Sports category, Page 381
Jets CB Sauce Gardner, RB Breece Hall doubtful vs. Dolphins; LB C.J. Mosley headed to IRVideo
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and running back Breece Hall are doubtful to play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday because of injuries. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Friday both players appear likely to sit out “barring something magical happening the next couple of days.” Neither Gardner nor Hall...
Ducks acquire Rangers captain Jacob Trouba in trade for Urho Vaakanainen, draft pickVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jacob Trouba is finally out of New York after months of public trade rumors and private threats from the Rangers, who were determined to get rid of their captain and his massive contract. Trouba was not pleased with the way he was run out of town, but...
Steelers WR Calvin Austin clears concussion protocol, will play vs. Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III was a full practice participant Friday and has been given the official green light to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Austin entered concussion protocol after absorbing two hard hits during this past Sunday’s Steelers win at the Cincinnati Bengals. Austin did not play...
From ‘I don’t even know who that is,’ to ‘I don’t care about the dude at all,’ Steelers’ Pickens spawns war of words with Browns
During his brief weekly media availability last week, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens answered questions related to the previous week’s game against the Cleveland Browns by invoking that infamous Marshawn Lynch line, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.” With the Browns again on the schedule this week, Pickens...
QB Nate Yarnell reveals transfer plans after up-and-down Pitt career
In four seasons at Pitt, Nate Yarnell has served four distinct roles at the game’s most important position. He has been a quarterback-in-waiting, hope for the future, an afterthought and, finally, an insurance policy. But all of that will end for Pitt’s bowl game and in 2025 after he revealed...
Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt ready to reduce snap count with Alex Highsmith’s return
One Pittsburgh Steeler is ready for the return of Alex Highsmith after he missed three games with an ankle injury. It should come as no surprise it’s the guy who plays outside linebacker on the opposite side. Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt called Highsmith being healthy a “huge” development for the...
Mark Madden: ‘Hard Knocks’ exposes that image — not results — matters most when evaluating Mike Tomlin
The inside look at the AFC North conducted by HBO’s “Hard Knocks” is another enabler when it comes to results being obscured and secondary in the evaluation of Mike Tomlin’s performance. Ex-Steeler Ryan Clark spoke on ESPN about how Tomlin appears on HBO: “Pittsburgh fans that want Mike Tomlin fired...
Steel City FC soccer teams to join pre-professional leagues
Pre-professional soccer continues its growth spurt in the Pittsburgh region. Steel City FC will join the USL W League (women) and USL League Two (men) in 2025, the United Soccer League announced Friday morning. Steel City FC trains more than 1,500 players in and around Pittsburgh, with primary training sites...
No. 3 Penn State, No. 1 Oregon meet for Big Ten title with both eyeing CFPVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel came to Indianapolis in July with a purpose. He wanted a sense of what Lucas Oil Stadium was like before making what he hoped would be a return trip in December. On Saturday, he’ll be back on the same turf when the No. 1...
Pitt has something to prove, and process begins at Virginia Tech
Pitt fans have seen this act before, or at least something similar. What’s worse, it’s back after first revealing itself less than a week ago. Two of the fans’ favorite teams won seven games to start the season, with the help of late dramatics that only served to heighten the...
First Call: Bill Belichick to the ACC?; Russell Wilson contract theories; Jets’ rumored interest in Arthur Smith
Friday’s “First Call” has some predictions about how the Pittsburgh Steelers may handle their quarterback situation next year. There are rumors about Bill Belichick coaching at the college level and Arthur Smith drawing interest from another NFL team for a head coaching spot. We also examine some quirks in the...
Football Footnotes: 5 key points where Steelers can improve against BrownsVideo
Plenty of things went wrong when the Pittsburgh Steelers visited Cleveland and lost 24-19 on Nov. 21. It’s the team’s only defeat in the past seven outings. After the game, most folks were blaming the coaching staff. Rightfully so. It was a lousy performance. Every 50-50 decision Mike Tomlin and...
Lions beat Packers on last-second field goal to clinch playoff spot
DETROIT — Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes, Jake Bates made a 35-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The NFC-best Lions (12-1) broke a franchise record with their 11th straight...
Struggling Bengals visit banged-up Cowboys
With star quarterback Dak Prescott already sidelined for the season by a torn hamstring, the Dallas Cowboys now have to go the rest of the way without right guard Zack Martin because of the seven-time All-Pro’s bad ankle. The latest injury downer for Dallas comes with the Cowboys (5-7) on...
Penn State beats No. 8 Purdue in Big Ten opener
STATE COLLEGE — Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 17 points, Freddie Dilione V added 14 and Penn State pulled away from No. 8 Purdue for an 81-70 victory in the Big Ten opener for both teams Thursday night. Puff Johnson had 13 and four steals, and Nick Kern Jr. had 12...
Ravens can reset before December stretch run they handled so impressively in 2023Video
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — December was when the Baltimore Ravens really hit their stride a season ago. Lamar Jackson took control of the MVP race, and the team finished with the best record in the NFL thanks to emphatic wins over San Francisco and Miami. A year later, Baltimore has...
Heisman hopeful RB Ashton Jeanty confirms he’s leaving Boise State after this seasonVideo
BOISE, Idaho — Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty confirmed Thursday that this will be his last season at the university. The nation’s leading rusher with 2,288 yards on 312 carries along with 28 total touchdowns, has long been expected to enter the NFL Draft after...
Pitt wide receiver Daejon Reynolds reveals plans to transfer
Wide receiver Daejon Reynolds, whose role in Pitt’s passing game diminished this season, decided to place his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Reynolds, 21, will have one season of eligibility. Reynolds spent the past two seasons with the Panthers after transferring from Florida where he caught a total of...
Scottie Scheffler has new putting grip, trails Cameron Young by 3Video
NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under-par 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more...
Bill Belichick interviews for UNC job, AP sources say
North Carolina interviewed former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick for its head coaching position, two people with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. Both people spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school isn’t commenting publicly on its search. Belichick’s...
No. 8 SMU looks to complete unbeaten run through ACC in conference title game vs. No. 18 ClemsonVideo
SMU had no problems handling the jump to the ACC. Now the No. 8 Mustangs (11-1, 8-0, No. 8 CFP) look to complete an unbeaten run through the ACC in their inaugural season when they face perennial conference power Clemson on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte....
Tino Sunseri tabbed to replace Eric Bieniemy at UCLA
LOS ANGELES — Eric Bieniemy’s return to UCLA lasted only one season. The Bruins let go of Bieniemy on Thursday after fielding one of the nation’s worst offenses this season. It didn’t take head coach DeShaun Foster long to find a replacement. Indiana quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri...
Arizona State coach once studied program at Iowa State, the team he now faces in Big 12 title gameVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — There was just something about coach Matt Campbell and his program at Iowa State that intrigued Kenny Dillingham. “His culture and his realness, I think he’s one of the most real people in the sport. You see the passion and emotion on the sideline,” said Dillingham, the...
No. 2 Texas goes for a title in its first SEC season, but must get by No. 5 GeorgiaVideo
ATLANTA — Texas wasted no time making its presence felt in the mighty SEC. In their debut as a member of the powerhouse league, the No. 2 Longhorns posted the best regular-season record and earned a spot in the SEC championship game Saturday. “Not a lot of teams can go...
Despite QBs coming off 400-yard games, Steelers don’t expect shootout with Browns
With the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns having quarterbacks coming off 400-yard passing performances, their meeting Sunday has the promise of another AFC North shootout. The former defensive coordinator in Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is why he admits it’s not in his nature to be comfortable in such games, especially...
