The NFL announced their class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame today, and Saints great linemen Willie Roaf is heading into the hall in August.

Road played with the Saints from 1993 to 2001, and wrapped up his HOF career with the Chiefs from 2002 to 2005.

A first-round pick out of Louisiana Tech in 2003, Roaf began his career at right tackle before moving to the left tackle in 1994.

Roaf was named to 11 Pro Bowls, was a seven-time first-team All-Pro and was named a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1990s.

Drew Brees has been named the 2011 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Brees set an NFL single-season records with 5,476 passing yards, 468 completions and a 71.2 percent completion percentage in 2011. Brees also led the NFL with 46 touchdown passes and was second in the NFL with a 110.6 passer rating in leading the Saints to a 13-3 record and an NFC South title.

In two post-season, Brees completed 68.9 percent of 106 pass attempts for 928 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

Brees received 43 of the 50 votes, with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers receiving the final seven votes.

Jimmy welcomes Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees to throw footballs at moving targets against Taylor Lautner.

Before working for the Saints, Johnson coached defensive lines with the Denver Broncos (2007-08) and Atlanta Falcons (2001-06). Raiders head coach Dennis Allen coached with Johnson in both New Orleans and Atlanta, where Allen assisted Johnson in working with the Falcons’ defensive line.

Nicks says he would love to stay in New Orleans according to Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune alhtough he realizes the Saints have a lot of free agents to sign.

Nicks, a fifth-round draft pick in 2008 has developed into the best guards in the NFL.

The Mark Ingram Football ProCamp will be held on May 5^th & 6^th 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).

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.

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

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.

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?