College Football News and Notes for Wednesday Sept. 8 2010

-Alabama head coach Nick Saban says that Mark Ingram probably won't play Saturday against Penn State. They should be fine, as Trent Richardson rushed for 6.6 yards per carry last week against San Jose State and scored twice.

"I just don't know if Mark's going to have enough practice time," said Saban.  "He's getting close, but I don't know if he'll have enough practice time in to be able to play in the game or not."

-The NCAA ruled Wednesday that Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green will be suspended for the next three games because he sold a game jersey to an agent for $1,000.

He's hurt. He's sad," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.  

-After losing to North Dakota State 6-3 on Saturday, Kansas will have a new starting quarterback when they face Georgia Tech this weekend. Turner Gill announced that redshirt freshman Jordan Webb will start and sophomore Kale Pick will head to the bench. 

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Not having running back Mark Ingram Saturday when they host No. 18 Penn State probably won't be a major factor for No. 1 Alabama.

Coach Nick Saban confirmed on Wednesday, what many believed-they won't rush back their Heisman Trophy winner after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week.

Again, the Crimson Tide will be fine, Trent Richardson rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns in a win Saturday over San Jose State. 

"We'll continue to progress him day-to-day," Saban said Tuesday. "He hasn't had any swelling or problems. If he can continue to progress -- I would say he's probably not going to be ready to play this week. He might be ready by the game, but he won't be able to practice enough.

Photos by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Jim Rogash/Getty Images

What better way to start the NFL season than a rematch of last year's NFC title game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints.

The memory of that loss still looms large with the Vikings who will be ready to do battle on Thursday night (8 p.m. ET NBC) after an offseason filled with speculation about Brett Favre's annual retirement decision. 

Alas, Brett Favre did return, but only after he had ankle surgery during his time away from the field. Favre did practice on Tuesday and expects to be ready to go on Thursday night for the rematch with the Saints.

Favre was so-so in the preseason completing 17 of 27 passes for 200 yards with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Favre is coming off of a career year in which he threw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions with a Quarterback rating of 107.2.

The receiving corps for the Vikings looks a little less certain now with Sidney Rice out while he recovers from hip surgery.

Darren Sharper #42 of the New Orleans Saints hits Bernard Berrian #87 of the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won 31-28. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Vikings other top receiver, Percy Harvin will be paired in the backfield with Javon Walker and a combination of Bernard Berrian and Greg Camarillo who came over from Miami. Percy Harvin did suffer from migraines during the preseason but did find a treatment and is doing better in dealing with them. Sidney Rice was Favre's favorite target in 2009 with 83 catches while Bernard Berrian caught 55 passes and Percy Harvin caught 60 for 790 yards. Without Sidney Rice in the receving corps, Favre will have to rely more on Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian and newcomer Greg Camarillo.

"All Day" Adrian Peterson led all running backs with 18 touchdowns last year and was third in yards from scrimmage and will be relied on a little more heavily in the backfield with Sidney Rice out. Perhaps Favre will use Peterson to catch more passes out of the backfield while Rice recovers.

Jared Allen #69 of the Minnesota Vikings(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Vikings defense

Don't forget about the Vikings stellar defense, they led the league in sacks last year with 46. The defense can easily be forgotten in a game like this where two incredible offenses are going to be on display. Although they do have a good defense, it's worth mentioning that they are headed into Thursday's game with only 3 healthy cornerbacks and could use safety Hussain Abdullah to shore up any deficiencies they might have on the defensive side of the ball. Anchoring the Vikings defense will be veteran defensive end Jared Allen, defensive tackle Kevin Willaims, defensive end Ray Edwards, defensive tackle Pat Williams and middle linebacker E.J. Henderson.

The Saints pass-first offense will look to move it down the field and gain big yards with big plays engineered by Drew Brees and the offensive line. In 2009, Brees amassed 4388 total passing yards, 34 touchdowns, 292.5 yards per game and a quarterback rating of 109.6. In 2009, the saints averaged 403.8 yards per game. That number was not the same in the NFC Title game last year where the Saints only managed 257 yards but still managed to win due to Minnesota's 3 lost fumbles and Favre's 2 interceptions, one being in the final minute of regulation.

New Orleans offense

New Orleans has many weapons to throw at the Vikings defense. They have some great athletes like Marques Colston and Robert Meacham who are superior runners after the catch. They have a loaded backfield with Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas who are great catchers out of the backfield as well and will look to utilize all these weapons against the Vikings defense.

The Saints main weapon though, will be Brees and his arm.

This is a new year though and the Vikings will be looking for every opportunity to take it to Brees. Look for Brees to come out throwing as always though.

Dirty Play?

Jabari Greer #32 and of Scott Fujita #55 of the New Orleans Saints scramble for a loose ball against Brett Farve #4 of the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The Saints defense has been accused of being dirty and taking late hits on players and some even question if they will try to hurt Brett Favre.

"What I hate to see are late hits or attempts to hurt anybody", said Brad Childress.

When pressed if he thought the Saints play dirty, Childress responded with, "Yes, I would have to say that."

Gregg Williams, the Saints Defensive Coordinator preaches necessary roughness in his players and if they get accused of being dirty, so be it. Williams likes to think that intimidation is a big part of the defensive game plan going into every game. The Saints defense will be without the services of Darren Sharper and Clint Ingram as they both recover from microfracture knee surgery and won't be ready to go until week 7 at the earliest. Look for this game to be a hard fought with lots of intensity on both sides of the ball. Both teams will have a lot to prove going into this season and it will be a game with a lot of downfield action.

Pick: New Orleans 27, Minnesota 24

REUTERS/Adam Hunger

The agent for Boston Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez is holding out for a long-term deal. Martinez has rejected a two-year contract offer made by the Boston Red Sox. There is no word on the financials, but it's safe to assume Martinez could probably get a three or four year contract on the open market.

His numbers are good:  .291 batting average, 14 home runs, 61 RBI, .338 OBP not great. His home run total will likely be the lowest it has been in any full season that he has played.

His agent Alan Nero said the low-ball offer means the Red Sox don't have a long term plan for his 31-year old client.

"More than anything else, when a team comes to you and says we'll give you a one year deal or a two year deal, they're not telling you that they see you as a long-term piece of their organization."

It's hard to blame the Red Sox here, while we can expect Martinez's numbers to remain steady, it's hard to get excited about a .291 hitting catcher with 14 home runs who has played in just 106 games this season.

Here is what Martinez told WEEI on Tuesday about the contract situation:

"That’s a business part of the game. They’re trying to do one thing, and we’ll see what happens. I don’t really have to do it. They came with something, and that might just be where the negotiations start. But I don’t see myself signing a two-year deal. I’m young enough (31). I work hard and I give it all. I just want to be treated fair.”

Crew Chief Bob Davidson signals Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's apparent grand slam home run against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning was foul by a yard at Coors Field in Denver on August 10, 2009. UPI/Gary C. Caskey... Photo via Newscom

MLB umpire Bob Davidson said Wednesday that he ejected a fan from the Brewers game on Tuesday because he used a 'homophobic slur' towards St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

“Molina, I thought he was going to go toward (the fan) and I said, ‘I’ll take care of it. I was going to wait until between innings and not be so obvious, but I figured after he said that, he was very intoxicated, I needed to take care of it.”

The 44-year old man was cuffed and escorted out of Miller Park and cited for disorderly conduct.

Davidson's crew on the night had four total ejections, including Ken Macha, David Duncan and Chris Dickerson. 

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Davidson is a disgrace to the game.