Despite a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, Saints Quarterback Drew Brees says he intends to play Sunday against the Jaguars. He says stiffness was an issue on Thursday and whether or not he’ll practice today will depend on how he’s feeling…:

cut 14 (07) “get stiff”

The Saints won’t make the playoffs and they have just two games left, but Brees says he wants to play for the team.

Expect a moment of silence before Sunday’s game to remember Jerry Romig, who was the public address announcer for the Saints for 44 years. Romig passed away Wednesday at his home at the age of 86. His family said Romig was battling an extended illness. Romig retired from his P-A duties two years ago. Dome general manager Doug Thornton calls Romig an institution.

Former LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger will start this Sunday as the Tennessee Titans host the Houston Texans. Mettenberger is filling in for the injured Marcus Mariota. Mettenberger is 0-8 as a starter in the NFL.
The Virginia Tech Hokies face the Tulsa Hurricanes in Saturday’s Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport in what will be Hokies’ head coach Frank Beamer’s final game. Independence Bowl spokesman Stefan Nolet says they are honored to host coach Beamer in the last game of his career…

cut 8 (09) “to see”

Beamer announced his retirement at the end of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:45 tomorrow afternoon and it will be televised on ESPN.

The Pelicans bring a two-game winning streak into their Christmas Day matchup with the Miami Heat. New Orleans defeated both Denver and Portland this week to improve to 9-19 on the year. The Heat have lost two of their last three.

There are four more games on the NBA schedule today: the Bulls face the Thunder, the Warriors play host to the Cavaliers, the Spurs take on the Rockets, and the Clippers are at the Lakers.