Sports category, Page 349
First Call: John Harbaugh brings up ‘next week’ while discussing Zay Flowers; ex-Steeler up for 49ers’ defensive job
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said something that caught the attention of many Pittsburgh Steelers fans. A former Steeler is making a name for himself on the interview circuit for defensive coordinators. The Penguins have a chance to make some noise in the wild-card race this weekend. And Evgeni Malkin...
Tim Benz: Penguins flip the script to avoid another late-game collapse against Oilers
It’s fitting that the Pittsburgh Penguins’ “Star Wars Night” promotion Thursday evening followed Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. That defeat created a great disturbance in the force at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins blew a 3-1 advantage in the third period, then lost the shootout 2-0,...
Football Footnotes: If the Steelers are to upset the Ravens, here are 3 specific fixes they’ll need
When you lose 34-17, as the Pittsburgh Steelers did in Baltimore in Week 16, that means there are plenty of things to correct. That’s particularly true if you face the same opponent in the playoffs three weeks later, as the Steelers are doing Saturday when they visit Baltimore again to...
With 2nd goal in 4 games, Penguins’ Kevin Hayes gets back on radarVideo
The third line currently being deployed by the Pittsburgh Penguins features a concentration of size unlike any other combination of forwards on the club. Centered by Kevin Hayes, with Drew O’Connor and Jesse Puljujarvi at left and right wing, it boasts an average frame of just over 6-foot-4 and 213...
Scouting the Ravens: Steelers face their biggest rival on the road for first time in playoffs
SCOUTING THE RAVENS Last meeting Ravens beat Steelers, 34-17, on Dec. 21 in Baltimore. Key matchup Ravens TEs Mark Andrews/Isaiah Likely vs. Steelers ILBs/DBs Over Baltimore’s past six games, Andrews and Likely have combined for nine touchdowns, including one TD catch in each of those games for Andrews. Both scored...
Notre Dame’s late interception dooms Penn State in Orange BowlVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar said he was trying to throw the ball into the ground. Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray dove for it anyway and — luck of the Irish — the ball ended up right in his hands. A few seconds later, Gray...
Buccaneers-Commanders could be prime-time shootout
ASHBURN, Va. — Todd Bowles as a defensive coach does not want to see the wild-card playoff game between his Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Commanders turn into a high-scoring shootout. His quarterback wouldn’t mind. “If you come out on the right side of it, yeah,” Baker Mayfield said....
Penguins start fast, end 7-game skid against Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson’s voice dropped a handful of octaves when the question was posed. How unique of a challenge are the Edmonton Oilers strictly because of the combined presence of superstar forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid? “Oh very,” a sullen Pettersson said in Cranberry on Wednesday. “You’ve...
Paul Peterson makes PGA Tour debut at age 36 and leaves an impressionVideo
HONOLULU — The Sony Open is the PGA Tour stop where introductions are in order, and Paul Peterson made quite the first impression. He opened with a 6-under-par 64 and shared the early lead with four others Thursday on a pleasant day at Waialae. Harry Hall, Denny McCarthy and Eric...
Bills’ Von Miller won’t let affection for Broncos get in way of playoff objectiveVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Von Miller is as competitive as he can be sentimental, which is why the Buffalo Bills edge rusher won’t utter a negative word about the Denver Broncos. The memories are too fond, and the 10-plus seasons he spent in Colorado too meaningful. Denver is where the...
NFL moves Vikings-Rams playoff game to Arizona because of wildfires in Los AngelesVideo
LOS ANGELES — The NFL moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale, Ariz. The league...
Doping clouds tennis talk at Australian Open with pair of stars facing scrutinyVideo
MELBOURNE, Australia — It is a topic that shadowed tennis in 2024 and is still a talking point as the 2025 Grand Slam season opens at the Australian Open on Saturday: doping and the cases involving Jannik Sinner — which is still not resolved — and Iga Swiatek. Both spent...
Penguins’ Quarter-Century team unveiled: Who made the cut?
The NHL is honoring its best players over the past 25 years with a Quarter-Century Team for each club, and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup was revealed Thursday evening. Featuring a first- and second-team of three forwards, two defensemen and one goalie, all players considered had to have appeared in a...
Steelers’ 6th all-time leading rusher, Najee Harris recognizes Saturday might be last game with team
In the storied history of a franchise long associated with a run-first offensive mentality, only five Pittsburgh Steelers have more career rushing yards than Najee Harris. Three are in the Hall of Fame, another earned an All-Pro honor and the other has two Super Bowl rings. But after four seasons...
NBA postpones game between Lakers and Hornets due to wildfires in Los Angeles areaVideo
LOS ANGELES — The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area. It is the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles has been postponed. The NHL’s...
Tyreek Hill’s agent says he’s committed to the Dolphins and he played in 2024 with a broken wristVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tyreek Hill is committed to the Miami Dolphins, his agent said, despite the star wide receiver seeming to indicate otherwise last week. Agent Drew Rosenhaus called Hill “very passionate” on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday and said Hill’s comments suggesting he wanted out of...
G Spencer Anderson preps to start in playoff debut for Steelers if Mason McCormick can’t play
Spencer Anderson has heard it plenty, particularly since he was drafted by the rival Pittsburgh Steelers some 20 months ago. “Everybody always asks me if I’m a Ravens fan, but I’m not,” Anderson said Thursday from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I actually lived closer (as a child) to the Redskins...
Las Vegas Raiders fire general manager Tom Telesco after just 1 yearVideo
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders continued their house cleaning Thursday, firing general manager Tom Telesco just two days after dismissing coach Antonio Pierce. The moves took place after the Raiders went 4-13 this season. “We appreciate his efforts in helping build a foundation for the future,” the club...
Former Steelers DB Townsend, ex-Jets coach Saleh interviewed for 49ers defensive coordinator postVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers began their search for a new defensive coordinator Thursday by interviewing Robert Saleh for a second stint at the job and Detroit Lions assistant Deshea Townsend. Townsend played defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998-2009, recording 21 interceptions and 15 1/2...
Steelers’ Donte Jackson cleared, Mason McCormick questionable for playoff game
As he adjusts to playing with a broken left hand, starting right guard Mason McCormick officially is listed as questionable to make his NFL playoff debut Saturday. McCormick on Thursday was a partial practice participant for the third consecutive day, according to the league-mandated injury report, leaving it up in...
Management Q&A, autograph sessions planned for PiratesFest 2025
PiratesFest is just around the corner. The annual event will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 18-19, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Admission is free and open to the public, although registration is required at pirates.com/piratesfest. Both 2025 regular-season and spring training game tickets will be available...
‘It’s my story’: Searching for 1st playoff win, Steelers star T.J. Watt knows legacy is on line
T.J. Watt has one of the most impressive resumes in Pittsburgh Steelers history, yet the superstar outside linebacker accepts what the absence of a playoff victory means to his legacy. Even as he’s one of the game’s most dominant defenders — a seven-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro pick who...
Tough stretch of ACC games awaits Pitt, star guard Jaland Lowe
Many times when teams face adversity, they turn to their best player in an attempt to reverse fortunes. Perhaps that’s what Pitt must do over the next three games when they confront Louisville, Florida State and Clemson in an attempt to wipe away the misery of the eight scoreless minutes...
Researchers confirm ‘Music City Miracle’ star Frank Wycheck had CTE
Frank Wycheck, the NFL tight end best known for throwing the lateral that started the “Music City Miracle” and launched the Tennessee Titans’ run to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl appearance, had stage III chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died on Dec. 9, 2023, at his Chattanooga home, his family...
Ohio State and Texas enter CFP semifinal at Cotton Bowl with a chance to end title droughts
ARLINGTON, Texas — There is still a sense for some Ohio State players that they haven’t done anything yet, even after winning twice already this postseason to get into the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Texas. “Absolutely. I have been here for four years, and I...
