Jayden Daniels continues to follow the lead of Joe Burrow, and although he won’t be picked No. 1 in Thursday’s opening of the 2024 NFL Draft, he almost certainly will be taken at No. 2 by Washington Commanders or at 3 by the New England Patriots. What kind of pro will the Heisman Trophy-winner be?

That’s a lead topic for host Jim Derry, who brings on his old pal Larry Holder of The Athletic to talk about it on Friday’s Dattitude Podcast  (Ep. 228) presented by Evangeline Securities, Also, do the New Orleans Saints have it in them and stick to the script of drafting a tackle at No. 14, such as Olu Fashanu or JC Latham? And will they make a move to fill in the void in the third and fourth rounds?

Jim opens the show with a couple of anecdotes and shares a prediction on the Pelicans’ do-or-die Play-In game against the Sacramento Kings – a game they will have to play without Zion Williamson out. He finishes the show with his ‘Extra Point,’ which focuses on yet another “they did what?!?” moment for the Saints in a past draft – this time when they selected cornerback Alex Molden over Hall of Fame running back Eddie George in 1996.

Jayden Daniels, Saints draft options and Pelicans play-in talk with Larry Holder on Ep. 228

Z Ball is joined by Ri Bound as they preview all 8 Playoff Series in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs.

2024 NBA Playoffs First Round Preview

It seemed like it was all there for the New Orleans Pelicans to steal Game 1 on the road at Oklahoma City on Sunday night, but scoring just two points in the final 3½ minutes and hitting the free-throw line just nine times all night spelled a heartbreaking 94-92 loss. Can they rebound in Game 2? Will Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and others step up?

The good news is it’s NFL Draft week, and Jim Derry gets things kicked off with FOX-8’s Garland Gillen on Monday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 229), as they’ll also dive into the prospects of LSU receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, and where they might go Thursday night. Oh, and maybe the best move for the New Orleans Saints is to trade down on Day 2 to get a couple more higher picks? 

Lastly, on the 'Extra Point,' Jim is all positive in looking back to the 2017 Draft that produced gems like Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk and other starters. And, of course, some guy named Alvin Kamara. We also look ahead to a busy week of Dattitude and shows on four mornings, including a preview of Thursday night’s live Draft show on NOLA.com.

Pelicans can't hold on at OKC, Nabers, Thomas and Saints draft with Garland Gillen on Ep. 229

There are plenty of question marks for the New Orleans Saints entering training camp, but the receiving corps is not one of them. Is this unit the strength of the team’s offense, and could Chris Olave become a real star in the NFL? After Rashid Shaheed, is Cedrick Wilson or AT Perry the WR3?

Also, it’s time to look at the Pelicans, who are 2 months away from their own training camp. Does the trade for Dejounte Murray change the trajectory for the team, or will the lack of a starting big man be a detriment? Is Zion Williamson ready to become an MVP candidate?

All these questions are answered, as Jim Derry brings in WDSU-TV sports anchor Fletcher Mackel on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 254) presented by Evangeline Securities. Also, before Fletcher heads to Paris for the Olympic Games, we ask the local angles he’ll be covering, and in Jim’s ‘Extra Point,’ he says Paul Skenes might already be the best pitcher in baseball after just 11 major-league starts.

Is the Saints strength of offense its wide receiving corps? Fletcher Mackel answers on Ep. 254

Z Ball is joined by Ri Bound as they discuss the Over/Under Win Totals for all 15 Western Conference Teams.

2024-2025 NBA Western Conference Over/Unders

We have had time to cool down from the Saints’ second consecutive blowout loss at home, and now the team is preparing for a trip out west to play the Los Angeles Chargers. Do we still have any hope for this team, or are you rooting for it to end as soon as possible?

The future of Dennis Allen, the contract extension for Alvin Kamara, the potential return of Derek Carr … Yep, there’s plenty to talk about on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 298) presented by Evangeline Securities. Host Jim Derry will chat about it with The Athletic’s Larry Holder, as well as “Wednesdays with Gabe Henderson.”

Also, Jim will tell you how you – the listener – can be a guest on Friday’s special Episode No. 300, and he will give you a brief preview of the New Orleans Pelicans’ season opener Wednesday night at home against the Chicago Bulls.

Is there any hope remaining for 2024 Saints? What about Kamara signing? Larry Holder on Ep. 298

There are so many things to talk about Thursday, but first we ask: What else can go wrong for the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite winning their season opener against the Chicago Bulls, they lose their top free agent in Dejounte Murray likely for “several weeks” with a broken hand.

Meanwhile, the Saints seem to be getting healthier (Taysom Hill, Chris Olave, Cesar Ruiz and Pete Werner), but is it too late to care, as they prepare for the Los Angeles Chargers? Also, Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU Tigers are on the road for the second week in a row and are slight underdogs at Texas A&M, where one of the two teams will be the only remaining undefeated team in SEC play after Saturday’s game.

It's a jam-packed Thursday Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 299) presented by Evangeline Securities, and Jim Derry has plenty to say. He also welcomes in Bet.NOLA.com’s Gabe Henderson to hear his top play of the week, as well as Uncle Big Nick for his weekly five best bets. (He has been hot!)

Saints get healthier, LSU preps for A&M, Pels have a problem, Best Bets on Ep. 299

There’s no question the New Orleans Saints played like a different team under interim coach Darren Rizzi this past Sunday. But it’s much tougher to continue that momentum – especially this week against a team in the Cleveland Browns with a good defense and a quarterback in Jameis Winston who might be looking to exact some revenge.

How will the Saints handle it, and what does the success – or lack there of – with interim coaches have to do with the current situation? Is Rizzi the favorite to land the permanent job? Will the likelihood of center Erik McCoy coming back help the team’s chances of winning? 

We’ll talk about that, as well as LSU at Florida, Tulane at Navy and the woeful Pelicans with WWL-TV sports director Doug Mouton on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 309) presented by Evangeline Securities. Host Jim Derry is also joined by producer Gabe Henderson. And Jim asks listeners what they think of Rizzi and why they think more highly of him than LSU coach Brian Kelly.

Gee Rizz! Can Saints continue their inspired play under interim coach Darren Rizzi? Ep. 309

5-12 and 14-43. That’s where we currently are with our major sports franchises, as the New Orleans Saints just finished off their most unsuccessful season in 20 years, while the New Orleans Pelicans remain last in the NBA’s Western Conference.

What are the biggest questions, and can we find the answers? Host Jim Derry turns to local radio and media expert David Grubb on Monday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 348) presented by Evangeline Securities. Jim also answer queries and comments from those who watched the show live on what normally is “Mano E Monday.”

There’s a lot of talk on how long Zion Williamson might be here, as well as Pels coach Willie Green. And for the Saints, of course we need to talk more about quarterback Derek Carr and the potential scenarios he might have with the team. However, we also explore possibilities for Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill and Tyrann Mathieu and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

What does the immediate future of Saints and Pelicans look like? Our best guess on Ep. 348

Podcast Tuesday - Pelicans Shut Down Zion Williamson 040125

Dattitude premiered in September 2021 to focus on what's important to sports fans in south Louisiana. While we focus on the Saints, we also talk plenty about the Pelicans, LSU, Tulane, Prep, sports betting, fantasy sports and all the big-time sports events happening in and around New Orleans. Host Jim Derry brings more than 33 years of experience covering sports in the region, and he'll "always tell you the way it is ... or at least the way he THINKS it is."

Podcast about all things NFL and NBA!!!! Weekly NFL Scorching Six Picks as well as all things NBA!! Please direct any questions, comments, and inquiries to zballpod@gmail.com

31 year veteran Sports talk host. Follow on Twitter @BigOShow. Watch the daily show on #YouTube search & Subscribe #BigORadioShow.

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