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TODAY: The New Orleans Saints will take the practice field at Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium that is scheduled to last about two hours, starting at 7 p.m. TULANE PRACTICE DETAILS:The Saints are proud to invite fans to the Black and Gold Fan Fest presented by Hancock Whitney prior to the Saints Training Camp practice presented by Verizon. The Black and Gold Fan Fest will take place on Brown Field, located just outside of the Reily Center on Tulane’s campus from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A live performance will be provided by the Bucktown All-Stars. Appearances from the team mascots Gumbo and Sir Saint and the Saintsations will also take place. During the event, there will be fan activities, including a raffle for items including free Saints game tickets, autographed items and other prizes. Food and drink will be available for purchase. The Black and Gold Fan Fest is open to the public and is a free event. Tickets are not necessary for tonight’s practice. TULANE TIES: Practicing at Tulane tonight, the Saints and the university have always had deep ties together as being leaders in the New Orleans area in the sports and educational sectors. The Saints played at the prior incarnation of Tulane Stadium from 1967-74, which also hosted three Super Bowls. The Saints and Tulane then both played at the Superdome from 1975-2013. Late Saints Owner Tom Benson and Saints Owner Gayle Benson made a significant donation to the construction of Yulman Stadium, with the field being named “Benson Field” in their honor. Saints senior offensive assistant Curtis Johnson served as head coach of the Green Wave from 2012-15, leading Tulane to their first bowl in 11 years in 2013 in his rebuilding of the program. PLAY OF THE DAY: At Saturday’s full-padded workout at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, the team primarily conducted red zone work during the team periods. During a team period, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater unleashed an impressive deep pass to wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. that the wideout came down with. NEWEST SAINT: On Saturday, running back Jacquizz Rodgers was signed by the Saints as the club waived/injured running back Robert Kelley in a corresponding roster move. Rodgers, 5-6, 205, was originally a fifth round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2011 out of Oregon State and is no stranger to the NFC South battles having played for the Falcons from 2011-14 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016-18, sandwiched by a stint with the Chicago Bears in 2015. In eight NFL seasons, Rodgers has carried 545 times for 2,067 yards with nine touchdowns and has caught 216 passes for 1,590 yards with five touchdowns. Rodgers played in all 16 games for Tampa Bay in 2018 and rushed 33 times for 106 yards and posted 38 grabs for 304 yards. QUOTE OF THE DAY: Running back Dwayne Washington on the competition at the position: “I’m going to always bet on myself. But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to keep on working,” he said. “Coaches say this and say that, but at the end of the day, I’ve just got to keep on working and keep my head in the books, give them something to talk about every day.” Originally a seventh round draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 2016 out of Washington, the 6-1, 223-pound native of the Los Angeles suburbs saw spot duty and contributed on special teams for Detroit in his first two seasons. Following a brief stint on the Saints practice squad in 2018, Washington was signed to the active roster and played in 13 games, primarily contributing on special teams, but serving as the feature back in the regular season finale vs. Carolina where he carried 11 times for 108 yards. This article by Saints senior writer John DeShazier puts a great insight into the competitiveness of the third-year runner STAT OF THE DAY: Seven wide receivers were selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft and Saints wideout Ted Ginn Jr.is the only one remaining active in 2019. MONDAY: The Saints will return to action Monday, with an afternoon practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. The practice will be closed to the public but look for comprehensive coverage post-practice from NewOrleansSaints.com and its various social media platforms, including post-practice media availabilities from Coach Sean Payton and several players and another edition of the Quarterback Challenge.

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Behind the Black and Gold for Sunday, August 4

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