New Orleanians often resist change.

At times, it’s endearing. At other times, it’s frustrating.

I never thought I’d leave the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Ever. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the late great columnist Peter Finney. Tell the stories that moved sports fanatics. Tell the truth behind the window dressing even with the loyal Who Dats breathing down my neck.

That can become a challenge when you’re constantly peeking over your shoulder at click counts and video impressions. And yet, I know there’s a thirst in the New Orleans area for quality sports journalism and biting, honest commentary.

The Athletic will provide sports enthusiasts in southeast Louisiana and beyond with the coverage of the Saints, LSU, the Pelicans and anything else important it deserves with depth and a critical eye.

It’s exactly why I’ll start my 13th season covering the Saints as a columnist for The Athletic. I’ll also add a heavy presence in Baton Rouge in keeping tabs on the Tigers. So I’ll be quite busy chronicling if the Saints can live up to their Super Bowl hype and if LSU can become a relevant force again in college football.

Yes, this is a subscription site. For as much as a cup of coffee at Café du Monde, you’ll receive coverage from a trusted voice (at least that’s what someone told me once) in New Orleans sports to take you behind what’s really happening with the Saints, LSU or anything else important in the market.

You’re not only subscribing to comprehensive New Orleans sports coverage, you’re subscribing to the entire site. You name it, we cover it in nearly every major sports market in the United States and Canada.

This experience also comes without any ads or pop-up videos blasting you in the face. No need to reach for the mute button to turn down the sound while you’re hiding at work trying to read about Michael Thomas or Anthony Davis. Just a clean website with quality writers and reporters from across the country and the world.

Clickbait be damned!

The depth of talent at The Athletic is unmatched, including the cluster of new additions on the NFL and NBA verticals. It’s honestly a dream world for sports writers. It shows in the quality journalism and the overall reading experience.

Coincidently, Will Guillory has come along for the ride on this new, exciting adventure at The Athletic. Readers have become very familiar with his in-depth coverage of the New Orleans Pelicans serving as the lone full-time beat writer in the city at The Times-Picayune. Guillory, a fellow New Orleans area native, will carry his dogged approach to the site and provide the enhanced coverage of the Pels readers deserve.

More pieces to the New Orleans puzzle are on the way as well.

Of course, the engagement aspect of my job will still exist in full force. You’ll be able to reach me on Twitter and within our comments section. Give The Athletic a shot. It’s my personal mission to make you happy that you did.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, join now with this 30% off link: theathletic.com/nolalaunch

(Top photo: Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)