Sports category, Page 1698
Tim Benz: Steelers got the best player at their biggest position of need. That’s enough ‘value’ for me.
During Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers got the player most analysts feel is the best player at their biggest position of need. All the way down at pick No. 24. It was a good night. Let’s not “yeah, but” ourselves to death on this one....
First Call: Ex-NFL star heard ‘rumblings’ of Steelers’ interest in Aaron Rodgers; Devils mock Flyers elimination
The Pittsburgh Steelers were dragged into the pre-draft Aaron Rodgers drama in Green Bay. Guess who did the dragging! It was a fun night for Penguins fans on multiple levels. The Pirates are getting their first look at the St. Louis Cardinals. And an interesting story from the Duquesne basketball...
Empty Thoughts: Penguins 5, Capitals 4 (OT)Video
Observations from the Penguins’ 5-4 overtime win against the Capitals: First things first, there was no update of substance on Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues. He left the game at 9:30 of the first period when he was struck in the left ankle by a one-timer from Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson....
Steelers players react to 1st-round pick Najee Harris
General manager Kevin Colbert said he was “ecstatic” that running back Najee Harris was available when the Pittsburgh Steelers made him their first-round pick late Thursday night. Judging by some of their posts on social media, Harris’ new teammates had similar reactions to adding the national champion from Alabama. Starting...
Penn State’s Jayson Oweh goes to the Ravens in the 1st round
The Baltimore Ravens chose potential and athleticism over production when they selected Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh in the first round (31st overall) of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Oweh (6-4 7/8, 257 pounds) has run a 4.37-second 40 and has the potential to transition to outside linebacker...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Najee Harris
Najee Harris First-round pick, No. 24 overall Running back, Alabama 6-foot-1, 232 pounds Stats: 1,466 rushing yards (5.8 per carry), 43 catches for 425 yards, 30 TDs in 2020; 3,843 rushing yards, 57 TDs from scrimmage in career Hometown: Antioch, Ala. Tidbits: Reigning Doak Walker Award winner as college football’s...
Steelers take Alabama RB Najee Harris with No. 24 overall pick in NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers got the running back they waited all night — and arguably the past three months — to select when they took Alabama’s Najee Harris with the No. 24 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday. “We were very excited he was there for us,” general manager...
Packers stay committed to Aaron Rodgers amid report QB wants outVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst reiterated Thursday that the team remains committed to quarterback Aaron Rodgers amid a report the reigning MVP doesn’t want to return to Green Bay. “As we’ve stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond,” Gutekunst...
As expected, QBs take top 3 spots as NFL Draft gets underway amid some normalcyVideo
No suspense at the top of this NFL draft: Quarterback, quarterback and, yep, quarterback. With fans in attendance, prospects on hand and commissioner Roger Goodell dispensing greetings to players being selected Thursday night, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence went to the Jacksonville Jaguars to get things started. Next was BYU’s Zach Wilson...
Penguins clinch playoff berth by defeating Capitals
Springtime in Washington usually brings a few things. Such as cherry blossoms and postseason battles between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. But these are different times in the nation’s capital, in a lot of ways. The cherry blossoms are still there. But the playoffs haven’t arrived just yet because...
Cowboys choose Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons 12th overall in 1st round
Linebacker Micah Parsons hasn’t played a meaningful snap since Dec. 28, 2019, when he helped Penn State defeat Memphis in the Cotton Bowl. But Parsons’ decision to opt out of the 2020 season didn’t discourage the Dallas Cowboys from choosing the Harrisburg native 12th overall in the first round of...
Derby favorite Essential Quality brings strongest resume
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Horse racing could be in line for another Triple Crown bid, and this time the likely candidate is an undefeated horse from a barn other than Bob Baffert’s. Baffert, of course, is the sport’s dominant trainer who guided American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 to...
NFL Draft: Players selected in the first round
1. Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence, QB, 6-foot-6, 213 pounds, Clemson Breakdown: Lawrence has been the presumptive No. 1 pick in this draft since his freshman season. Prototypical size, top-notch speed and athleticism and rare arm talent. Want to pick some nits? His delivery is a little long and deep ball...
Penguins forward Frederick Gaudreau returns to lineup
Forward Frederick Gaudreau returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup in Thursday’s road game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington. He opened the contest centering the fourth line between Colton Sceviour at left wing and Evan Rodrigues on the right wing. He had missed the previous eight...
Bradley has no stress and no bogeys to lead at PGA Tour Valspar ChampionshipVideo
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Keegan Bradley can’t recall having an easier time than he did Thursday at Innisbrook. He missed only one green. His longest par putt was just over 4 feet. It added up to a 7-under-par 64 and another great start in the Valspar Championship. It is the...
Penn State New Kensington softball team eager for postseason
The Penn State New Kensington softball team needed a sweep of Penn State Fayette in its conference finale Sunday to secure its place in the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs. The Lions did just that as they scored 9-0 and 12-1 victories to finish the regular season 12-12 overall...
Jaromir Jagr leads his club back to top Czech league at 49
KLADNO, Czech Republic — Jaromir Jagr was celebrating on the ice again Thursday. The 49-year-old right winger had an assist to help his hometown club Kladno Knights return to the top Czech league by beating Jihlava, 5-2, to clinch their playoff series 4-3. Jagr made his debut for Kladno as...
Ryan Miller’s time: Ducks goalie to retire at end of season
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ryan Miller smiled and choked up a bit when he considered how his career as the winningest American-born goalie in professional hockey history almost never happened. When Miller first became fascinated with goaltending as a youngster growing up in Michigan, he says his father, Dean, gently tried...
Steelers extend QB Mason Rudolph’s contract for 1 more season
With only one quarterback on the roster signed potentially beyond this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers made Mason Rudolph the second. The Steelers announced Thursday less than hour before the start of the NFL Draft that they had signed Rudolph to a one-year extension. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted...
Penguins to start goaltender Tristan Jarry against Capitals
The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry for Thursday’s road game against the rival Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena in Washington. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Jarry’s status via video conference Thursday morning. In 34 games this season, Jarry has a 21-9-3 record, along with a 2.71 goals...
NFL Draft Guide 2021: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
This year’s NFL Draft is taking steps to get back to normal but with plenty of precautions because of covid-19. The 2020 draft went entirely virtual because of the covid-19 pandemic that was just starting to gain traction in the U.S. But with more people receiving their vaccines, some fans...
First Call: Brian Burke says Evgeni Malkin ‘cleared medically’ for trip; oddsmakers have Najee Harris on board for Steelers
If you believe the NFL Network reports, most people around the NFL think the Pittsburgh Steelers will select Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round of the NFL Draft. And the oddsmakers think he’ll still be on the board to make that happen. One report says the Steelers...
Penguins face crucial 2-game set in Washington, depending on how you define ‘crucial’
The Penguins are in Washington Thursday and Saturday for a crucial two-game series against the Washington Capitals. Well, that depends on how “crucial” we should consider winning the East Division. What might be more important is who finishes fourth rather than first. That probably sounds entirely backward to you but...
Tim Benz: Forget anti-running back bias, Steelers should take Najee Harris or Travis Etienne if they are available
Let’s not overthink the Pittsburgh Steelers draft situation. I know the NFL analytics world — and many draft analysts — frown on the notion of drafting a first-round running back. Almost as much as they turn their noses up at the prospect of paying top dollar for one in free...
With good glove, timely hitting, Erik Gonzalez making a case to stay in the Pirates’ lineup
When Hunter Dozier’s 107-mph rocket came streaking down the third-base line in the fourth inning, Erik Gonzalez made a stop that dropped him to the dirt. Gonzalez came up on his left knee and threw across his body to second base to start an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. Pittsburgh Pirates...
