Play of the Day

Andrew Bogut had the Play of the Day in the NBA, tipping in an inbounds pass for the game winner against the Pacers. Bogut was only 5-for-14 from the field, but his touch was golden on this perfect pass from Luc Mbah a Moute. He shot a respectable 7-for-10 from the line en route to 17 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked 5 shots.

4x4x4

Week 13 in the NFL was a tough one. Six ProUtes played tough defense in tough losses. Naming the ProUte of the Week is a tough call as a result. Do we recognize Sione Pouha's individual effort leading the Jets with 8 tackles in a 45-3 loss to the Patriots? Or do we go with the overall team effort Miami got from Koa Misi, Sean Smith, and Paul Soliai (4 tackles apiece) in a 13-10 loss to Cleveland?

Eight tackles is a rare feat for an interior lineman like Pouha, but the Patriots broke the century mark in rushing yards and had two rushing TDs. The Dolphins held Peyton Hillis and the Browns to 52 yards rushing and no scores on the ground. If not for Chad Henne's 3 INTs and a blocked FG in the first quarter Miami could have come away with a win. Mark Sanchez also threw 3 INTs for New York, but that was forcing the ball downfield under duress.

Pouha tallied as many tackles as Misi and Soliai combined, but throw in Smith's tackles and the 4x4x4 gets the job done. This marks the second time this season Miami's trio has shared the award. Eric Weddle (6 tackles) and Ma'ake Kemoeatu (5 tackles) were also in the running.

Be Like Dwight

Andrew Bogut was back in the line up Saturday after missing the last five games with back spasms. Dwight Howard (ill with a stomach virus) was missing from the Magic, which left Bogut free to do his best impersonation of Howard. He posted 31 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the mismatch. Bogut was 13-of-20 from the field and a Dwight-like 5-of-16 from the line, including eight straight misses in the fourth quarter when Orlando played Hack-a-Buck. Milwaukee held on to beat the depleted Magic (down four sick players), 96-85.

Bogut is averaging 13.1 points and 11.5 rebounds in the 13 games he's played this season. He scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in an 88-78 loss to Miami tonight.

Andre Miller was suspended for "making excessive and unnecessary contact" with Blake Griffin in Portland's 100-91 win over the Clippers on Sunday. I didn't see the play (it isn't in the highlights), but Griffin's a pretty physical player. Are you sure he can't take a bump from an aging point guard? Or has he already reached the superstar status for calls? More likely it was a referee reaction to the flagrant foul, ejection, and two game suspension of L.A.'s Brian Cook. Miller will miss Tuesday's game against Steve Nash and the Suns.

BLOCK THAT KICK!

Brandon Burton's block of Mitch Payne's field goal attempt to seal Utah's 17-16 victory over BYU wasn't the only resounding blocked kick on Saturday; the Las Vegas Locomotives also got a blocked FG to preserve their 23-20 win in the second UFL Championship Game! The Locos defeated the Tuskers for their second consecutive title. Las Vegas has a dynasty! Congratulations to former Utah head coach Jim Fassel and ProUtes Jesse Boone, Brian Hernandez, and Lauvale Sape on winning back-to-back championships!

For an amusing wrap up of the UFL season, see DJ Gallo's Page 2 column on ESPN.com.

Can't Catch Him

We will forgo the poll this week and give the ProUte of the Week Award to Eric Weddle, who ran away with one of Peyton Manning's 4 INTs. Weddle returned it 41 yards for a pick six in the 3rd quarter of the Chargers' 36-14 win over the Colts (linebacker Kevin Burnett also had a pick six in the 1st quarter).

Weddle told ESPN that the lack of credit given to San Diego's top ranked defense was "a slap in the face." He played a major part in his team's response, with 4 tackles and 2 pass deflections to go with his INT return for a TD. Here at ProUtes we give credit where credit is due: this is Weddle's third award of the season.

Return With Honor

Utah has had its share of phenomenal kick returners, from Steve Smith to Shaky Smithson. David Reed doesn't share the same initials but he's working his way into that game-changing role. The kick return game has been pivotal this season in the NFL, and Reed is capitalizing on his opportunities. Against the Panthers he returned 3 kicks for 135 yards, with a long of 84 yards. He didn't score six (and was sick later), but he did win ProUte of the Week honors!

Reed edged out teammate Paul Kruger, who recorded his first sack, perennial favorite Eric Weddle (3 tackles, PDef), and Sean Smith (4 tackles) for the award.

Behind the Line

Quarterback Kyle Orton may be the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, but he knows who to thank: his offensive line. Here he is slapping the helmet of #68 Zane Beadles, our ProUte of the Week. Behind the blocking of Beadles and Co. the Broncos amassed 452 net yards, 299 passing and 153 rushing. They didn't allow a sack for the first time this season, and with that protection Orton (4 TDs, no INTs) posted a 131.5 passer rating. The Broncos finally established a ground game with the first 100+ yard performance of the season for a Denver running back. Tim Tebow also got in on the action with a TD pass and a TD run. Even Brady Quinn could have had a good day behind that commanding O-line!

Beadles wins the award for the second time in his rookie season, stonewalling David Reed (3 kick returns for 64 yards), Sean Smith (6 tackles), and Paul Soliai (3 tackles, 1 PDef). Smith and Soliai (along with Koa Misi) will be back in action tonight, as Miami hosts the Bears. Denver will face off with San Diego on Monday night.