Kliff Kingsbury, Joe Whitt Jr. are gone from Commanders
Coordinators Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. are both gone from coach Dan Quinn’s staff with the Washington Commanders after a 5-12 season, a team official with knowledge of the moves told the Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the staff...
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin appears close to rejoining the lineupVideo
It was like old times for Evgeni Malkin. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar bulled his way past Nick Bonino down the slot during the opening stages of a practice Monday in Cranberry, as was often the case a decade ago. The only difference was Bonino wasn’t wearing a practice jersey. Instead,...
Jeff Capel acknowledges impact of injuries, limited personnel for Pitt this season
As a season that’s far from over but already has been underwhelming continues, a mid-September practice at Petersen Events Center remains fresh in the memory of Jeff Capel. It was a preseason session and Capel, for the time being, had all the pieces he’d assembled for the campaign in front...
Penguins rookie forward Rutger McGroarty leaves practice with apparent injury
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward Rutger McGroarty left a practice session in Cranberry early Tuesday because of an apparent injury. During a two-on-two drill, McGroarty collided with a teammate and was in immediate discomfort. As the drill continued, he retreated to a bench and was examined by an athletic trainer. McGroarty...
Steelers ‘a relatively healthy group’ headed into ‘single-elimination tournament’
Remarkably, on the cusp of their playoff opener the Pittsburgh Steelers are injury-free in regards to their active roster. Coach Mike Tomlin during his weekly news conference Tuesday termed his team “a relatively healthy group” as it prepares to host the Houston Texans this coming Monday night in the wild-card...
NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigns after inflammatory texts revealed in trial
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps on Tuesday announced his resignation after more than 20 years with the top racing series in the United States and a nasty federal trial in which inflammatory texts he sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed. Phelps will leave the company at the...
Connor Heyward’s opinion on the ‘Tush Push’ has changed after learning to run it
Steelers tight end Connor Heyward admits that he was never a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles’ “Tush Push.” When all the conversation about banning the short-yardage shove kicked into high gear this offseason, Heyward wasn’t lending any support to the team at the other end of the Pa. Turnpike. “I...
First Call: Stunning stat about Steelers-Ravens final kick; Russell Wilson’s potentially costly commentVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some trash talk from Le’Veon Bell toward a current Steelers defensive back. A former Pitt standout thinks the Steelers have little hope in their next game against Houston. Russell Wilson may have cost his current team some money on the way out the door. And that...
Tim Benz: DK Metcalf must repay the ‘opportunity’ granted by his teammates
I couldn’t make out which one of DK Metcalf’s teammates was singing. I was just stunned that someone so young even knew the lyrics. But once the Steelers’ wide receiver made his return to the locker room Monday afternoon, I distinctly heard someone crooning the refrain John Sebastian’s “Welcome Back.”...
Joe Burrow’s Bengals face plenty of questions after missing playoffs for 3rd straight yearVideo
CINCINNATI — While the Cincinnati Bengals looked as if they were on track to being an AFC powerhouse in 2022, they’re now facing their third straight season outside of the playoffs. The Bengals have kept their core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins intact. But not much else...
Miami’s Carson Beck, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss take different paths to CFP semifinals
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Miami’s Carson Beck is the prototypical power-program quarterback, a former four-star prospect with a massive NIL portfolio who knows what it’s like to play on the big stage. Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss nearly gave up football, won a Division II national championship and has shined since being unexpectedly...
Texans’ defense sets franchise records, prepares for Steelers in playoffs
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans wrapped up the best defensive season in franchise history with a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Now the Texans (12-5) will look to build on that stellar performance when they open the playoffs next Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Houston’s ferocious defense,...
Ravens have a lot to ask themselves after a season with Super Bowl hopes ended with an 8-9 record
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A few months ago, the question was whether the Baltimore Ravens finally could perform in the playoffs like they had in the regular season. Instead, the heartache simply came earlier. From Week 1 at Buffalo — when they blew a 15-point lead in the final four...
Westmoreland County campus clips: Seton Hill men, women stacking wins
With a combined 14 wins in a row, the Seton Hill men and women are on top of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division basketball standings. The women have nine straight victories, while the men have taken five in a row. The Griffins women’s team emerged from the holiday...
Strong ground games propel No. 1 Indiana, No. 5 Oregon to CFP semifinal matchup
INDIANAPOLIS — Fernando Mendoza spent all season stealing headlines and collecting awards. Indiana running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black were content doing the dirty work in the shadows of their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, propelling the top-ranked Hoosiers into college football’s version of the Final Four. Now, less than a...
Ex-Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson retires, takes scouting job with CanucksVideo
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack Johnson has retired as a player and has been hired as a professional scout with the Vancouver Canucks. His hiring was announced by the Canucks on Monday. Johnson, 38, retires following a 19-year career in the NHL. He attended the Minnesota Wild’s training camp in...
Reports: Former Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer to join James Franklin at Virginia Tech
Multiple media outlets reported Monday that former quarterback Penn State Ethan Grunkemeyer will reunite with his former coach, James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Grunkemeyer is first in line to take over as Virginia Tech quarterback for Kyron Drones, who has exhausted his eligibility. Grunkemeyer, who was thrust into action after...
Here’s how to score a ticket for Steelers’ playoff game against Texans
The Steelers released a limited number of tickets for their first home playoff game in five years, and by Monday afternoon fans could still score a seat. Tickets were going for as little at $157 on the Steelers’ official ticket website at ticketmaster.com. The Steelers face the Houston Texans in...
After season on Pirates coaching staff, Daniel Vogelbach returning to Brewers as hitting coach
MILWAUKEE — Former Milwaukee Brewers player Daniel Vogelbach is returning to the organization as a hitting coach on manager Pat Murphy’s staff. Vogelbach, who was a designated hitter and first baseman for the Brewers from 2020-21, is one of four new faces on the Brewers coaching staff that was announced...
Penn State’s Terry Smith has his new role under new head coach Matt Campbell
Terry Smith did excellent work as the interim head coach, leading Penn State to a 4-3 record and a bowl win over Clemson to finish out a tumultuous season. The performance made it a massive priority for athletic director Pat Kraft and new head coach Matt Campbell to retain Smith...
Raiders fire Pete Carroll after 3-14 season, will look for a new coach for 3rd straight year
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders fired Pete Carroll on Monday after just one year, meaning they will enter their third consecutive season with a new coach in charge. Carroll expressed high hopes upon taking over, saying he was used to double-digit victories and he expected the same in...
Arizona holds No. 1 spot over Michigan by single point in one of the closest AP Top 25 races ever
Arizona held on to No. 1 by a single point over fast-closing Michigan in the AP Top 25 on Monday, making it one of the closest races for the top spot in the 78-year history of the men’s college basketball poll. The Wildcats received 32 of 61 first-place votes and...
Penguins waive defenseman Egor Zamula for contract termination
The Pittsburgh Penguins placed defenseman Egor Zamula on waivers for the purposes of a contract termination on Monday afternoon. Provided no other team claims him, Zamula and the Penguins can officially part ways by 2 p.m. Tuesday. He would become an unrestricted free agent. Puckpedia first reported the transaction. The...
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon fired following dismal 3rd season that ended with 3-14 record
TEMPE, Ariz. — Jonathan Gannon’s once-promising head coaching tenure with the Arizona Cardinals is done following a dismal third season that started with high expectations but quickly collapsed thanks to injuries, embarrassing gaffes and a long string of losses that became increasingly noncompetitive. Now the franchise is preparing for a...
Steelers’ DK Metcalf declines to comment on fan incident that got him suspendedVideo
After a verbal volley featuring variations of “no comment” to four questions, a team employee made DK Metcalf smile early Monday afternoon. “Thank you, Miss Teresa,” Metcalf said when asked how excited he was to be back with his teammates. His two-game suspension served, Metcalf was given a reprieve in...
