season. I will spare you the very long and detailed breakdown and hit you with the good stuff.

Overall Breakdown

When you break it all down, the SEC leads the way with 137 projected starters for the 2008 NFL season. The ACC finished second with 121 projected starters.

The Big Ten finished third with 105 starters and the Big 12 was fourth with 72 projected starters.

The Pac-10 finished with 70 starters, the Big East has 33 starters and Conference USA and the Mountain West each have 22 starters.

The WAC has 21 projected starters and the Mid-American has 19 starters. The Independents have 13 projected starters and the Sun Belt has 12 starters.

There are 57 players from the small college ranks that are projected starters in the NFL for 2008.

Here is an updated list of all the draft choices who are signed and unsigned by team from Scout.com.

This is a good one to end on. Read this article from the Times-Pic and tell us all which one you would choose, the gold pill or the black pill?