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    <title>RapidReports</title>
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    <link>http://www.cbssports.com</link>
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    <copyright>Copyright 2012, CBSSports.com</copyright>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:58:21 EST</lastBuildDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Ultrasound confirms plantar fasciitis for Derrick Favors. ]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





 Favors has plantar fasciitis.  (Getty Images) 



The Salt Lake Tribune reports Tuesday that hyper-athletic forward Derrick Favors has developed pantar fasciitis. A notoriously painful condition that can take a long time to heal.

Favors didn't participate in shootaround as he continues to deal with a strained right arch. An MRI taken Sunday was inconclusive, but an ultrasound done on Monday confirmed he has plantar fasciitis.

viaUtah Jazz: Marvin Williams, Derrick Favors out again; Jazz still go old school | Deseret News.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the worst non-traumatic injuries you can sustain, especially as a big man, by a lot of experts' estimation. It doesn't do structural damage which can be repaired, but instead is just incredibly painful over a long period of time, and only improves with rest, which, of course, is impossible for an NBA player.
Notable players to struggle with plantar fasciitis include Tim Duncan and this season Wizards C Nene. Pistons guard Brandon Knight also dealt with it earlier this year.
Favors missed Monday's game vs. the Clippers with the injury and is listed as day-to-day.
The injury could complicate matters for the Jazz, who have been trying to shuffle their four good big men in Favors, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Enes Kanter. Many expect them to be active on the trade market with their bigs, considering both Millsap and Jefferson have expiring contracts.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/date</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/date</guid>
      <category>NBA</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:53:05 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Nationals will offer no more than two years to first baseman Adam LaRoche]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Nationals will not offer more than two years to first baseman Adam LaRoche, according to MLB.com's William Ladson.
Talks appear to be moving in the right direction, however. General manager Mike Rizzo spoke to LaRoche's agent Monday night. When asked about whether LaRoche would return to the team, Nationals manager Davey Johnson expressed optimism during Tuesday's news conference at the winter meetings. &ldquo;Adam LaRoche is going to come back. I mean, if I have to go to Kansas and take him and all his cattle to Florida, I will,&rdquo; Johnson said.
LaRoche had a strong season for the Nationals, hitting .271/.343/.510 with 33 home runs. The team has said their No. 1 priority this offseason was to re-sign LaRoche.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the latest rumors from bloggers Chris Cwik, Jack Moore and R.J. White, follow@MLBRumorsCBS.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263844</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263844</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:45:27 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Red Sox agree to sign Shane Victorino to three-year, $39M deal]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Shane Victorino is off and running to Boston. (US Presswire) 



NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Red Sox have agreed to sign free agent outfielder Shane Victorino to a three-year, $39 million contract, pending a physical, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Notable here is that Victorino got the exact same deal as Mike Napoli did Monday from the Red Sox. 
A two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, Victorino declined rather significantly in 2012. The 32-year-old switch hitter hit .255/.321/.383 with 11 homers, 55 RBI, 72 runs and 39 stolen bases last season, with his time split between the Phillies and Dodgers.
For the Red Sox, Victorino will play right field and likely bat second, between Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, giving Boston a speedy top three in the order.
Earlier Tuesday, Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters that as the Red Sox looked for a right fielder, defense was a major consideration and they weren't definitely looking for a prototypical corner outfielder, meaning a power hitter. Instead, they were targeting someone fast enough to cover a lot of ground in the outfield.
Though he's in decline, Victorino still covers good ground in the outfield and possesses a strong throwing arm. Putting a healthy Ellsbury in center and Victorino in right will surely please the Red Sox pitching staff, even if Victorino isn't the hitter he was a few years ago. 
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/date</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/date</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:37 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Boston College gets the high-energy coach it needs in Steve Addazio]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Boston College named Steve Addazio as the Eagles' next football coach.(US Presswire) 



Reports circulated on Tuesday that Boston College athletic director Brad Bates had found his man, but it was not any of the names we were hearing. After what CBSSports.com's Jeremy Fowler describes as a "late surge," Temple coach Steve Addazio emerged as the leading candidate to replace Frank Spaziani at Boston College. Just minutes after the word broke, the athletic director himself made it official. "Coach Addazio genuinely cares about his students and will facilitate their development in meaningful ways to create a family culture," Bates said in a statement. "He has a passion that is contagious and an energy that will motivate those fortunate to meet him. "He is a proven winner with an extensive history of success as an assistant and head coach that includes two national championships." Addazio went 13-11 in his two years as Temple, leading the Owls in the transition from the MAC to the Big East. Temple finished 9-4 in 2011, earning the program's first bowl victory since 1979. But the first year of Big East play was not as kind to the Owls, as they finished 4-7 with only two conference wins. He previously spent six seasons as an offensive assistant/offensive coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer. Two other reported candidates at the time of the announcement were Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco and New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. With Addazio, the Eagles get the guarantee of head-coaching experience as well as the energy and enthusiasm the program needs to bounce back from ikts steady decline. Boston College's slow slide from ACC Atlantic Division champions to 2-10 took a toll on the fan base, and Addazio displays the kind of fearless energy that it will need to bring the Eagles back to being regularly competitive. Addazio has strong ties in the Northeast and should be able to start bringing in a new crop of talent on the recruiting trail.Boston College was bowl eligible every year from 1999-2010. Expecting ACC Atlantic titles right away might be unreasonable -- especially competing with Florida State and Clemson, but there is no reason the Eagles can't be bowling again on a regular basis. Temple now must fill a head coaching vacancy after yet another apparent program builder leaves for the ACC. Addazio will join Miami coach Al Golden as former Owls coaches in the ACC for 2013. For all the latest on coaching changes around the country, cruise on over to the CBSSports.com Coaching Carousel.Keep up with the latest college football news from around the country. From the opening kick of the year all the way through the offseason, CBSSports.com has you covered with thisdaily newsletter. View apreview.Get CBSSports.com College Football updates on Facebook]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263731</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263731</guid>
      <category>Boston College Eagles</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:32:45 EST</pubDate>
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      <title><![CDATA[Justin Upton talks continue, Diamondbacks seeking shortstop]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Upton's name continues to swirl in the rumor mill. (US Presswire) 



NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the winter meetings continue here in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, one name that won't be shaken from the trade rumor mill is Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton.
The latest news, via CBSSports.com senior writer Jon Heyman, is that the D-Backs continue to focus on getting a shortstop in return. They like Andrelton Simmons of the Braves, both Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar of the Rangers and Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians. Heyman has also learned that the D-Backs do not want Ryan Franklin from the Mariners system as was mentioned as a possibility Monday night.
Of those names above, the Braves haven't strayed in their stance that Simmons isn't going anywhere, just as the Rangers haven't strayed in wanting to hold both Andrus and Profar. Thus, the lingering name is Cabrera. And we know the Indians are shopping him.
Also worth noting is that the D-Backs are also shopping Jason Kubel as they search for a shortstop, though Upton is obviously a far more attractive trading chip.
Upton, 25, hit .280/.355/.430 with 17 homers, 67 RBI 107 runs and 18 stolen bases last season, but it was a down year. In 2011, he finished fourth in NL MVP voting when he hit .289/.369/.529 with 31 homers, 88 RBI, 105 runs, 39 doubles, five triples and 21 stolen bases, helping to lead the D-backs to the NL West title.
Upton's six-year, $50-million deal expires after the 2015 season.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263690</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263690</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:30:45 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Jason Bay close to deal with Mariners]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Jason Bay is headed to Seattle. (US Presswire) 



If Citi Field was to blame for all of Jason Bay's troubles in New York, he made an odd decision for his comeback. He is close to a deal with the Mariners according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).
Last month, the Mets released Bay, buying out his contract for $21 million. In three years with the Mets, Bay hit .234/.318/.369 with 26 home runs -- with just 11 of those coming at Citi Field. Last season, Bay hit .165/.237/.299 with eight home runs in 70 games -- and .150/.225/.238 with two homers at home.
The good news is Bay does have a home run among his six career games at Safeco Field, hardly known as a hitter's park. That said, the fences are getting moved in for 2013, not that the new dimensions in New York aided Bay.
Baker notes the deal is likely a big-league contract. At the very least, he can fill Chone Figgins' spot on the bench.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263688</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263688</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:29:27 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Lakers have informed Pau Gasol he'll be traded if situation doesn't improve]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Pau Gasol could reportedly be traded soon.  (Getty Images) 



Pau Gasol is out Tuesday night against the Rockets. But as the team continues to express to news outlets that they want to wait until point guard Steve Nash returns from injury to make an evaluation, the Lakers have also made it clear to the struggling power forward that if the situation doesn't improve, he'll be packing a bag. From ESPN:

Gasol is sitting not because a trade involving the former four-time All-Star is in the works, according to multiple league sources. However, a source told ESPNLosAngeles.com that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has recently spoken to Gasol's representatives and the gist of the conversation was that if Gasol is unable to adjust to D'Antoni's system, the team will have no choice but to search for possible trade scenarios.

viaPau Gasol of Los Angeles Lakers out Tuesday against Houston Rockets with tendinitis in knees -- ESPN Los Angeles.
Two thoughts here.
First, this is the ultimate motivational tactic, especially for Gasol. Gasol has desperately tried to avoid being traded from comfy LA the past two years. Just the thought of being nearly traded last season sent him into a funk. He loves being part of a contending team after so many struggling years in Memphis, but he also loves the culture, the city, and the lifestyle he gets to enjoy in Los Angeles. If Kupchak wants to light a fire under him, this is the way to do it.
Second, this getting leaked is going to open the floodgates of trade discussions. Every team in the league is going to come sniffing if they have anything close to a need or an asset to sell to the Lakers. This probably will not help his situation, as the biggest thing Gasol seems to need is to be wrapped in the warm, cuddly embrace of Phil Jackson's triangle offense and coaching style.
But the Lakers have already committed to paying out the remainder of Mike Brown's deal, and just hired Mike D'Antoni who they'd have to replace. They're stuck with D'Antoni for a while. This has to work out for them. And if Gasol, who has expressed reticence toward D'Antoni's system and the choice of D'Antoni over Jackson, can't or won't get on board, the Lakers can't afford to wait. They have to win now.
The drama continues in LA.
We talked a lot about Gasol's situation and possible trade implications earlier Tuesday on the CBSSports.com Basketball Podcast: Pick and Troll.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21263677</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21263677</guid>
      <category>Houston Cougars</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:27:01 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[FSU nearing one-year extension for Jimbo Fisher]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A one-year extension for Florida State's Jimbo Fisher is almost done, according to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
An additional year would lock up Fisher until 2017. He currently makes around $2.75 million per year. President Eric Barron told the Tallahassee Democrat he's in contract discussions with Fisher.
"He wanted a year extension for recruiting, and (Barron) wants to give it to him," the source said.
FSU also gave Fisher a one-year extension after last season. Fisher is coming off an 11-win season, an ACC title and an Orange Bowl berth in his third season. Fisher, the former 'Noles coach-in-waiting behind Bobby Bowden, is 30-10 overall at FSU and never has won fewer than nine games.
Fisher was linked to the Auburn job in recent weeks, but the Tigers hired Gus Malzahn Tuesday. Fisher discussed the Auburn opening through FSU back-channels but never displayed genuine interest in leaving, according to two sources.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263675</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263675</guid>
      <category>Florida State Seminoles</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:24:48 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Dodgers trying to deal pitchers Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Dodgersare shopping pitcher Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano aggressively, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com.
The 34-year-old Harang tossed 179 2/3 innings with the team last season, posting a 3.61 ERA and a 4.14 FIP. While Harang's numbers look strong on the surface, there's some reason for concern. His strikeout rate dropped to 16.7 percent and his walk rate jumped to 10.8 percent. Harang also had a 38.6 percent ground ball rate last year, but posted the lowest home-run-per-fly-ball rate of his career. Those are signs that he could be in for regression next season.
Capuano is also 34 years old but doesn't have the same concerns as Harang. In 198 1/3 innings, Capuano had a 3.72 ERA and a 3.95 FIP. While his fastball as never been overwhelming, his off-speed pitches still remain effective.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the latest rumors from bloggers Chris Cwik, Jack Moore and R.J. White, follow@MLBRumorsCBS.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263672</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263672</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:24:09 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Boston College hires Steve Addazio]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Boston College has hired Temple's Steve Addazio as its new football coach, according to a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
Addazio, who went 13-11 in two seasons at Temple, was a BC candidate three years ago before knee surgery derailed a potential interview. The Eagles elevated former assistant Frank Spaziani, who was fired after three subpar seasons.
Sports Illustrated first reported the news.
"We are very excited to have Steve Addazio leading BC football and look forward to an extraordinary future," said new BC athletic director Brad Bates.
Boston College interviewed Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco on Tuesday morning, according to the source. Temple gave Addazio an extension after his 9-4 debut with the Owls, but the team finished 4-7 this season as a new Big East member.
Addazio's hiring caps a crazy day of college football hirings, with former Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn headed to Auburn and Wisconsin's Bret Bielema taking the Arkansas job.
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263514</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263514</guid>
      <category>Boston College Eagles</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:09:13 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Big 12: Ranking the bowl matchups]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[
The Big 12 sent nine teams to bowls this year. With that many bowl-eligible teams, as expected, the matchups at the top are pretty good and the matchups at the bottom are pretty boring.
Here is how we rank them:
1. Fiesta Bowl -- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 7 Kansas State (Jan. 3, Tempe, Ariz.)
The week leading up to games on Nov. 17, this looked like it was going to be the national championship game. Would anyone outside of the south been upset if it had ended up that way? Both teams have plenty of star power, respected head coaches and contrasting styles. If there's a Big 12 school that mirrors Stanford, Oregon's one loss, it's Kansas State. And if there's a Pac-12 school that mirrors Baylor, K-State's one loss, it's Oregon.
2. Cotton Bowl -- No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 10 Texas A&amp;M (Jan. 4, Arlington, Texas)
Oklahoma fans probably feel a little jaded that the Sooners didn't end up in the Orange Bowl, but this is a more intriguing matchup. The Sooners get to go up against the likely Heisman winner in Johnny Manziel and a win would put a little feather in the Big 12's cap against the departed Aggies. A win would also be the fourth straight bowl victory for OU, an impressive streak.
3. Holiday Bowl -- Baylor vs. No. 17 UCLA (Dec. 27, San Diego)Baylor is the Big 12's hottest team, and until losing back-to-back games against Stanford the last two weeks, UCLA was one of the nation's hottest teams. If you like high-scoring games, tune in.
4. Alamo Bowl -- Texas vs. No. 15 Oregon State (Dec. 29, San Antonio)
Texas is one of the Big 12 schools that could benefit the most from a bowl win heading into next season. Come to think of it, "just wait until next season" has become a rallying cry for the Longhorns. But hey, Texas could be better than most believe right now. The Horns played great outside of conference and struggled at the beginning and end of the Big 12 season. A good UT performance would be another feather in the cap of the Big 12.
5. Pinstripe Bowl -- West Virginia vs. Syracuse (Dec. 29, Bronx, New York)
If you're looking for a storyline, this is sort of a revenge game for West Virginia. The Orangemen beat the Mountaineers 49-23 last season. It was an embarrassing loss for West Virginia considering it was Syracuse's only Big East win. This is also the last chance to watch Tavon Austin as a Mountaineer, which is sad for college football.
6. Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl -- TCU vs. Michigan State (Dec. 29, Tempe, Ariz.)
It's a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 team against a middle-of-the-pack Big 10 team. Both have strong defenses and struggle at times to put up points. Big boy football? Yeah, we'll call it that.
7. Heart of Dallas Bowl -- Oklahoma State vs. Purdue (Jan. 1, Dallas)
It's the school that got rid of its head coach against the school that has the head coach everyone seems to want. That's probably a good sign that this isn't much of a matchup.
8. Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas -- Texas Tech vs. Minnesota (Dec. 28, Houston)
Texas Tech is right there with Texas as far as teams that could really use a win. The Red Raiders dropped four of their last five and they needed overtime against Kansas to get that one win. But don't worry Tech, the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas has your back. Its gift to you: A team that won two games in the Big 10.
9. Liberty Bowl -- Iowa State vs. Tulsa (Dec. 31, Memphis, Tenn.)
That 38-23 Iowa State win over Tulsa to open the season was just so good we had to see it again. Oh wait, it wasn't that entertaining? Why are they matched up again?
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow@CBSSportsBig12on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263513</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263513</guid>
      <category>Baylor Bears</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:09:06 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[49ers Notebook: LaMichael James' debut could come soon]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





LaMichael James played in the preseason, but he's yet to play in the regular season.(US Presswire) 



For San Francisco 49ers RBFrank Gore, the transition from the University of Miami to the NFL didn't include a full-scale change in philosophy. The Hurricanes, under Butch Davis and Larry Coker, used a pro-style offense that required the running backs to pass protect.
"At Miami, if we couldn't pass protect, we couldn't play," Gore said. That wasn't the case for the 49ers' second-round pick LaMichael James at Oregon, where pass protection was nearly unheard of in Chip Kelly's spread-option. James' role was fairly simple: Get the ball in space and run."I was not pass protecting that much," James said. "The first time I ever did it a lot was when I got here."Playing running back in coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman's system is much like it was for Gore at Miami. They need the backs to be able to help in protection. For a player of James' size (he's generously listed at 5-foot-9, 195 pounds), that's not an easy task."You have to go out there and be effort, just put your head in there and see what you can do," James said. "It's not that hard, but obviously, I'm outmanned because I'm not 230 pounds."James is the only player selected in the first two rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft who has not been active for a game this season for reasons other than injury. The 49ers' depth and James' development have contributed to that, but it appears it could change as early as this week against Miami.General manager Trent Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh insinuated as much on radio interviews in the Bay Area on Monday and Tuesday. "It's safe to say that LaMichael is going to start getting his opportunities and confident that'll he'll make the most of them," Baalke said Monday on the Ric Bucher and Chris Townsend Show on 95.7 The Game.Harbaugh wasn't as direct on the Murph and Mac Show on KNBR 680 on Tuesday: "I think (James making his is debut) a real possibility. He's worked hard for an opportunity and that's something that's definitely a possibility that's coming.&rdquo;On the day James was drafted, Baalke complimented his ability to run between the tackles, but according to Gore, that's another area where adjusting has been a challenge."He got better in small spaces," Gore said. "You watch his film in college and there is a lot of big space, and in the NFL it's different. Early on he had a tough time with that. Now from where I first saw him, he's gotten a lot better."Gore also complimented James' development in terms of reading his blockers and being patient. He said James wanted to get the ball and get to full speed as quickly as possible -- like he was asked to do at Oregon -- but has learned that in the NFL it's necessary to wait for a play to develop, then hit the hole when it's there. In the 49ers' 16-13 OT loss to St. Louis, Gore received a season-high 23 carries, which doesn't factor the additional time he was called upon to pass block. With Kendall Hunter out for the season with a torn Achilles, production from James would be extremely beneficial in keeping Gore fresh for the playoffs.49ers sticking with Kaepernick: QB Colin Kaepernick will make his fourth career start Sunday against the Dolphins, according to Harbaugh.He was 21 of 32 for 208 yards against the Rams on Sunday, but a critical fumble that resulted in St. Louis' only touchdown marred what was otherwise a decent performance. Dobbs speaks after arrest: Speaking to a group of Bay Area reporters, a contrite Demarcus Dobbs said his Friday morning arrest for suspicion of DUI and possession of marijuana after a single-car accident in Santa Clara was a "wake-up call.""I appreciate all the support that I've had from my friend, my family and my fans," he said, according to the Sacramento Bee. "It's very out of character for what happened. I made a dumb mistake, a dumb decision. I take full responsibility for it. Going forward, I can guarantee it won't happen again. It's not like me. I never had any problems before at all. It's just a dumb decision that I take full responsibility for."Akers expected to keep job: Mired in the worst season of his 14-year NFL career, K David Akers' job with the 49ers is secure -- at least for now.Akers missed a potential game-winning 51-yard field goal against the Rams on Sunday in overtime."We'll see what his health status is this week, but all indications are, he's working through something, but he's kicked well in practice," Harbaugh said. "He's kicked well in game. I thought the one that he hit in the ball game that was missed was well hit. It just didn't go in.&rdquo;Hoffman-Ellis added to practice squad: The 49ers announced it signed LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis to the practice squad Tuesday and have released S Eddie Whitley. Hoffman-Ellis played for 49ers offensive assistant Paul Wulff at Washington State, where he started 33 games and was named second-team All-Pac-12 as a senior. Gore's wrist in a brace: RB Gore's left wrist is in a brace. He said he injured it during a stiff arm Sunday against the Rams, but the injury won't affect him and he could have played Tuesday if he needed to.
Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter @CBS49ers and @KyleBonagura.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21263431</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21263431</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:58:58 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Tom Coughlin: Giants RT Sean Locklear 'likely' headed to IR]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Giants DT Sean Locklear's impressive season is &lsquo;likely' over after injuring his knee against the Redskins. (US Presswire) 



The day after wasn't any easier for coach Tom Coughlin after the Giants' 17-16 loss to the Redskins. Coughlin told the media during Tuesday's conference call that RT Sean Locklear suffered a &ldquo;serious&rdquo; knee injury, which will require surgery.
When pressed on if Locklear would go on IR, Coughlin became irritated and snapped at a reporter, &ldquo;Why don't you just wait until it happens?&rdquo;
Coughlin then calmed himself and said Locklear would &ldquo;likely&rdquo; end up on IR.
&ldquo;We all feel badly for Sean,&rdquo; Coughlin said. &ldquo;It is a serious injury, and we are very upset about that.&rdquo;
Locklear was signed as a free agent in the offseason and started at left tackle in Week 1 before moving to right tackle in Week 2 when David Diehl suffered a sprained MCL. Locklear remained the starter on the right side until Diehl reclaimed the job in Week 9.
Locklear was starting for Diehl again on Monday because the latter suffered a shoulder injury the previous week. But Diehl remained active and came in for Locklear after he left the game in the fourth quarter.
&ldquo;[Locklear]'s been there when we needed him,&rdquo; Coughlin said.
Considering he wasn't a lock to make the 53-man roster at the beginning of training camp, Locklear had an impressive season even if it's ending early.
&ldquo;Thanks everybody for all the love and support,&rdquo; Locklear wrote tweeted. &ldquo;It's difficult right now, but their are better days ahead. #GoGiants&rdquo;

Follow the Giants and Alex Raskin@CBSGiantsand@AlexRaskinNYC.
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21263426</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21263426</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:53:57 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Photo: Kirk Gibson's close shave]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[As any child of the '80s can tell you, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson is no stranger to personal hygiene.
After his World Series heroics, Gibson became a national spokesman for Right Guard deodorant.

Now, it looks like he's shooting for a shaving cream endorsement:

Breaking: Gibby before and after a shave. Anything less would be uncivilized. Tune in now to @mlbnetwork twitter.com/Dbacks/status/&hellip;
&mdash; Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) December 4, 2012

Last week Gibson said the beard was a result of his offseason spent hunting in the Michigan woods. From MLB.com:
"I've got a long beard I've got to shave off before I go to the winter meetings," Gibson told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. "I mean it's really long."
Alas, it is no longer.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263340</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263340</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:48:32 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Mets considering Mark Reynolds for outfield]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Mets are considering offering Mark Reynolds a contract and playing him in the outfield, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.
However, Davidoff writes that the contract Reynolds is seeking, believed to be about $7 million, might be too high for the Mets.
The 29-year-old right-handed hitter has played just two games in the outfield in his career, both as a rookie with the Diamondbacks in 2007. He hit .221/.335/.429 with 23 home runs in 538 plate appearances for the Orioles in 2012 while spending most of his time at first base.
The Orioles declined to pick up an $11-million option on Reynolds in October, making him a free agent.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the latest rumors from bloggers Chris Cwik, Jack Moore and R.J. White, follow @MLBRumorsCBS.
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263339</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263339</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:48:02 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Film Room: Ravens' offense struggled; great block from Jah Reid]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[
On Sunday, the feeling in Ravens' locker room was that it gave the game away to Pittsburgh, handing the Steelers a 23-20 victory.
After looking at the tape, that doesn't appear to be the case.For Pittsburgh, the offense won the battle of adjustments in the second half, placing its players in great position to make plays downfield against a back end that looked confused at times. The defensive front made key plays late in the game in getting after Joe Flacco, forcing him into bad passes and awful decisions.But the Ravens can't chalk up the loss to a better Steelers team on that given Sunday. There were still plenty of missed opportunities on both sides of the ball.Here's how the Ravens looked against Pittsburgh upon further review:What looked good?

Outside of three plays, the defense was solid against the run. It only gave up one big run inside to RB Isaac Redman, and two runs were bounced outside after nothing was available inside from Steelers RB Jonathan Dwyer. Though the two Dwyer runs -- one of which went for a touchdown -- gained some good yardage, the Ravens forced Charlie Batch to beat them through the air, which was what they wanted. They just didn't expect it to happen.


Ray Rice's 34-yard touchdown run was spectacular, especially because his initial read was to hit a hole to the right. But Rice saw Steelers S Troy Polamalu fit the gap ahead of time, which forced the fifth-year running back to cut back to his left. Now, here's where the key aspect of the play happened. LG Jah Reid drove Steelers DE Brett Keisel six yards backward, freeing the lane for Rice to run through. Rice hit the crease and ran down the left sideline untouched into the end zone. It was a great block from a second-year lineman transitioning from tackle to guard.

What didn't look good?

Out of 61 offensive plays, including post-snap penalties, Baltimore's offensive line graded negatively on nine of them. Breaking that number down further, LT Michael Oher graded negatively on four of those plays. Whether it was James Harrison or Larry Foote, Oher had his hands full all game. He gave up two sacks (including one with Ray Rice helping) and was beat another two times. Oher's been up and down this season, and the Pittsburgh game was not one of his better showings.


Flacco had his worst game of the season, for a variety of reasons. He threw too many passes off his back foot which caused the ball to sail. His timing with WR Torrey Smith was never in sync as he attempted five deep passes that all fell incomplete to him. Flacco held onto the ball too long at times, including on one of Oher's sacks given up. Though Oher gave up the sack, Flacco did have time to throw the ball away. This isn't to indict Flacco as a bad quarterback. He's not. Sunday just wasn't a good day.


In the second half, the middle of the field was wide open for the Pittsburgh passing game. Two factors worked against Baltimore: The first was the lack of a pass rush. Batch had lots of time to either sit in the pocket or to roll out to extend the play downfield. The second was due to a good adjustment Pittsburgh made that Baltimore couldn't match. A good example would be on a 23-yard pass to Steelers TE Heath Miller in the fourth quarter. Batch faked a screen pass to speedy RB Chris Rainey, which sucked Baltimore's defense into the play. Batch then found Miller wide open. Steelers OC Todd Haley did a good job directing Baltimore's attention to the sideline, which opened plays over the middle. Discipline within assignments will likely be a focal point this week in practice.

What's inconclusive?

What exactly is the offense's identity? The Ravens went without the uptempo style they began the year with but still managed to look like a team that would prefer to open up the passing game, especially late. Up 20-13 and tied 20-20, the Ravens kept passing, and forcibly so. Rice's last two carries in the third quarter went for 42 yards and a touchdown. He didn't receive a touch in the fourth quarter. With a surging Washington squad up next, this offense will need to be on the same page next week.

Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter @CBSRavens and @JasonButtCBS.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21263336</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21263336</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:47:23 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Yankees angling for A.J. Pierzynski]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





A.J. Pierzynski is coming off a career year at the plate, and the Yankees need a catcher. (Getty Images) 



Following the loss of free-agent catcher Russell Martin to the Pirates, the Yankees are in the market for a starting catcher. That search has, sensibly enough, led them to A.J. Pierzynski . Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Yanks have engaged Pierzynski in contract talks.
The 35-year-old Pierzynski is coming off a career year at the plate: .278/.326/.501 with 27 homers. It's likely that Pierzynski will regress back toward career norms with the bat, but even if he does he still figures to be an asset. That's because Pierzynski is a skilled defensive catcher, and he's also quite durable by the standards of the position (he's been on the DL only once in his career, and that was the result of being struck by a pitch).
As well, Pierzynski's left-handed swing could play quite well in Yankee Stadium, especially if he's able to maintain the jump in fly-ball rate that he enjoyed last season. On top of all that, he's not going to command a lengthy deal, so he's an ideal placeholder for the contending Yankees.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263289</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263289</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:41:18 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Mike Ilitch proposes downtown Detroit arena, potential future home for Wings]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Mike Ilitch is hoping to get the thumbs up for a new arena in downtown Detroit. (Getty Images) 



While six NHL owners and 18 players are in New York City trying to work out a new CBA deal for the NHL to end the lockout, Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch was behind a pitch of a completely different sort back in Michigan.
Ilitch's Olympia Development Company presented Michigan lawmakers with plans for a new $650 million arena to go in downtown Detroit. According to the Detroit Free-Press it's being hailed as a "new, state of the art, multi-purpose events center" to go downtown to help liven up a downtrodden city.
"It's always been my dream to once again see a vibrant downtown Detroit," Ilitch said in a press release.
While there has been no specific indication of it serving as a new home to the Red Wings in the pitch, the Free-Press did note that would most likely be part of the picture.
Ilitch obviously loves Detroit and part of the proposed project would certainly be an attempt to revitalize the city, but you know the Red Wings would be on the brain for this project. They play in one of the NHL's most iconic arenas left in Joe Louis Arena, but it's also one of the NHL's oldest and most out-of-date. It stinks to think it's time for the Joe to go, but it's probably the case. A new, state-of-the-art arena would make the already profitable Red Wings a lot more profitable.
The project would also include some commercial and residential angles, but the arena would be the crown jewel. Ilitch has been trying for a while to get a new arena downtown for the Wings to play in -- so much so that a report surfaced earlier this year that an architecht had already been hired to begin designing a new arena. They are a Detroit team and he wants to see the team stay in Detroit instead of emigrating to Auburn Hills like the NBA's Pistons did.
It's still a long ways off and getting the financial structure in place for a new arena is never an easy proposition, but this could be the next step in the Wings getting a fancy new place to play. Ilitch does have experience in getting new arenas/stadiums built in the city before as he helped his Tigers of MLB a new stadium a little more than a decade ago.
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @StubitsCBS on Twitter and like us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/rapid-reports/date</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/rapid-reports/date</guid>
      <category>NHL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:38:48 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The InBounds: DeMar DeRozan's progress measured in mental miles]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





 DeRozan's off to a career-best start this season.   (Getty Images) 



DeMar DeRozan is 23 years old. But if you ask him what he has learned from his time in the NBA, he sounds more like a seasoned veteran. "Mental toughness. You gotta be a man in this league. On the court, off the court: you gotta be a man. Because otherwise, it'll break you down."When CBSSports.com sat down with the Raptors' high-flying forward this week, the one thing to take away is that it's his mental approach to his athletic ability that has DeRozan on pace for a career season. And those words "mental toughness" come up again and again.He talks about it when asked what coach Dwane Casey has brought to the team. He talks about it when asked how the Raptors, who are 4-14 but have suffered a wide variety of heartbreaking losses, have to get through this rough spot. "It's frustrating," DeRozan says, "because our record would be totally different than what it is now [if we won a few more of the close games]. I don't think our record defines who we are, because we're a much better team than what our record says we are. We just try and come in and stay positive. We know we can play with any team."The Raptors suffered the usual fate at Denver on Monday, inventing yet another bizarre and heartbreaking way to lose. After being down 16 in the second half, the Raptors scratched and clawed their way back in a remarkable late game run. Down three with just a few seconds remaining, DeRozan took just his third 3 of the night from long range in a desperation shot. Off. The Raptors lose again. But wrapped inside the puzzling mystery of the Raptors' struggles is DeRozan, who signed a four-year, $38 million extension this fall, much to the chagrin of fans and critics, who had yet to see the promising wing player develop. This season, there has been no explosion. DeRozan is averaging just .7 more points per 36 minutes. He has a PER of 15.3, right around the average for a player. He's not rebounding significantly more than he has at any point in his career or dishing more assists. (Advanced stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.)But watching DeRozan play, you notice a lot of differences. And when you take that information and then look closely inside the data, you start to understand what has happened with DeRozan this year. He has become more confident, more disciplined, more settled. He plays more within himself and in more versatile ways. He's a more complete player, and that has helped his minutes increase to 37 minutes a game. He's playing like he did when he was a 20-year-old rookie playing limited minutes, but now he's the player whom Casey counts on for long stretches. Against Denver, DeRozan finished with the kind of efficiency that's becoming the norm for him. Eighteen points on 13 shots, with seven rebounds and two assists. He had a late steal which, had the Raptors not inexplicably (sensing a theme?) bumbled it, might have been the difference. The work is there. I've never been a believer in DeRozan. But this year, you can see the difference. He's not breaking out. But he's moving his way slowly towards taking that leap, and that starts with what's going on upstairs.DeRozan talks about his goal coming into the season and how he wanted to become the kind of all-around player that his talents lend him to be. "I've been through different situations since I've been in the league," he says. "I've had to be a scorer, had to be in different situations. It's my fourth year. This summer, I just wanted to put everything together on both ends, come out and be the best player I can be this year."There's little cockiness in the fourth-year man, but instead a quiet focus. And, more than anything, an understanding that if he's going to succeed, he's going to have to use those physical tools that he's gifted with to do more things than most two-guards do, rather than using them to be a better version of a traditional two-guard, something he has done in the past. For one thing, DeRozan has figured out he has to use his size. He used just 6.7 percent of his possessions last season in the post, where he was lethally efficient according to Synergy Sports. DeRozan has increased his time in the block this season to 14.9 percent, where he's the 10th-best player in the league at points per possession. DeRozan says it's something that he came to on his own this year. "That was just me. I feel like I'm bigger than a lot of two-guards, and I think it's just effective. I look at guys like Kobe and, as they started to get older, they got better in the post. I just looked at it as, 'If I get better at it now, that's going to benefit me later.' It's something I think helps make me better than a lot of two-guards."Ah, Kobe. That name comes up a lot with DeRozan. Growing up in Compton, Calif., DeRozan has long said that he grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant. No surprise there. But it wasn't Bryant's scoring acumen that impressed DeRozan; it was his mental approach, which continues to amaze the younger player."He was a killer," DeRozan says. "You think of the most ruthless killer in the horror movie -- that's Kobe when he's on the court. It's just amazing for him to be in this league this long, and he still looks like he's getting younger. The mindset -- the work ethic that he takes in every night is just incredible."So DeRozan tries to emulate that, to take a different mental approach, to be more consistent, the word that coaches repeat day after day after day and which so few players can master. He does it in the shadow of the contract that garnered him extensive criticism (and we weren't exactly lauding the deal), which DeRozan has been open with his frustration over. So what is it the critics don't get?"The hours and the days I put in the gym. The frustration. Everything that people don't get to see. It's more than just basketball for a guy. It's basketball, but it's everyday-life things, too. People don't see that. "They just see dollar signs and say, 'Oh, he doesn't deserve that.' They don't see what a player goes through to try and improve himself."Fair or not, the criticism will continue until DeRozan reaches the levels of stardom that Raptors fans have been hoping he'll hit for years. But if you're looking for positive signs, DeRozan has provided them early this season in the midst of a rough environment. When asked what he wants for his career outside of wins and titles, DeRozan's aspirations seem out of reach. "[I want to be a] guy to brought up years after his career is over. If you're a basketball player, you always know who Scottie Pippen is, or Charles Barkley. Barkley never won a ring, but everyone knows him. To be one of those guys people mentions 10 years down the line, 20 years down the line."It's not that he's at that point or that it's likely he'll ever reach that hallowed ground. It's that the desire is there, the work ethic is there. And maybe, finally, DeRozan is mentally ready to make the leap.
After the Buzzer:

DeRozan's fiancee is also a baller, and DeRozan says she's always trying to topple him in shooting contests. As to whether she has ever beaten him one-on-one? "Never. I'd never let that happen." I'm sure she'll love to read that. Every married guy reading this just shook his head.


DeRozan lists He Got Game as the movie that he mostly closely identifies with. "Growing up, those are the sort of things you went through, with people close to you. With colleges, agents -- all of that is fact. And, growing up, you don't realize it until you go through it."


On what he wishes NBA players realized more about Toronto, which constantly struggles with attracting free agents: "Great city. It's better than a lot of cities that you can think of. It's really diverse. The culture's great. The fan base is great."
On if he wants to be feared in the league: "Yeah. To be feared in this league is a tough thing. Not many guys are feared."


DeRozan says the Toronto coaches are the ones trying to get the players through this rough stretch of games: "It's a long season. We get caught up in the moment because we want to win, especially those tough games. We have to remember it's a marathon, not a sprint."


DeRozan is taking the same number of threes this season, but picking his spots better, and as a result, hitting at a higher percentage. "You have to realize when you take them. Don't just take threes not to take them. I take them when I think they're needed. I need to play within my game. I know if I get a shot in rhythm, I can knock it down. But for me, I'm an aggressive player. We've got a lot of 3-point shooters on this team. If I'm being aggressive, that can open up a 3-point shot for them."


DeRozan notes that just having size doesn't always give you an advantage in the post over two-guards. "Some are smaller. Some have quick hands and reach and get steals. You have to know your personnel, know who you're going against. Couple of nights ago, I'm going against Shannon Brown and he's tough. That's a guard you can't really back down, so you have to find other ways to post and score on them."
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21263252</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21263252</guid>
      <category>NBA</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:37:20 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo learned nothing from his suspension]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





 Rondo missed his teammates at this exact moment.  (Getty Images) 



Rajon Rondo returns from his suspension Wednesday night to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the Boston Celtics' point guard was away from the team, his team went 1-1 by trouncing the Trail Blazers at home and losing to the Bucks in Milwaukee. Rondo was suspended for shoving Kris Humphries after an extra push when he fouled Kevin Garnett.
The shove became a wrestling match that spilled behind the basket and a bit into the stands. Rondo was given a two-game suspension. He wasn't allowed to attend the games or travel with the team to Milwaukee. So what did he learn from all of this? What's the lesson that rose from the rubble of this scuffle?
Nothing. Via Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:
"I wanted to be out there with my teammates but obviously a 2-game suspension, like I said I was glued in front of the TV," said Rondo, who told reporters he went to Mexico during the break. "Hopefully I don't feel too winded tomorrow. I think I've been off for about a week now. We'll see tomorrow."When asked if he learned any lessons during his third suspension in nine months, he said: "No."Rondo did say he missed being around his teammates."It was difficult," he said, "I love being around the guys. I love coming into practice and being around them on the team plane, but I had to miss that for a couple of days but other than that everything is back to normal."
If it's worth it to Rondo to miss a paycheck for two games to show his teammates he has their backs and that he'll fight with and for them, then that's perfectly fine with me. I don't think it's something he should do often because it hurts his team to not have him playing every night. However, a sign of solidarity like this isn't the worst thing to happen.
I'm sure that's not something David Stern likes. He doesn't like it when the NBA players don't show some contrition for an incident like this or an incident of any kind that garners a suspension. Many thought the Gilbert Arenas suspension ended up being harsher than it might have been because he came out and flashed the finger guns in a pregame huddle for the Wizards.
While this isn't anything close to bringing guns into an NBA arena, that doesn't mean Stern won't like him saying he learned nothing from the penalty.
Regardless, it will be nice to have Rondo back on the court for the Celtics. There's only so muchLeandro Barbosa we can all take.
(H/T - Point Forward)]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21263249</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21263249</guid>
      <category>NBA</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:33:00 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Why the Royals are more willing to trade Myers than Butler, and what it says]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Royals are more willing to trade outfield prospect Wil Myers than major-league designated hitter Billy Butler in their search for a top-level starting pitcher, and that should tell you a lot about their hoped-for timetable for contending.They're trying to win now.The 21-year-old Myers may well become the better player of the two. But for the next couple of years, at least, the Royals believe a lineup with Butler (who will turn 27 in April) gives them a better chance.The Royals have pursued nearly every top pitcher who is available, both on the free-agent market and the trade market. As of Tuesday, they weren't said to be close to a deal with any of them.One rival executive predicted that the Royals will eventually end up making a deal with the Rays, possibly for James Shields.The Royals aren't giving teams a firm no on Butler. They are willing to discuss him, but if it comes to him or Myers, Butler is the one they'd rather keep. Of course, in their perfect world, they'd be able to keep both.Besides Shields, David Price and others with the Rays, pitchers known to be available on the trade market include Ricky Nolasco (Marlins), Justin Masterson (Indians) and possibly Jon Lester of the Red Sox. The Red Sox, though, seem less motivated to deal a pitcher than the other teams on the list.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/date</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/date</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:24:06 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Red Sox make offer to Shane Victorino]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





With other center fielders off the market, Shane Victorino is getting mighty popular. (US Presswire) 



The Red Sox have made a three-year, $38-million offer to free-agent oufielder Shane Victorino , reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman had previously named the Red Sox as one of the leading contenders for Victorino and tabbed the market for him as commanding a three- or four-year pact.
Victorino, 32, is coming off a season in which he hit just .255/.321/.383 for the Phillies and Dodgers. For a number of reasons, there's reason to suspect that his best days are long behind him.
For the Red Sox, the addition of Victorino would come after they've already signed or come to terms with Mike Napoli, Jonny Gomes and David Ross.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263131</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263131</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:22:21 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Nationals getting 'quality human being, tremendous competitor' in Dan Haren]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Angels wanted to keep right-hander Dan Haren and were working toward it &hellip; until the Nationals' one-year, $13 million offer blew them out of the room.
So the Angels are left on the prowl for more starting pitching, and the Nationals add a veteran who slots in behind Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Gio Gonzalez.
The big question for the Nationals will be Haren's health. He's 32 and a three-time All-Star whose durability eroded last summer as he battled back issues. The Angels had a trade in place with the Cubs for closer Carlos Marmol earlier this winter, but sources told colleague Danny Knobler that the Cubs nixed it over concerns about Haren's medical reports.
Still, the Angels hated to lose him.
&ldquo;They're getting a quality human being and a tremendous competitor,&rdquo; Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher says of the Nationals and Haren. &ldquo;They're getting a quality starter, for sure.
&ldquo;That is a great deal for him. We would loved to have had him back.&rdquo;
Haren went 12-13 last season with a 4.33 ERA in 30 starts while landing on the disabled list for the first time in his career. In 2011, he went 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263082</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21263082</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:17:54 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[5 best Big 12 defensive performances of the year]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Big defensive plays were key to Kansas State winning the Big 12 and the BCS bowl that goes with it. (US Presswire) 



The Big 12 is a league known mostly for its wide-open offenses. But it is quality defense that ultimately helped determine the conference championship.
It isn't easy being a Big 12 defensive coordinator. There must be plenty of gray hairs growing and sleepless nights worrying about what comes next. After all, four of the top-10 scoring offenses and six of the top 16 are members of the Big 12.
It's thus little surprise that only one Big 12 team is in the top 30 in scoring defense. But that was the key to Kansas State's ability to win the league title and an automatic BCS bowl berth. TheWildcats are on our list of top-five defensive performances twice, but three individual efforts stand out as well.
1. Kansas State forces key turnovers to win at Oklahoma on Sept. 22
The game that ultimately decided the Big 12 champion was between the Wildcats and Sooners in Norman. Kansas State won 24-19 but did so almost entirely thanks to its defense. Jarell Childs picked up a Landry Jones fumble and returned it for K-State's first touchdown. A later fumble by OU's Blake Bell came at the Wildcats' 1-yard line and ended a scoring threat. Kansas State'sTy Zimmerman added a pick of Jones late in the third quarter to set up another short touchdown drive. Those plays made the difference in the game -- and the Big 12 season.
2. Iowa State LB Jake Knott makes critical play in win over Baylor on Oct. 27
Knott's season came to an early conclusion due to a shoulder injury. Before that, though, he was playing as well as anyone in the Big 12. He made multiple big plays early in the season (including a game-sealing interception late in a win at rival Iowa) but was at his all-around best against the Bears in a 35-21 win. Knott had 11 tackles and forced a fumble at the goal line to end a Baylor scoring threat while leading an Iowa State defense that had two key fourth-down stops. It was only the second time in 30 games Baylor was held to fewer than 30 points.
3. TCU's Kenny Cain keeps Virginia from thinking upset on Sept. 22
TheHorned Frogs had their ups and downs in their first Big 12 season, but Cain helped ensure they didn't take an upset loss early in the year. The linebacker had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, ending multiple UVA drives that seemed likely to end in points, helping TCU win 27-7. The Horned Frogs' offense failed to put the game away early, and Cain's turnovers were key because both picks came on the TCU side of the field.
4. DB Allen Chapman's three picks keep Kansas State unbeaten on Nov. 3
One way to shut down an explosive offense? Force turnovers early and often. That's what the Wildcats did against Oklahoma State, picking off four passes and forcing five total turnovers in K-State's 44-30 win. Chapman led the effort for the Wildcats, picking off three passes -- the most by a Kansas State player since 1995. Chapman returned the first one for a critical touchdown. For his efforts, he was named Walter Camp national defensive player of the week as the Wildcats remained unbeaten.
5. Texas' Alex Okafor does it all vs. West Virginia on Oct. 6
It's rare to see the Big 12 honor a player in a losing effort. But Okafor, the Longhorns'star DE, merited the recognition after a strong all-around performance in a 48-45 loss to the Mountaineers. Okafor had two sacks (WVU had allowed only four in the first four games of the season), two forced fumbles, a blocked field goal and three quarterback hurries. He was the only thing that kept West Virginia's offense from having even more of a field day.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263081</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21263081</guid>
      <category>Baylor Bears</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:17:43 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Giants hoping to keep Scutaro, but Cardinals, Yankees also believed interested]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Not surprisingly, the Giants want to keep their World Series-winning group together.Also not surprising: They're facing strong competition in their bid to retain Marco Scutaro, who seems set to benefit from a good postseason and a thin market for infielders.The Giants, who already re-signed center fielder Angel Pagan, would also like to retain Scutaro, according to sources. But the Cardinals and Yankees are said to be interested in Scutaro, who is 37 years old but whose versatility makes him a fit with all three clubs.Scutaro played second base for the Giants, the same position he would play if he went to the Cardinals. He has added value for the Cardinals in that he would provide cover at shortstop if Rafael Furcal doesn't recover from his elbow injury.The Yankees' needs are on the left side of the infield, with Alex Rodriguez heading for hip surgery and Derek Jeter coming off ankle surgery.If the Giants can't sign Scutaro, they may look for an outfielder instead, hoping for someone they could pair with Gregor Blanco in left field.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262899</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262899</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:06:27 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Bears' Brian Urlacher out 3 or 4 games ]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





 Linebacker Brian Urlacher is expected to be out for at least three games after spraining his hamstring during Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. (US Presswire) 



Chicago BearsLB Brian Urlacher will miss three games, if not the remaining four regular-season games, as a result of a strained hamstring according to a Chicago Tribune report.
The report said the goal is to have Urlacher ready to go for the playoffs, provided the team makes them. The injury to the Urlacher, a 34-year-old veteran of 13 seasons, was reported as a Grade 2 strain. The Bears haven't officially announced anything about Urlacher's injury. The report cited two unnamed sources but said Urlacher refused to speak about the injury.A tipoff to the severity of Urlacher's injury, suffered while chasing Seattle QB Russell Wilson in overtime on Sunday, came in the resigning of MLB Dom DeCicco on Tuesday to a two-year contract, placing him on the active roster. LB Patrick Trahan was waived/injured. DeCicco was Urlacher's backup on the depth chart last year and finished with 17 special teams tackles, but he was cut after training camp. Nick Roach actually is expected to replace Urlacher in the middle with Geno Hayes playing strong side linebacker.The Bears also waived practice squad QB Matt Blanchard and picked up RB Harvey Unga for the practice squad. Unga had been cut earlier in the year.Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262801</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262801</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:56:05 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Bengals place WR Mohamed Sanu (foot) on IR]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[
In the final three games of his rookie season, Bengals receiver Mohamed Sanu caught four touchdowns and earned himself the No. 2 receiver role in Cincinnati behind A.J. Green.
But late last week, Sanu suffered a stress fracture in his foot during practice. On Tuesday, the Bengals placed him on the IR list, ending his season.
Sanu was taken in the third round of this year's draft (NOT the second round as he originally thought). Though he threw a 73-yard touchdown pass on the first play in Week 3, it took him a while to get acclimated in the receiving corps.
But in those final three games, he caught 11 passes and seemed to have figured out his role.
&ldquo;It's unfortunate for Mo and for us because of what he was doing,&rdquo; coach Marvin Lewis said. &ldquo;But we will pick it up and move forward.&rdquo;
Without Sanu around, look for Andrew Hawkins and rookie Marvin Jones to get more playing time. For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262800</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262800</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:56:01 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Tommy Lasorda says Barry Bonds doesn't belong in Hall]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Tommy Lasorda has some thoughts he'd like to share. (Getty Images) 



Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is himself a Hall of Famer, which gives him sanction to speak about all things Hall of Fame. And so he does. Most recently, he thundered -- quite possibly after being solicited to do so -- that Giants demi-god Barry Bonds along with Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have no place in Cooperstown.
"To me, they don't belong in there," Lasorda told the San Francisco Chronicle. "They cheated. That's the way it is. If my brother did that, I'd say the same thing about my brother. I mean, I know those guys. They're good friends of mine. But, by golly, they didn't do it the rightway ... I tell you, it's a shame. How in the hell could a guy hit 73 home runs? I mean,Babe Ruthcouldn't doit."
To the obvious follow-up, what about Mike Piazza, Lasorda's godson (though not his brother) and long-time Dodger? "No proof," Lasorda said. "I've got to say he didn't take it."
He's right that there's no proof against Piazza. And those who leave Piazza, an obvious Hall-of-Famer on the merits, off the ballot because of half-baked suspicions are doing a disservice to the process. But perhaps Lasorda should apply the same skepticism toward the case against Sosa, which is built around nothing more than a one-off blind item in the New York Times.
Of course, with regard to this issue, consistency died a swift death long ago.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262764</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262764</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:51:36 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Patriots WR Julian Edelman suffered broken foot]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





According to a report Tuesday, Patriots WR Julian Edelman is likely out for the rest of the season. (US Presswire) 



It appears that Patriots WRJulian Edelman will not play again this season.Boston news station WBZ is reporting that the Patriots wide receiver broke his foot and will likely require surgery. If he does end up on the operating table, Edelman would then likely be placed on injured reserve.The team has remained mum on the nature of Edelman's injury, though he was seen leaving Sun Life Stadium on Sunday on crutches and in a walking boot.The seriousness of the situation also came into focus Monday night when news broke that New England was nearing a deal to bring back WR Donte' Stallworth, though coach Bill Belichick refused to address the move during a conference call Tuesday.Edelman was hurt during the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Dolphins. His absence left the Patriots with just three active receivers. While Stallworth may be able to fill Edelman's spot in the passing game, the biggest hurdle may be replacing Edelman on special teams, where he's scored two touchdowns this season.Nick Underhill covers the Patriots for MassLive.com. Follow him on Twitter @CBSPatsor @Nick_Underhill.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262763</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262763</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:51:01 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Pats' Julian Edelman headed to IR with broken foot]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





The Patriots might be losing their punt returner for the season. (US Presswire) 



A week after sustaining a concussion against the Jets on Thanksgiving, Patriots wide receiver and punt returner Julian Edelman appears headed for injured reserve with a broken foot suffered in Miami last Sunday, according to a report from WBZ-TV's Dan Roche (via CBS Boston). The injury will require surgery. Edelman, who had 21 receptions for 235 yards and three touchdowns, was seen leaving Sun Life Stadium on crutches and in a protective boot. The team hasn't made an official announcement on Edelman's status but did re-sign wideout Donte' Stallworth on Monday. While the Patriots can compensate for Edelman's role in the offense (he's sixth on the team in receptions behind Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez and Danny Woodhead), it's his special team contributions that could hurt the team the most. He's averaging 15.5 yards per return with a long of 68 yards and has one touchdown. Edelman also plays on the kick coverage unit.  For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to the Pick-6 Podcast on iTunes. You can follow Ryan Wilson on Twitter here: @ryanwilson_07.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262719</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262719</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:46:35 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Gus Malzahn named Auburn's new head coach]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Gus Malzahn has been named Auburn's next head coach. (US Presswire) 



Auburn is bringing one of its 2010 heroes back to the Plains.
The Tigers named Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn as their new head coach Tuesday, replacing the fired Gene Chizik with the same offensive coordinator that helped Chizik to three straight winning seasons from 2009 to 2011 and the 2010 BCS championship.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to become the head football coach at Auburn University. It's an outstanding institution with a storied football program that I had the pleasure of experiencing first-hand for three years," Malzahn said in statement. "I deeply appreciate the confidence that [president] Dr. Gogue, [athletic director] Jay Jacobs and the search committee had in my ability to turn this program around and to bring Auburn back to national prominence.
"This is a homecoming for me and I look forward to being reunited with the Auburn family."
Malzahn leaves Arkansas State after a single successful season, a 9-3 campaign that ended with seven straight wins, a 7-1 Sun Belt record and the school's second straight conference championship. The Red Wolves will play in the GoDaddy.com Bowl against Kent State.
It's not yet clear if Malzahn will coach in the bowl game.
Malzahn was hired in 2009 as Gene Chizik's first offensive coordinator at Auburn, and in his first year propelled the Tigers from 104th to 16th in total offense. His 2010 offense ranked 7th in the FBS, helped make Cam Newton a Heisman Trophy winner, and was the driving force behind Auburn's first national championship since 1957. Both offenses set multiple scoring and yardage records at Auburn.
"We are tremendously excited that Gus Malzahn will be our next head football coach," Jacobs said. "Coach Malzahn was the clear unanimous choice of our search committee, and I am pleased that Dr. Gogue has accepted our recommendation. This is a great day for Auburn football and Auburn University."
Malzahn left for Arkansas State following Auburn's 8-5 2011 season, one in which it appeared the Tigers limited their use of Malzahn' preferred up-tempo style in order to help its young defense.
Before coming to Auburn, Malzahn had enjoyed successful stints as offensive coordinator at Tulsa and Arkansas, with the Golden Hurricane his first opportunity to display the up-tempo no-huddle offense that had made his name at Arkansas's Springdale High School. Tulsa finished No. 1 in the FBS in total offense in 2007 and 2008 on Malzahn's watch and first in yards-per-play in 2008.
Auburn president Jay Gogue said earlier Tuesday that Auburn would announce its next head coach within 24 hours. The Tigers had also reportedly interviewed Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and spoken to former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262691</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262691</guid>
      <category>Auburn Tigers</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:41:45 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Arkansas pulls off a stunner with Bielema hire]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Arkansas shocked the world on Tuesday by hiring Bret Bielema. (US Presswire) 



Well, folks, we have a winner in the Most Shocking Coaching Hire of 2012.
On Tuesday it was announced that Bret Bielema was leaving Wisconsin to take the head coaching position at Arkansas, and to say it caught the college football world off guard would be a bit of an understatement.
Less than 72 hours before the news broke, Bielema's Wisconsin team was putting up 70 points on Nebraska en route to a third consecutive Big Ten title. Now he's leaving to take a job at a school that hasn't won a conference championship since 1989. And that was in the old Southwest Conference, before Arkansas joined the SEC.
To say this is a major coup for Arkansas would be an understatement. It's also another black eye for a Big Ten conference that's been punched in the face quite a few times lately.
As if beating the Big Ten on the football field routinely hasn't been enough, now a school that isn't even considered a premier destination in the SEC is taking away one of the top coaches in the Big Ten.
Bielema has been at Wisconsin for seven years, and his Badgers teams have gone 68-24 in that span, never finishing worse than 7-6. Suddenly winning Big Ten titles is a stepping stone to getting a job at a middling SEC school.
What makes this deal even more shocking is that after a recruiting flap with Ohio State's Urban Meyer over the summer, Bielema said the Big Ten doesn't "want to be like the SEC in any way, shape or form."
Apparently, Bielema changed his mind.
As for what this means for Arkansas, the Razorbacks are getting a coach who's a proven winner. It's not often that coaches with three consecutive conference titles in a BCS conference are available for the taking, but Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long pulled it off. Considering the way things have gone in Fayetteville over the last year from the Bobby Petrino embarrassment to the John L. Smith disaster, things couldn't have played out any better for the school.
The SEC West, already one of the most competitive and entertaining divisions in all of college football, just got even better.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262683</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262683</guid>
      <category>Arkansas Razorbacks</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:40:57 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Market price for Jeff Keppinger at $8 million for two years]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The market price for infielder Jeff Keppinger is now at $8 million over a two-year deal, according to ESPN.com's Ken Rosenthal.
Rosenthal lists the Yankees as a team with interest in the 32-year-old Keppinger, who recently broke his right fibula when he tripped down some stairs. The injury is not expected to affect Keppinger's availability for the start of the season.
Keppinger, who has played at least 150 games at second base, third base and shortstop during his eight-year career, hit .325/.367/.439 with nine home runs in 418 plate appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. He played third base in 50 of his 115 games with the Rays last season.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the latest rumors from bloggers Chris Cwik, Jack Moore and R.J. White, follow @MLBRumorsCBS.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262682</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262682</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:40:52 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Freshman of the Year: Xavier's Semaj Christon makes his debut]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Xavier's Semaj Christon is coming off a 25-point performance in a road win at Purdue over the weekend. (US Presswire) 



It's only one month into the season, but we're already starting to see some separation when it comes to the top freshmen in the country. Several players are starting to fade after hot starts, as competition gets stiffer and roles are figured out. Meanwhile, a host of players are heating up after relatively slow starts -- namely Michigan's Nik Stauskas and Xavier's Semaj Christon. Stauskas just missed the cut this week, while Christon made his debut at the No. 5 slot. If Ben McLemore takes over the go-to-guy role for Kansas, expect him to make an apperance soon.
Marcus Smart stays at No. 1, despite Oklahoma State losing its first game of the season. Smart still played very well, and he's among the Player of the Year candidates nationally. Kentucky, after losing two games, only has one player this week -- Nerlens Noel was knocked out by Christon. Obviously, as the Kentucky freshmen go, the entire Kentucky team goes.
As always, the Freshman of the Year rankings will be released on Tuesdays, along with the Player of the Year rankings.



1. Marcus Smart --Oklahoma State 








Position:  Point GuardHt: 6-4Wt: 225  Season Stats: 14.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.3 SPGComment:Oklahoma State suffered its first loss of the season over the weekend, when Virginia Tech scored 81 points in a 10-point victory. It wasn't through any fault of Smart, though, who went for 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the defeat. The only knock on him right now would be his shooting -- he's made just eight of his last 24 attempts.










2. Anthony Bennett --UNLV 








Position:  Power ForwardHt: 6-8Wt: 240  Season Stats: 18.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.2 BPGComment:Bennett had another couple of solid scoring performances in the past week, going for 35 points and 14 rebounds in wins over UC Irvine and Hawaii. Bennett has been efficient from the field, is crashing the offensive glass, and is also getting to the free-throw line on a consistent basis. Moreover, he's starting to become more of a factor on the defensive end.










3. Archie Goodwin --Kentucky 








Position:  Shooting GuardHt: 6-4Wt: 198  Season Stats: 16.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.6 APGComment:It wasn't a great week for Goodwin or Kentucky; the Wildcats dropped back-to-back games. Goodwin averaged 10 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the two games -- but his shot was off in both games and he struggled to take care of the ball against Baylor. It remains to be seen if Ryan Harrow will move Goodwin off the ball, where he's more comfortable.










4. Jahii Carson --Arizona State 








Position:  Point GuardHt: 5-10Wt: 175  Season Stats: 18.0 PPG, 5.1 APGComment:Carson fell back to earth this week, averaging just 10.5 points on 5-for-14 shooting, with 12 turnovers. Still, Carson ranks second among freshmen in scoring and is also in the top 10 assists -- and Arizona State has just one loss on the season, a neutral-site defeat to Creighton. Considering the team won just 10 games all of last season, that's definitely an improvement. Moreover, Carson has brought some buzz to the Sun Devils' program.










5. Semaj Christon --Xavier 








Position:  Point GuardHt: 6-3Wt:187 Season Stats: 16.0 PPG, 6.2 APG Comment:Christon missed the season opener against Fairleigh Dickinson with an infection and then struggled against Butler. Since then, though, Christon has been one of the best point guards in the country. In the last five games, he's averaging 18.8 points and shooting better than 50 percent from the field. Moreover, he's averaging 6.2 assists on the season. In Saturday's road win against Purdue, he played all 40 minutes and had 25 points.







Others to Note:

There was a strong fight for the fifth spot. We already gave the case for Christon -- and he barely beat out Kentucky's Noel. Noel shot just 7-fot-24 from the field in two losses last week and needs to be more of a factor on the offensive end.
The next three in line were Duke's Rasheed Sulaimon, Michigan's Stauskas and Kansas' McLemore.
If Boston College were any good, Olivier Hanlan would be getting more attention. In his last three games, Hanlan is putting up 20 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Pittsburgh's James Robinson continues to put up solid numbers -- without much flash. He had 14 assists in wins over Howard and Detroit, turning it over just four times and also scoring 11 points per game. Kid is a winner.
Jordan Reed of Binghamton is putting up some serious numbers in his first year. He's averaging 18.7 points and 10.1 rebounds, and is coming off a 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Monmouth.
JaKarr Sampson and Chris Obekpa are going to be a duo to watch all season for St. John's. Sampson had 15 points and 17 rebounds in his last game out, while Obekpa is among the nation's leaders in blocked shots.
Freshmen leaders -- Points: Bennett, UNLV (18.8); Rebounds: Michael Kessens, Longwood (11.4); Sekou Harris, Fairleigh Dickinson (7.3).
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rapid-reports/post/21262647</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rapid-reports/post/21262647</guid>
      <category>NCAAB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:35:00 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA['World Series or bust' for Nationals in 2013, says Davey Johnson]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Nats manager Davey Johnson meets with the press. (US Presswire) 



NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Despite having a relatively young team, battling injury issues early in the season and playing the last few weeks without the ace of their pitching staff, the 2012 Washington Nationals had the best regular-season record in baseball. With the overwhelming majority of the team coming back, plus the addition of Dan Haren to the already-studly pitching staff, expectations were likely to be pretty high in D.C.
Talk to the manager of the club, and they certainly are.
"World Series or bust -- that will probably be our slogan this year," Davey Johnson said to a large gathering of media members on Tuesday. "But I'm comfortable with that."
There are many reasons to believe the Nationals will be favored to take the crown next season. Consider that Michael Morse and Drew Storen missed several months to start the season with injuries, Ryan Zimmerman got off to an awful start until a cortisone shot in his shoulder helped get him on track, Jayson Werth lost half his season after a broken wrist, Wilson Ramos tore his ACL, and Bryce Harper wasn't brought up until a month into the season. On top of all that, Stephen Strasburg had his much overblown innings limit. And the Nats went 98-64 through all that adversity.
There are still some things to sort out this offseason for every team, but an early, subjective look at each MLB roster says the Nats are pretty stacked.
So, yeah, I'm on board with the Nationals for 2013. And though I might not have been the first one, I've got my Nats as '13 World Series champions prediction out there early.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262617</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262617</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:31:55 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[It's the year of the quarterback ... for Offensive Rookie of the Year]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[
LANDOVER, Md. -- Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman insists that teammate Russell Wilson should be this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year over Washington's Robert Griffin III and the Colts' Andrew Luck, but Griffin disagrees, saying that if he had a vote he wouldn't cast it for Wilson, Luck or himself. He'd choose teammate Alfred Morris instead.
All that is swell, except that neither Wilson nor Morris wins the award. Luck or Griffin will, and, with a month until ballots are tabulated, the election is too close to call. So let's handicap the field:
ANDREW LUCK, QB, Indianapolis
Why he will win: When Luck first stepped into the lineup, the Colts looked like a club one step above an expansion team. They fired their head coach. They fired their GM. They even fired their Hall-of-Fame quarterback. There wasn't much left behind except a few recognizable names like Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne, and there wasn't much hope, either. So what happens? What happens is that the Colts become the best feel-good story in a season where a lockout, "Bountygate", concussions, Junior Seau and Jovan Belcher grab headlines. The Colts are winning despite the loss of a head coach battling cancer and have become a virtual lock for the playoffs. Wait a minute -- playoffs? Playoffs. Yes, Jim Mora, there is a Santa Claus. This team is going where that team could not, and I can tell you why in two words: Andrew Luck. He doesn't have the numbers or passer ratings of Griffin or Wilson, but he has more victories -- winning his eighth game in 12 starts where Peyton Manning won his eighth in his 23rd start. Luck is poised, accurate and unflappable, rallying the Colts to memorable come-from-behind defeats of Green Bay and Detroit, and while he isn't as electrifying as RG3 or as unpredictable as Wilson or as accurate as either, he is more successful. And, for what it's worth, he's also more underrated --- as a runner, that is, with one less touchdown (five) than Griffin and five more than Wilson. But the bottom line with Luck is that he wins, and he wins with a club that was supposed to be the bottom feeder in a weak AFC South. Griffin has experienced veterans around him and a head coach who won two Super Bowls. Wilson has the league's fourth-ranked defense and Marshawn Lynch to serve as safety nets. But Luck? What you see is what you get. The guy's done more with less than anyone in the competition, making him a slam dunk for one of the top two spots.
Why he won't win: We live in a fantasy football world, and there are people out there who like nothing more than deciphering numbers before declaring a winner. So they'll tell you that Luck doesn't have the passer rating of Wilson or Griffin, and they're right. They'll tell you that Luck hasn't thrown for as many touchdowns as Wilson and doesn't have as many rushing yards as Griffin, and they're right. They'll tell you he has more interceptions than Wilson and Griffin combined,that he's beaten only one team with a winning record (Green Bay), that he's the league's 29th-rated passer, behind Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker, for crying out loud, and ranks 32nd in completion percentage, And, of course, they're right again. But he's 8-4, people, with a young lineup that includes a cast of nobodies, including six rookie starters. Check, please.
Bottom line: If the vote were held today, it'd be a photo finish, with Luck inches ahead.

ROBERT GRIFFIN, III, QB, Washington
Why he will win: There is no more entertaining, no more dangerous and no more dynamic offensive player in the game, with RG3 reminiscent of a young Michael Vick -- only with accuracy. He completes nearly 70 percent of his passes. He's a dangerous downfield threat. He's an elusive running back, with more yards than all but 20 guys, including Michael Turner and Fred Jackson. He's a track star with speed that Giants' coach Tom Coughlin described as "devastating." Heck, he's so talented the Redskins once had him playing wide receiver before wising up. Like Luck, he raised the Titanic. Like Luck, he has the Redskins in the playoff picture. Like Luck, he exceeded first-year expectations. But unlike Luck, he's near the top of the league's passer ratings, ranked third behind only Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning -- and maybe you heard of them. Washington hasn't just been a moribund franchise for years; the Redskins flat-out stunk since Joe Gibbs left, and you can look it up. Not only haven't they had a winning season since 2007, they were 11-21 the past two years under Mike Shanahan, the worst record of any coach in the Dan Snyder era. Then RG3 came along, and, suddenly, you understand why Shanahan fell in love with the guy and was willing to mortgage the future for him. He's "unbelievably believable," as his trademarked name says. Already he's set a league rushing record for rookie quarterbacks, and there are still four games left. But RG3 is about more than numbers, and if you heard an overflow audience chanting his name Monday night at FedEx Field you know what I'm talking about. He's energized a community that has been waiting for something, anything, not named Stephen Strasburg to cheer. So along comes Griffin, and he beats Philadelphia with four touchdown passes. Then he beats Dallas with four touchdown passes. Then he beats the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The guy's got game, and he keeps proving it week after week -- with six passer ratings of 101.9 or better, a perfect score vs. Philadelphia, one interception in his last five starts and a nationwide audience of admirers.

Why he won't win: The Redskins aren't a playoff club -- not yet they're not, and, yeah, I know, he's not to blame. I get that. But when you look at the big picture, that could be a factor. Voters will look where Luck took Indianapolis, see Wilson having Seattle this close to the finish line and point out that this award is not just about style points; it's about winning, too -- with RG3 reminding listeners after Monday's victory that "stats don't matter." Well, stay tuned, because the Redskins' schedule looks favorable this month, especially with how Griffin and the team's defense are playing. Then there's this: Griffin doesn't face a Top-10 defense from here on out; Luck faces two (Houston twice). I keep seeing Carolina's Cam Newton channeling Superman when he reaches the end zone, but Newton isn't Clark Kent; this guy is. At least he is now, which is why the Giants' Justin Tuck called him "a nightmare."

Bottom line: He's neck and neck with Luck, but might not make it if the Redskins finish out of the playoffs again. I know, Newton did it a year ago with a 6-10 Carolina club, but Luck's story is more compelling than last year's runner-up, Andy Dalton. He's done all the heavy lifting on a team with zero expectations.

RUSSELL WILSON, QB, Seattle

Why he will win: I understand why Sherman is so high on this guy. He keeps overcoming the odds. He beat Chicago with a last-minute touchdown pass, he beat New England with a last-minute touchdown pass and he beat Green Bay with a last-minute -- OK, so he had help there. Anyway, he's a 5-foot-11 third-round draft pick who was supposed to serve as Matt Flynn's caddy -- only he's not. He has the Seattle Seahawks in the thick of the playoff picture and in hot pursuit of San Francisco in the NFC West. No, I don't think they catch the 49ers, but I'd never bet against these guys at home -- and that's where they play San Francisco next (Dec. 23). In fact, they have three contests left there, and do the math. Let's say they win all three. That puts them at 10 wins. Let's say they beat Buffalo in Toronto, too. That puts them at 11. Yeah, their defense is so tough it ranks third in points allowed, and Lynch is one of the game's most underrated running backs. But you can't talk Seattle without mentioning Wilson. He has more touchdown passes (19) than either Griffin or Luck. He has more victories than Griffin. And he has a better passer rating than Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Eli Manning. Seattle spent the last three seasons looking for a quarterback, a search that took them from Matt Hasselbeck to Charlie Whitehurst to Tarvaris Jackson to Flynn and now to Wilson, and the grind took its toll on the team. Seattle hasn't had a winning season since 2007. Now it could. Correction, now it should, and tell me that would've happened without Wilson -- because it wouldn't.

Why he won't win: Not only is there too much competition at the top, there's too much competition at the position he plays. The leading candidates are quarterbacks, and, just a hunch, but if you lined up 20 GMs or player personnel directors and asked them to choose quarterbacks -- Luck, RG3 or Wilson-- 10 might choose Luck, 9 go for Griffin and Pete Carroll would take Wilson. But I can see why. He's talented. He's charismatic. He's smart. And he's remarkably poised for a rookie. Oh, yeah, he also knows how to win. But he's up against a tough field. So what's holding him back? Nothing -- except this: He has more help with his supporting cast than Luck or Griffin. Not only does he have the league's second-leading back in Lynch; he has its fourth-best defense, and, trust me, those are considerations when voters pull the curtains. Cynics will charge that he's really a quarterback of a 6-6 team that benefited from a horrendous call (calls?) against Green Bay, and they're right -- but the Seahawks don't get there unless Wilson escapes the pocket and throws to the end zone. But there's one other thing worth mentioning, too, and that is this: Like or not, Luck and RG3 get more -- and I mean far more -- exposure than Wilson. That shouldn't count for anything, but it does. And it will.
Bottom line: He might get votes, but unless Luck and Griffin absolutely crater down the stretch he's playing for the bronze.

ALFRED MORRIS, RB, Washington

Why he will win: Forget that he's one of the top rookies. He's one of the best running backs in the game, period. It is Morris who gashed the Giants for a career-best 124 yards Monday. It is Morris who set a Washington record for rookie rushing yards. It is Morris who became the first Washington rookie to produce five 100-yard rushing games since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. And it is Morris who's tied for the NFL's third top back, with more yards than guys like C.J. Spiller, Frank Gore and Ray Rice. When RG3 says he'd vote for Morris as Offensive Rookie of the Year, I get it. Griffin understands what Morris does for his game, which is to keep defenses from collapsing on him. But he also understands what he's done for his team, which is to make it the league's best at running the ball.

Why he won't win: Again, there's too much competition at the top. Plus, there's a better rookie on his own team. When fans left Monday's game, they were chanting, "RG3! RG3! RG3!" They weren't raving about Morris, but that's the way it goes. It's what is known as reality, and the reality is this: Morris doesn't have the juice to rattle the leading candidates.
Bottom line: I can't imagine him pulling down more than a vote or two.

DOUG MARTIN, RB, Tampa Bay

Why he will win: He's second only to Adrian Peterson in yards from scrimmage, he averages nearly as many yards (4.7) per carry as Morris (4.8), he runs for as many yards (1106) as Morris and he has more touchdowns (nine) than Morris (six). Oh, yeah, he also produced more 200-yard games than Morris, and, OK, so it's one. It's one more than the competition at his position. Plus, he's on a team with as many victories as Morris and RG3. 

Why he won't win: His candidacy hit the wall the past two weeks when opponents held him to 106 yards on 39 carries, a less-than-glittering average of 2.71. Martin is a good story, but he's not a threat to the leaders. Plus, he's not the best rookie running back in this class. Morris is. I know, he ran for 251 yards in one contest and made fantasy-football owners everywhere rich for one week. But there's a disclaimer there: It was against Oakland.

Bottom line: if he gets a vote, it's only because someone slipped Josh Freeman a ballot.
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262526</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262526</guid>
      <category>Indiana Hoosiers</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:21:19 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Auburn president: coach to be named 'within the next 24 hours']]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Could Gus Malzahn be Auburn's next head coach? (US Presswire) 



At least one SEC school appears fully poised to get off the coaching carousel.
Auburn president Jay Gogue told reporters in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday -- including those from local affiliate CBS 8 -- that the Tigers will make their new head coach official within the next 24 hours.
"Late today or tomorrow, we will be in a position to announce a coach," Gogue said, per fellow Montgomery stationWSFA. "Auburn people are always excited; I know they'll be excited."
But who will that coach be? Though rumors flew early Tuesday that Auburn had offered Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart the job after his Monday interview, Auburn 247Sports affiliate AuburnUndercover has reported that Gus Malzahn has "moved to the front of the line" and is now the "leading candidate" in the Auburn search.
Bobby Petrino has also reportedly spoken with Auburn search officials but does not seem to have the needed support.
But with Arkansas stunning the college football world by hiring Wisconsin's Bret Bielema on Tuesday, anything seems possible.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262481</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262481</guid>
      <category>Auburn Tigers</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:19:00 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Furniture Row Racing to field own pit crew]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[

Furniture Row Racing will have Kurt Busch behind the wheel of the No. 78 ride in 2013. (Getty Images)
Furniture Row Racing announced plans to create and field its own pit crew in 2013 rather than relying on Stewart-Haas Racing training and personnel.
The Denver-based organization, whichfields the No. 78 Chevrolet driven by 24-time Cup winner Kurt Busch, will develop, train and oversee its own over-the-wall pit crew starting with the 2013 season.
Furniture Row Racing has been utilizing over-the-wall crews employed and trained by other NASCAR teams, most recently with crewmen from SHR.
Mike &ldquo;Tiny&rdquo; Houston, a veteran over-the-wall crewman, has been hired as the pit crew coach for Furniture Row Racing. He will oversee and direct the specialized pit crew of six members, who will train at the 32,000-square foot Performance Instruction &amp; Training (PIT) facility in Mooresville, N.C. 
Houston joins Furniture Row Racing from Hendrick Motorsports where he performed the front-tire carrier duties on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s race car. During his seven-year stint at Hendrick Motorsports, Houston also worked as a front-tire carrier on Jeff Gordon's and Jimmie Johnson's cars.
A standout athlete, Houston played football (defensive tackle) for Western Carolina University and wrestled professionally in the National Wrestling Alliance. He was known as the Minister of Pain during his wrestling career.
&ldquo;Re-establishing our own over-the-wall crew has been high on our radar,&rdquo; said Furniture Row Racing general manager Joe Garone. &ldquo;But before entering into this vital operation, we wanted to make sure that we had everything in place that would allow us to produce a highly-qualified over-the-wall crew. 
&ldquo;With Mike Houston coming on board to lead us in this new venture, he brings first-hand experience and a thorough understanding of what it takes to develop and maintain a successful pit crew week in and week out. And being able to train at the state-of-the-art PIT facility is a great opportunity that will only enhance our program.&rdquo;
For more NASCAR news, rumors and analysis, follow@PPistoneon Twitter, subscribe to theRSS Feedand "like" us on Facebook]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/rapid-reports/post/21262478</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/rapid-reports/post/21262478</guid>
      <category>NASCAR</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:14:53 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Insane trade offer of the day: Garrett Jones for ... ]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





'You want what for Garrett Jones?'(Getty Images) 



Every now and then, you encounter a dispatch that makes the high-level discussions between major-league front offices seem informed by message-board absurdities. Take this report from Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ...
This afternoon, I heard in the lobby that the Pirates continued to explore a possible trade that would send first baseman Garrett Jones to the Mariners, but apparently made little progress. The latest report I've heard is that the Pirates were rebuffed after offering to send Jones to Seattle for right-hander Taijaun Walker, the Mariners' top pitching prospect.
Holy leaping crap. I assume this was nothing more than a gobsmackingly ridiculous opening offer from the Pirates, but still ... Garrett Jones for Taijuan Walker. To be sure, Jones has his uses as a guy who can occasionally run into a right-handed fastball, but he's demonstrably not the sort who fetches a guy like the Mariners' Walker. Can't blame a GM for trying, I suppose.
In high-level discussions of our own, my colleague, Matt Snyder, characterized this trade offer as being of this familiar variety: "How about Garrett Jones for Taijuan Walker? I'll hang up and listen to your thoughts ..."
Pretty much. Garrett Jones for Taijuan Walker.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262475</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262475</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:13:58 EST</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Bret Bielema to Arkansas in silly season's biggest upset]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[It bubbled up in late January, early February. Wisconsin's Bret Bielema didn't like the perceived aggressive recruiting style Ohio State's Urban Meyer brought with him from Florida.
"I can tell you this,&rdquo; Bielematold the Sporting News. &ldquo;We at the Big Ten don't want to be like the SEC -- in any way, shape or form."
Apparently there is no &ldquo;we&rdquo; in Bielema. The energized, engaging, 42-year-old newly married coach who embodied Wisconsin football is about to drive the Hogs in the toughest conference in the country. Bielema will be named Arkansas' new coach Tuesday night, CBSSports.com has confirmed.
The news was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.
The move would suggest some dissatisfaction on Bielema's part. That and/or money issues. Arkansas reportedly offered Les Miles a five-year, $27-million deal before the LSU coach turned it down and got an extension from his school.
If Bielema got anywhere close to that, it would be easy to overlook the SEC's cutthroatrecruiting. He currently makes $2.7 million per season with a career record of 68-24. He was AD Barry Alvarez' hand-picked successor to take over after the 2005 season. Bielema then went 12-1 in his first season. Bielema was in his seventh season at Wisconsin, having led the Badgers to their third straight Rose Bowls. The team was coming off a 70-31 destruction of Nebraska in the Big Ten championship game.
Bielema figures to calm the waters after Arkansas football was left in the lurch April 1 when Bobby Petrino ran his motorcycle off the road near Fayetteville. A cover-up of an affair with a football office employee followed. Petrino was fired soon after. That same month, former assistant John L. Smith was named as a one-season interim.
From there the season cascaded into a series of disasters. It was revealed that Smith had declared bankruptcy. An upset at the hands of Louisiana-Monroe ruined the season. That was followed by a 52-0 shutout at the hands of Alabama in what was supposed to be Arkansas' signature game of the season.
Bielema's thought might have been that things weren't going to get much better at Wisconsin. The third straight Rose Bowl came about only because Ohio State and Penn State were ineligible for bowls this season in the Leaders Division. The Badgers had a subpar 7-5 season but upset Nebraska on Saturday.
Bielema has shown an ability to prepare his team despite adversity. He was able to snag quarterback Russell Wilson in 2011 as a one-year transfer from North Carolina State. That was the difference in an 11-3 season that ended with a Rose Bowl loss to Oregon. That year, Bielema produced college football's first 3,000-yard passer and 1,900-yard rusher (Montee Ball) in five years.
This season Bielema was able to get Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien at quarterback. However, a series of injuries and a slow start led to his worst season since 2008 when the Badgers went 7-6.
Bielema is 2-4 in bowl games. He played at Iowa and was an assistant at the school as well coaching under Bill Snyder at Kansas State before moving to Wisconsin.
Bielema's philosophy figures to fit in well in the SEC. If he follows his Wisconsin ways, Arkansas can look forward to a crushing ground game to go along with a solid defense. Sounds a lot like a certain defending national champion.
Makes sense. The last sitting Big Ten coach to leave for the SEC was Nick Saban in 2000.
]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262472</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262472</guid>
      <category>Arkansas Razorbacks</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:13:33 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger should return Sunday vs. San Diego]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is expected to return to action Sunday vs. San Diego. (US Presswire) 



The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to get one starter back, but will lose another for at least a couple of weeks, Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly press conference.After missing three games with a sprained right shoulder, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should return against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday at Heinz Field. However, cornerback Ike Taylor suffered a right ankle fracture last week at Baltimore and is out indefinitely.If Roethlisberger can't play, Charlie Batch will start his third straight game, and Brian Hoyer will be the backup. Regular backup Byron Leftwich (ribs, shoulder) is still recovering from injuries he suffered Nov. 18."Ben threw Monday, and I guess it could be termed successfully,'' Tomlin said Tuesday afternoon. "We'll see what it looks like on a football field (Wednesday), and he'll be given an opportunity to prove that he is healthy. And we'll let that progress go from there. Obviously, Charlie is our guy, and we'll prepare for that like we did a week ago."We'll continue to give Brian (Hoyer) some work, too, but we'll focus on the two healthy quarterbacks and one guy that's trying to prove his health in Ben. We'll see where the week takes us, particularly (Wednesday), and I think once we get out there that will provide some clarity for us so we can make firm decisions. But we'll build our plan around Charlie until we see what Ben can do.''Roethlisberger threw prior to last week's game and was not sharp. He still experienced pain and could not make all the throws. Tomlin noted that an additional seven days of rest should do wonders for Roethlisberger's health, and he looked forward to seeing him throw in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.Taylor's status is more uncertain. He is wearing a protective boot on his right foot, and his status will be re-evaluated in a couple weeks. Until then, second-year players Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown will have increased playing time. Allen, who replaced Taylor after the injury last week, gets the start. And Brown takes over Allen's spot in the slot in passing situations."I thought both guys did a really nice job,'' Tomlin said. "They proved that it wasn't too big for them. Obviously, Cortez Allen has played a lot of football for us already this season, so I was not surprised with his performance at all. But I was pleased with the performance and defensive (play) of Curtis Brown."He has proven to be a very stable and reliable special teams player, but it was good to see him get a substantial amout of defensive work and stand and deliver, especially on get-off downs (third downs). And we expect him to get many more opportunities to do that.''Still, Tomlin said the Steelers will bring in a couple cornerbacks this week for workouts. One of those players is believed to be former Oakland Raiders player Stanford Routt.In other personnel news, Tomlin said the plan this week is the same for the running backs with Jonathan Dwyer starting and Isaac Redman being used in third-down, short-yardage and goal-line situations. Former No. 1 pick and starter Rashard Mendenhall's status has not been determined. He was inactive last week primarily due to his limited contribution on special teams and the lack of depth on the offensive line, as the Steelers dressed eight players there.In other injury news, offensive guard Willie Colon (knee) is expected back after missing two games. However, Maurkice Pouncey will play left guard and Doug Legursky will likely be the center. Rookie Kelvin Beachum will get a second straight start at right tackle, as Mike Adams (ankle) is still out.Fullback Will Johnson suffered a concussion last week and "already has begun the process of a battery of tests,'' Tomlin said. "He has done well on those and might be limited at the front portion of the week, but we're confident that he'll be able to play.''Wideouts Emmanuel Sanders and Mike Wallace have health issues that could limit them early in the practice week, but both should play. Sanders has an AC sprain of his shoulder, while Wallace has some inflammation in his right knee after jamming it against the Ravens. After missing a couple games with injured ribs, wideout Jerricho Cotchery is expected to return this week.Free safety Ryan Clark also may be limited at the front portion of the week with a hip contusion, but he is expected to be teamed again with strong safety Troy Polamalu, who returned last week after missing seven straight games and did not have a setback.And outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, out last week with a sprained ankle, was listed as questionable with a chance to practice this week.Follow Dale Grdnic on Twitter for real-time Steelers' updates@CBSSteelers.Follow Steelers reporter Chuck Finder on Twitter@CBSSteelersand@cfinder.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262392</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262392</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:07:14 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[New NASCAR team formed for 2013]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[A new NASCAR team, Swan Racing, will take the track at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Led byteam owner Brandon Davis, Swan Racing will compete full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, racing the #30 Toyota driven by David Stremme.
Davis, CEO of independent oil and gas company Swan Energy and a dirt-modified driver in the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS), purchased the assets of Inception Racing earlier this year.
"Swan Racing is here to race competitively every week. The days of starting and parking are over. I am confident that we are putting together the personnel to one day produce a championship contender," Davis said.
Davis has tapped Steve Hmiel to be Swan Racing's director of competition. Hmiel is a veteran of the NASCAR garage area with more than 35 years of experience as a crew chief, car chief and competition director.
Swan Racing is in Mooresville, NC, and will get its horsepower from Triad Racing Technologies, a top engine builder. Swan Energy will be the primary sponsor on the #30 Toyota.
Discussions with additional sponsors are underway and further sponsor announcements are expected early in 2013.
For more NASCAR news, rumors and analysis, follow@PPistoneon Twitter, subscribe to theRSS Feedand "like" us on Facebook]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/rapid-reports/date</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/rapid-reports/date</guid>
      <category>NASCAR</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:06:50 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[CBSSports.com Basketball Podcast: NBA trade winds are blowing]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[Matt Moore joins me after an extended weekend to discuss the tradewinds that are blowing. Dec. 15 is right around the corner and that's the date that teams can start trading players they signed this offseason. So what does that mean for the league?
First and foremost, we try to figure out the Pau Gasol situation. Would it make sense for the Lakers to trade him to Toronto for multiple pieces? What about to Atlanta for Josh Smith? Or can they even begin to think about acquiring Kevin Love before his free agency?
We also look into the Utah Jazz and their possibilities and what teams could possibly do with Anderson Varejao and JJ Redick on their roster.
We discuss all of these trade possibilities and preview tonight's games. Enjoy!









You can download the episode here. Youcan subscribe to us on iTunes, and you shouldlike uson Facebook. FollowEye on Basketball on Twitter here.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21262357</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nba/rapid-reports/post/21262357</guid>
      <category>NBA</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:01:35 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Tale of the Tape: Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III, Week 13]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[
The comparisons are inevitable. Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2012, and No. 2 pick Robert Griffin III will be scrutinized throughout the season, and probably throughout their careers, unless one of them does his best Ryan Leaf impersonation. And RG3 always will be looked at through a prism of Luck. That's why we're compiling the most important stats for every game they play this year, and some of the most unimportant aspects of those contests as well. This way, it'll be easier to tell who is his team's savior and who should be forced to join JaMarcus Russell in the corner away from the rest of civilization.
Week 13: Luck's Colts watched as he threw the game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass that allowed Indianapolis to escape the Lions with the 35-33 win. Griffin's Redskins held off the Giants 17-16 in a big-time win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Passing stats
Luck: 24-54, 394 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions
Griffin: 13-23, 161 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions
Rushing stats
Luck: Three carries, 33 yards
Griffin: Five carries, 72 yards
Longest play from scrimmage
Luck: On a third-and-six, Luck hit T.Y. Hilton perfectly in stride on a slant pattern, and Hilton used his speed to get the ball into the red zone to complete the 60-yard play.
Griffin: He picked up the bulk of his rushing yards when Griffin gained 46 yards to bring the ball to New York's 15 yard line on Washington's first drive of the second half. On the next play, Alfred Morris fumbled to give the ball to the Giants.
Best play
Luck: The game was on the line with three seconds to play and the Colts facing a fourth-and-goal from the 14 when Luck scrambled, tossed the short pass to Donnie Avery and then basically ran behind him into the end zone to escort him to give Indianapolis the win as time expired.
Griffin: On that 46-yard running play at the beginning of the second half, Griffin showed how dangerous he can be on any given play. It was a third-and-1, and Griffin wonderfully faked a handoff. It fooled New York defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul who went for the running back and allowed Griffin to reach the edge in the space Pierre-Paul had just abandoned. Then, Griffin ran forever.
Worst play
Luck: All three of his interceptions were bad, but I especially didn't like the one late in the second quarter. Though he avoided the pocket collapsing and stepped up, Luck's throw was terrible. The pass was intended for LaVon Brazill, but Don Cary stepped right in front of him to intercept it just before the end of the half.
Griffin: It was almost the best play and then almost the worst play and then the best play again. But I'm still going with the worst play (because Griffin could have cost his team with his miscue). After Griffin ran 12 yards late in the first quarter to gain the first down, Stevie Brown caused Griffin to fumble, and somehow it tumbled into the hands of Redskins receiver Josh Morgan, who took it another 13 yards for the touchdown. Hey, it counted, so really, it wasn't so bad after all.
Best pregame line
Luck: In many ways, Andrew Luck is going through the same growing pains as most rookie quarterbacks. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft hasn't been nearly as effective on the road as in Indianapolis, and turnovers have been his primary downfall. The Colts (7-4) are 2-3 in road games with the three losses by at least 20 points, which should give the Lions (4-7) a little extra confidence heading into their game Sunday at Ford Field. Luck also has 18 turnovers this season (13 interceptions and five fumbles), and 13 have come in those five road games. He's also been sacked 26 times and is completing only 56.8 percent of his passes. -- Josh Katzenstein, Detroit News
Griffin: The ending of the Giants-Redskins game Oct. 21 was one of the most exciting of the year. Two lead-changing touchdowns and a game-sealing turnover took place in the final 92 seconds of the Giants' 27-23 win. It shouldn't have been like that. At least it wouldn't have been like that had the Giants been able to stop Robert Griffin III from converting a fourth-and-10 from the Washington 23 just before the two-minute warning and effectively ended the game with a 20-16 victory over the Redskins. -- Tom Rock, Newsday
Best postgame line
Luck: What should we call it? The Motor City Miracle? The Miracle in Motown? Ridiculous. Astonishing. Dare we say: Peyton-esque? Colts 35, Lions 33. Andrew Luck, who took himself out of Rookie of the Year contention and vaulted himself right back in within the space of three minutes, has had several Peyton Manning moments already this year, but this was the signature moment that surpassed them all. -- Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star
Griffin: Griffin has had more spectacular performances this season, games in which his numbers were gaudier and his preternatural brilliance more obvious. But across 12 games in this memorable rookie season, he had not authored a more meaningful performance than Monday night's nationally televised 17-16 victory over the New York Giants. It was a victory that completed the Redskins' return to relevance after the bye-week soul-searching engendered by a 3-6 start, and moved them from the fringes of playoff contention to the beating heart of it. At 6-6, the Redskins now trail the NFC East-leading Giants by just one game, with an easier remaining schedule than their rivals. -- Dave Sheinin, Washington Post
Team savior scale (1-5)
Luck: For much of the game, Luck was inconsequential, and, in reality, the Lions probably should have won this one. But Luck also created some magic in the fourth quarter, and the final play of the game was awesome. I give Luck a 4 (last week was a 3; overall this season, he's a 71.7 percent team savior).
Griffin: Like usual, Griffin had some help on offense in beating his opponent (particularly, Alfred Morris and Pierre Garcon), but Griffin still was special vs. the Giants. Like usual. He gets a 4 (last week was a 4; overall this season, he's a 70 percent team savior). For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262246</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262246</guid>
      <category>Indiana Hoosiers</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:51:10 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Sanchbow: Chronicling the Jets' QBs, Week 13 (the end is near for Sanchez)]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Where did it all go wrong? (This is a rhetorical question.)(Getty Images) 



Like it or not -- and, yes, we know, many of you hate it -- Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow will be inextricably linked this season. And as such, we plan to chart their ups and downs from one week to the next in something we're calling Sanchbow: Chronicling the Jets' QBs in 2012. Every week we wonder how things can get worse for the Jets, and every week coach Rex Ryan comes up with new and exciting ways to ratchet up the ridiculousness. This time, in a 7-6 squeaker over the also quarterback-less Cardinals, Ryan, after weeks of repeating that Mark Sanchez gavethe Jets the best chance to win, finally benched Sanchez after another typical Sanchez-tastic performance. But here's the plot twist: backup Tim Tebow was inactive Sunday because of a rib injury, which meant that former seventh-round pick Greg McElroy was summoned from clipboard duty to save the Jets from themselves.



 There's a new Tebow in town.(Click to enlarge) 



We have our own little conspiracy theory about how all this transpired (and this theory is based on nothing other than our imagination running wild): after Ryan spent months propping up Tebow but knowing full well that he's not a capable, consistent NFL quarterback, he couldn't just dump Sanchez for McElroy without having to face more scrutiny than he already does. This wasn't a problem on Sunday with Tebow on the sideline in civvies.The great irony, of course, is that if the Jets didn't trade for Tebow this spring, none of this would be an issue. In fact, if Ryan chose to bench Sanchez weeks ago, he could've turned to McElroy or Drew Stanton (whom Ryan had promised a chance to play before Tebow-mania swept through Florham Park). And given the way Sanchez has played -- not just this season but in 2011 -- Ryan would've met little if any resistance. Instead, here we are; the Jets are somehow 5-7, have a legitimate quarterback situation (we refuse to call it a controversy) and it doesn't even involve Tebow. Ryan said Monday that he's not yet ready to name a starter but word on the street is that he's leaning toward McElroy. A source with knowledge of the situation told CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora that it's about 65-35 in McElroy's favor but noted that Ryan was to meet with general manager Mike Tannenbaum about the issue on Monday night. Tannenbaum moved up to draft Sanchez in 2009 and will pay him a guaranteed contract of $8.3 million in 2013. (This is where we point out that this week's Sanchbow column should be renamed since, you know, Tebow's more likely to end up on a milk carton than the field. "SanchElroy" is the obvious front-runner although we could make a case for "McElchez" since it appears McElroy could get the start this week.) The New York Daily News' Manish Mehta reports Tuesday that owner Woody Johnson prefers that McElroy start against the Jaguars on Sunday, while Tannenbaum and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano want Sanchez under center. Maybe the biggest revelation is that Johnson wasn't stumping for Tebow. Six weeks ago, Sanchez had the owner's full support. But more than that, Johnson said Tebow would be in New York for the life of his three-year contract. If that's true (and we doubt it), what's he going to be doing, Jets goodwill ambassador?Sanchez isn't without his supporters, even if they don't come with sterling reputations. Former Jets wideout Braylon Edwards took to Twitter to blast the organization that created the mess. &ldquo;Don't blame Sanchez," Edwards tweeted (via CBS New York). "I played there. Blame the idiots calling shots. Mark is a beast and will (prove) it when given a proper chance.&rdquo; Sanchez has had plenty of chances in New York, and we're still waiting. This isn't entirely his fault, of course; Ryan and Tannenbaum have created an atmosphere that fosters doubt, promotes mayhem and Sanchez has been caught in the middle. Also not helping: Tannenbaum struggling to put together a roster.But here's the thing: through all the Sweet Valley High drama and weekly nonsense, the Jets still have a shot to backdoor their way into the playoffs. It sounds preposterous, we know, but they're currently eighth in the AFC behind the Bengals for one of the six playoff spots. Take a look at their final four regular-season games: at Jacksonville, at Tennessee, San Diego, at Buffalo. Going 4-0 seems seems perfectly possible &hellip; until you remember that the Jets don't have a quarterback. And, unlike the 2009 and 2010 squads that made it to the AFC Championship Game with Sanchez under center, this team doesn't have a defense -- or, hell, Fireman Ed. Just Ryan, Tannenbaum and a huge circus tent.
Film Room
This sums up Sanchez's 2012 season: he threw one of the worst interceptions you'll see -- even by Sanchez standards -- on the Jets' first play from scrimmage. Never mind that he airmailed his intended target by a good 20 feet or that he thought it was a good idea to throw the pass from his 13-yard line while off-balance and falling backwards. If you were wondering what it takes to get benched for McElroy &hellip; this wasn't it. Sanchez threw two more interceptions before Ryan mercifully pulled the plug.






Sanchez is on his heels as the throws. It goes out of the frame above and well over the head of his intended target, right into the arms of former Jets safety Kerry Rhodes. Or, as Rex Ryan once called him: "selfish." Ryan could use more selfish players like that.(FOX) 



Tracking Tebow McElroy, Redux
We spent many, many, many words last season on the Phenomenon that was Tebow and we could very well end up doing it again. ("Tracking Tebow" was supposed to be a preseason feature because coach John Fox told everyone that Kyle Orton was the Broncos' starter. That lasted a month. At this point, we wouldn't be surprised if Tebow eventually earns the Jets' gig and is subsequently named head coach, owner and NFL commissioner.) For now, we'll just update his progress from one week to the next until the inevitable happens.  This tweet, after McElroy's first drive, pretty much says it all: 

#RL Greg McElroy's first pro drive: 10 plays, 69 yds, 4:53. McElroy on drive: 2-for-3 for 9 yds, TD,1-for-3 rush, 15-yd pendrawn on ARZ.
&mdash; New York Jets (@nyjets) December 2, 2012


He finished the day 5-of-7 for 29 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions. See, it's not that hard to be just an average quarterback. Next stop: playoffs!
Eye on Sanchbow SanchElroy






We have seen the future, and it's not pretty.(US Presswire)



For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to the Pick-6 Podcast on iTunes. You can follow Ryan Wilson on Twitter here: @ryanwilson_07.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21260520</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21260520</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:45:00 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[PODCAST: Adam Gretz joins Hockey Unfiltered to discuss his Top 50 NHL Players]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Pittsburgh Penguins teammates Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby both make the top-5 on our top-50 countdown. (Getty Images) 



Eye on Hockey writer Adam Gretz joined Hockey Unfiltered on Sunday to discuss his Top 50 NHL Players list. Gretz also discusses the NHL lockout.
Adam Gretz on Hockey Unfiltered ]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/rapid-reports/post/21262096</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/rapid-reports/post/21262096</guid>
      <category>NHL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:31:42 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Report: Indians looking for three to four players for Asdrubal Cabrera]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Indians are looking for three or four players in any potential deal for All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Hoynes reports that the Indians had the framework of a trade in place with one team that included a major-league pitcher and two high-level prospects going to Cleveland, but the other team balked when the Indians requested an additional prospect in the deal.
Hoynes adds this tidbit: The team in the proposed deal would have moved Cabrera off the shortstop position.
Speculation is that the Yankees could be a potential fit, as they have a hole to fill at third base with the injury to Alex Rodriguez. But the Yankees seem more inclined to address that need with a one-year stopgap, and the team might not have the requisite major-league starting pitching to make a deal work. Cabrera's $10 million salary in 2014 could also be a sticking point for the Yankees.
The Braves could be a potential fit for Cabrera. The team is looking for either a third baseman or a left fielder (with Martin Prado playing one of those positions). They have room in the budget for Cabrera's salary and enough starting pitching in the majors and high minors to make a deal work.
Another potential suitor could be the White Sox, who might be interested in playing Cabrera at third base. While Chicago does have available starting pitching on the trading block, they might not have the right prospects to make trading Cabrera within the division worthwhile to the Indians.
The Dodgers have been linked to several marquee names since expanding their payroll with new ownership, and the team could consider trading a starting pitcher and prospects for Cabrera if it feels it can sign free-agent Zack Greinke to a deal. In this scenario, it's possible Hanley Ramirez could be moved to shortstop, with Cabrera playing third base.
Other teams that could be interested in trading for Cabrera with the intent to move him to third base include the Rockies and Phillies.
Hoynes also lists the Cardinals and A's as potential matches in a Cabrera deal, though one would expect both teams to keep him at shortstop.
Cabrera, 27, hit .270/.338/.423 with 16 home runs in 616 plate appearances in 2012 while making his second consecutive All-Star team. He is due to make $6.5 million in 2013 and $10 million in 2014.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the latest rumors from bloggers Chris Cwik, Jack Moore and R.J. White, follow @MLBRumorsCBS.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262044</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/rapid-reports/post/21262044</guid>
      <category>MLB</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:27:50 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Giants Report Card: Robert Griffin III, Alfred Morris run over defense]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Tom Coughlin can't be happy that the Giants defense played so poorly in Monday night's loss to the Redskins.(US Presswire) 



As tempting as it is to say that the Giants lost to the Redskins, 17-16, on Monday night because they committed nine costly penalties or because K Lawrence Tynes missed a 43-yard attempt, that wouldn't be the entire story.The Giants didn't lose to the Redskins because of some mental mistake, series of injuries (although OL Sean Locklear suffered a knee injury that could prove costly) or because of a bad call by the referees. The fact is, New York's defense was unable to stop Washington's running game, and no matter what else is happening, it's nearly impossible to win a game when you surrender 207 rushing yards on 31 carries.In fact, outside of their red-zone deficiency (1 of 2, 50 percent), the Giants offense played well (390 yards on offense, 33:13 of possession). But New York's defense couldn't stop Washington's running game, so the Redskins were able to run out the clock.Offense: B-The Giants' green zone -- as they call it -- was most definitely a red zone on Monday, but there were plenty of positives over the first 80 yards of the field.New York was 9 of 15 on third down and they gained 117 yards on 29 rushing plays. RB Ahmad Bradshaw was particularly strong, gaining 116 total yards on 24 carries and two catches. Plus, QB Eli Manning had his second successful scramble in as many games (this one for five yards).There were some hiccups in the passing game, but WR Victor Cruz and WR Hakeem Nicks still combined for 147 receiving yards, while TE Martellus Bennett had five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.Even WR Jerrel Jernigan (one catch, nine yards) and TE Bear Pascoe (one catch, 16 yards) made significant catches.In the end, the Redskins defense forced field goals instead of allowing touchdowns and that was a major difference in the game.Previous game's grade: BDefense: DThere's not a lot of positives to write, but there are a few excuses: S Kenny Phillips (knee) wasn't at 100 percent, so the team couldn't use the three-safety formation; DE Justin Tuck (foot) and DE Jason Pierre-Paul (back) were playing hurt; and MLB Chase Blackburn (ankle, other stuff) had to be re-taped several times.But those things don't change anything. The Giants allowed QB Robert Griffin III and RB Alfred Morris to combine for 196 yards on the ground, and Griffin added another 163 yards and a touchdown pass through the air.If the Giants see themselves as Super Bowl contenders, then Monday's defensive performance better be a complete aberration because -- even though they allowed just 17 points -- they were completely outplayed.Previous game's grade: BSpecial teams: C-Yes, Tynes missed a field goal, but that happens to any kicker. He should get credit for hitting a 40-yard attempt as time was expiring in the first half, but fans won't remember that as easily as the 43-yarder he missed.As for the rest of the unit, everyone was pretty average. P Steve Weatherford had a nice net average (42.3 yards per attempt), but that's about it for the positives.The biggest issues were the two penalties that C Jim Cordle committed in the return game.Previous game's grade: C+Coaching: C-The Giants can't claim ignorance. They're the first team to face the Redskins for a second time this season, and yet they didn't look any better against the run than they did the first time. You can't blame the missed tackles on defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, but his unit wasn't prepared for the challenge and ultimately some of that blame falls on him. Fewell was dealt a tough card with the injury issues, so he probably had to make some difficult personnel decisions. However, the Giants defense did look considerably better in Week 12 using the three-safety formation than it did in the 4-3 base on Monday. Again, injuries may have dictated that decision.As for offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, he seemed to abandon the pass in the second half, which moved away from the Giants' strength and the Redskins' weakness. Washington is great at defending the run, and even though Bradshaw had a great first half, New York would have done well to air it out more over the last 30 minutes.Previous game's grade: A-
Follow the Giants and Alex Raskin @CBSGiants and @AlexRaskinNYC.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262043</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262043</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:24:52 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Alex Okafor is CBSSports.com's Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[





Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Alex Okafor of Texas lived up to the hype. (US Presswire) 



Just about every Big 12 offense proved capable of throwing the ball well this season. It's unlikely any defender put more fear in the hearts of Big 12 quarterbacks than TexasDE Alex Okafor. The senior was extremely productive throughout the entire season despite every team knowing exactly what sort of player Okafor is. He was named the Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year and did nothing to disappoint when games actually started.Okafor put up ridiculous statistics -- 60 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles and 1 blocked kick. He did so despite not playing in Texas' regular season finale against Kansas State and missing almost all of the Longhorns' Thanksgiving night game against TCU due to an ankle injury.When he was healthy, it was Okafor's consistency that was most remarkable. He had a strong start to the season, as did teammate and fellow DE Jackson Jeffcoat. Indeed, with the numbers Okafor was registering, it wasn't too much of a stretch to wonder if Okafor was benefitting from the attention Jeffcoat was drawing on the other side.It didn't take long to get an answer. Jeffcoat sustained a season-ending injury in Texas' loss to Oklahoma -- a serious blow to the Texas defensive line. But Okafor kept on producing big numbers. Attempting to block him one-on-one was largely a recipe for disaster.He nearly single-handedly led the Texas defense to a win against West Virginia, as the Mountaineers were gaining yards in chunks and carving up the UT secondary when Okafor couldn't get in the backfield. He wreaked havoc often though, finishing with three tackles, two sacks, a blocked kick and two forced fumbles against WVU alone. West Virginia ultimately won 48-45, but without Okafor, it may not have been as close.That's the sort of impact Okafor can have on a defense. It remains to be seen if Okafor will be healthy in time for Texas' Alamo Bowl matchup against Oregon State. If he is, though, it would give him one last chance to impress professional scouts and put on a show for Longhorns fans. He figures to be yet another in a long line of Texas players to be a contributor on the NFL level, as CBSSports.com's NFL draft prospect rankings list him as the No. 23 overall prospect for the 2013 draft and the fourth-best defensive end.It's tough to imagine three players at Okafor's position are truly better than him, though.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262042</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rapid-reports/post/21262042</guid>
      <category>Texas Longhorns</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:24:49 EST</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Raiders sign FB/RB Jamize Olawale off Cowboys' practice squad]]></title>
      <description><![CDATA[The Raiders signed fullback/running back Jamize Olawale off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad to their 53-man roster Tuesday.
Olawale filled the roster spot that opened last week when the Raiders placed linebacker Rolando McClain on the reserve/suspended by club list.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Olawale is an undrafted rookie from North Texas. He initially signed with Dallas on May 14 and was in the Cowboys' training camp before being waived, then signed to the practice squad on Sept. 2.
A native of San Francisco, Olawale played at Long Beach Poly H.S. then El Camino Jr. College in Southern California before transferring to North Texas.
Olawale is the second player the Raiders have signed this year off another team's practice squad. They signed defensive back Brandian Ross off the Packers' practice squad on Sept. 19.
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.]]></description>
      <link>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262041</link>
      <guid>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/21262041</guid>
      <category>NFL</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:24:48 EST</pubDate>
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