LSU Football Coach Les Miles said today on the SEC teleconference that he can’t imagine Danny Etling not taking the first snap against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday night. Etling replaced a struggling Brandon Harris in the second quarter in last Saturday’s 34-13 win over Jacksonsville State. Etling led the Tigers on three consecutive touchdown drives. Miles says they spoke to Harris about being ready to play if they need him….
cut 10 (10) “….understand that”
All-American running back Leonard Fournette did not play against Jacksonsville State, because of an injured ankle. But Miles expects Fournette will play against the Bulldogs…
cut 11 (10) “…right now”
Kick-off on Saturday is at 6 PM.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said today that they had to cut running back CJ Spiller, because they needed to open a roster spot so they could sign a cornerback to replace the injured Delvin Breaux. Breaux is out six weeks with a broken fibula. B-W Webb who has some NFL experience was signed to add cornerback depth. The release of Spiller means the Saints lead the NFL in the amount of dead money, meaning the amount of money the franchise is paying to players who are not on their team.

Breaux was one of three Saints players who did not practice today. The other two are linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, with a quad injury and tight end Josh Hill with an ankle injury. Tackle Terron Armstead was limited with a quad.

The Pelicans announced the signing of free agent guard Lance Stephenson. Stephenson split time last season with the Clippers and Grizzlies and averaged eight points and three rebounds a game. During the 2013-14 season, he led the NBA in triple-doubles with the Pacers, but hasn’t been the same player since.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles told reporters on the SEC teleconference that he would like to keep it in-house on who will start at quarterback this Saturday against Mississippi State. But the head coach still gave us a strong clue that it will be Danny Etling…
cut 9 (07) “…if you don’t mind”
Two years ago, Mississippi State came into Tiger Stadium and beat LSU. The Bulldogs quarterback that day was Dak Prescott, who played an exceptional game. Mississippi State’s quarterback this Saturday will be Nick Fitzgerald who threw for 178 yards and rushed for 195 yards against South Carolina. Bulldogs Coach Mullen on Fitzgerald and Prescott’s running styles…
cut 17 (18) “…of running”

Saints Coach Sean Payton says they had to release running back CJ Spiller in order to sign a cornerback, because of the injury to Delvin Breaux. Breaux will miss six weeks with a broken fibula, so he remains on the roster, but the Black and Gold had to open another roster spot, which made Spiller expendable. BW Webb, who has appeared in 35 NFL games, was signed to provide depth at the cornerback position. Spiller was a key free-agent signing in 2015, but never lived up to the billing.

The Ragin Cajuns host their third consecutive home game this Saturday when they take on South Alabama. The Jaguars have a 1-1 record. They upset Mississippi State in the season opener and then lost to Georgia Southern. UL Lafayette Football Coach Mark Hudspeth says his defense will have to pay attention to Gerald Everett…
cut 20 (11) “…outstanding players”

Mississippi State is getting ready to travel down to Baton Rouge for Saturday night’s SEC showdown with the 20th ranked LSU Tigers. Bulldogs Coach Dan Mullen says despite the Tigers opening week loss to Wisconsin, they have one of the most talented rosters in the country…:
Cut 16 (19) “defensive lineman”
The Tigers and Bulldogs kick off at 6pm Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

A portion of the proceeds raised from the Thursday night NFL “color rush” uniforms will benefit football programs in Louisiana. The league announced that the first $500,000 raised by the initiative will help replace youth and high school football equipment lost in the flood. The color rush apparel is available at NFLShop.com.

The Saints have moved up three spots to No. 24 in the latest ESPN NFL Power Rankings.

According to sources, New Orleans has cut running back C.J Spiller.

ULM and UL Lafayette open Sun Belt play this Saturday. The Warhawks are at Georgia Southern and Coach Matt Viator says the Eagles option offense is hard to simulate in practice…:
Cut 18 (17) “of challenges”
The Cajuns host South Alabama. UL Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth likes how quarterback Anthony Jennings is developing in their system…:
Cut 19 (19) “effective there”
The Warhawks and the Southern Eagles kick off at 5 on Saturday. The Cajuns and Jaguars will play at 6.

The Saints have reportedly released running back CJ Spiller. Spiller was inactive for the season opener, even though he’s healthy. Coach Sean Payton said the game plan was the reason why Spiller didn’t play. Spiller never lived up to expectations in New Orleans after signing a four-year deal with the Black and Gold in 2015. His first season was injury plagued.

So is LSU football coach Les Miles surpised that he had to bench quarterback Brandon Harris after just five quarters. Miles says they scripted and rehearsed their first few plays going into the first two games of the season and he expected that Harris would play well…
cut 28 (08) “….fast”
Through two games, LSU has yet to score a point in the first quarter. Miles has yet to publically name a starter for Saturday’s SEC opener against Mississippi State. But the head coach expects running back Leonard Fournette to play and LSU will wear gold jerseys, with white pants.

The UL Lafayette football team is coming off a 30-22 win over McNeese State. In that game, the Cajuns rushed for 220 yards against the Cowboys. Here’s Coach Mark Hudspeth talking about his ground game…
cut 30 (19) “…FCS”:
Elijah McGuire led UL Lafayette’s run game with 139 yards. The Cajuns open Sun Belt play this Saturday by hosting South Alabama at 6 PM.

Not sure who will start at quarterback for the LSU Tigers this Saturday when they host Mississippi State. Danny Etling performed well in the 2nd quarter last weekend, sparking the Tigers to a 34-13 victory over Jacksonville State. Brandon Harris struggled against Wisconsin and in the first quarter against the Gamecocks. But Coach Les Miles has no regrets about not playing Etling against the Badgers. He says Etling was in a better position to take the field against Jacksonville State…
cut 17 (19) “…to improve”
Miles says Fournette’s health has improved enough and he expects his star running back to play against the Bulldogs. Kick-off is at 6 PM.

The Saints have signed a cornerback to replace the injured Delvin Breaux. B-W Webb has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with New Orleans. He’s 26-years-old and played for the Titans last season and his one career interception came against the Saints. Breaux is expected to miss the next six weeks because of a broken fibula.

Louisiana Tech’s Trent Taylor has been named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association offensive player of the week. Taylor had 11 catches for a career-high 178 yards in the Bulldogs weather delayed 53-24 win over South Carolina State. The state’s defensive player of the week is Kenny Doson of Nicholls State. The defensive lineman had five tackles, a sack and a forced fumble against Georgia. The Colonels host Incarnate Word for their Southland and home opener this Saturday.

In the high school football polls…Haynesville is the new number one ranked team in Class-A as a result of Southern Lab losing to University High. In Five-A…Brother Martin is still number one.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles is not revealing who will be the starting quarterback for Saturday’s SEC opener against Mississippi State. Danny Etling sparked the Tigers to a win over Jacksonville State last weekend, after Brandon Harris struggled in the first quarter. Miles was asked if Etling’s emergence on the field led to the team playing with a greater level of enthusiasm…:
Cut 16 (13) “the field”
Miles added that he’s confident star running back Leonard Fournette will be able to play this weekend.

The team will be wearing throwback “Gridiron Gold” uniforms for Saturday’s game against The Bulldogs in Tiger Stadium. Miles said Monday that the new unis are part of LSU’s annual Gold Game, and they will feature the Old Gold jerseys with the same color LSU wore in the 1940s. The throwback uniforms will also include a vintage block “L” logo on right hip of the pants.

In the Louisiana Sports Writers Association honors, The Offensive Player of the Week is Louisiana Tech wide receiver Trent Taylor. He caught 11 passes for a career-high 178 yards and three touchdowns in a win over South Carolina State.

The LSWA Defensive Player of the Week honor goes to Nicholls State lineman Kenny Dotson. He forced a fumble that led to The Colonels first touchdown in a near win for Nicholls at Georgia.

The Special Teams Player of the Week is LSU’s Tre’Davious White. He had a winding, 60 yard punt return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ win over Jacksonville State.

Saints Coach Sean Payton told WWL-Radio in New Orleans that he felt the team did all the things they needed to in the first half of the disappointing loss to the Raiders, but fell apart in the 3rd and 4th quarters…:
CUT 1 (12) “close those type of games out”
New Orleans will play The Giants on the road Sunday at noon.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles is not ready to say to the public who will start at quarterback this Saturday against Mississppi State. He did say that they’ll need both quarterbacks, Brandon Harris and Danny Etling, to play in every game.

Etling replaced Harris in the second quarter last Saturday and helped lead the Tigers to a 34-13 win over Jacksonville State. Derrius Guice, who filled in for the injured Leonard Fournette and rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown, noticed that LSU played better with Etling at the controls…
cut 18 (16) “…it together”
Miles says running back Leonard Fournette will be back for Saturday’s SEC opener against Mississippi State.

The Saints best cornerback, Delvin Breaux, will miss the next six weeks because of a broken fibula. Coach Sean Payton confirmed the injury during his morning press conference. Breaux was hurt in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. Running back CJ Spiller was a healthy scratch for that game. Payton says Spiller was inactive because they thought Travaris Cadet would have a big role in the game.

Louisiana Tech senior wide receiver Trent Taylor has been named Conference USA Offensive player of the week. Taylor had 11 catches for a career-high 178 yards in the victory over South Carolina State.

Grambling State had a 21-3 lead at halftime over Arizona, but ended up losing to the Wildcats 31-21. Tigers wide receiver Chad Williams was named SWAC offensive player of the week for his efforts. Williams had 13 catches for 152 yards.

Nicholls Sophomore defensive lineman Kenny Dotson was named Southland Defensive Player of the Week as he had five tackles and a sack in the narrow loss to Georgia.

For the first time since 2014, LSU quarterback Danny Etling threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score in a college football game in the Tigers 34-13 win over Jacksonsville State. Etling arrived on LSU’s campus last year after transferring in from Purdue. He lost his starting job at the Big Ten School and understands the demands of the quarterback position…
cut 17 (17) “…keep rolling”
This Saturday, LSU hosts Mississippi State.

Nicholls nearly pulled off the biggest upset of the weekend in college football as they fell to ninth ranked Georgia 26-24. Sophomore defensive lineman Kenny Dotson was named Southland Defensive Player of the Week as he had five tackles and a sack.

The Saints have started the 2016 season with an 0-1 record after the Black and Gold couldn’t hang on to a two touchdown lead and fell to the Raiders 35-34. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns, but the defense gave up numerous big plays in the 4th quarter to allow Oakland to score 22 points near the end of the game. Coach Sean Payton says he was disappointed with his defense, but the offense also takes some of the blame…
cut 20 (17) “…played today”
New Orleans will try to get win number one next Sunday when they visit the New York Giants. The G-Men edged Dallas 20-19 in their season opener as New Orleans native Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes.

Two back-ups led the LSU Tigers to a 34-13 win over Jacksonville State for the Bayou Bengals first victory of the season. Quarterback Danny Etling came off the bench for an ineffective Brandon Harris and on his first drive connected with DeSean Smith on a 46-yard touchdown pass. Etling says he was ready for his opportunity…:
Cut 16 (08) “succeed”
Etling ended up throwing for 100 yards, all of it came in the 2nd quarter. He also had a rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

Elsewhere around the state in college football, High scoring game between Tulane and Southern. The Jags fell to the Green Wave 66-21. UL-Lafayette got by McNeese State 30-22. Arizona beats Grambling 31-21. Southern Utah held on for a 28-23 win on Saturday night over Southeastern. Louisiana Tech downs South Carolina State 53-24.

A couple of more state college football scores: ULM fell to the Sooners 59-17. Close good game between Nicholls State and Georgia. The Cowboys barely fell to the Bulldogs 26-24.

The Saints fail to preserve a two-touchdown lead in the 2nd half and lose to the Oakland Raiders 35-34 in the season opener. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns, but the defense gave up numerous big plays in the 4th quarter to allow Oakland to score 22 points in the 4th quarter. Brees says it was one of those games that could have gone either way…:
Cut 19 (13) “different”
The Saints travel to face the Giants on Sunday.

The LSU Board of Supervisors defers a proposal that would give Football Coach Les Miles an additional 100-thousand dollars if the Tigers reach the national championship game. Miles is taking a lot of criticism for how LSU played in the season opening loss to Wisconsin and Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says it appears the LSU Board is not ready to discuss any aspects of his contract…
cut 16 (09) “….those changes”
In other board action, they approved a contract extension and raise for baseball coach Paul Mainieri, giving him a salary of over one-million dollars.

It’s a game time decision on whether running back Leonard Fournette will play in tomorrow night’s home opener against Jacksonville State. That’s what Miles said in a video that’s been posted on the school’s website. Miles said earlier this week Fournette suffered a contusion on his lower leg in the Wisconsin game.

The Saints head into Sunday’s season opener against Oakland a relatively healthy team. Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is the the only player who has been ruled out with a hip injury. And he won’t admit, but this is a big game for Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He was the head coach of the Raiders from 2012 to 2014.

Ryan Higgins will start at quarterback for Louisiana Tech when the Bulldogs host South Carolina state tomorrow night. Higgins did not play in the season opener, because he was suspended for the start of the game for a DWI arrest. It will be Higgins first start since 2013.

ULM hits the road for the first time this season as they visit Oklahoma.

In the Southland Conference…McNeese State faces its I-10 rival U-L Lafayette. In the last meeting between these two teams, the Cowboys beat the Cajuns in 2007. Nicholls kicks off its season at ninth ranked Georgia and Southeastern Louisiana is at Southern Utah.

In the SWAC…Grambling has a tough test as they are at Arizona, while Southern visits Tulane.