Chad Jones update

Chad Jones was waived by the Giants in a procedural move to pave the way to put him on the non-football injury list.

But a New York Daily news blog carries a most sobering quote from Giants general manager Jerry Reese.

"I'm just hopeful that Chad can have a normal life and walk without a limp at this point,'' Reese told the New York Daily News. "Anything after that is a plus for me. If he makes it back to the football field,that's fantastic. But really, my hopes and prayers are that he can have a normal life and walk without a limp and be a normal person. Right now, that's really what I'm wishing for him.''

That doesn't sound like he's coming back to football -- and certainly not anytime soon.

Recruting update

LSU has added a couple of recruits in the last two days -- junior college kicker Dalton Botts of Moorepark, Calif., and cornerback Jalen Collins of Olive Branch, Miss.

Those commitments give LSU 14 for the year.

The assumption is that since this is one of the best recruiting classes in Louisiana history, LSU could have the nation's top class.

Right now, LSU ought to just hope to finish No. 1 in the SEC.

The early rankings for Scout.com have LSU seventh in the nation, third in the SEC and second in the SEC West.

Clearly, there is some work ahead for LSU even with a loaded state.

Good news for Chad Jones

Former LSU two-sport star Chad Jones is leaving the hospital today after a monthlong stay. He will head back to New Orleans from New York to begin the rehab process.

That's good news for Jones.

Here's hoping he's able to make full recovery and play professional sports -- either football or baseball -- one day.

Les' new friends

Apparently, the national media types think we in Louisiana who dare question Les Miles don't know what we're talking about these days.

Matt Hayes of the Sporting News writes that Miles is enduring unecessary and unfair criticism. You can read it here at this link.

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.com thinks LSU would be crazy to fire Crazy Les. Here is the link for that one.

So I guess being up close we don't realize how good we have it here in Louisiana -- what with a Super Bowl champion team in the Saints and the next Knute Rockne in Baton Rouge.

How dumb can we be?

Thoughts from Day 3 of SEC Media Days

I realize it's just a preseason prediction from the media. I realize the prediction is based mostly on last season.

But LSU fourth in the SEC West? Has it come to that? Has LSU's program dropped that far? Apparently so.

Now, in defense of the poll, Alabama is first because that's where the Tide ended the year. LSU does have to play Arkansas and Auburn both on the road this year. So maybe that's the explanation, but really, this is not a good sign for LSU fans. Not since Gerry DiNardo has LSU been picked this low.

Anyway, some more observations.

A year ago at this time, Les Miles was saying his offensive line was the best he had had at the school.Turns out, it was the worst. Apparently, Miles was trying to pump up his line.

I bring that up because at SEC Media Days, Miles said this:"I can tell you this.It will only be a championship season and that's the only point and direction of this program. That's where we're headed.''

Sorry, if I don't buy it. Especially after last year's "great'' offensive line.

Miles on Zach Lee: "There still is a chance certainly that the Dodger organization could pursue him financially. But I think the odds are with us. I think he wants to be a college student and wants the opportunity to chase a championship in both baseball and football.''

LSU's best bet may be a messy divorce between the Dodgers' owners that keeps the team from spending megabucks.

SEC Media Day 2 thoughts

Vanderbilt interim head coach Robbie Caldwell stole the show with his humor.

So what LSU-related did we learn from Day 2 at Media Days?

Steve Spurrier doesn't forget a disappointment.

Spurrier was talking about the difficulty of changing the culture at South Carolina. He then went on to talk about how the best team doesn't always win the conference with his Florida team in 2001 being his example.

"We had the best team in the conference and didn't win it. We had the best team in 2001. We beat LSU during the season, 47-15, and they won the conference that year because Tennessee beat us the last game .... we lost to Tennessee, 34-32. That was maybe as good a team as the '96 team, but we didn't win anything that year. It can happen that the best team doesn't always win.''

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino is 1-1 against LSU but he said he enjoyed both games.

"We've had two really good games agains them the last two years,'' Petrino said. "They've come down right to the last play of the game, which is a lot of fun. You like games like that.''

LSU coach Les Miles, quarterback Jordan Jefferson, cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive tackle Drake Nevis will take part in Friday's activities.

SEC Media Days, Day 1

Does anybody want to talk football?

Apparently not. The big story of the day was those nasty agents. So far Florida, Alabama and South Carolina have their agent investigations going. LSU has its own investigation from the Akieem Hicks days. The NCAA wants to talk to Georgia. That's nearly half of the SEC.

On to LSU-related items.

This exchange makes me think Billy Gonzales leaving Florida for LSU wasn't all that smooth.

Question to Urban Meyer: You already touched on some of the (staff) turnover. You lose Billy Gonzales. Can you touch on some of the things he brought to the table when he was on your staff.
Answer: "I made a comment earlier. I thought he was a great coach. He'll do a great job at LSU.''

Ouch.

For what it's worth, Nick Saban handed out some compliments to his former employer.

"I think LSU has a lot of good players, quarterback back, good skill players.They've always had pretty good players and done a good job coaching them.''

Sounds to me like Nick wants Les Miles to stick around.