Mark Ingram Announces Details for First Annual Youth Football Camp

Running back, Heisman Trophy Winner and 2011 1st round draft pick, Mark Ingram, announces the details for his first annual youth football camp.

The Mark Ingram Football ProCamp will be held on May 5th & 6th from 9:00 am till 12:30 pm at Tulane University.

Ingram will be on site the entire time to direct camp activities and provide instruction. He will be joined by several of the top prep and collegiate coaches from the New Orleans area. The camp is open to boys and girls ages 7 to 14.

The camp will feature various instructional stations specializing in fundamental skills and the team concept of football. Groups will be small to ensure that each camper gets personalized instruction. Mark will also give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond.

Each camper will receive an autographed team camp photo with Ingram, a camp T-shirt, camp goodie bag and the opportunity to win additional prizes. Cost of the camp is $199.

Partners include USAgencies, Fox 8, B97 FM, WWL 870 AM and ESPN 1350.

Campers are encouraged to register early as spots are limited.

Additional information and registration is available by visiting www.MarkIngramCamp.com or by calling 888-389-CAMP (2267).

Saints Hire Former Rams Coach Spagnuolo as Defensive Coordinator

The Saints moved quickly on Thursday to wrap up former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo as the teams new defensive coordinator.

Once a deal is official, Spagnuolo will replace Gregg Williams, whose contract has expired. Williams is leaving the Saints to become the defensive coordinator on his longtime friend Jeff Fisher’s coaching staff with the Rams.

Before his three-year stint as the Rams head coach, Spagnuolo was the Giants defensive coordinator from 2007-08 and was a longtime assistant under the legendary Jim Johnson with the Eagles, coaching defensive backs and linebackers over eight seasons.

Super Bowl Parties – Creating Memories for a Lifetime

Family parties around the NFL have always been a staple in my family. My first memory from a family party was Super Bowl XVII on January 30th 1983.

While that was fun, finally in 2006 it was my turn to host my first Super Bowl party, a bash complete with food, games, and the two best teams that season in the league.

The menu was pretty basic, yet effective. Pizza, wings, pasta, red potatoes, a veggie and cheese tray, and even fruit salad. The party kicked off with some squares, a football tradition, and even some football bingo with some small prizes for those lucky enough to take home a game. Finally at 6:25pm, it was kickoff of Super Bowl XL.

While I have gone back and watched the game probably about 3-5 times, the real memories of that party is not the game, but the fact that it was all about the people that attended.

We had a number of people rooting for both teams, so the game vibe was pretty solid, which was a cool element to the party. Add to the fact the game was close, there was a lot of rooting during the contest.

There was a healthy mix of people that included relatives and friends. The conversation during the game centered not just on football, but on the holidays that had passed just a few weeks before, new jobs, new relationships, and even about other sports like baseball and basketball.

That’s the best part about football parties. It’s the games, the food, and most important, the people that make the game great, like the family and friends you spend it with.

Saints fans already had the pleasure of a huge Super Bowl party when the team topped the Colts back in 2009. While the team was not able to take advantage of a chance to get to the dance this past season, I can only imagine the parties if the team can make it back to the Super Bowl next season in New Orleans!!

February 6th is another chance to create memories at yet another Super Bowl party, and now there’s a perfect way to figure out just who to invite!

Visa has come out with the Visa’s YOU+TEN Draft app, and it’s a perfect way to have some fun figuring out who to invite over for the big game on the first Sunday in February, or if your actually lucky enough to win the sweepstakes – WHO to take to the game!

Super Bowl XLVI – another chance to create that connection with family and friends once again. Don’t miss out on it.

Disclosure: We received compensation from Visa for sharing our views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely ours, not Visa or the NFL’s. For more information about Visa’s YOU+TEN Draft App, please visit:
http://www.facebook.com/VisaNFL?sk=app_259824094080710

Colts Ask to Speak to Saints OC Pete Carmichael About Coaching Position

The Colts have added another name to the mix for the head coaching interviews, as the tam has requested permission to interview Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.

Carmichael has been the Saints offensive coordinator for the last three seasons and assumed play-calling duties in the middle of the season after head coach/play-caller Sean Payton suffered a left knee injury that relegated him to the coaches booth.

PFW: Do the Saints Need to Re-Sign Colston and Nicks to Contend in 2012?

It was a tough playoff loss to the 49ers, but a look back at 2011 shows a Saints team with one of the most explosive offenses ever. With a host of free agents, can they contend again in 2012?

Steve Spagnuolo to Talk to the Saints About the DC Job

The Saints are going to have a sit down with former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo for the teams vacant defensive coordinator position.

It is a position that became open after Gregg Williams left the team to join pal Jeff Fisher, the new coach of the Rams.

Before his three-year stint as the Rams head coach, Spagnuolo was the Giants defensive coordinator from 2007-08 and was a longtime assistant under the legendary Jim Johnson with the Philadelphia Eagles, coaching defensive backs and linebackers during an eight-year stint.

Spagnuolo has been rumored to be a potential replacement for current Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

Gregg Williams Leaves the Saints to Join Jeff Fisher and the Rams

With the season now over for the Saints, the team will have some shakeup among coaches, as the team is losing defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to the St.Louis Rams and new coach Jeff Fisher.

Williams and Fisher go way back, as he worked for Fisher with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans in the 1990s and the two have remained friends since those days. When Fisher accepted the Rams head coaching job, Williams was expected to join him as his contract was expiring at the end of this season.

The Rams defense in 2011 ranked 19th in yards allowed, were 12th in scoring defense and ranked second on third downs in 2011.

Potential replacements for Williams in New Orleans include former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo and current Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. In-house candidates include assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt, who has coached in the NFL since 1979.

LG Carl Nicks Expected to Leave Saints in the Offseason

Quarterback Drew Brees will be a free agent and despite conversations with his agent Tom Condon, the Saints have been unable to reach an agreement on a new deal. If they don’t, they will undoubtedly put the franchise tag on Brees.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, if the Saints don’t reach a long-term deal with Brees, they will be unable to keep left guard Carl Nicks.