Louisiana Sports Buzz: LSU Football, New Orleans, Bowls, NCAA, NFL
I just finished swallowing my daily does of doom from CNN and WWL-TV and I have to tell you things are not looking good with our murder rate rising. Nationally, we can't even bury celebrities anymore; we just punt 'em in cold storage while the lawyers wrangle about money, DNA, money, burial sites, and money.
Here's what I think: Instead of FEMA and Homeland Security, what America needs--desperately--is a Department of Fun. I'll call it the Department of Fun's Extreme New Orleans Makeover. The DOF would bring all the troops home from Iraq for one month and divert that month's war chest (my sources out that figure at exactly @28.7 zillion) to paint, fix up, and generally renovate the Big Easy.. This would give us a chance to to see how the Iraqis do on their own. (and without news coverage).
More importantly, at the end of 30 days no American boys or girls would have died in the desert and the Big Easy would be spiffy again for the New Orleans Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the BCS national championship game and the NBA All-Star Game. That would cheer up Orleanians and the whole world. I suppose at the end of that month, someone would have to ring the recess-over bell and the fighting and killing would resume, but we'd always have the Big Easy: a monument to peace, and the Department of Fun.
But this space is dedicated to important subjects like former LSU football players who will be reporting to their respective training camps in a couple of weeks. Bryan Lazare, senior writer for TigerBait, keeps tabs on where the ex Tigers are and with how they are doing in the NFL. I asked for his notes. Here they are:
AFC
BALTIMORE: Ronnie Prude, who saw time in the nickel and dime defenses a year ago, is listed as the third team left cornerback.
BUFFALO: Robert Royal is the starting tight end. He missed some practice time in June with a minor shoulder injury. Josh Reed is behind Peerless Price and Lee Evans at wide receiver. Reed missed some practice time with an undisclosed injury. Kyle Williams is listed as the starting right defensive tackle, but the Bills are considering switching to a 3-4 defense. In that alignment, Williams is projected as a nose tackle in competition with John McCargo and Tim Anderson. Free agent signee Chris Jackson is not listed on the depth chart. Jackson missed some practice time in May because of academic commitments, is behind punter Brian Moorman and kicker Rian Lindell.
CINCINNAT:I: Andrew Whitworth is considered the start at left guard, but he's going to be challenged by Stacy Andrews. Whitworth is also listed as the backup to Levi Jones at left tackle.
Skyler Green and Kenderick Allen are third on the depth chart at wide receiver and right defensive tackle, respectively. Allen recently signed with the Bengals after being with the Packers. Wide receiver Bennie Brazell, who missed some practice time with a [ulled groin, and guard Nate Livings are not on the depth chart. Center Ben Wilkerson has been released.
CLEVELAND: Recent draft choice Chase Pittman id he second team right defensive end. Last week, Pittman was involved in a scuffle at practice with offensive tackle Joe Thomas.
DENVER: Linebacker Cameron Vaughn is noi listed on the depth chart.
HOUSTON:Running back Domanick Davis was released by the team in March because of a knee injury.
INDIANAPOLIS: Joseph Addai, a 1,000-yard rusher his rookie year, is the No. 1 back since the departure of Dominic Rhodes. However, coach Tony Dungy said that Addai will share time with either DeDe Dorsey or Kenton Keith. Anthony McFarland is the starter at left defensive tackle. Defensive back Norman LeJeune is not listed on the depth chart.
JACKSONVILLE: LaBrandon Toefield had just 19 carries last season, but coach Jack Del Rio feel that he can get into the mix at running back this fall.
KANSAS CITY: First-round draft choice Dwayne Bowe suffered a leg injury during May workouts, but the injury is not serious for Bowe, who is listed third on the depth chart at wide receiver. Eddie Kennison, who caught 53 passes a year ago, is one starting wide receiver. Rudy Niswanger is the second-string center behind Casey Wegmann.
MIAMI: Travis Daniels, who had off-season ankle surgery, is listed as second team at right cornerback.
NEW ENGLAND: Three Tigers are working with the second team--- Eric Alexander at right cornerback, Kevin Faulk at running back and Jarvis Green at right defensive end. Faulk is spending much time as a punt returner. Randall Gay and Troy James are listed deep on the depth chart at right and left cornerback. James, who played for the Bengals last season, could earn $2.7 million if certain incentives are met.
OAKLAND: Top-pick JaMarcus Russell split time with Josh McCowan during mini-camp. JaMarcus Russell is listed as the third quarterback. Andrew Walter, who recently has knee surgery, is ahead of JaMarcus Russell. Josh Booty is listed as the fourth quarterback.
PITTSBURGH: Ryan Clark beat out Anthony Smith to claim the starting free safety job. Alan Faneca is the returning starter at left guard.
SAN DIEGO: First-round draft choice Buster Davis was slowed by a groin injury during mini-camp and is not not listed on the depth chart at wide receiver.
TENNESSEE: Kevin Mawae is the starting center. Matt Mauck is not listed on the roster
NFC
ARIZONA: Free agent signee Brian Johnson is not on the depth chart.
ATLANTA: Todd McClure, who just signed a five-year, $10 million contract, is the starting center. Free agent signee Justin Vincent is not listed on the depth chart.
CAROLINA: Chad Lavalais, who was out of football last season, is third-unit right defensive tackle. Free agent Jessie Daniels is not on the depth chart.
DETROIT: Guard Stephen Petermann is not on the depth chart.
MINNESOTA: Defensive end Howard Green is not on the depth chart.
NEW ORLEANS:Devery Henderson is competing with Terrance Copper for a starting wide receiver spot' Linebacker Trev Faulk is not on the depth chart.
NEW YORK GIANTS: Corey Webster is the starter at left cornerback
SAN FRANCISCO: Melvin Oliver is listed as the starter tat right defensive end Mark Roman is listed as the second string strong safety. Free agent signee Sammy Joseph is not on the depth chart.
ST. LOUIS: Donnie Jones is the No. 1 punter. Claude Wroten is expected to compete with Jimmy Kennedy and La'Roi Glover for a starting defenesive tackle spot. Free agent signee Ryan Willis is not on the depth chart.
TAMPA BAY: Michael Clayton is listed as one of the starting wide receivers.
WASHINGTON: First-round draft choice La Ron Landry suffered a groin injury while playing paintball, but is listed as the starter at strong safety. Tight end Eric Edwards is not listed on the depth chart.
See more at www.bayoubuzz.com
Other Sports News:
Daequan Cook, Dashonte Riley, Demarcus Cousins, Glen Davis, Joakim Noah, Reggie Bush, Kevin Durant.
