New Orleans Saints news: Zach Strief restructures contract

Here’s a look at your biggest New Orleans Saints headlines for Friday, and we wish you safe travels and good wishes for Memorial Day Weekend!

Adrian Peterson off to good start at New Orleans Saints practice - ESPN
“Strange? It’s not strange. I’ve been dreaming about a day like this for a long time,” the veteran fullback said of his longtime NFC North rival, who signed a two-year deal with the Saints last month.

“He looks the same way he looked when I was watching him from the other sideline for all those years. He looks like the same old AP, and I’m just excited to see him in the same team colors.”

Bigger and better? Michael Thomas adds 10 pounds, wants to be all-time great - ESPN
METAIRIE, La. -- A bigger, better Michael Thomas?

It hardly seems possible after the New Orleans Saints receiver had one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history last year – 92 catches, 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns in just 15 games played.

But he already has one part of the formula down. Thomas (6-foot-3) said he is up to about 220 pounds after adding 10 pounds of muscle to an already-physical frame.

Blockbuster renovations, upgrades at Superdome possible after architects hired | theadvocate.com
The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District approved funding this month to hire the architecture firm Gensler to develop a master plan for possible future renovations to the stadium.

The firm was picked by representatives from the Saints, the LSED and SMG, the company that operates the Superdome, after meeting with four other architectural firms: HKS of Dallas, Populous and HNTB of Kansas City, and HOK of St. Louis.

Saints DT Sheldon Rankins' goals for Year 2: Stay healthy and dominate | NOLA.com
"Obviously play all the games; that's the first one," Rankins said Thursday after organized team activities. "Second, just be more consistent. I think when I came back I flashed a lot, but consistently I wasn't as dominant as I felt like I wanted to be. So, I think that's my thing this year. ... With each play just try to look at it as each play is its own battle, dominate that battle, come back the next play and do the same thing. I think consistency with dominating a game is probably the biggest thing."

Saints plan to be 'smart' with Hau'oli Kikaha's return in order to have him full strength for training camp | theadvocate.com
Almost a year after suffering the third torn ACL of his career, Hau'oli Kikaha is close to getting back to full strength for the New Orleans Saints.

Kikaha is participating in part of the organized team activities that began this week, although the third-year defensive end did not participate in full-team sessions.

New Orleans wants to make sure he's at full strength when training camp begins.

"He's doing really well. He's going through some individual drills, he's taking part in the walk-through," defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. "I think the training staff, I think we're going to be smart with him."