Tim Benz, Mark Madden: Kobe Bryant’s death, PiratesFest futility, Penguins second half, Super Bowl preview
This week’s “Madden Monday” starts on a somber note as we address the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Mark Madden and I discuss his legacy, his place in NBA history, what made him unique, and the sad memories Pittsburghers may have of Roberto Clemente’s passing as a result. After...
Pro Bowl takes backstage to Kobe Bryant’s deathVideo
ORLANDO, Fla. — Green Bay linebacker Za’Darius Smith hastily organized an homage to Kobe Bryant minutes before the Pro Bowl. Smith and his NFC teammates learned about Bryant’s death while they were in the locker room getting ready for the NFL’s all-star game Sunday. Smith suggested the best way to...
With foundation in Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs built team for Super BowlVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The team that eventually would take the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years was under construction long before general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid finally laid the cornerstone. Patrick Mahomes simply allowed them to erect the...
Jim Litke: Under-30 NFL stars trading in riches for long-term healthVideo
Last week, nearly two decades after his death, straight-talking Giants front-office boss George Young finally got elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It seemed fitting for a guy who took the long view on everything. Back when most teams asked potential draft picks just a handful of questions,...
Trailblazing 49ers assistant has roots in Chiefs KingdomVideo
HESSTON, Kan. — The old downtown strip, like so many in small towns across America, is quiet on a brisk January morning, just a few cars parked at one end in front of The Citizens State Bank and a few more in front of the pharmacy at the other. Around...
Afterthought as it is, Pro Bowl has rich historyVideo
With James Lofton’s rookie season off to a strong start in 1978, another member of the Green Bay Packers casually tossed some praise his way in the locker room one day in early December. Keep up the production, his pal said, and he might find himself in the Pro Bowl....
Giants’ Eli Manning retires after 16 seasons, 2 Super BowlsVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eli Manning retired from the NFL after 16 seasons just the way he wanted, as a hard-working, career-long New York Giant who did it his way in leading the franchise to two Super Bowls. Saying he had no regrets, the 39-year-old Manning officially ended his career...
Cleveland Browns’ Kareem Hunt cited for speeding, marijuana in car
CLEVELAND — Browns running back Kareem Hunt was cited for a traffic violation, and police say they found marijuana in his car. He was pulled over Tuesday afternoon in Rocky River, Ohio — on Cleveland’s west side — while driving on Interstate 90. An incident report said officers smelled marijuana...
NFL says number of concussions increased slightly in 2019Video
NEW YORK — The NFL said Thursday that the number of concussions players suffered increased slightly this season over 2018. The league said there were 224 reported concussions, 10 more than in 2018. But those totals are way down from the 281 in 2017. “We want to see head contact...
Long lines to get Lamar Jackson’s autograph, picture at Pro BowlVideo
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was signing autographs following Pro Bowl practice Thursday and wrapping up an interview when his sister jumped in with a desperate request. “You have to help mom,” she said. “What’s up?” he asked. “She wants a picture on the field...
Ex-Steeler Antonio Brown turns himself in at Florida jail
Antonio Brown reportedly surrendered to police in Florida on Thursday night. Brown, 31, showed up at Broward County Jail around 10 p.m., as first reported by TMZ. According to ESPN, Brown arrived at Broward County Jail wearing a turquoise suit a day after Hollywood, Fla., police issued a warrant for...
Cops waiting for former Steelers WR Antonio Brown to turn himself inVideo
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Hollywood cops said Thursday they are waiting for former football star Antonio Brown to turn himself in after they issued a warrant for his arrest. The warrant allows cops to take Brown into custody if they have contact with him, said agency spokesman Christian Lata. “It’s not...
Terrell Suggs aiming for Super Bowl after joining Chiefs last monthVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There was a moment during practice last week, while the Kansas City Chiefs were prepping for their AFC title game against Tennessee, that caused linebackers coach Matt House to seek out defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. It had to do with pass rusher Terrell Suggs, and it...
Mock draft predicts Steelers will take pass-rusher Darrell Taylor in 2nd roundVideo
Super Bowl LIV between San Francisco and Kansas City is all that remains of the 100th NFL season, and the 2020 draft class is finally set. The NFL on Tuesday released the official list of underclassmen who decided to leave college early for the pros. There were 120 players who...
U mad, bro? Prickly Pitt fans, Matt Murray defenders, Barry Bonds debaters sound off
How are we going to start this week’s “U mad, bro?” With me being mad. That’s how. I was mad because I got locked out of my email. My stupid password expired. Why do they make me update that thing so often?! So I couldn’t get to my usual material...
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan reflects on blown Super BowlVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kyle Shanahan’s play calls from his first trip to the Super Bowl as an offensive coordinator have been heavily scrutinized. That’s to be expected after Shanahan’s Falcons blew a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots and lost in overtime three years ago in part because...
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson files trademark for famous draft-night vowVideo
BALTIMORE — Despite failing to lead the Ravens to a postseason victory for the second straight season, quarterback Lamar Jackson still is confident he’ll bring a championship back to Baltimore. So confident he’s filing a trademark for his famous draft-night vow. A trademark for “YOU ARE GOING TO GET A...
Giants QB Eli Manning retiring after 16 seasonsVideo
NEW YORK — Once a Giant, always a Giant, and only a Giant. That is how Eli Manning will retire in a Friday morning news conference, the Giants announced Wednesday: with two Super Bowl MVPs, 16 seasons and just one team on a potentially Hall of Fame resume. Manning, 39,...
Tim Dahlberg: No Patriots means people can enjoy Super Bowl againVideo
Finally, the Super Bowl might be fun again. No more scowling Bill Belichick, angry as always under his hoodie. No more sly smiles and phony platitudes from Tom Brady. No talk about Spygate. No worries about deflated footballs. And no more speculation about just what New England owner Robert Kraft...
Joe Namath shares thoughts on Tom Brady’s future with Patriots
Joe Namath doesn’t want Tom Brady to make the same mistake he did. Namath will always be remembered as the New York Jets quarterback who guaranteed and delivered a Super Bowl win in 1969, the team’s only title. Broadway Joe, a Beaver Falls native, was drafted by the Jets in...
Hunt family finally gets to see Chiefs back in Super BowlVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Clark Hunt remembers the celebrations four years ago that surrounded the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl, the championship game whose name was coined by his late father and Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt. One moment stands out more than the rest. It had to...
Journeyman Raheem Mostert becomes star for 49ersVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Before taking the field each week, Raheem Mostert seeks out motivation. There it is in a list of all the times he’s been cut by NFL teams. Philadelphia, Miami and Baltimore all let Mostert go in 2015. Cleveland, the Jets and Chicago all sent him packing...
Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. recovering from surgery on core muscleVideo
CLEVELAND — Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to make a full recovery following surgery on a core muscle injury that limited the star wide receiver during his first season with the Browns. Beckham had the operation Tuesday to repair a sports hernia that curtailed his speed and production with Cleveland....
First Call: Browns to hire offensive line coach that some Steelers fans wanted in Pittsburgh
At the end of the NFL regular season, if you did a Twitter search of Bill Callahan’s name, you got a ton of people suggesting the Steelers should hire him as a special assistant to help coach the offensive line. Or just get him to flat-out replace Shaun Sarrett. The...
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers believes championship window still openVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The 2019 season for the Green Bay Packers marked the dawn of a new era. Matt LaFleur took over and won more games than any first-year coach in franchise history. The final result again fell short of the Packers’ goal of winning it all, but this...
