Former LSU stars Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark joining ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown

A couple of former LSU players will be prominently featured in ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage

There are some updates coming to ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown this fall.

Former LSU football players [autotag]Marcus Spears[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Clark[/autotag] are joining the show as analysts. Spears and Clark have risen to prominence on ESPN the last few years after lengthy NFL careers.

Spears got his start on the SEC Network in 2014 but quickly rose through the ranks to become one of ESPN’s go-to voices. Both Clark and Spears have appeared on ESPN’s morning show “Get Up.”

Another former LSU player, [autotag]Booger McFarland[/autotag], will not be part of ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage this year.

SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt is also set to join the production.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly took to social media to offer his congratulations.

Spears and Clark were teammates on the 2001 LSU team that won the SEC championship on its way to a Sugar Bowl victory.

Spears won a national title with LSU in 2003.

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Twitter reactions from LSU’s 2023 spring football scrimmage

It was an exciting day in Baton Rouge as the Tigers capped off their spring practice.

LSU ended its spring camp on a high note on Saturday with a public scrimmage in front of the Tigers faithful.

Fans were treated to a couple of impressive highlight plays — namely a one-handed grab from [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] that led to a 70-yard touchdown as well as a pick-six from true freshman linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag].

Quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] impressed leading the first-team offense, while backup [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] wasn’t shabby with the second-teamers, either. Both threw two touchdown passes and were very efficient.

There was also a lot of star power on hand for the game with [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag], [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Spears[/autotag] and [autotag]Clyde Edwards-Helaire[/autotag] in attendance, to name a few.

Here were the reactions online from LSU alumni, fans and media.

Marcus Spears: Rams going all-in for a Super Bowl was worth the cost

The Rams are going through some pain right now, but Marcus Spears says it was worth the cost

Winning Super Bowls is hard. Of the 32 teams in the NFL, 12 of them have never won one. The Rams are one of the 15 teams that has won multiple rings, most recently going all the way in 2021 after acquiring Matthew Stafford from the Lions.

They went all-in to win that championship, landing Stafford, Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. two years ago. It was in line with the aggressiveness they showed in previous years, often trading picks for proven players.

The Rams are feeling the pain of that roster-building approach now after going 5-12 last season and staring another tough year in the face in 2023. But if you ask former NFL defensive lineman Marcus Spears, he says it was all worth it – even if the Rams have to rebuild now.

“You pay the price, right? And the price was a Super Bowl,” Spears said on ESPN. “I played nine years. I wish I had one. I wish a team would’ve sold out for me to get one. I wouldn’t mind them sucking right now. I played for the Cowboys. We ain’t win a Super Bowl in a hundred years. I would take one. Just one. And the Rams were able to get to the mountain top.”

Even with as poorly as the 2022 season went for the Rams, Spears says it was worth it. And when Aaron Donald’s career is over, people won’t be talking about his 2022 season. They’ll be talking about the Super Bowl he won and the way he played in that game against the Bengals.

Spears loves what the Rams did to reach the pinnacle of the sport, even if it did have a cost.

“They have a Super Bowl championship, OK?” He said. “Nobody’s gonna ask Aaron Donald about, ‘How do you feel about Baker Mayfield signing with the team the year after?’ They’re gonna ask him about the damn Super Bowl. I love what the Rams did. They gotta go through some pains before they get back on their feet, but I’d take a Super Bowl for that.”

This is the feeling many Rams fans have. While some are frustrated by the current state of the team, most fans understand the price was worth the ring.

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ESPN analyst calls Bryce Young the clear No. 1 QB in 2023 NFL draft

ESPN NFL analyst, Marcus Spears, shares high praise for Alabama QB Bryce Young

Earlier this month the Carolina Panthers traded with the Chicago Bears to acquire the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, but nobody really knows who they prefer.

Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud has been heavily linked recently and Anthony Richardson of Florida has recently flown up the mock drafts, but many would consider Alabama Crimson Tide’s [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag] as the best QB in the draft.

Young’s height has been a concern for a handful of executives in the league, but ESPN analyst, Marcus Spears, believes teams should see past that. Spears said on NFL Live today,

“What I’ve watched from Bryce Young tells me he’s the best quarterback coming out in this draft. I get the concerns about the size and the stature but watching him at Alabama and doing what he’s been doing for two years and remember he didn’t have the luxuries of having the type of receivers that we’ve grown accustomed to Alabama having.”

Of all the quarterbacks in contention to be selected in the first round, Bryce is the only Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion and people need to remember just how dang good he is on the field.

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Marcus Spears: Last year was ‘not a fluke’ for Seahawks QB Geno Smith

Spears says Seattle should stick with Smith as their long-term starter unless they’re blown away by one of the QBs in the 2023 NFL draft class.

Geno Smith should be starting for the Seahawks at quarterback Week 1 next season. That’s what former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Marcus Spears thinks, in any case.

Spears says Seattle should stick with Smith as their long-term starter unless they’re blown away by one of the QBs in the 2023 NFL draft class. Watch.

Spears is right, but the devil is in the details.

We agree that Smith should be the starter for now, but does that mean they should pass on a strong quarterback class? Also, for how much and for how long should Geno be inked in as the Seahawks’ QB1?

The absolute basement for the ongoing contract talks is the value for the franchise tag – which is pegged at a little under $32.5 million for quarterbacks this year. Both parties stand to benefit from avoiding that, though. For one thing, tagging Smith would be terrible for Seattle’s cap situation this year. At the moment they only have around $31 million in total cap space for the season, so they couldn’t afford to tag Smith and also sign their rookie class without making some serious cuts.

Smith can also make a lot more guaranteed money (which is all that really matters to players) if he comes to a longer-term deal with the Seahawks. His signing bonus alone is likely to be at least $50 million. As far as annual average goes, Smith’s fair market value is somewhere in the $40 million per season range. If Seattle’s won’t go there number isn’t too far from that, both sides should be able to work something out relatively soon.

For now, both sides say that the negotiations are going well.

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Former NFL player sees Aaron Rodgers as a fit for the Commanders

Outside of a return to Green Bay, two former NFL players and current ESPN analysts see the Commanders as the best option for Rodgers.

Here we go again. Another offseason of will Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers play? Will Rodgers play for the Packers or another team? Which team would Rodgers want to play for?

Thus far, Rodgers hasn’t decided if he’s going to play in 2023. He’s under contract for the hefty sum of $59 million guaranteed next season, but only a cap number of $31 million. While Rodgers is open to returning to the Packers, he doesn’t want to go through a rebuild.

If Rodgers decides to play, he’ll have plenty of options — so will the Packers. Green Bay could turn to former first-round pick Jordan Love at quarterback and trade Rodgers for multiple first-round picks.

Which teams would be in the market for Rodgers? Well, virtually any team with a need under center. The Washington Commanders, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and others would be interested in Rodgers — if available.

The Commanders were interested last offseason. Rodgers and the Packers agreed to a new three-year deal, and everyone was happy. Washington settled for a trade for Carson Wentz, and that went as badly as expected.

It’s another offseason, and the Commanders have a need at quarterback.

Domonique Foxworth, a former NFL cornerback for seven seasons, is now a member of the media. In an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up” Tuesday, Foxworth and fellow former NFL player Marcus Spears were asked the following question by host Mike Greenberg:

“If his only priority is where do I have the best chance to win a championship next year, Marcus, which of these teams do you go with?” Greenberg asked.

Foxworth listed his top-five options for Rodgers in 2022, with Green Bay at No. 1. No. 2? The Washington Commanders.

In response to Greenberg’s question, Spears said the following.

“The Washington Commanders,” he said. “They’ve been trying to find a quarterback. They got a really good defense, a really good defensive line. They got really good weapons on the outside; Terry McLaurin is a very underrated guy we don’t talk about much because they don’t win a lot of games. They got Dotson out of Penn State, who is really good, as well. Aaron Rodgers would have his weapons, his backfield; he would be under new ownership that would probably be willing to pay him some money. And the other thing is this; he would play in the NFC East; we had three teams go into the playoffs, so why not four?”

Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum didn’t believe the Packers would trade Rodgers to an NFC team.

“They would trade him to the CFL before they would trade him to an NFC team,” Tannenbaum said.

Welcome to the offseason.

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Top 101 LSU football players of all time: No. 30-21

The countdown continues with standouts in the trenches and a couple of hard-hitting linebackers.

Earlier this year, I began a countdown of the top 101 players in LSU football’s history.

The countdown resumes today, as we enter the top 30 and really start looking at the best of the best. Before we get started, a reminder of the notes and criteria used when putting this list together.

  • I’ve tried my best to avoid recency bias.
  • Emphasis was placed on players who received all-American honors and other accolades. Leaders of championship teams received a boost as well.
  • I gave coach and eyewitness quotes about players significant emphasis.
  • Players who made significant contributions over multiple years were given priority over single-season stars. Production mattered more than talent.

Commanders earning the respect of ESPN panel

Ryan Clark even praised the atmosphere at FedEx Field for the win over the Falcons.

ESPN couldn’t help but plan a segment on the Commanders, after all, they have won six of their last seven games.

Not sure how they compute such, but ESPN Analytics figures the Commanders have a 63% chance of making the playoffs.

Here are several excerpts from the segment.

“The Commanders have pressured opposing quarterbacks 33 percent of their drop backs this season, fifth in the NFL.” Marcus Spears

“Last year we sat at this table and I told you how selfish this defensive line was. It is so clear to me now that these guys are playing together and staying on the same page. They understand their rush lanes, having communication with each other.” Marcus Spears

“Jon Allen is a top five defensive tackle in this league. His impact on games kinda goes unnoticed because of the success of the team but I will take him along with any other (DT in the NFL).” Marcus Spears

“I think they are a problem for offenses because both of those interior guys (Allen and Daron Payne) are playing well.” Dan Orlovsky

“The greatest thing about this defense is they can play the run with seven. They are physical enough.” Marcus Spears

“Now that Brian Robinson has emerged, he has added a different level of physicality to the run game. It has changed the entire energy of the team. This team now has an identity. They are going to play tough, physical football on both sides of the line of scrimmage.” Ryan Clark

“They got a quarterback… sign me up any day to play against in the secondary. But when you look at him on this team, he gives them energy. I was in the stadium this week… the energy was like college. It is almost a collegiate feel. I think it is because of the quarterback and the identity they have as a team.” Ryan Clark

“Brian Robinson has changed the brand of their offense. It’s a physical brand. BYOB–Be your own blocker. And that is what Brian Robinson has brought.” Dan Orlovsky

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LSU football all-time roster: Defensive starters and backups

See which legends of defense made the cut in our all-time LSU football roster.

When people think about the LSU football program, the historic 2019 team likely comes to mind. That national championship-winning squad was strong all-around, but it was especially notable for the offense and the litany of talent it produced.

But for most of this team’s history, that has not been the case. The Tigers earned a reputation over many years for their physical style of football and the number of future NFL stars they produced on defense.

We continue our look at LSU’s all-time roster, and now we’ll break down the defensive starters and backups.

See the all-time LSU offense here.

Check out our other College Wire all-time defenses: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC

ESPN analyst names Renfrow as NFL’s most underrated player

Is Hunter Renfrow the NFL’s most underrated player? An ESPN NFL analyst thinks so. In response to a tweet from NFL on ESPN asking, “Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?”, ESPN’s Marcus Spears replied that it’s the former Clemson and current …

Is Hunter Renfrow the NFL’s most underrated player?

An ESPN NFL analyst thinks so.

In response to a tweet from NFL on ESPN asking, “Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?”, ESPN’s Marcus Spears replied that it’s the former Clemson and current Las Vegas Raiders slot receiver.

Renfrow is coming off a career year in 2021, his third NFL campaign, and was rewarded by the Raiders in June with a two-year, $32 million extension.

En route to his first career Pro Bowl selection last season, Renfrow set career highs and ranked among the top 10 in the league in receptions (103) and receiving touchdowns (nine) last. He also led the team in receiving yards with 1,038 – becoming the first Raiders receiver to record over 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2016.

Renfrow became just the third player in franchise history to record 100-plus receptions in a single season. He is also just the second wide receiver in Raiders history to record both 100-plus receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards in a single season.

For his NFL career so far (2019-21), Renfrow has tallied 208 catches for 2,299 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Spears isn’t the only one who believes Renfrow is underrated. NFL.com recently published an article listing the league’s most underappreciated players in the AFC, and Renfrow was tabbed as one of those underappreciated players.

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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