I am committed to tackling my personal issues and will work to better myself

n a statement announcing his decision, Mathieu said, "it is time for me to move forward." Mathieu thanked his parents and coach Les Miles in his statement, as well as his former LSU teammates. "I am sorry that I was not able to complete my journey at LSU, but I will always support LSU in any way I can. To my teammates, you are my brothers. You have kept me going. I will do my best to make you all proud of me," he said. Mathieu, known as the "Honey Badger," was a Heisman Trophy finalist known for his knack for making plays last year. But the 20-year-old Mathieu was suspended cheap jerseys for this season due to a substance abuse issue he has continued to work on. Mathieu was arrested last month on a possession of marijuana charge. He also was dismissed from the football team in August for failing a drug test and entered a treatment program run by former NBA player John Lucas. Instead of transferring to another lower-division school to play this season, Mathieu re-enrolled at LSU but is not playing football. Mathieu thanked LSU fans for their continued support and said he was working on his personal problems. "I am committed to tackling my personal issues and will work to better myself every day as a man first and only then as a football player. I will always consider myself an LSU Tiger," he said. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

NFL officials and Sean Payton's agent

NFL officials and Sean Payton's agent, Don Yee, are finalizing the conditions under which the suspended New Orleans Saints coach can attempt to negotiate a contract extension with New Orleans,cheap nfl jerseys according to a league source. Those conditions are expected to be finalized before the end of the weekend. Once the NFL and Yee agree to those conditions, the Saints and Payton are expected to begin discussions aimed at a contract extension shortly thereafter.

Smith said he was prepared for Harbaugh's decision

"Those (other seasons) are all in the past," Smith said. "For this one, you're in it right now. It's such a great team, such a great group of guys in this locker room. There's something special going on. It's a tough pill to swallow, for sure." Smith said he was prepared for Harbaugh's decision and knew it was a possibility "just based off the last couple of weeks the way things have gone." Smith got the news during a conversation with Harbaugh earlier this week, when the coach explained why he decided to go in a different direction. Harbaugh left open the possibility he could go back to Smith at any time. "Alex is a class act all the way," Harbaugh said. "He'll prepare as if he is the starter. And that's what we would expect. And be ready to go in and play and contribute to this football team. We've got two quarterbacks that we feel great about as the starting quarterback. Anything's a possibility. I would assume nothing, or rule out anything." Smith said he felt no resentment toward Harbaugh, nor did he try to talk the coach out of the change at quarterback. "At this point, what's talk going to do?" Smith said. "I feel like he made up his mind, and he's not a guy that didn't put thought into it already. I don't get to make those decisions. That's what he gets paid to do. I play football. So that's what I'm going to continue to do. Continue to get ready, and then make the most of my next opportunity."

Smith was replaced as the starter by former coach Mike Singletary

"You kind of state your case with your play and I felt like I've done that," Smith said. "It's tough. It stings the most just because I really felt there was something special going on here and you sacrifice and invest so much time. I felt like I was playing good football. I have no idea what's going to happen from here. All I can do now is just prepare and get ready." Smith was in limbo the past two weeks after suffering his concussion, practicing every day with the 49ers in a non-contact black jersey. The 49ers did not announce during either week who would be their starting quarterback until game day against Chicago on Nov. 19 and New Orleans last Sunday. There's no uncertainty this week. Kaepernick, San Francisco's second-round nfl jerseys draft pick last year, took away the starting job from Smith with strong performances in decisive victories over the Bears and Saints. Smith has lost his starting job and dealt with injuries and adversity several times before with the 49ers. He was beaten out for the role in training camp in 2008 by journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan, then began the 2009 season behind veteran Shaun Hill before starting the final 10 games of that season. In 2010, Smith was replaced as the starter by former coach Mike Singletary with Troy Smith for a key December game that decided San Francisco's playoff fate that season. The next week, Alex Smith began a string of 28 consecutive starts for the 49ers that ended after his concussion. Smith had a 21-6-1 record in those games and played a significant role in San Francisco's rise back to prominence last year and continued success this season. Smith resurrected his career under Harbaugh, who took over as San Francisco's coach in 2011.

The Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in a crucial NFC

The Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in a crucial NFC North tilt, and the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers renew their back-alley brawl of a rivalry. Elsewhere, Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins attempt to remain in the thick of the playoff race when the division-leading New York Giants pay a visit on Monday night. It's not an easy thing for the NFL's fifth-ranked quarterback to deal with this week, even though Smith already has experienced plenty of ups and downs in his tumultuous career since the 49ers made him the No. 1 overall selection of the 2005 draft. Smith spoke with the media Thursday for the first time since coach Jim Harbaugh made Colin Kaepernick the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams, a rematch of the last game in which Smith appeared. Smith is now completely healthy from the concussion he suffered in that Nov. 11 game and has been medically cleared to play. But he'll be Kaepernick's backup for the second consecutive week. Smith is uncertain what Harbaugh's decision means for him the rest of this season. "I feel like the only thing I did to lose my job was get a concussion," Smith said. Smith was playing some of the best football of his career when he was injured and left early in the second quarter of the 24-24 tie with the Rams. He completed 7 of 8 passes with a passer rating of 143.8 against St. Louis, throwing for his 13th touchdown of the season on his final pass. The week before, Smith completed 18 of 19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns during a win over Arizona, setting an NFL record with a 94.7 completion percentage for a quarterback with a minimum of 15 attempts. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time two days later.

The NFL has reduced its fine on Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith

HOUSTON -- The NFL has reduced its fine on Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith for kicking Miami's Richie Incognito to $11,000. Power Poll: Texans on top The 10-1 Houston Texans are still No. 1 in the latest NFL.com Power Poll, but which hard-charging team moved up to No. 2? More... Smith was initially fined $21,000 by the league for kicking the Dolphins guard. Smith appealed, saying he was retaliating to Incognito's stepping on his right ankle during the season opener. He missed two practices the following week with soreness in the ankle. Incognito wasn't fined. Smith showed off a letter from the league on Thursday, saying the NFL was trimming the fine. The Texans play at Tennessee on Sunday.