Sports category, Page 27
Pat Narduzzi, dismissing low transfer class rankings, trusts Pitt’s evaluation of players
Pat Narduzzi is aware of the discourse surrounding Pitt’s latest class of transfers. After losing key players such as linebacker Rasheem Biles, receiver Kenny Johnson, defensive lineman Francis Brewu, kicker Trey Butkowski and others, the Panthers brought in 16 new players from the portal. But once the dust settled, assessments...
Rams, Chiefs working on trade sending CB Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles, AP sources say
LOS ANGELES — The Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams are working on a trade to send star cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles in exchange for several draft picks, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity...
Luke Donald to return as Ryder Cup captain for Europe for 2027 competition
VIRGINIA WATER, England — European players chanted, “Two more years!” when they won the Ryder Cup in New York, and Luke Donald listened. He was named captain on Wednesday for the 2027 matches in Ireland, making him the first captain in 30 years to lead in three straight Ryder Cups....
Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has offered mixed results at center
Rickard Rakell immediately objected to the premise of the question. On Feb. 27, a reporter in Cranberry asked him what is it like to be the No. 1 center of the Pittsburgh Penguins, as it was learned the typical occupant of that role, Sidney Crosby, would be sidelined for several...
Mark Madden: Steelers should gamble on Kyler Murray, not wait on Aaron Rodgers
Kyler Murray is getting cut by Arizona. The Pittsburgh Steelers want Aaron Rodgers to return at quarterback. Instead of waiting on Rodgers, the Steelers should grab Murray. Rodgers is 42. Murray is 28. Rodgers is playing out the string. Murray would be playing for his career. He could conceivably be...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Why an ex-Pirates player finds Konnor Griffin ‘hard not to root for’
BRADENTON, Fla. — The good-natured ribbing came from across the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse, as a teammate teased Konnor Griffin about finally getting a hit that stayed inside the ballpark. Too bad it didn’t count. After his first three hits of spring training were home runs — all with exit velocities...
Tim Benz: Don’t overthink it. Yes, the Penguins should try to acquire Vince Trocheck
The idea of the Pittsburgh Penguins trading for New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck was a hot debate on local sports talk radio Tuesday. I don’t see a reason for the debate. If the Pens can do that, they should. In his recent “32 Thoughts” podcast, SportsNet insider Elliotte Friedman...
First Call: High profile training partner with Will Howard; huge money coming in on Pirates win totalVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” has a big name training partner (and tutor) for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard. Gambling money is pouring in on the Pirates. Pitt needs to close the college basketball season strong, as Robert Morris is ready to start tournament play. Plus, postseason accolades for Duquesne women’s basketball,...
Minus lead scorer Haggerty, McGriff and Johnson help Kansas State hold off West Virginia 65-63
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Khamari McGriff scored 18 points, and Nate Johnson scored 16 points as Kansas State delivered another blow to West Virginia’s NCAA Tournament hopes by holding off the Mountaineers, 65-63, on Tuesday night. Reserve Chance Moore scored 18 points, Brenen Lorient scored 14 points, reserve DJ Thomas 12...
Lack of healthy centers leads to more problems for Penguins in loss to Bruins
With the NHL’s trade deadline approaching at 3 p.m. Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins don’t necessarily need to add a center for a prolonged playoff run. But they probably need a center for … well … now. Their depleted depth at the position was on display Tuesday during a 2-1 loss...
Shane Lowry has no choice but to pick himself up and move on after PGA National collapse
ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s OK to feel sad for Shane Lowry. He had one hand on the trophy and the other hand outstretched to hug his 4-year-old daughter when she ran onto the 18th green at PGA National to celebrate the first time seeing her father win. That was the...
Colts place transition tag on Daniel Jones and Breece Hall gets franchise tag from Jets
The Indianapolis Colts placed a transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, and the New York Jets used the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall as teams beat the deadline Tuesday to place tags on potential free agents. The Colts opted to use the $37.8 million transition tag instead of...
Atlanta Braves’ Jurickson Profar suspended for 2026 season following second positive drug test
NEW YORK — Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the 2026 season by Major League Baseball on Tuesday following his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug. Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, the commissioner’s office said, which means testosterone that was not produced by...
Longtime Pitt-Johnstown men’s basketball coach Rukavina retires
Legendary Pitt-Johnstown men’s basketball coach Bob Rukavina, who has ties to the Alle-Kiski Valley, has retired after 37 seasons, 47 overall in coaching. “Coach Ruk,” a longtime Lower Burrell resident, registered 577 wins and a .580 winning percentage while guiding the Mountain Cats to five NCAA Division II Tournament appearances...
Scuffling Rangers place JT Miller on injured reserve
The New York Rangers placed captain J.T. Miller on injured reserve Tuesday with an upper-body injury. Sources told ESPN, it is a new injury that Miller, a Coraopolis native, suffered in Monday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Miller, in his first season as Rangers captain, has been...
Robert Morris’ Goode happy to be part of Horizon League title defense
DeSean Goode observed with great interest the amazing scene unfolding on a campus just outside Pittsburgh a year ago as the college basketball season picked up its usual maddening pace come March. What he witnessed, mostly from afar, was a hyper-competitive team, led by its laser-focused coach, careening into the...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes solid as U.S. cruises past Giants in tuneup for World Baseball Classic
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The United States wasted little time showing how potent its roster could be at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Americans needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after Bobby...
For Bethel Park’s Justin Meis, pitching for Colombia against Pirates ‘definitely different’
BRADENTON, Fla. — Justin Meis was so flustered after he finished the fourth inning that he went to the wrong dugout. Meis could only laugh, knowing it was an understandable mistake. The 26-year-old right-hander, who spent last season with Double-A Altoona, pitched for Team Colombia in a 7-1 loss to...
Cardinals inform 2-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray they plan to release him next week
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have informed two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray that they plan to release him at the beginning of the new league year on March 11, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of...
Pitt rides one of its best performances of season into home finale vs. Florida State
There’s a short list for the top moment of the season for Pitt men’s basketball. It would be hard to top Damarco Minor’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift Pitt over Ohio State at home Nov. 28. Similarly, the Panthers’ 34-point thrashing of Penn State on Dec. 21 in Hershey was impressive....
Top-rated CB draft prospect Mansoor Delane likely won’t fall to them, but plays like a Steeler
By the nature of the position he plays, coverage skills are paramount. And it should come as no surprise that the consensus No. 1 cornerback prospect for next month’s NFL Draft was graded as the second-best in coverage among power-conference corners by Pro Football Focus. What perhaps might come as...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Upon further review, Ben Roethlisberger performed an absolute miracle in his final season
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less (or more, in this case) His unqualified coordinator had never called an NFL play. His top receiver sometimes ran backwards and would be run straight out of the league by his late 20s. His No. 2 receiver would be...
Pitt QB Mason Heintschel, LB Braylan Lovelace seek out larger leadership roles
Mason Heintschel’s rise last season from third-string quarterback to starter to becoming arguably the most important player on Pitt’s roster was nothing short of meteoric. Heintschel, a true freshman who took over under center in Week 5 of the 2025 campaign, handled things well, going 6-3 as starter. But as...
Matt Campbell shifting culture of Penn State football
The cracks started show in Penn State’s 2025 foundation as soon as Terry Smith turned the team around in his time as interim head coach. He had a talented group finally playing more freely. It was no coincidence that a team once expected to compete for a national title, despite...
Pitt fires women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi
In the immediate aftermath of a third straight disappointing season, Pitt fired women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi on Tuesday morning, athletic director Allen Greene announced. The Panthers went 8-23 (1-17 ACC) this season, finishing second-last in the league while tying for the second-fewest conference wins in program history. “After a...
