
Who's Hot Who's Not
Who's Hot
RUTGERS
Squashing Louisville 34--14 to improve to 8--3, thanks partly to freshman QB Tom Savage (right), sweetens the Scarlet Knights' bowl prospects. A couple of alums were winners last weekend too: Titans receiver Kenny Britt caught a game-clinching TD; Ravens running back Ray Rice had 155 total yards.
ROY WILLIAMS
The UNC coach got his 600th career win single-handedly—his left arm was in a sling following shoulder surgery. The 80--73 victory over Nevada made him a phenomenal 600--139, and he handled the milestone with class. "Six-hundred wins means I've been lucky," he said.
CHRIS REDMAN
A day to write home about for the Falcons' backup QB with the Boy Scout grin: Playing extensively for the first time since 2007, he threw two TD passes including the game-winner to keep Atlanta's playoff hopes alive. Said Redman, "I'm always prepared."
ALOUETTES
Down 17--3 and led by the CFL's best QB in Anthony Calvillo, Montreal decided to ... run the ball? Uh-huh. The Alouettes' 117 second-half rushing yards—and Saskatchewan's too-many-men penalty, which enabled the winning field goal—brought Montreal the Grey Cup.
Who's Not
UCLA
The Bruins messed with the wrong team. After UCLA called a timeout in the final minute to stop USC from running out the clock with a 21--7 lead, the Trojans answered with a take that TD bomb. No big bowl for the 6--6 Bruins, and their star alum lost too: running back Maurice Jones-Drew went down with the Jags.
ROY WILLIAMS
The Cowboys' receiver has griped about not getting the ball and been accused of playing scared (by Redskins safety LaRon Landry after Williams's zero-catch day in Week 11). His two catches for 15 yards last week extended his tepid performance in Dallas. Can a benching be far off?
TYSON CHANDLER
What's he got to tweet about anyway? The Bobcats' off-season pickup was averaging only 6.1 points and 6.4 rebounds at week's end, he's been battling back spasms, and his Twitter account was updated during a game—drawing a $7,500 fine from the NBA.
LINDSEY VONN
She hit a rock last Saturday, skied off course on Sunday and kvetched that coming down Aspen Mountain was "like ice skating." Neither Vonn—the U.S.'s top slalom racer—nor any of her teammates made the second round at the World Cup event. Coach Jim Tracy: "Embarrassing."
SI PLAYERS NFL POLL
WHICH ACTIVE PLAYER IS THE BEST ROLE MODEL ON AND OFF THE FIELD?
Kurt Warner, Cardinals QB 18%
Peyton Manning, Colts QB 17%
Brian Dawkins, Broncos S 9%
Drew Brees, Saints QB 6%
Tony Gonzalez, Falcons TE 5%
FAST FACTS
Warner, who missed last week's game with symptoms related to a head injury, has made his charitable interests and Christian beliefs well-known.... Manning (in hat) has led the Colts to 20 straight regular-season wins; for his support of St. Vincent Hospital, the Indianapolis facility has named its children's hospital after him.... Dawkins was the only defensive player among the top 10 vote-getters.
Based on a survey of 296 NFL players
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JEROME DAVIS/ICON SMI (SAVAGE)
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KYLE TERADA/US PRESSWIRE (WILLIAMS)
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ALLEN EINSTEIN/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (CHANDLER)
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JOHN G. MABANGLO/EPA (VONN)
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MARK J. REBILAS/US PRESSWIRE (WARNER AND MANNING)