The Bird Calls Podcast Ep. 21: Contemplating New Orleans medical staff and Frank Jackson’s rookie season

The New Orleans Pelicans and Saints announced an eight-year partnership with Ochsner Health System on July 26th, and the professional sports teams renamed their training facility and practice fields in honor of the health care provider based in southeast Louisiana.

Less than three weeks later, Saints Head Coach Sean Payton and others were left miffed following a misdiagnosis of team's starting corner, Delvin Breaux. Team orthopedic physicians confused a fractured fibula as a contusion, subsequently, the Saints fired Deryk Jones and Misty Suri.

The interesting thing is Dr. Suri was also an employee of the Pelicans at the time of the terminations, but the basketball side of things decided to retain him. The logic isn’t entirely out of left field though: Dr. Suri was promoted to Head Team Physician and Director of Medical Services and New Orleans about a year earlier and New Orleans went on to enjoy a rather healthy season, especially if one excludes the injuries of Tyreke Evans and Quincy Pondexter which occurred under the earlier regime.

We break down the drama, get/dismiss all the hot takes from Editor Oleh Kosel and contributor Travis Tate, and then we spend a little time chatting about Frank Jackson, Quinn Cook, and the hottest show on television — Game of Thrones!

Enjoy!!!