Sports category, Page 380
Football Footnotes: Minkah Fitzpatrick’s specific reasons for Steelers’ coverage woes; Chargers sign ex-Steeler DB
The Pittsburgh Steelers are having lots of problems covering and pass-blocking. Veterans on both sides of the ball have some explanations for those issues. We also have injury news from Cincinnati as they prepare to visit Acrisure Stadium on Saturday. Plus, a former Steelers’ first-round pick is joining a different...
Tim Benz: It’s time for George Pickens to ‘get on the same page,’ or the Steelers need to turn the pageVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin tried to downplay the notion that receiver George Pickens either ran the wrong route or didn’t give effort on a route that became an interception in the end zone against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas. #Chiefs safety Justin Reid`s interception in the endzone on...
Pitt Take 5: Pitt plays host to Stanford, seeking 1st 12-2 start in 9 years
When Pitt plays Stanford on Saturday at Petersen Events Center, the Panthers (11-2, 2-0 ACC) have a chance for the program’s best start after 14 games since 2015-2016, when the Panthers opened 14-1 in Jamie Dixon’s last season as coach. The formula for success includes Pitt’s ability to score (84.2...
Scouting the Bengals: Steelers opponent carries 4-game win streak into regular-season finale
SCOUTING THE BENGALS Last meeting The Steelers beat the Bengals, 44-38, on Dec. 1 in Cincinnati. Key matchup Bengals QB Joe Burrow vs. Steelers secondary After a week in which there was much consternation about missed assignments and lack of communication among the Steelers defense during their three-game losing streak,...
Jaxson Dart ends Ole Miss career with 4 TD passes in Gator Bowl rout of Duke
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaxson Dart’s final college pass was a 69-yard touchdown that got him chewed out by coach Lane Kiffin on the sideline. It’s one the quarterback will never forget. Dart threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns in his final start for Ole Miss, leading the 16th-ranked Rebels...
Tom Hoge leads at Kapalua where good golf exceeds expectations in PGA Tour openerVideo
KAPALUA, Hawaii — Tom Hoge grew up in North Dakota and found the ideal vibe for Kapalua on Thursday, keeping expectations low and riding the momentum of good golf on his way to a 9-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead at The Sentry in the PGA Tour season opener....
Detroit Mercy takes down Robert Morris men in overtime
DETROIT — Orlando Lovejoy’s 32 points led Detroit Mercy past Robert Morris, 78-76, in overtime on Thursday night. The Colonials (9-6, 1-3 Horizon League) were led by Kam Woods and Amarion Dickerson with 20 points apiece. Josh Omojafo finished with 13 points. Robert Morris had a three-game winning streak snapped....
Zach Hicks scores 20 points, Penn State moves to 9-0 at home
UNIVERSITY PARK — Zach Hicks scored 20 points to lead four in double figures, and Penn State held off Northwestern for an 84-80 victory Thursday night. Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 15 of his 17 points from the line and had seven assists and five steals for Penn State. Puff Johnson...
Alex Ovechkin scores on Marc-Andre Fleury for a 28th time to move 24 away from the NHL goals recordVideo
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin moved another step closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record by scoring on Marc-Andre Fleury again. The Washington Capitals captain scored his 871st goal by beating Fleury on a power play in the second period against Minnesota on Thursday night. Ovechkin has scored on...
Notre Dame dispatches Georgia in Sugar Bowl, will face Penn State in CFP semifinalsVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Riley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame’s defense made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday that sends the third-ranked Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the...
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, LB Jihaad Campbell declare for NFL Draft after bowl lossVideo
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebacker Jihaad Campbell are entering the NFL Draft. Milroe and Campbell announced decisions to skip their final seasons Thursday on social media, two days after the Crimson Tide fell to Michigan, 19-13, in the ReliaQuest Bowl. “Football has always been my passion,...
Ravens vs. Browns is expected to be a mismatch. So is Jackson vs. ZappeVideo
There are many reasons Baltimore has a chance to win a division title this week while Cleveland is near the bottom of the league. For example, consider the matchup at quarterback. Lamar Jackson is in the mix for his third MVP award and second in a row, with a chance...
Surging Ohio State to face tenacious Texas in the Cotton Bowl for a spot in the CFP title gameVideo
PASADENA, Calif. — Texas will be a whole lot closer to home than Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes appear to be a whole lot closer to Atlanta. That’s where the winner of the Cotton Bowl, which doubles as a College Football Playoff semifinal this year, will be...
Cam Corhen’s contributions on offense give Pitt lift in the paint
By nature, basketball is largely designed for guards to have success. When the TV analysts talk about teams with the potential to go far in the NCAA Tournament, it’s usually those with strong play at guard. After all, they handle the ball more frequently than anyone else and, as a...
5 weeks after allowing 38 points to Bengals, struggling Steelers defense taking rematch ‘personal’
The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers were preparing to face the Cincinnati Bengals, they ranked among the NFL leaders in points and yards against. But that Dec. 1 meeting — a 44-38 Steelers win — turned the tide. Since, the Steelers’ defense has been reeling, both statistically and with what...
‘He’s been unbelievable’: Steelers endorse Joe Burrow as MVP, scheme to stop Bengals QB
Joe Burrow prides himself on being prepared for anything, so the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has braced for the likelihood that he won’t win the MVP award despite impressive numbers. Burrow, who leads the NFL in completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdowns this season, was asked if he’d heard the M-V-P...
Bailey Zappe to start at quarterback for Browns’ season finale in Baltimore
BEREA, Ohio — Bailey Zappe will be quarterback No. 4 and No. 40 for the Browns. He was selected by coach Kevin Stefanski to start Saturday’s season finale at Baltimore, making him the fourth quarterback to start this season and the 40th since Cleveland returned to the NFL as an...
Steelers starting CB Donte Jackson questionable to play vs. Bengals, but Joey Porter Jr. to return
Donte Jackson said he was “feeling good” after practice Thursday. But Jackson’s back was not feeling good enough for the Pittsburgh Steelers to give him any better than a “questionable” designation to play in Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson was listed as a limited participant at Thursday’s...
As CFP run continues, Penn State aims to bounce back from season high in penalties during Fiesta BowlVideo
When he sits down with reporters after games, Penn State coach James Franklin is known to dive into a multitude of statistical categories he deems “battles” as he delivers an opening statement before taking questions. “Turnover battle? We won that.” “Explosive play battle? Lost that.” And so Franklin will go,...
Pro Bowl rosters include 9 Ravens, 7 Lions, 6 Vikings and Eagles and no Patrick Mahomes
Nine Baltimore Ravens, including two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, were selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The Detroit Lions are next with seven players and the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles each have six players on the NFC roster. Patrick Mahomes wasn’t selected to the AFC roster...
P.O Joseph is happy to be back with the Penguins and wants to stay this time
Things aren’t exactly the same for P.O Joseph in his second stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The defenseman’s locker stall in Cranberry used to be near the backup goaltender on one of the ends of the room. Now, he’s closer to the center where Sidney Crosby is situated. And there...
Steelers’ Chris Boswell, Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward named to Pro Bowl roster
Justin Tucker’s five-year reign as the AFC kicker named to the Pro Bowl roster has ended. But the man who replaced him doesn’t views it as a passing of the torch. “There’s no passing a guy like that,” said Chris Boswell, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 10th-year kicker. Tucker, the Baltimore Ravens’...
Tim Benz: Applying the ‘snow globe’ theory to the 2024-25 Steelers
Maybe it’s because I watched too many Christmas movies over the past week, but I find myself scrutinizing the 2024-25 Steelers season and wondering what it would look like if I put it in a snow globe and shook it up. How much nicer would it look if those wins...
U mad, bro?: Readers welcome ’25 with familiar angst over Steelers, media coverage, College Football Playoff
The first “U mad, bro?” of 2025 appears to be very similar to what we saw a lot of in 2024: Pittsburgh Steelers fans complaining about the state of the team. Or, Steelers fans complaining about me complaining about the state of the team — with just a pinch of...
First Call: Updates on Kenny Pickett, Josh Dobbs, Chase Brown; former All-Pro critical of Steelers RBs
A former All-Pro running back is critical of players at that position for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have a health update on Cincinnati’s top running back and news about two former Steelers quarterbacks. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.” What can Brown do for the Bengals? The Steelers saw...
