The NFL released their 2025 schedule on Wednesday, and we found out when and where the new era of the New Orleans Saints will begin. The answer is Coach Kellen Moore will first take the field at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 7 against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, and in fact, the team will play the first half of its home schedule by the time Week 6 is done.

Just how tough is it? Well, the Saints will play their first three games against the NFC West, including a trip to Seattle in Week 3, before heading to the other side of the country the following week to play Super Bowl contender, Buffalo. The Saints won’t face a division foe until Week 8, and the middle of the schedule is tough.

How will they navigate through, and are we ready for (way too early) predictions? Times-Picayune and Advocate sports columnist Rod Walker is with host Jim Derry on a special Thursday edition of Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 375) presented by Evangeline Securities. Jim’s “Last Word” offers where expectations on Tyler Shough should be by pointing out quarterbacks not drafted in the first round since 2014.

The official release of the 2025 NFL schedule doesn’t come until Wednesday evening, but as always, there are plenty of leaks and rumors to talk about for the New Orleans Saints? We ask: Is it better for a rookie head coach in Kellen Moore and rookie quarterback in Tyler Shough to play the easiest parts first, or does it matter?

That’s what we get into first on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 374) presented by Evangeline Securities, as host Jim Derry asks for thoughts from the Dat Family. Jim also says brings in local podcast host David Grubb for his expertise on the Pelicans picking seventh in the NBA Draft and whether there’s a possibility of moving up.

Will GM Joe Dumars make some other moves, and what’s the outlook for Coach Willie Green? Gabe Henderson also has thoughts on the NBA Lottery, and in Jim’s ‘Last Word,’ he chastises Major League Baseball for waiting until the death of Pete Rose to let him back into the game.

A vast majority of Saints fans who wanted Derek Carr gone got their wish this past weekend when the 34-year-old QB abruptly retired. Now what? Well, there’s no question the team is entering a rebuilding era, although General Manager Mickey Loomis and company don’t want to call it that.

How long will the honeymoon period last for both Coach Kellen Moore and his rookie quarterback Tyler Shough? And will they bring in a veteran to help in a QB room that is the only one without an NFL victory? Indeed, there’s plenty to discuss on another Mano E Monday edition of Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 373) presented by Evangeline Securities, including the interesting timing of WHEN Carr and the team announced the move.

Also, we hear from Shough, Moore and No. 1 pick Kelvin Banks after a weekend of rookie minicamp, and Gabe Henderson is here to help fill us in on the cap situation and what free-agent QBs are available. In “The Last Word,” Jim wonders if the ump who tossed LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson was a little quick on the trigger Sunday afternoon.

I was wrrrr. Wrrrr. I was wrrr. Wrrrrrong. There. I said it. As soon as the news was out Saturday morning that Derek Carr had retired from football, Jim Derry went into the back of the pantry and took out the blow torch to thaw out his crow for a po-boy and a party with his Dat Family.

What other way should we start the weekend other than with a special weekend edition of the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 372) presented by Evangeline Securities? The host says “common sense” never left, and of all the scenarios, no one really saw retirement coming.

Meanwhile, commenters had a wide range of things to say – from well wishes to those who are ecstatic Carr is gone. We also ask the question: “Who starts now? Tyler Shough? Spencer Rattler? An unnamed veteran?”

With the Dallas Cowboys trading for wide receiver George Pickens late Tuesday night, it got us thinking: How many options out there do the New Orleans Saints have if they want to bring in a veteran wide receiver? Keenan Allen? Amari Cooper? The newly released Gabe Davis?

That’s our lead topic on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 371) presented by Evangeline Securities, as host Jim Derry asks for thoughts from the Dat Family, and they have plenty of them. Jim also says the spotlight on this weekend’s rookie camp won’t just be on quarterback Tyler Shough, but where Coach Kellen Moore and his staff will start off with first-round pick Kelvin Banks. Oh, and we look forward to seeing linebacker Danny Stutsman and a couple others.

To finish it off, Man vs. Machine has a pick in one of Wednesday’s NBA playoff games, and in the ‘Last Word,’ we talk about the best college baseball team in Louisiana – yep, LSU. Nope, not that LSU. Rather, the LSU that’s 51-0. (Head north, young man.)

The only thing clear about this cloudy offseason standoff between the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Derek Carr is that no one – maybe not even the players involved – know the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Who will tell it first?

Is either or both sides ready to move on, or are they simply playing an expensive game of chicken? Who better to ask than a raving band of Who Dats? We did that on another Mano E Monday edition of Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 370) presented by Evangeline Securities?

Also, Gabe Henderson is back to chat and to offer his pick of the day in 'Man vs. Machine,' and in Jim’s Extra Point, he has proof even the Saints themselves are trying to forget the past 18 months and strike it from the history books. (OK, maybe we exaggerate a little.)

It has been one week since the New Orleans Saints chose quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th pick of the NFL Draft. It seems as if ever since, the media has already anointed him as the starter for the team’s opener on Sept. 7.

In other words, the same “experts” who said the Saints would not restructure Derek Carr’s contract and would let him go are now saying Coach Kellen Moore will choose Shough and bypass Spencer Rattler, and at the same time dismiss Carr for real this time.

What’s true, and what isn’t? What make sense, and what doesn’t? Host Jim Derry spends asks Garland Gillen on FOX-8 on Friday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 369) presented by Evangeline Securities. Also, Jim and Garland talk “way too early” over/under win totals, and Jim’s “last Word” looks back 47 years to the May 3, 1978 flood.

There isn’t a single fan of the New Orleans Saints who doesn’t have an opinion on the Derek Carr saga. Will we ever find out the truth? Does it matter? Will he playin 2025, and if not, who takes his place: second-round draft pick Tyler Shough or last year’s backup Spencer Rattler?

How about a spirited debate on the subject? Well, that’s what we get on Wednesday’s Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 368) presented by Evangeline Securities, as host Jim Derry and ESPN Radio host Matt Moscona share their differing opinions, as do the involved Dat Family.

The duo also talks about whether LSU actually has the No. 1 portal class, as Sports Illustrated has suggested. Also, Gabe Henderson has something to say about Taysom Hill, and has his daily best bet in ‘Man vs. Machine.’ In his ‘Last Word,’ Jim looks back 10 years to NOLA.com’s first-ever live draft show when the Saints took Andrus Peat and Stephone Anthony in the first round. (Stephone Who?)

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and things started wonderfully for the New Orleans Saints with the selection of Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks. But then … on Friday with the 40th pick, the team reached to draft Tyler Shough of Louisville as the third quarterback chosen.

The big question is not necessarily about Shough, as it is “Did this team know about Derek Carr’s problems all along and still restructure his contract – and mortgage the immediate future? Whatever the truth may be, host Jim Derry has his take in ‘Derry’s Dime,’ and a plethora of commenters follow suit on a Mano E Monday edition of Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 367) presented by Evangeline Securities.

Also, Gabe Henderson shares his thoughts on the talk of the weekend, and that’s Shedeur Sanders falling to the fifth round. Gabe also tries to stay hot with his pick of the day in 'Man vs. Machine,' Lastly, on ‘The Last Word,’ Jim begs the PGA to change the date of the Zurich Classic, or the people New Orleans will keep on not giving a rat’s patoot.

Finally. We have finally made it to NFL Draft Day 2025. Of course we have a plethora of questions. Is it a sure thing for the Titans and Cam Ward at No. 1? Will the Jaguars and Bears make some sort of move before the thing starts? Who will the Saints go with at No. 9?

Jim Derry has the Dat Crew together, as he, Gabe Henderson and Zach Ewing do their own mock draft and then explain each pick on a special Thursday episode of the Dattitude Podcast (Ep. 366) presented by Evangeline Securities.

They also preview Thursday night’s live draft show, where all of our Saints Insiders will be with us from team headquarters to update what’s going on.