The Sportsletter - Pro Bowl Rosters & Snubs

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BY JEFF YODER

JAN. 4, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Five teams scored 140-plus points in the NBA last night. That’s the most in a single night in NBA history (previous record: 4). Three other teams finished with 135-plus, so we nearly saw the record get doubled-up. Wild stuff. We’ll give the NBA a check-in, on top of a Rose Bowl ratings boom, MLB free agency and the return of the PGA Tour. But first, it’s the NFL Pro Bowl rosters (and snubs) alongside our final regular-season NFL Pick 'Em honors.

Letter Rip!

  PICKS  

NFL Pick 'Em Leaderboard

Congrats to our holiday NFL pick ‘em winner, Melvin Graham! In a double-weekend contest, Melvin hit on 81% of his picks to take the Week 15-16 prize. We also saw some repeats in the top-5 for the first time this season — Greg D. and Jeffrey B. must have seen the NFL script. All they do is pick winners.

Week 15-16 Leaderboard

1. Melvin Graham (25/31 Picks)

2. Jeffrey Bigelow (24/31 Picks)

3. Greg Taylor (24/31 Picks)

4. Jeanne Schendt (24/31 Picks)

5. Greg Donahue (24/31 Picks)

There is no Pick ‘Em contest for Week 18 (with teams resting players to prepare for the playoffs). Next week, we’ll launch the NFL Playoff Pick ‘Em exclusively for all the top-5 finishers during the year. If you were a top-5 finisher at any point this season, watch your email for upcoming details. Thanks to the 5,000+ who joined us to make picks throughout the season!

  NFL  

The 2024 Pro Bowl Rosters

Photo: Michael Owens / Getty Images

49ers QB Brock Purdy Leads Pro Bowl Voting as 49ers (9), Cowboys (7) and Ravens (7) Top All Teams

The NFL revealed the final tallies for this year’s Pro Bowl honors last night. In lieu of a Week 18 Thursday Night Football matchup, fans can instead spend today arguing about which players got snubbed (that'll be the chatter on your daytime sports talk shows). The Pro Bowl isn’t the same anymore, but the honor is still a nod to excellence, and each player gets an invite to the Pro Bowl games on Sunday, February 4. Players were selected by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. 49ers QB Brock Purdy led all players with 452,000 fan votes — 20,000 more than the second-most, teammate Christian McCaffrey (430,000). Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (414,500) finished third. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s Pro Bowl nods as we get ready to tie a bow on the NFL’s regular season.

Most Votes (By Team)

49ers: 9 Players

Ravens: 7 Players

Cowboys: 7 Players

Eagles: 6 Players

Dolphins: 6 Players

Browns: 5 Players

Chiefs: 5 Players

Lions: 5 Players

Pro Bowl Rosters

AFC

• QB: L. Jackson (BAL), P. Mahomes (KC), T. Tagovailoa (MIA)
• RB: R. Mostert (MIA), J. Cook (BUF), D. Henry (TEN)
• WR: T. Hill (MIA), A. Cooper (CLE), K. Allen (LAC), J. Chase (CIN)
• TE: T. Kelce (KC), D. Njoku (CLE)
• OT: L. Tunsil (MIA), D. Dawkins (BUF), T. Armstead (MIA)
• OG: Q. Nelson (IND), J. Bitonio (CLE), J. Thuney (KC)
• C: C. Humphrey (KC), T. Linderbaum (BAL)
• DE: M. Garrett (CLE), M. Crosby (LVR), T. Hendrickson (CIN)
• DL: C. Jones (KC), Q. Williams (NYJ), J. Madubuike (BAL)
• OLB: T. Watt (PIT), K. Mack (LAC), J. Allen (JAX)
• LB: R. Smith (BAL), P. Queen (BAL)
• CB: P. Surtain II (DEN), S. Gardner (NYJ), J. Ramsey (MIA), D. Ward (CLE)
• S: J. Simmons (DEN), M. Fitzpatrick (PIT), K. Hamilton (BAL)
• P: A. Cole (LVR)
• K: J. Tucker (BAL)

NFC

• QB: B. Purdy (SF), D. Prescott (DAL), M. Stafford (LAR)
• RB: C. McCaffrey (SF), D. Swift (PHI), K. Williams (LAR)
• WR: C. Lamb (DAL), A. Brown (PHI), M. Evans (TB), P. Nacua (LAR)
• TE: G. Kittle (SF), S. LaPorta (DET)
• OT: T. Williams (SF), L. Johnson (PHI), P. Sewell (DET)
• OG: Z. Martin (DAL), C. Lindstrom (ATL), L. Dickerson (PHI)
• C: J. Kelce (PHI), F. Ragnow (DET)
• DE: N. Bosa (SF), M. Sweat (CHI), A. Hutchinson (DET)
• DL: A. Donald (LAR), D. Lawrence (NYG), J. Hargrave (SF)
• OLB: M. Parsons (DAL), D. Hunter (MIN), H. Reddick (PHI)
• LB: F. Warner (SF), B. Wagner (SEA)
• CB: D. Bland (DAL), C. Ward (SF), J. Johnson (CHI), D. Witherspoon (SEA)
• S: J. Bates (ATL), B. Baker (ARI), J. Love (SEA)
• P: B. Anger (DAL)
• K: B. Aubrey (DAL)

Most Notable “Snubs”

QB J. Allen (BUF), QB J. Goff (DET), WR A. St. Brown (DET), OLB B. Chubb (MIA), WR B. Aiyuk (SF), CB L’Jarius Sneed (KC), S A. Winfield Jr. (TB)

Read More

USA Today: Pro Bowl Voting: 49ers, Ravens & Cowboys Lead the Way

The Athletic: Josh Allen, Jared Goff Left Out: Who Was Snubbed From the NFL Pro Bowl?

CBS Sports: 13 Zany & Crazy Things to Know About Week 18 With Postseason Berths on the Line

  NBA  

Clips Flip the Script

Photo: Harry How / Getty Images

L.A. Clippers Keep Hot Streak Rolling In 2024, Stars Clicking in Wire-to-Wire Win Over Suns (131-122)

We’re guilty. We were one of them. Back in October, the L.A. Clippers swung a deal for James Harden, then they went on a losing streak. The media buried them and chastised the franchise’s never-ending saga of bad luck. We did, too. But those pesky Clippers have appeared to turn things around and flip the script. The Clippers never trailed in last night’s 131-122 win over the Suns, and their ‘Big 3’ looked as locked in (as a group) as they ever have. Paul George (33 points), Kawhi Leonard (30 points) and James Harden (22 points, 11 assists) combined for 85 points on a collective 55-percent shooting night from the floor (56.5%, 3-pt). The Clips led by as many as 23.

Clips Flip the Script: L.A. was just 3-7 after that horrific start that brought a six-game skid following the Harden acquisition. They were just 8-10 by the end of November, but they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the NBA through December, and beyond. L.A. has now won four straight and 13 of their last 15, with the only two losses since November coming at the hands of the Celtics and Thunder — both quality opponents. The Clips appear to have it figured out. They’re 21-12 and just three games back of 1st in the West. Few would've predicted that at Thanksgiving.

Watch: Re-Energized Clippers Beat Suns in Wire-to-Wire Clinic (131-122)

More NBA Win Streaks

Hali Dazzles, Pacers Out-Run Bucks

Tyrese Haliburton’s breakout season continues. Hali and the Pacers outshined Giannis and the Bucks (142-130) in another Indiana track meet. The star guard went for 31 points and 12 assists, including some no-look highlight-reel dimes, and the Pacers are winners of five straight. Indiana is also closing in on the NBA record for most 140-point games in a single season (10). Wednesday marked their 7th 140-point night in just 33 games.

Effective Zion & Pels Tally 4th Straight

Zion Williamson (27 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds) was a force Wednesday night as the Pelicans held off the West-leading Timberwolves (117-106) and Anthony Edwards (35 points). New Orleans is another club starting to stack wins (four straight).

Other NBA Highlights

Heat Handle Lakers in L.A. (110-96)

Jazz Beat Pistons in OT (154-148, OT)

Hawks End Thunder’s 5-Game Streak (141-138)

Brunson Big as Knicks Beat Bulls (116-100)

Kings Top Magic in 2OT Thriller (138-135, 2OT)

Luka Doncic Posts 41 in Easy Win Over Blazers (126-97)

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  STORYLINES   

📺 The Rose Bowl Ratings

The Rose Bowl between Michigan and Alabama was the most watched non-NFL sporting event in five years, and the most watched CFB Playoff game since 2014. So what does it mean for upcoming TV contracts? (Y! Sports)

⚾️ MLB Free Agency Reset

In the first half of free agency, we had some splashy moves — you might have heard that Shohei Ohtani signed a $700 million deal? But plenty of MLB stars are still on the market, and lots of teams have holes to fill. (ESPN)

🏈 Russell Wilson’s Benching Ultimatum

The Denver Broncos’ benching and certain upcoming release of Russell Wilson proves it. The business of the NFL is a cold and heartless one, even for players who have been elite faces of their franchises. (SI)

  NEWS   📰 

• Panthers Owner David Tepper Fined $300,000 After Throwing Drink at Fan (SI)
• Georgia TE Brock Bowers Declares for 2024 NFL Draft (B/R)
• Grambling State Women’s Basketball Sets D1 Record With 141-Point Win (Y! Sports)
• Red Sox Legend David Ortiz Swings & Misses During Gender Reveal (CBS Sports)
• Rory McIlroy Walks Back Criticism of LIV Golf: ‘Maybe a Little Judgmental’ (USA Today)
• Brian Kelly & LSU Football Moving On From 4 Assistant Coaches (ESPN)

• Firefighters Put Out Large Fire at Home of Dolphins Receiver Tyreek Hill (AP News)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Today's Must-Watch List

🏀 NBA

Bucks at Spurs (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Nuggets at Warriors (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

🏒 NHL

Penguins at Bruins (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Avalanche at Stars (8:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Panthers at Golden Knights (10:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

⛳️ PGA Tour

Sentry Tournament of Champions (12:45 pm ET)

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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