Former NFL star and Saints safety Darren Sharper entered a not guilty plea this afternoon in US District Court in New Orleans. Sharper faces federal charges that he drugged women to rape them. It’s expected Sharper will issue a guilty plea at a later date. He’ll also appear in state court tomorrow on similiar charges. Sharper has already pleaded guility or no contest on related charges in three other state and faces a nine-year prison sentence.

If you go on Craigslist, you’ll find someone is selling a 2009 Saints Super Bowl ring for 45-thousand dollars. It’s unclear who is selling the ring. The ad says “Don’t let this unique opportunity to own a piece of Saints history pass you by.

The Pelicans will host the Golden State Warriors tomorrow night. With six games left, New Orleans finds itself a half game back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. O-K-C hosts San Antonio tomorrow.

LSU right-hander Austin Bain has been SEC co-freshman of the week as he shares the award with Vanderbilt pitcher Kyle Wright. Bain came out of the bullpen on Saturday pitched a career-high 6.2 shutout innings, allowing three hits, no runs and struck out a career-high nine. Bain’s performance helped the Tigers complete a sweep of Alabama and today Coach Paul Mainieri named Bain the starting pitcher for this Sunday’s game against Auburn. Bain says he won’t change his approach…
cut 30 (08) “…every other week”
And because of that sweep over Alabama, LSU is once again ranked as the number one team in the country by Perfect Game.

In the Southland Conference…Northwestern State’s Adam Oller has been named Pitcher of the Week. Oller tossed a complete game and tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in the Demons win over Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday.

And Nicholls second baseman Tanner Vandevere was named as the Southland Hitter of the Week as he had five hits, five RBI and five runs scored to help the Colonels put together a five-game winning streak.