The Saints will take on a team Sunday that’s still in the playoff hunt. Tampa Bay is 6-6 and Quarterback Jameis Winston is in the running for Rookie of the Year. coach Sean Payton says he’s improved since the Saints saw him in Week 2…
cut 17 (15) “…they’re winning”
And Payton confirmed today that running back Mark Ingram is undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and he’s done for the year. That means CJ Spiller should have more of an opportunity to make an impact.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette is in Atlanta as he’s a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the best running back in the country. The other two finalists are Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and Alabama’s Derrick Henry, who are also both Heisman finalists.

According to the USA Today, LSU’s coaching staff is the highest paid in the country. Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron leads the way as he’s making one-point-five million dollars this year, but his future with the team is uncertain as the Tigers passing attack is ranked 111th in the country.

KNOE reports that Arkansas State offensive coordinator Walt Bell and McNeese State head coach Matt Viator are the finalists for the ULM head coaching job. ULM president Nick Bruno is expected to interview each candidate this weekend and make a decision.

UL Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire may skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. McGuire plans to get some advice from the NFL Draft Advisory Board which consults with draft eligible juniors and sophomores. McGuire has rushed for over 1,000 yards the last two seasons.

In college hoops….ULM begins a three-game road trip tonight as they visit Kent State. Also tonight…Southern is at Wyoming while Nicholls visits San Diego State.