Saints to host opener in Jacksonville
Displaced by Hurricane Ida, the Saints play their home opener against the Packers in Jacksonville, Florida, on Sept. 12 after practicing in Dallas for the better part of two weeks.
The NFL announced the venue change three days after Ida battered the Louisiana coast as a Category 4 hurricane and left the entirety of New Orleans in darkness until small pockets of the city began to get power back Wednesday.
While the Superdome appears to have come through the storm in decent shape, there are logistical challenges with staffing an NFL game there in the near future because of widespread wind damage in the metro area and mass evacuations both before and since the powerful storm struck.
General manager Mickey Loomis said the Saints expect to play a lot of home games at the Superdome this season.
After the opener, the Saints have road games against the Panthers and Patriots before their next scheduled home game Oct. 3 against the Giants. Two more road games and their week off follow before they host the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers on Oct. 31.
The Jaguars said in a statement that they didn’t release any players because of their vaccination status, one day after firstyear head coach Urban Meyer said it was a consideration . ... Chiefs All-Pro S Tyrann Mathieu was placed on the NFL’s reserve/ COVID-19 list after testing positive for the coronavirus, ESPN reported. Mathieu is vaccinated . ... Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. had surgery to repair a meniscus injury and likely will miss the season. ESPN reported that Smith’s recovery will take 4-5 months.
Colleges: Texas A&M gave football coach Jimbo Fisher a four-year contract extension through 2031 that increases his average annual salary to more than $9 million. Fisher, entering his fourth season at Texas A&M, will be the nation’s second-highestpaid coach behind Alabama’s Nick Saban, who earns an average of $10.6 million per year . ... Michigan State promoted Alan Haller to athletic director. Haller, who had served as deputy athletic director since 2019 and had worked in the department since 2010, was a cornerback for the Spartans from 1988-91 before a three-year NFL career and a 13-year stint as a lieutenant in the university police department.
NBA: The NBA informed teams that recently issued laws in both New York and San Francisco about vaccine requirements will be enforced for members of the Knicks, Nets and Warriors unless there’s an approved medical or religious exemption from taking part in them, ESPN reported.
NHL: The Blues and top defenseman Colton Parayko agreed to an eight-year, $52 million contract through 2030. Parayko, 28, was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer . ... Veteran winger Kyle Palmieri agreed to a four-year, $20 million deal to remain with the Islanders. Palmieri, 30, was acquired last season in a trade-deadline deal with the Devils.
Soccer: Christian Pulisic and goalkeeper Zack Steffen will miss the United States’ opening World Cup qualifier at El Salvador on Thursday night. Pulisic, the top American player, is regaining fitness after testing positive for COVID-19. He has said he’s fully vaccinated. Steffen has back spasms.