NFL Pick'ems - Week 16 Results, Week 17 Picks

SI.com's Peter King-- who was in last place all season-- has been on a roll recently. You'd have to go back to Week 12 to find the last time King didn't at least tie for the weekly win. King moves himself into third place, two points behind Simon for second. Mike has a four point lead going into the final week of games. Pete Prisco's steady decline has him in last place for the first time this season. The experts were 9-1 in their consensus picks, with the G-Men's loss in Baltimore being the only upset.

NFL Pick'ems - Week 15 Results, Week 16 Picks

The Christmas holidays have a knack for getting in the way of more important things like football and sports blogs. Unfortunately, the Redshirt Freshmen fell victim to the Yuletide season and were unable to post their Week 16 picks before the Saturday night game in Detroit. We did however make our picks in private and will share them with you, along with our results from way back in Week 15...

SI.com's Peter King wins another week and moves into 3rd place in front of a slumping Pete Prisco. Mike remains in the lead after a solid week, as Simon remains in 2nd, now just one game ahead of King.

NBA Quarterly: The All-Disappointment Team

The NBA season has reached the quarter mark. Let's take a look at some players who haven't lived up to their expectations so far with the first ever All-Disappointment team.

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

It's not that Rondo has been particularly bad this season. It more of a "we saw you play at an unbelievable level in the playoffs, and hoped you could keep it up but haven't"-type thing (man that sounded catchier in my head). Rondo paced the Celtics in the 2011-12 NBA Playoffs, averaging 17.3 points-per-game to go along with 11.9 assists and 6.7 rebounds. He was particularly amazing in the Eastern Conference Finals as he went toe-to-toe with LeBron, and was narrowly edged out. That performance had me thinking Rondo would be in the MVP discussion in 2012-13, but so far the Celtics have struggled and Rondo seems to be shrinking a little in the spotlight. Rondo has never been a good shooter, but this season he often doesn't even look to score, as time after time he passes up good looks for himself in order to rack up an assist. You averaged over 17 points against the NBA Champs, Rajon! Step it up!

NFL Pick'ems - Week 14 Results, Week 15 Picks

Peter King is the Week 14 victor but still finds himself in last place overall. The SI.com columnist's only misses came on consensus picks, with the exception of Minnesota's win over the Bears, which Pete Prisco predicted. Prisco missed on two would-be consensus games, as he took chances on Buffalo and Jacksonville at home. Simon and Mike had nearly identical picks in Week 14, save for the Monday nighter. After New England's blowout win, Simon moves one game closer to Mike for the lead.

MLB Transactions Round Up

The RS Freshmen take a look at the flurry of transactions that transpired in a busy weekend in the MLB.

The Nationals signed SP Dan Haren on December 7.

Dan Haren, SP – Washington Nationals – Signed, 1 year, $13 million

The Nationals signed Haren to add to an impressive rotation which already includes Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmerman. While Haren, 32, is certainly on the decline in his career, he should prove to be a capable replacement for Edwin Jackson. Back issues and a career-high ERA certainly hampered Haren's value after the Angels declined his option for 2013, but if Haren is anything like his 2008-2011 self (3.39 ERA, 1.11 WHIP), the Nationals may well have a bargain in an experienced NL pitcher who could excel in the back end of the rotation.

Breaking Up With Andrea Bargnani

We were both so young when we first met

Andrea, it’s just not working anymore. No, no... let me finish. We had a good run, but I think it’s time to move on. 

Sure, there were good times. In 2006, when you came into the league as the 1st overall pick, I couldn’t wait to see you night after night. Things even got serious a couple times: remember your first few years in the league? When we made the playoffs two straight seasons? I thought I’d never get over Vince, but you helped with that. 

Or remember last season? When you started off at an All-Star level? That was fun too. But you just couldn't keep it up Andrea. So let’s be honest with each other here: it’s been unravelling for a while now. I know it’s hard to hear, but deep down I think you knew this was coming.

Raptors Reaction: Dec 5 @ Sacramento Kings

I honestly feel like the Raptors are a better team than the Kings, but it sure didn't show last night. DeMarcus Cousins was his usual beastly self (even as his confidence is shot), and the Raptors just couldn't keep pace. Boy, I'm starting to think it could be a long season.

The Good:

• Kyle Lowry had a fantastic game, leading the team with 34 points. He added 11 assists and got to the line a ton (12-for-12), but ultimately it wasn't enough. I like Lowry a lot, but every now and then he takes a terrible three-pointer. Once he knocks that off, I'm getting a Lowry jersey (until then, I'll stick with the player tee).
• DeMar DeRozan's jump shot is the best it's ever been, and is constantly improving. I hated on the contract extension he was given earlier in the year, but man has he looked good this season. The one negative from his game last night was his inability to get to the line. He attempted only 2 free throws all night... and missed both.
• Ed Davis keeps giving the Raptors great minutes off the bench. He netted 13 points, added 11 rebounds and definitely outplayed the starting power forward (more on that later).
• Mickael Pietrus has somehow been a nice addition. I thought he was washed-up, but he's been pretty impressive. Apparently his name is floating around in trade rumors, but currently he's one of the best Raptors on the floor on any given night.

Hitting the Links: December 6 2012

Yesterday's best on-the-field links:

• J.R. Smith capped off the Knicks' win over the Charlotte Bobcats with this dirty step-back jumper. I'm starting to believe in New York.
• Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 30,000 points in NBA history. More importantly, the Lakers didn't completely fall apart and actually beat New Orleans 103-87.
• The Raptors managed to lose another one, falling to the Sacramento Kings 107-100. The most disappointing part for the Raps has to be the decline in their defense from last season. Kyle Lowry had a great game, but Toronto just couldn't stop DeMarcus Cousins
• The Clippers' hot start continued, as they beat the Mavericks 112-90 in Los Angeles. Caron Butler dunked all over Chris Kaman.
• Here's the rest of the NBA scoreboard for a busy Wednesday night.
• Giving you some Canadian content for the play of the night, as the Raps' Ed Davis threw-down on former teammate James Johnson.

Outside the lines:

• We're all surprised the Wizards beat the Heat. But this Washington-area television host is kind of an ass about it.
• Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway just wants to party!
• Keeping it in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions may have released the worst calendar ever.

NFL Pick'ems - Week 13 Results, Week 14 Picks

Prisco, King and Dow all found different ways to get to 11-5 in Week 13. King hit on Seattle and Washington's wins but incorrectly picked Oakland, while Prisco was the lone man to pick the Chiefs. Dow was alone in cashing in on Andrew Luck's late game heroics, building on his lead. Simon (9-7) remains in second.

Hitting the Links: December 5 2012

The best on-field links of the night:

• Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook were a two-man team in Oklahoma City's 117-111 win in Brooklyn. They scored a combined 57 points on 18-for-33 shooting. Also, Durant just missed throwing down a dunk-of-the-year candidate. 

Rookie QB Power Rankings III

1. (1) Robert Griffin III - Washington Redskins (6-6)

67.1 Comp. %, 2,660 yards, 17 TD, 4 INT, 104.4 QB Rtg., 714 rush yards, 6 TD

Since the last Rookie QB Power Rankings, RGIII has thrown for 882 yards and 9 TDs with just 1 INT, leading his team to three division wins in the process, including a Monday night win over the Giants. During the game, RGIII set the rookie record for rushing yards for a QB. Watching Griffin run the option out of the Pistol is truly a thing of beauty, as it's nearly impossible to predict from play to play who is going to end up with the ball. When Griffin runs the play-action, he is the most effective QB in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. As of Week 12, Griffin's 12.5 yards per attempt during the play-action is the best figure in the NFL, while his 5.7 YPA during standard pass plays ranks him dead last. Griffin's passer rating is also the league's best out of play-action, compared to 8^th when not faking the run. While RGIII hasn't rushed for a TD since Week 6, it is clear that, in the right system, “Bobby Three Sticks” is currently the most dangerous rookie behind centre in the NFL.

NFL Pick'ems - Week 12 Results

Mike is now in the lead for the first time since Week 1 after a 12-4 performance highlighted by his 49ers and Redskins picks. Simon moves into second while Prisco remains in third after being alone in correctly picking Miami and incorrectly picking San Diego. Peter King overrated the impact of Houston's tough schedule leading into their Thursday game against the Lions, just one of his many faults en route to an 8-8 week.