Sports category, Page 1236
Tim Benz: How Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt thinks he can improve upon an award-winning season in 2022
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and his brothers (J.J. and Derek) weren’t just youth football players growing up in Wisconsin. En route to their NFL careers, they played a lot of hockey, too. So Watt can appreciate an NHL analogy when there is one to make. That’s good because Watt...
Eagles maneuver to try to overtake Cowboys in NFC East
The Philadelphia Eagles made a big move to help quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Dallas Cowboys didn’t do the same for Dak Prescott and might have backtracked with his supporting cast. Now it’s time to see how each approach in the offseason will translate for last season’s pair of playoff qualifiers...
Sean Clifford reflects on two-minute drill, Drew Allar and wild win at Purdue
STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford had himself quite the start to the season. Three touchdowns paved the way for a double-digit halftime lead at Purdue. Third-quarter cramping forced him to the locker room for an IV, letting Drew Allar give a glimpse of the future. Clifford’s pick-six made fans wonder...
Super Bowl champion Rams, 49ers lead the way in NFC West
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The margin between the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and rival San Francisco 49ers couldn’t have been much smaller last season. A dropped interception, a failed short-yardage attempt and a well-executed winning drive was the difference in sending the Rams to the title game and...
First Call: NFL.com’s low rating for Mitch Trubisky; ex-Steelers WR retires; Heinz Field name-change gets bad poll results
Thursday’s “First Call” features an unfavorable view of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, a former Steelers wide receiver is walking away from the game. New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson may make his season debut in Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole had a huge night for the Yankees. And Heinz Field’s...
U mad, bro?: Fans rally around Mike Tomlin and Kedon Slovis, lash out about Pirates and … craft beer?
The No. 1 tip I give to young sports journalists entering the workplace these days is to diversify. Get experience in front of the camera, on the radio and in print. Do some play-by-play. Try anchoring. Host a talk show or podcast. Join the student newspaper. Apparently, my readers are...
Pirates see rookie Oneil Cruz’s improvement at the plate as an ‘encouraging sign’
After Jacob deGrom dominated the second game of a doubleheader that left the Pittsburgh Pirates humbled, manager Derek Shelton searched for superlatives to describe the New York Mets ace. “As screwed up as it sounds, you pick the small victories,” Shelton said, accentuating the strength of deGrom’s slider in the...
NFC South rivals add QBs as Bucs’ Brady keeps rolling at 45
ATLANTA — In only two seasons in the NFC South, Tom Brady has cast a shadow that stretches from Charlotte to Atlanta to New Orleans. In those two years, Brady’s dramatic impact with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has forced other teams in the division to scramble. It’s no easy task...
Riverhounds clinch playoff spot
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are headed to the playoffs for the fifth straight season. The Riverhounds clinched a berth in the USL Championship postseason when eighth-place FC Tulsa tied Louisville City FC on Wednesday night. That guaranteed the Riverhounds could finish no worse than the seventh and final playoff spot in...
As Ravens build around Lamar Jackson, 2022 offense could lay a blueprintVideo
BALTIMORE Midway through training camp, quarterback Lamar Jackson was halfway through an interview blessedly free of questions about his long-term future with the Baltimore Ravens. Then came a comment on the short-term future of the Ravens offense. I think you love big receivers crossing in front of you. Your best...
Russell Wilson Era begins for Denver Broncos back in SeattleVideo
DENVER — Peyton Manning didn’t have to deal with his emotional return to Indianapolis until he’d been a member of the Denver Broncos for almost a year and a half. No such homecoming honeymoon awaits Russell Wilson. The Broncos’ new quarterback kicks off the second chapter of his storied career...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 7, 2022: Termarr Johnson hits 1st homer for Bradenton
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-62) lost 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly to Omaha (Royals). RHP Travis MacGregor (1-2, 6.99) gave up the sacrifice fly that won the game while throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two unearned runs on two hits, walking two and striking out one. RHP Cody Bolton (3.33) started...
Frances Tiafoe 1st American man in U.S. Open semifinals since Andy Roddick in ’06Video
NEW YORK — About 20 minutes after Frances Tiafoe earned the first trip to the U.S. Open semifinals by an American man since 2006, he met up in an Arthur Ashe Stadium foyer with a host of friends, Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal among them. Everyone traded hearty hugs...
Pitt notebook: On 2nd glance, quarterback Kedon Slovis, pass catchers stepped up when it mattered
No one is ignoring the reality of Pitt’s opening game. Defeating West Virginia, 38-31, was a relief, but the performance wasn’t good enough for those invested in the program. “There are some things we have to clean up,” senior wide receiver Jared Wayne said. Yet, he added, “Anytime you score...
Not used to being a backup, Kenny Pickett willing to do all he can for Steelers as QB2
Since he was a young boy, Kenny Pickett has spent exactly 11 weeks of his life as a backup quarterback. Until Sunday, when he will be the No. 2 for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The only other time — presumably, ever in Pickett’s...
Franco Harris’ Steelers No. 32 joins roster of Pittsburgh pro team retired numbers
No. 32 became No. 14 when it comes to retired numbers by Pittsburgh’s pro sports franchises. The announcement Tuesday that No. 32 will – officially – never be worn again by any Pittsburgh Steelers player made for an aggregate 14 uniform numbers retired by the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Four-time...
Diontae Johnson ‘doing whatever I can’ to return from shoulder injury for Steelers opener
Diontae Johnson has two more days to return to full practice participation before the Pittsburgh Steelers open the season Sunday at Cincinnati. The Pro Bowl wide receiver might need them as he recovers from a shoulder injury he suffered in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. “It’s tough,” he...
Penguins to have 15 games on national television in 2022-23
The Penguins will appear on national television 15 times during the 2022-23 season. On Wednesday, the NHL announced its national television schedule in the United States with ABC, TNT and ESPN. Most notably, the Winter Classic, which pits the Penguins against the Boston Bruins at Boston’s Fenway Park on Jan....
Mason Rudolph, on Steelers future: ‘For now, I’m on this team’ as No. 3 quarterback
Given the way training camp and the preseason games unfolded, Mason Rudolph realized he wasn’t going to open the season as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback. But to begin the year third on the depth chart — behind Mitch Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett — that had to be a...
Pirates go quietly in twinbill against Mets
If the Pittsburgh Pirates were going to split their doubleheader with the New York Mets, they needed to fare better against the starting pitcher in the nightcap than they did in the matinee. And with a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner on the mound for the Mets, the odds...
Duquesne will play 2 Atlantic 10 games on national TV during 2022-23 season
Duquesne men’s basketball will appear on national television via the USA Network twice in Atlantic 10 play this season, according to the conference schedule released Wednesday. The televised games will be played at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 11 against St. Bonaventure and 2 p.m. Feb. 26...
Former Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders retires after 12-year career in NFL
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders announced his retirement Wednesday after a 12-year NFL career that included six season in Denver, where he helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. Sanders started his career in Pittsburgh in 2010 and joined the Broncos as a free agent in 2014. He...
ACC gets September shot to boost reputation in marquee games
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke coach Mike Elko has been around college football long enough to know how the season’s opening month can shape the perception of a league’s strength. That’s important in the weeks ahead for the Atlantic Coast Conference. The league won — or survived, in some cases —...
Super challenge: Rams open title defense vs. powerhouse Bills
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — For nearly seven months, Sean McVay has told the Los Angeles Rams their Super Bowl championship guarantees them nothing in this new season except a banner. “It feels like it was a long time ago,” said McVay, the youngest coach in NFL history to win it all....
Jets QB Zach Wilson out until at least Week 4, Joe Flacco to start
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Joe Flacco will huddle up for the New York Jets against his former team. And likely a few more opponents after that. Coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday that Flacco will start at quarterback in the season opener Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens in place of the...
