Vikings fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after 4 seasons, contract extension last year
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Friday, after mixed results over four seasons and giving him a contract extension last year. The Vikings announced they have appointed executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski as the interim replacement through the NFL Draft, after which...
‘He’s just continuing to get better’: Pitt’s Roman Siulepa developing into impact performer
Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes might not have been intimately familiar with Pitt freshman forward Roman Siulepa beyond his team’s routine scouting report. But how he described him after Pitt’s overtime win over the Demon Deacons on Tuesday at Petersen Events Center made perfect sense, if Forbes was, indeed, aware...
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy talks with Aaron Rodgers ‘a number of times,’ but no decision yet from QB
Mike McCarthy has spoken with Aaron Rodgers “a number of times” since becoming the Pittsburgh Steelers coach but said those conversations didn’t include any decision about the quarterback’s future. “Like anybody that’s played the game a long time, particularly at this point of their career, it’s important to get away,”...
Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin absent from Penguins’ practice for undisclosed ailments
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and forward Evgeni Malkin were not present for a practice session Friday in Cranberry. Coach Dan Muse indicated both players were dealing with unspecified ailments but did not elaborate further. A more substantive update on their statuses is expected to be provided Saturday in advance...
Lindsey Vonn says ‘Olympic dream is not over’ after crashing in last downhill before Winter Games
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Lindsey Vonn crashed and injured her left knee on Friday in her final downhill race before the Olympics, but said she still hopes to recover in time for the Milan Cortina Winter Games. “This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s...
Tim Benz: Dan Muse shrugs off ‘surprise’ of some Penguins depth scoring
I guess Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse saw this output coming from Connor Dewar. A career high 13 goals … before Super Bowl Sunday. “He’s a really good hockey player. He plays the right way,” Muse said Thursday night. “For me, it’s not surprising.” It sounds like Muse also had...
Tim Benz and Joe Starkey go ‘Beyond the Bylines’ with new showVideo
Have you ever wanted a little more from your sports coverage? With their new video series “Beyond the Bylines,” TribLive sports writers Tim Benz and Joe Starkey dare to go there. Airing Fridays at 8 a.m., they’ll take on the week’s biggest story — this week, the focus is obviously...
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic to meet in Australian Open final after epic semifinal wins
MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic finally beat one of the two men who have been blocking his path to an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title when he edged Jannik Sinner in five sets Friday to reach the Australian Open final. Next, he’ll have to beat the other: top-ranked Carlos...
Penn State record-holder is now chasing NFL dream at Senior Bowl
MOBILE, Ala. — Kaytron Allen still hasn’t laid his eyes on the updated Student Book Store steps, which has him featured at the top as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher. But a couple of months removed from making history, Allen took some time to reflect on being etched into the...
NBA’s celebration of Duquesne’s Chuck Cooper, league’s other pioneers reaches peak during Black History Month
When the legacy of the Boston Celtics is discussed, most often the conversation turns to championships. Behind stars such as Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics have won 18 titles, more than any other NBA franchise. That fact is not lost on Dave...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates ace Paul Skenes has something up sleeve with ‘sleeper’
When MLB Network ranked its “Top 10 Starting Pitchers Right Now” on Wednesday night, the biggest revelation involved Paul Skenes, but it wasn’t that the Pittsburgh Pirates ace didn’t rank at the top of the list. Skenes has something up his sleeve in the form of a new pitch. That...
First Call: Andy Weidl passed over for Falcons job; an Aaron Rodgers favorite reportedly en route to Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers is a big fan of someone who is in line to join the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new coaching staff. Andy Weidl won’t be moving on to Atlanta. Mike Sullivan makes a return to PPG Paints Arena, as Archie Miller makes a return to Pittsburgh. And it’s a huge weekend...
With goals in last 2 games, Penguins rookie Ben Kindel leaves monthlong drought in dustVideo
For more than a month, the puck simply refused to go in the net for Ben Kindel. Over a 19-game span from Dec. 16 to Jan. 22, the 18-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins rookie forward navigated a goalless streak. Ultimately, it seems far from fair to nitpick the goal-scoring output of a...
Football Footnotes: Mike McCarthy on calling plays, the 3-4 defense, WRs and more
Tuesday’s press conference to introduce Mike McCarthy as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new head coach generated two main topics for discussion. 1. His statement that he’d be interested in Aaron Rodgers returning as the team’s quarterback. 2. How much he loves Pittsburgh. I’m pretty sure you can guess which one of...
Martinelli scores 34, Singleton has double-double as Northwestern downs Penn State
EVANSTON, Ill. — Nick Martinelli scored 34 points, and Tre Singleton notched a massive double-double as Northwestern beat Penn State, 94-73, on Thursday night. It’s the fourth time this season Martinelli has scored at least 32 points. He entered Thursday as the fourth-leading scorer in Division I at 23.4 points...
Penguins spread the wealth, rout Blackhawks to extend winning streak to 5
Sidney Crosby is well educated on winning. He has a trio of Stanley Cup rings stowed away in a sock drawer or a fireproof safe with a biometric lock to verify that postulate. So, he understands why the Pittsburgh Penguins are winning as of late. “You need everybody contributing,” Crosby...
Patrick Kane passes Mike Modano for most NHL points by American
DETROIT — Patrick Kane smiled. The wait was over. Kane became the highest-scoring United States-born player in NHL history, passing Mike Modano with an assist for his 1,375th point Thursday night for the Detroit Red Wings against the Washington Capitals. “It’s nice to have it over with in some ways...
Joe Brady embraces high expectations as he succeeds Sean McDermott as Bills coach
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Joe Brady did not dismiss the past while looking ahead to leading the Buffalo Bills into the future as their head coach. Before outlining his vision to bring the same attacking element to defense as he introduced to Buffalo’s Josh Allen-led offense as its coordinator for...
Justin Rose sets Torrey Pines pace with 62. Koepka makes his PGA Tour return with 73
SAN DIEGO — Justin Rose had birdie chances on all but one hole Thursday and turned that into a 10-under 62 on the easier North course at Torrey Pines, giving him a one-shot lead in the Farmers Insurance Open on a day that marked the return of Brooks Koepka from...
Drake Maye says he had a normal practice, even while listed as limited with a shoulder issue
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye wasn’t shocked by the attention paid to the shoulder issue that landed him on the Patriots’ injury report less than two weeks before the Super Bowl. “No, I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” Maye said Thursday. “It’s the right shoulder of a starting quarterback on...
Sabalenka into 4th straight Australian Open final and facing Rybakina again
MELBOURNE, Australia — Not even a point penalty for hindrance slowed Aryna Sabalenka’s run to a fourth consecutive Australian Open final. The top-ranked Sabalenka overpowered Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 6-3, on Thursday night to move within one victory of a third Australian Open title in four years. A rematch of the...
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on new coach Jesse Minter: ‘He just blew us away’
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As much as Jesse Minter seemed like an obvious fit for the Baltimore Ravens, he still had to show he was ready for their coveted coaching vacancy. Then he showed up for an in-person visit. “He just blew us away,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “As...
Mike McCarthy begins filling out staff, which is expected to include ex-Steelers DB Jason Simmons
Forget the ink drying — Mike McCarthy hadn’t even signed the official contract before he already began assembling the staff under him as new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. “The last 72 hours have been about the staff,” McCarthy said Tuesday, not long after the official announcement of his hire was...
Unbeaten Penn State wrestlers stick to their process during 82-match winning streak
When it comes to Penn State wrestling during Cael Sanderson’s time in State College, the numbers associated with the Nittany Lions’ program are dizzying. Penn State left Philadelphia last March with its 12th NCAA team title, 10 All-Americans in 10 weight classes and a pair of champions — five-timer Carter...
Justin Brazeau promoted to Penguins’ top line with Bryan Rust suspendedVideo
Justin Brazeau wore black Thursday. But he wasn’t in mourning. Or even on a Johnny Cash kick with Spotify. He was promoted. During the Pittsburgh Penguins morning skate in Cranberry, the burly power forward donned a black practice jersey, signaling he was operating in a top-six capacity. In contrast, he...
