Sports category, Page 1557
Penguins forward Sidney Crosby to be sidelined 6 weeks following wrist surgery
Penguins general manager Ron Hextall knew he was going to be missing a franchise center when his team’s season opened Oct. 12. Now, he will be short a pair of all-time greats at the pivot when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning in just over a month for the first...
Vikings, former Pitt tackle Brian O’Neill agree to a contract extension
MINNEAPOLIS — Despite contract negotiations that dragged through the summer and into Week 1 of the regular season, right tackle Brian O’Neill said he was convinced Wednesday’s contract extension would get done eventually because of his desire to stay with the Vikings. “The certain point was earlier this offseason when...
Steelers notes: Kendrick Green, Alex Highsmith, Tyson Alualu show up on initial injury report
The first injury report released for the Pittsburgh Steelers in advance of their season opener contained three starters. Center Kendrick Green (thumb) and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) were limited participants. Nose tackle Tyson Alualu did not participate because of an elbow injury. Those injuries meant more work for players...
ACC wide open after league’s disappointing opening week
The Atlantic Coast Conference crown seems up for grabs after the league’s disappointing opening week performance. Its three preseason ranked teams all lost as the league went 7-7, a dent to a conference eager to show that it’s more than just Clemson at the top. The Tigers, who started at...
True to his word, T.J. Watt makes full practice debut with Steelers
The wait for T.J. Watt to practice with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates finally ended Wednesday. The veteran outside linebacker, whose previous on-field work since training camp opened was limited to individual drills while negotiations continue on a long-term contract extension, took part in his first full practice as the Steelers...
Former Pitt linebacker Troy Benson remembers the day his roommate tackled Reggie White
Linebacker Troy Benson said he recorded a barely believable 23 tackles in Pitt’s 13-3 victory against Tennessee in 1983. But it was a tackle — of sorts — a Pitt offensive lineman made that remains one of Benson’s most vivid memories of that game, the last between Pitt and Tennessee...
Former Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill eager to return to Tennessee’s noisy Neyland Stadium
In a football sense, Jackie Sherrill grew up at the knee of Bear Bryant. His cradle was the SEC. He played fullback and linebacker from 1962-65, before serving as a graduate assistant for the legendary Alabama coach in 1966. When Sherrill walks into Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday...
Penn State’s Noah Cain ‘just feeling blessed’ after return to field, game-winning touchdown
STATE COLLEGE — Noah Cain had plenty on his mind when Penn State kicked off its 2021 season at Wisconsin on Saturday. The junior running back’s hometown of Baton Rouge, La., was in the path of Hurricane Ida, and his relatives’ homes had been damaged in the storm. On top...
Ben Roethlisberger throws support behind T.J. Watt in contract negotiations with Steelers
The highest-paid player in Pittsburgh Steelers history wants T.J. Watt to join him at the upper echelon of the tax bracket. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday that Watt, who is engaged on a mega-contract extension with the franchise, deserves to be the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. “I think T.J. should...
Steve Stricker fills out U.S. team with 4 more Ryder Cup rookies
Equipped with the most captain’s picks in Ryder Cup history, Steve Stricker added four more rookies to his American team that included a mixture of obvious choices and perhaps a surprise, but no Patrick Reed. Stricker filled out his 12-man team with Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth and Harris...
Penn State football coach James Franklin not looking past Ball State
Penn State football is heading into this weekend’s matchup against Ball State as a 22-point favorite at Beaver Stadium, but coach James Franklin is once again making sure his team isn’t looking ahead to next week’s White Out game against Auburn. Franklin tweeted out his weekly “1-0” message this week,...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Seton Hill baseball adds Belle Vernon grad to staff
The Seton Hill baseball team added Parker Lynn to the coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. Lynn, a Belle Vernon graduate, will coach catchers and work with offensive details. He played one season at Cal U, where he later coached. He also spent a season as an assistant at West...
Mark Madden: Steelers have plenty of question marks entering opener with Bills
It’s difficult to be optimistic about the Steelers. A decent training camp provided a slight nudge in that direction. But T.J. Watt didn’t start practicing till Wednesday. Stephon Tuitt is injured/grieving/out of shape and could miss half the season, maybe more. Zach Banner is hurt — he is always hurt...
First Call: NFL execs see no worry for T.J. Watt after minimal preseason; Gerrit Cole leaves start early in New York
Wednesday’s “First Call” sees little concern among NFL executives about T.J. Watt’s minimal training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The ACC still has a decent Top 25 presence after a tough first week. But it is slipping. Ex-Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole suffered an injury in New York. We have a...
Tim Benz: AFC North media members are bullish on prospects for Ravens, Browns, even Bengals
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the start of the 2021 season in Buffalo on Sunday, it seems like a good idea to check in with their competition within the AFC North. To do that, I got in touch with some media colleagues in each city to get their perspectives...
How do the Steelers avoid a 3rd straight loss to the Bills? Mike Tomlin has 2 specific ways
In advance of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season-opening road game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Mike Tomlin spoke extensively about Buffalo’s continuity within their coaching staff and their roster ever since Sean McDermott took over in 2017. “That (continuity) is one of the reasons why they’re regarded the way that...
David Bednar’s new high-leverage relief role for the Pirates comes with a curveball
After giving up a leadoff double to Miguel Cabrera in the eighth inning, David Bednar returned to what fast has become a go-to pitch. After blowing hitters away with a 97-mph four-seam fastball that can touch triple digits, the Pittsburgh Pirates reliever has spent the summer cultivating a curveball. The...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 7, 2021: Aaron Shackelford hits for cycle in Greensboro rout
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A 52-56) beat Louisville (Reds), 11-4. CF Jared Oliva (.265) had a big night, going 3 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base. C Christian Bethancourt (.275) added a double and SS Diego Castillo (.400) had a home run and two RBIs. Max Kranick (3-4,...
Ben Gamel’s big plays in 6th inning propel Pirates past Tigers
If there was a ringing in Ben Gamel’s ears after the Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder chased down a fly ball before crashing into the corner wall, it wasn’t the words of his father. “My dad always tells me, ‘Live to see another day,’” Gamel said of Frank Gamel, who was...
Ravens signing former Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell to practice squadVideo
BALTIMORE — The Ravens have found another running back: Le’Veon Bell. The team is signing the former Pittsburgh Steelers running back to its practice squad, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed, and likely will add him to its 53-man roster when ready. ESPN first reported the deal Tuesday....
Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez reaches U.S. Open semis
NEW YORK — With no players from the United States left to pull for in the U.S. Open, the fans are adopting a neighbor from the North to treat as one of their own: Leylah Fernandez, an unseeded Canadian teenager with an exciting game and enthusiasm to match. A day...
Linebacker Phil Campbell III says Pitt keeping egos in check
Back in Kendall Park, N.J., Phil Campbell III compiled a long list of honors that demand too much time and space to chronicle here. MSG New Jersey Player of the Year was just one. Campbell rushed for 848 yards and 14 touchdowns and recorded 110 tackles during his senior season...
Gambling wave coming to NFL TV screens, but in moderationVideo
Al Michaels no longer has to subtly refer to the point spread if a game comes down to the wire on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” Now he can refer to it directly without worrying about drawing a comment from NFL officials in New York. Three years after the Supreme Court...
Steelers notes: Mike Tomlin unfazed about possibly counting on 5 rookies in season opener
As many as five members of the Pittsburgh Steelers draft class will start or be regular contributors Sunday when they open the season at the Buffalo Bills. It’s an unusually high number of rookies to start for any team, let alone one coming off a division championship and 12-4 record....
Derek Schooley named coach, director of operations for RMU hockey programs
Derek Schooley, the only head coach the Robert Morris men’s hockey team has ever known, will remain at the forefront of efforts to reinstate the school’s men’s and women’s programs. The school announced Tuesday that Schooley has been named coach and director of men’s and women’s hockey operations. Prominent RMU...
