Sports category, Page 1118
Could Steelers CB Ahkello Witherspoon be activated off IR for regular-season finale?
When Pittsburgh Steelers starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon took the field for the first meeting this season with the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 22, few could have believed that by the time the teams would play again that he would not have played in a full game since. But as Sunday’s...
WWE’s Vince McMahon is back after misconduct investigation
Vince McMahon is rejoining the board of WWE several months after he retired from the sports entertainment company during an investigation into alleged misconduct. WWE said Friday that McMahon, the founder and majority shareholder of WWE, would return as executive chairman. It also announced a board shakeup. Shares surged more...
NFL owners approve playoff plan after Bills-Bengals canceled
NFL owners approved a resolution that could lead to a neutral site for the AFC championship in response to the cancellation of Monday night’s Bills-Bengals game after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. The league held a special meeting Friday to consider the recommendation of commissioner Roger Goodell...
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Myles Jack questionable; Alex Highsmith to play for Steelers vs. Browns
With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ must-win regular-season finale two days away, inside linebacker Myles Jack and free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick officially were given questionable designations on the NFL-mandated injury report released Friday. Aside from reserve defensive back Tre Norwood — who will miss his second consecutive game because of a hamstring...
Pitt WR Jared Wayne declares for NFL Draft
Pitt’s top wide receiver from this past season announced Friday afternoon that he was declaring for the NFL Draft. Jared Wayne could have chosen to remain with the Panthers for another season because of the bonus year of eligibility granted by the NCAA as a result of the covid-19 pandemic....
Pitt players taking business-like approach into key ACC matchup with Clemson
A look around the Pitt men’s basketball program — from the team’s record to fan engagement to future prospects — reveals a general positive feeling not seen in some time. After two straight wins over ranked teams, Pitt (11-4, 4-0 ACC) finds itself in the conversation to be ranked for...
Michigan: NCAA looking into potential football infractions
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan announced Friday that it has received notice from the NCAA that it is looking into potential rules infractions in the Wolverines football program. Athletic director Warde Manuel said the “draft allegations” were received Thursday. “We have cooperated and will continue to cooperate with this investigation,”...
Bob Palko, 9-time WPIAL champion, resigns as Mt. Lebanon football coach
Thirteen months after celebrating a state championship with the Blue Devils, Bob Palko has resigned as Mt. Lebanon’s football coach to focus attention on concerns away from the field. “I’ve got some personal health issues I need to deal with,” he said Friday. “It’s nothing like I’m going to die,...
Fans invited to sign banner supporting Damar Hamlin Saturday before Pitt basketball game
Since Monday night, when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field mid-game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in what was revealed to be a major cardiac arrest, sports fans across the United States and globally have sent a tidal wave of support his way and toward his family, friends...
Explainer: What Bills-Bengals cancellation does to playoffs
The NFL’s decision to cancel the Bills-Bengals game has major playoff implications for several teams. The league is changing the rules for the postseason to accommodate the cancellation and will hold a special meeting Friday to ask teams to vote on a resolution recommended by Commissioner Roger Goodell and approved...
Mike White out, Joe Flacco to start for Jets in finale vs. Dolphins
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Joe Flacco will start at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday with Mike White ruled out against the Miami Dolphins with a rib injury. Robert Saleh announced the decision Friday, saying White “just wasn’t feeling right” and was still in a lot of pain....
Browns send Jadeveon Clowney home after critical comments
BEREA, Ohio — Jadeveon Clowney’s last move with the Cleveland Browns happened off the field: a public bashing born of frustration and disappointment. The team countered accordingly. Clowney was sent home from practice Friday, one day after he harshly criticized the organization and coaching staff in an explosive interview that...
Defenseman Ty Smith still seeking first win with Penguins
Thursday represented something of a professional milestone for Ty Smith: The young defenseman scored his first goal as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. That personal accomplishment didn’t cause Smith to lose perspective. Especially because his team lost 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas....
Friday Football Footnotes: Problems with the tweaked AFC playoff proposals; a Jets injury that may impact Steelers
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” takes a look at a dent in the Steelers’ playoff hopes. Plus, we examine the tangled web of playoff scenarios the NFL is creating by canceling the Bengals-Bills game. We also look at the long-term ramifications of an in-season rules change and maybe some unintended...
Penn State OT Drew Shelton filled in for Olu Fashanu as a true freshman and now is ready for 2023
Some players get called into their coach’s office. Some get a text or a phone call. Some remember where they were and how they got the news that they were receiving their first career start. But Penn State tackle Drew Shelton isn’t one of those people. Shelton couldn’t recall how...
Bills’ Damar Hamlin breathing on his own, joins team via video
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It was uplifting enough for the Buffalo Bills staff and players to see Damar Hamlin appear on the video screen in the team’s meeting room Friday — “larger than life,” as coach Sean McDermott put it — for the first time since the safety collapsed and...
Tim Benz: Throwing shade at NFL nothing but poorly directed attempts to invent blame for Damar Hamlin’s collapse
Maybe we just had too hard of a time processing what we had seen when Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during this week’s “Monday Night Football” game. It was inexplicable. It was unprecedented. It was jarring. Acknowledging that we may have been scared by what we saw...
Penguins’ losing streak reaches 6 after falling to Golden Knights
Like most people, Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy is aware of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ star power, specifically luminaries such as forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang. But Cassidy offered a more nuanced observation when asked to explain the Penguins while speaking with media in Las...
Robert Morris men lose at Youngstown State
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Dwayne Cohill had 23 points in Youngstown State’s 78-56 win over Robert Morris on Thursday night. Enoch Cheeks finished with 16 points for the Colonials (7-9, 2-3 Horizon League), and Stephaun Walker added 11 points. Kahliel Spear finished with eight points, eight rebounds and five assists. The...
QB Sam Hartman announces transfer from Wake Forest to Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Sam Hartman is transferring to Notre Dame, giving the Fighting Irish a dynamic quarterback for coach Marcus Freeman’s second season. Hartman, a three-year starter at Wake Forest, was widely regarded as the top quarterback in the transfer portal. He announced his decision Thursday by tweeting pictures...
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby selected to All-Star Game event
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has lost a weekend off. On Thursday, the NHL announced Crosby was selected as his team’s representative to the league’s All-Star Game event on Feb. 4 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla., home of the Florida Panthers. In 37 games this season, Crosby is...
Once seen as liability, Steelers offensive line has been driving force late in season
Soon after he accepted the Chief Award, given to the Pittsburgh Steelers player most cooperative with media, Mason Cole cheekily made note of his experience with reporters as his first year with the team progressed. “The questions seem to have gotten a lot easier as the season has gone on,”...
Changes on horizon for bowls as CFP expands to 12 teamsVideo
College football’s bowl season began Dec. 16, at 11:30 a.m. with two .500 teams squaring off in a 15,000-seat stadium in the Bahamas. UAB’s 24-20 victory against Miami (Ohio) drew an average of 822,000 viewers to ESPN. It ended up being the least-watched of 39 bowl games on ESPN’s networks...
Robust rebounding serving Pitt well as midway point of regular season approaches
Throughout Jeff Capel’s five seasons as Pitt coach, rebounding has been inconsistent. In two of his first four seasons, the Panthers finished in the bottom third of the ACC in total rebounding, wrapping Capel’s debut campaign in 2018-19 at eighth. Two seasons ago, the Panthers showed considerable improvement, finishing second...
Myles Jack impressed Steelers didn’t sound ‘fire alarms’ after 2-6 start, credits Mike Tomlin for turnaround
Before Myles Jack joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, he was probably best known around these parts for helping the Jacksonville Jaguars to an upset win in the 2017 AFC divisional playoffs. His interception in the first quarter led to a touchdown that helped the Jaguars take a 14-point lead...
