Saints Coach Sean Payton says the relationship is good between him and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. It looked like Nielsen was set to become LSU’s next defensive coordinator, when Payton offered Nielsen a promotion and a three-year contract. Payton is fired up his new assistant head coach is staying.

Cut 16 (24) “returning”

It was important for the Saints to keep Neilsen after Tight End Coach Dan Campbell was named head coach in Detroit.

With LSU missing out on Nielsen and Marcus Freeman, The Tigers are still searching for its next defensive coordinator.  It is unclear at this time who LSU is targeting to run the defense.

ULM looks to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they host Texas State.  The Bobcats currently sit at 3-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.  Koreem Ozier leads ULM in scoring at 13-points a game. Richard says the junior from Wisconsin has stepped up his game in conference play…

Cut 20 (16) “it going”

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team will take on the UTEP Miners tonight at 8 p.m.  UTEP has a 6-6 record on the season while the Bulldogs sit at 11-4.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will host the Arkansas Red Wolves on the hardwood tonight at 6 p.m.  The Red Wolves will roll into Lafayette with a 5-6 record while the Cajuns have a 9-4 mark so far this year.  The Cajuns are led in scoring by guard Cedric Russell at 16.9 points per game.

The Saints face an uncertain future at quarterback and it’s complicated by the fact that the franchise has salary cap issues. New Orleans is reportedly 109-million dollars over the cap for next year and several key members of last year’s team head into the offseason with the chance at free agency. So how will they put another playoff contender on the field next season? Coach Sean Payton is confident they’ll figure out a way…
cut 17 (29) “….for the Saints”
Payton also says he feels good about Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill as his starting quarterback next season.
___________________________________________________________’
The Pelicans lost last night to Utah 128 to 118, despite 28 points from Zion Williamson. Donovan Mitchell has 36 points for the Jazz.

Tonight in college basketball, the Ragin Cajuns and ULM both play at home tonight. U-L Lafayette will face Arkansas State, while the Warhawks will take on Texas State. Koreem Ozier (KUH-reem OH-zeer) leads ULM averaging 13 points a game. Coach Keith Richard (Ree-shard) says the junior from Wisconsin has stepped up his game in conference play…
cut 20 (16) “…it going”

Also tonight, Louisiana Tech is at U-TEP.

The LHSAA says its winter sports championships remain on schedule so that means the girls championships in Hammond will occur March second to the sixth and Lake Charles will host the boys basketball championships the following week.

We are still on Drew Brees retirement watch. No news on when number nine may announce he’s hanging up the shoulder pads for good. According to an Instagram post by his wife, Brittany Brees, Drew played with several injuries. We knew about the rib injuries, but Brittany says the future hall of famer also had a torn rotator cuff and torn fascia in his foot. Coach Sean Payton is not surprised by Brees’ level of toughness…
cut 19 (19) “….and coach”
If Brees does retire, Coach Sean Payton once again said today that he has a lot of confidence in Taysom HIll and Jameis Winston. Winston is one of several players on the Saints roster that can become a free agent this offseason.

The Pelicans face the Utah Jazz again tonight in Salt Lake City. Utah has won six in a row and just beat New Orleans on Tuesday night. The Jazz hit 21 three-pointers that night while the Pels only made six three-pointers. That’s been a common occurence for New Orleans as other teams have shot really well against the Pelicans from three-point range, while the Pels are struggling from three-point range. Tip off tonight is at 9 PM on TNT.

LSU has announced that attendance at baseball games at Alex Box Stadium will be capped at 25-percent and there will be no tailgaiting. Also the Tigers have already made an adjustment to their 2021 schedule as UC Riverside backed out of a weekend series in February. Instead LSU will play Youngstown State and Nicholls that weekend.

The Ragin Cajuns have released their baseball schedule for this season. UL Lafayette will open the season in New Orleans with a three-game series versus Tulane. The next weekend, the Cajuns will host Rice for a three-game series.

Saints Coach Sean Payton will meet with the media today as he speaks publicly for the first time since Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. New Orleans is heading into a busy offseason. The Black and Gold have several players entering free agency including Trey Hendrickson, Marcus Williams, Jameis Winston, Jared Cook and Sheldon Rankins are among the big names.

Plus there’s the looming retirement of Quarterback Drew Brees, who according to his wife, Brittany, played through a lot more than just rib injuries. Brittany said in an Instagram post that her husband also had a torn rotator cuff, torn fascia in his foot to go along with the eleven broken ribs and a collapsed lung which we already knew about. Brittney said Drew never complained once despite what was a difficult season.

Former Saints assistant head coach adn tight ends coach Dan Campbell is officialy the head coach of the Detroit Lions and he reportedly received a six-year contract. Campbell was an interim coach with the Dolphins in 2015 and went 5-and-7.

In college basketball, Nicholls won its fifth straight last night as the Colonels defeated Houston Baptist 92-83. Ty Gordon scored a season-high 27 points in the win. UNO clobbered Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 87-69. Stephen F Austin defeated Northwestern State 86-74 and Southeastern Louisiana outscored McNeese 92-88. Gus Okafor had 26 points for the Lions, while the Cowboys remain winless in Southland play.

The Pelicans visit the Utah Jazz again tonight. Utah beat New Orleans 118 to 102 on Tuesday night. Utah sunk 21 three-pointers in the game as the Pels have lost six of their last seven and they are in 12th place in the Western Conference.

High school football…Union Parish running back Trey Holly is the Class 3A Most oustanding offensive player of the year. Holly rushed for 27-hundred yards and 44 touchdowns last season. St. James defensive end Sai’von Jones is the Defensive Player of the Year in 3A. He’s headed to LSU. Madison Prep Landry Williams is coach of the year after leading the Chargers to their first state title in football.

We knew Saints Quarterback Drew Brees suffered crack ribs and a punctured lung, but the 42-year-old also had a littany of other injuries according to his wife Britanny Brees. Brittany said on an Instagram post today that Brees also had a torn rotator cuff and torn fascia in his foot. Brittany Brees says Drew never complained once and while this has been the hardest year of their lives, in some ways it has been their best. Drew Brees is expected to retire, but was non-commital when he spoke with reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Bucs.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Saints receiver Michael Thomas likely needs surgeries to repair a torn deltoid and other injured ligaments in his ankle. Thomas injured his ankle in week one and was never the same. A source told Schefter that Thomas wanted to keep playing knowing that this might be the last year for Brees and he wanted to win a Super Bowl with him. If Thomas has surgery, he’ll reportedly be ready for summer OTAs.

LSU cornerback Eli Ricks and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been named to the Football Writers Association of America’s All-Freshman team. Boutte set an SEC single-game receiving record with 308 yards against Ole Miss and that was named as the Freshman performance of the year. Boutte says he knew after Terrance Toliver opted out that he had to step up his game…
cut 18 (14) “…just happened”

What the heck happened last night with the LSU basketball team. The Tigers allowed an SEC record 23 three point shots as 18th ranked Alabama trounced LSU 105-75. John Petty hit eight three-pointers and finished with 24 points.

Utah hit 21 threes and defeated the Pelicans 118 to 102. New Orleans will face the Jazz again on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.

LSU is still searching for a new defensive coordinator after Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen remains in New Orleans with a new contract. Nielsen has also been named assistant head coach after the Tigers tried to hire Nielsen to replace Bo Pelini as their defensive coordinator. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Saints Coach Sean Payton got Nielsen to stay by promoting him and giving him a new three-year contract…
Cut 20 (11) “.they have done”
LSU was also reportedly close to hiring Marcus Freeman as defensive coordinator, but he took the D-C job at Notre Dame.

LSU and the Pelicans both got blown out last night on the hardwood. Alabama made 23 three-pointers in a 105-75 win over the Tigers, while Utah hit 21 threes in a 118 to 102 victory over New Orleans.

Lake Charles native and former Saints general manager of pro personnel has been introduced as the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. The 40-year-old says he will be forever grateful to Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis for giving him a chance 18 years ago…
cut 30 (09) “…Mr Benson”
Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will reportedly for Philadelphia’s head coaching job today. ESPN reports Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas will have surgery on his injured ankle.

The Football Writers Association of America has named LSU wide receiver Kayson Boutte’s SEC record 309 receiving yard game against Ole Miss as the Freshman Performance of the Year. Boutte says he needed to have a big game because of the Rebels’ explosive offense…
cut 17 (11) “….I can be”

LSU is still searching for a new defensive coordinator after Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen remains in New Orleans with a new contract. Nielsen has also been named assistant head coach after the Tigers tried to hire Nielsen to replace Bo Pelini as it’s defensive coordinator. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Payton got Nielsen to stay by promoting him and giving him a new three-year contract…
Cut 20 (11) “.they have done”
LSU was also reportedly close to hiring Marcus Freeman as defensive coordinator, but he took the D-C job at Notre Dame. Detillier says it’s likely LSU Coach Ed Orgeron has another option.

The Saints are reportedly losing secondary coach Aaron Glenn. He’s reportedly heading to Detroit to become the Lions defensive coordinator for new head coach Dan Campbell, who just left New Orleans as tight ends coach and assistant head coach.

LSU men’s basketball will welcome the 18th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to the PMAC Tonight. The Crimson Tide are in first place in the SEC at 6-0 and they’ve won seven in a row. Coach Will Wade says Bama is playing as well as anyone in the country…
Cut 19 (19) “…for us.”
A win for the Tigers and they will claim a share of first place in the Southeastern Conference. Tip-off is at 8 PM.

The Pelicans, who ended a five-game losing streak on Sunday with a win over Sacramento, will visit Utah tonight. The Jazz have won five in a row.

The LSU baseball team’s schedule came out today and it’s a 56-game regular season that the Tigers typically play, including ten three-game SEC series. The season begins February 19th with LSU hosting Air Force, they’ll travel to Lafayette for a game against the Cajuns on February 24th.

It is believed that the Saints will have a new starting quarterback in 2021 as Drew Brees is expected to announce his retirement after a 20-year career in the NFL. Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston are likely successors. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the Saints have to ask themselves one important question.

Cut 17 (22) “for you”

All signs pointed to Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen being named LSU’s new defensive coordinator, but that is currently on hold due to the Saints not signing off on it because of possible contractual issues.  Nielsen still seems to be LSU’s prime candidate.

LSU starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal announced that he will be returning to the team next season.

LSU men’s basketball will welcome the 18th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to the PMAC Tonight. The Crimson Tide are in first place in the SEC at 6-0 and they’ve won seven in a row.  Coach Will Wade says transition defense will be key.

Cut 20 (24) “check them out”

The New Orleans Pelicans will be on the road tonight when they take on the Utah Jazz.  New Orleans sits at 5-7 while the Jazz are 9-4 on the season.  Point Guard Lonzo Ball could return for the Pels after missing the last few games with knee soreness.  His status is questionable.

The Grambling men’s basketball team lost a close one to Prairie View A&M 59-50.

The Southern Jaguars cruised to an easy victory over Mississippi Valley 102-61.

Quarterback Drew Brees 20-year Pro Football Hall of Fame career most likely ended last night with Tampa Bay’s 30-20 win over the Saints in the NFL playoffs. In the past few years, the 42-year-old QB has contemplated retirement but Brees but kept coming back, trying to win that second Super Bowl. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the skills are no longer there to get the job done in the playoffs…
Cut 7 (12) “…known it.”
Brees threw three interceptions last night. There was also a critical fumble by tight end Jared Cook. Tampa Bay scored 21 points off of four Saints turnovers. Coach Sean Payton…
cut 15 (14) “…well to win”

LSU could be close to naming a new Defensive Coordinator as Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen will reportedly be named the new D-C in Baton Rouge this week. Nielsen played at U-S-C for Coach Ed Orgeron in the late 1990s and early 2000s and he was Coach O’s defensive line coach at Ole Miss when Orgeron was the head coach in Oxford.

Tennessee is looking for a new head coach. The Volunteers have fired Jeremy Pruitt after three seasons and a 16-19 record.

In recruiting news…Many running back Terrence Williams has committed to the Ragin Cajuns. The three-year starter at Many has rushed for over 35-hundred yards the past two seasons.

Calvary Baptist quarterback Landry Lyddy has been named the Class 1A offensive player of the year and Oak Grove’s Bud Holloway has been named the defensive player of the year in One-A. Both players led their respective schools to state championships, Lyddy set a Prep Classic record for most passing yards in a championship game and he’ll be back next year for his senior season.

Quarterback Drew Brees 20-year Pro Football Hall of Fame career most likely ended last night with Tampa Bay’s 30-20 win over the Saints in the NFL playoffs. Brees has been contemplating retirement after the last couple of seasons and once again plans to think it over
Cut 6 (09) “..make a decision”
If this was a Brees’ final game, it ends with him throwing three interceptions
Cut 14 (13) “…those turnovers.”
Heading into last night’s playoff game, Brees threw 36 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 17 postseason games, but last night he threw just one TD pass and he was intercepted three times. Meanwhile, Tampa advances to play Green Bay in the NFC Championship game.

Now that the Saints season is over, the Black and Gold are expected to lose assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell as he’s set to be named the new head coach in Detroit. Also the team’s director of pro scouting, Terry Fontenot, will reportedly be named the new general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. If LSU is interested in hiring Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen, as the team’s new defensive coordinator, an announcement could be made later this week.

The LSU men’s basketball team has a big game tomorrow night as the Tigers will host Alabama. The Crimson Tide is 6-0 in the SEC, while the Tigers are 5-and-1 after rallying to beat South Carolina 85-80 on Saturday.

The Pelicans held off Sacramento last night 128-123 to snap a five-game losing streak. Zion Williamson had 31 points as he was 13 of 15 from the field and Brandon Ingram added 22 points. New Orleans is at Utah tomorrow night as the Pels will look to improve their 5-and-7 record.