Steelers’ Mike Tomlin has ‘optimism’ that Aaron Rodgers will start at quarterback against Bills
Aaron Rodgers will begin the week as a limited practice participant, but coach Mike Tomlin is expecting the 41-year-old quarterback to be ready Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Buffalo Bills in a game with playoff implications for both teams. Rodgers missed the Steelers’ 31-28 loss at Chicago last...
Steelers will be without LT Broderick Jones, DT Derrick Harmon for game vs. BillsVideo
Two former first-round draft picks — one on each side of the line — won’t be available for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday when they play the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Left tackle Broderick Jones will miss the game with a neck injury, and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon will...
This Thanksgiving, Pittsburgh sports figures owe thanks to Mike Tomlin and the Steelers
As we head into Thanksgiving, I can’t help but notice the cornucopia of Pittsburgh sports figures who owe a debt of thanks to Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. Their loss in Chicago on Sunday has the local sports scene so engulfed in flames that no one is paying attention to...
Would players stay at Penn State if Terry Smith became head coach?
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State’s ongoing search for a head coach has plenty of layers to it. Not only will the next hire bring his own schemes, mottos, practice traditions and coaches, but he may bring his own players, too. And any player on Penn State’s current roster will be...
Hines Ward lone former Steelers player to reach semifinal round in Pro Football Hall of Fame balloting
Hines Ward again has reached the semifinal round in Pro Football Hall of Fame balloting. Other eligible members of the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t as fortunate. Maurkice Pouncey, James Harrison and Gary Anderson did not advance to the list of 26 semifinalists remaining on the Hall of Fame ballot that was...
Tim Benz: Loss to Bears puts Steelers’ non-losing season streak in danger
Whatever the 21-year stretch of never having a losing season means to coach Mike Tomlin, owner Art Rooney II and anyone else in the Steelers organization, they better understand how much Sunday’s defeat in Chicago has put it in peril. Linebacker T.J.Watt seems to have a grasp of that. “The...
First Call: Ja’Marr Chase omits Jalen Ramsey’s name from spitting apology; Bengals expect Joe Burrow at QB vs. Ravens
Ja’Marr Chase has apologized for spitting at Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey. But he didn’t specifically apologize to Ramsey himself. Chase and Joe Burrow may be returning in Cincinnati at a good time for Steelers fans. The Browns are staying with Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. And we’ve got some...
Christian McCaffrey’s big night leads 49ers to victory over Panthers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian McCaffrey gained 142 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown in his first game against Carolina since he was traded away three years ago, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 20-9 victory over the Panthers on Monday night. McCaffrey’s big night helped the 49ers...
Bernie Kosar is discharged from hospital a week after receiving a liver transplant
Bernie Kosar was discharged from the hospital Monday, a week after receiving a liver transplant. The former star quarterback for the Cleveland Browns and the University of Miami received the transplant Nov. 17 at UH Cleveland Medical Center in University Circle. He identified the donor as Bryce Dunlap, who had...
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner declines to support salary cap but might support salary floor
NEW YORK — New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner declined to say Monday whether he favors a salary cap proposal in the next collective bargaining agreement but reiterated he might support a payroll floor. “I don’t feel like I’m in position right now research-wise, knowledge-wise to answer that question,” Steinbrenner...
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield suffers sprained left shoulder
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Everything that could go wrong for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did in the first half of their 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, including an injury to quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield did not play in the second half after spraining his left shoulder...
Analysis: Joe Burrow nears return, but Bengals likely need to win out to stay in playoff huntVideo
CINCINNATI — The only thing it looks like Joe Burrow has to play for when he returns for the Bengals this week is trying to avoid a losing record. And even that will be a tall task. With Sunday’s 26-20 loss to New England, the Bengals (3-8) have dropped eight...
Browns’ Kevin Stefanski stresses improvement for Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders is the first Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback to win his first NFL start in 30 years. His next task? Trying to lead the Browns to two straight wins for the first time in two seasons. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Sanders will get another start after he...
Veteran Calvin Anderson ready to start at left tackle if Broderick Jones can’t play
For the first time in five years, Calvin Anderson began the 2024 regular season not on an NFL roster. He ended the season as the Steelers left tackle in a playoff game. A six-year NFL veteran of 58 games and 14 starts, Anderson is more than capable of stepping in...
The Ravens have won 5 straight, but Lamar Jackson hasn’t looked like himself lately
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson insisted his recent injuries aren’t holding the Baltimore Ravens’ offense back. The star quarterback doesn’t look totally right, however, and neither do the Ravens, even after five straight victories. Jackson missed practice time each of the past two weeks with knee and ankle issues. He was...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Saint Vincent’s Iuzzolino reaches 1,000 career points
Members of the Saint Vincent men’s basketball team want to be like Mike. The Bearcats (3-1) came up short against undefeated Hood (6-0), but senior guard Mike Iuzzolino reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career. Senior Dev Ostrowski made seven 3-pointers and finished with 25 points to lead SVC, junior...
Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase apologizes for spitting incident that led to his suspension
CINCINNATI — Ja’Marr Chase apologized Monday for spitting on Jalen Ramsey during the fourth quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 16. Chase was suspended by the NFL for Sunday’s game. His statement of apology was addressed to his team, the Bengals and Steelers organizations...
Steelers keep positive outlook on playoff hopes despite seeing lead in AFC North evaporate
Last season as he celebrated Thanksgiving, Brandin Echols was playing for a 3-9 football team. The year before that, a Black Friday defeat dropped his team to 4-7. As a rookie in 2021, if Echols, likewise, looked at the standings on Turkey Day, he’d have seen he was on a...
Vikings put McCarthy in concussion protocol, after struggling QB reports postgame symptoms
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings placed quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the concussion protocol, putting his availability for the upcoming game at Seattle in question. McCarthy first reported symptoms during the team’s flight home from the 23-6 loss at Green Bay, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday. The medical staff made...
Cincinnati AD apologizes for fans’ derogatory chants aimed at Mormons during BYU’s win over Bearcats
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham issued an apology to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday for derogatory chants by fans at Nippert Stadium during the Bearcats’ game against the Cougars. “The use of offensive or religiously derogatory language by a group of...
UAB player charged with attempted murder in stabbing of 2 teammates, court records show
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A University of Alabama at Birmingham football player is facing charges of attempted murder and assault, accused of stabbing two teammates hours before a UAB home game last weekend, court documents showed Monday. Daniel Mincey, a 20-year-old offensive lineman, is charged with attempted murder and assault, according...
Penguins focus on competitive, energetic practices as they try to reverse skid
Things got heated for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, and words were exchanged. The team was broken up into two squads for a practice session in Cranberry. One unit wore black jerseys and the other yellow. During the final drill — a short-area two-on-two scrimmage — the yellow squad appeared...
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in rigged poker games case
NEW YORK — Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he profited from rigged poker games involving several Mafia figures and at least one other ex-NBA player. Billups, a five-time All Star who won a championship with...
5 things we learned: Another slow start in 3rd quarter continues season-long theme for Steelers
Five things we learned from Bears 31, Steelers 28: 1. Third is not the charm The next time the Steelers win the coin toss, they would be wise to take the ball and not defer until the third quarter. Nothing good has transpired this season when they have elected to...
With Dillon Gabriel healthy, Shedeur Sanders to start for Browns
Shedeur Sanders will make his second NFL start Sunday when the Cleveland Browns host the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Kevin Stefanski made the announcement Monday that Sanders would get another week under center. The rookie fifth-round pick completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and an...
