Sports category, Page 371
Tim Benz: Omar Khan’s ‘4-letter word’ that puts George Pickens’ future with the Steelers in a new light
It’s amazing how one little, four-letter word can change the scope of an entire conversation. No. I’m not even talking about one of those four-letter words. The word I’m talking about is pretty basic: here. That’s it. The word “here.” When Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II was asked about...
Chartiers Valley rallies from double-digit deficit to stun No. 1 Montour in Class 5A semifinals
Chartiers Valley stunned the WPIAL basketball world Tuesday night, downing top-seeded Montour, 47-44, in the Class 5A semifinals. The Spartans controlled the first half, going into halftime up 30-20. That’s when Jayden Davis and the fourth-seeded Colts turned up the intensity on defense. The Colts held the Spartans to 14...
Penguins lose another clunker to Flyers, remain winless since break
Coming out of the nearly two-week break for the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off exhibition tournament, the Pittsburgh Penguins had nothing but games that could be categorized as “must wins” on their remaining regular-season schedule if they were to mount anything resembling a push for the postseason. But based on their...
Pitt’s rally comes up short against Georgia Tech
With 1 minute, 15 seconds to play Tuesday against Georgia Tech, Pitt had managed to dig itself out of repeated holes, having trailed the vast majority of the night, to tie things up. But over the last 75 seconds, the Yellow Jackets scored the game’s final six points to secure...
Mercury’s Diana Taurasi retires after 20 WNBA seasons, 3 titles and 6 Olympic goldsVideo
PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history. The WNBA’s career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she...
GM insists Browns have no interest in trading Myles Garrett
INDIANAPOLIS — Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry insisted the team is not interested in trading star defensive end Myles Garrett despite his request to be dealt. “We can’t imagine a situation where not having Myles is best for the Browns,” he said Tuesday at the NFL Combine. Berry said...
Former Penn State QB Trace McSorley joins James Franklin’s staff as assistant
Penn State great Trace McSorley is back with the Nittany Lions’ football program. News about a possible PSU-McSorley reunion first surfaced over the weekend, via Onward State and The Daily Collegian, and the former Lions starting quarterback is officially listed as a football offensive assistant in the Penn State directory....
Penguins activate forward Bryan Rust from injured reserve
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust was activated from injured reserve Tuesday afternoon in advance of a road game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He has missed the past three games due to and undisclosed injury (Feb. 8) and an illness (Saturday and Sunday). Typically deployed on the right wing of the...
CFP commissioners meet after SEC, Big Ten leaders urge change
DALLAS — Commissioners who are part of the College Football Playoff had some discussions Tuesday about possible changes for next season, including how the 12-team field is seeded. Several members of the CFP Management Committee, which is made up of all 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete...
UNC’s Davis gets 2-year extension, hires agent Jim Tanner as GM
North Carolina coach Hubert Davis has another two years on his deal and a new general manager to help the blueblood men’s basketball program deal with the changing landscape of college athletics. Davis signed a two-year extension running through the 2029-30 season to lead his alma mater. And Tuesday, the...
Jared Jones unveils ‘something nasty’ with new pitch in spring debut as Pirates fall to Braves
BRADENTON, Fla. — Jared Jones unveiled a new pitch in his first start of spring training, though the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander hesitates to label it. For now, the two-seam fastball is a “sinker or whatever you want to call it.” What does Jones want to call it? “Something nasty.” The...
Air power: Pirates’ Paul Skenes finds flexibility key to developing a pair of new pitch offerings
BRADENTON, Fla. — Paul Skenes never even boarded the bus. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was warned Monday that there was a good chance his first start of spring training could be rained out, so he threw a 45-pitch live batting practice before it was scheduled to leave. After joking that...
GM Omar Khan views T.J. Watt as ‘legacy’ player for Steelers, wants to get another contract done
INDIANAPOLIS — It won’t happen until after the quarterback position is resolved. It might not transpire until late in training camp or a few days before the start of the regular season — just like it did in 2021. Make no mistake, though, an offseason priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers...
Penn State AD Pat Kraft ‘all-in’ on winning CFP national championship
Penn State football has gone all-in this offseason, positioning the Nittany Lions as one of the favorites to win the national title — and athletic director Pat Kraft is a big reason why. Kraft, speaking to the media Monday, made it clear he’s committed to doing what it takes to...
Ravens GM calls sexual misconduct allegations against Justin Tucker ‘concerning’
INDIANAPOLIS — Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta considers the mounting allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against kicker Justin Tucker “serious” and “concerning.” He still wants to see what the NFL’s investigation reveals before making any decision about one of the Ravens’ steadiest players. “The allegations are serious, concerning. The...
Steelers GM Omar Khan keeping ‘all options’ open at quarterback position
INDIANAPOLIS — Two weeks before the start of NFL free agency’s legal tampering period, the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have any of their veteran quarterbacks from the 2024 season under contract. General manager Omar Khan is trying to change that before March 10 when other teams are permitted to talk deals...
Mark Madden: Don’t expect to see Matthew Stafford playing for thrifty Steelers
The discussion about the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring Matthew Stafford from the Los Angeles Rams seems like empty, pointless conversation. The media is obligated to link the Steelers to every quarterback who’s available. It was a surprise last offseason when the Steelers’ quarterback room got a total makeover via getting Russell...
Rivalry or not, Alex Ovechkin’s goal-record quest provides NHL interest for Pens fans
The 4 Nations Face-Off is complete. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in last place of the Metropolitan Division. So local hockey fans are going to have to get creative to sink their teeth into something with a little bit of importance surrounding the sport. Well, Alex Ovechkin … I can’t believe...
First Call: Steelers have ‘shown interest’ in Matthew Stafford; latest on Eagles’ White House visit debate
Tuesday’s “First Call” has the latest on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ alleged interest in quarterback Matthew Stafford. We get a health update on a Penn State star in advance of the NFL combine. The Cleveland Browns make a move in the secondary, and there is a new twist in the controversy...
Tim Benz: Debate over banning Eagles’ ‘Tush Push’ is stupid and needs to stop
Complaining about the Philadelphia Eagles’ “Tush Push” play is the most overwrought debate in sports and it needs to stop. That’s impossible now, though, because according to The Athletic, the Green Bay Packers have submitted a proposal to the league’s competition committee to ban the play. So, plenty more conversations...
Broncos assistant Michael Wilhoite arrested after being accused of punching police officerVideo
DENVER — An assistant coach for the Denver Broncos is facing a felony assault charge after being accused of punching a police officer in the face at the Denver International Airport. Outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault on a police officer and booked into...
Browns release long-time long snapper Charley Hughlett, sign cornerback Anthony KendallVideo
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns made a pair of moves Monday with the release of long snapper Charley Hughlett and signing cornerback Anthony Kendall. Hughlett was tied with guard Joel Bitonio for longest current tenure in Cleveland as both arrived in 2014. Hughlett was the Browns long snapper for...
Cleveland Guardians owner Lawrence Dolan dies at 94Video
CLEVELAND — Lawrence J. Dolan, owner of Cleveland’s major league baseball team since 2000, has died at age 94. The Cleveland Guardians put out a statement Monday saying Dolan died Sunday night of natural causes. “Mr. Dolan invested his entire life in Greater Cleveland and impacted our community on so...
Unidentified NFL team proposes to ban tush push used so successfully by Eagles
INDIANAPOLIS — One NFL team is proposing an end to the tush push play the Philadelphia Eagles have used so successfully at the goal line and in short-yardage situations, including during their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. According to NFL Network and the Washington Post,...
Utah fires men’s basketball coach Craig Smith with Utes at 15-12Video
The University of Utah fired men’s basketball coach Craig Smith on Monday, a day after a 76-72 loss at Central Florida that dropped the Utes to 15-12 this season. Smith was in his fourth season in charge of the program. He was 65-62. The 52-year-old Smith will be replaced by...
