Sports category, Page 457
Braves’ Whit Merrifield rants about out-of-control pitchers after getting plunked in the headVideo
ATLANTA — Whit Merrifield got lucky. He wasn’t seriously injured when a 95-mph fastball struck him on the head. Still, the Atlanta Braves second baseman is livid about the state of pitching in the big leagues, saying it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or even...
Cameron Heyward joins rare company by securing 4th contract with Steelers
As any mother is apt to do, Charlotte Heyward reminded her eldest son this week that he is special. Only this time she wasn’t just feeding him words of encouragement. She had statistical evidence to support it. Cameron Heyward was driving to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday to sign...
Jaylen Warren, Roman Wilson, Cory Trice Jr. limited participants at Steelers practice
A trio of non-starters who are expected to play not-insignificant roles on offense and defense for the Pittsburgh Steelers were limited participants in what was the first official practice of the 2024 regular season. Running back Jaylen Warren, receiver Roman Wilson and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. each had previously-known injuries....
Ravens visit Chiefs for AFC title game rematch in Thursday night NFL openerVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will spend a few minutes before their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night celebrating their latest Super Bowl triumph. Former players will return to Arrowhead Stadium, and team owner Clark Hunt will help raise their latest championship banner high...
Bills safety Damar Hamlin will start season opener against CardinalsVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A year after making the cut to successfully resume his football career following a near-death experience, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin reached a new plateau in his comeback in being selected a season-opening starter on Wednesday. Coach Sean McDermott announced the news by saying Hamlin will...
Reports: Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II gets new deal worth $24M per year
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II on Wednesday agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million with $77.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The $24 million-per-year average vaults Surtain past Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.025 million) and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire...
Troy Fautanu prefers right tackle, ‘felt good’ as limited participant at Steelers practice
Rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu said he “felt good” in taking part in Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday as he continues to ramp up after suffering a knee injury during the preseason opener 3½ weeks ago. “I feel like I am progressing on time with what we had talked about when...
YAC, plus Russell Wilson’s ball, should lead to even more ‘splash’ from Steelers’ George Pickens
How did George Pickens go from the NFL pass catcher with the lowest average yards-after-catch as a rookie to the wide receiver with the seventh-best “YAC” in his second season? “Hard work,” Pickens said after Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday. “It’s all I put into it. If you work hard, you...
Robert Morris men’s basketball will open Horizon schedule Dec. 4 against Youngstown State
Robert Morris men’s basketball will begin its fifth season in the Horizon League with a home game Dec. 4 against Youngstown State at the UPMC Events Center. Overall, the Colonials will play 20 conference games, meeting each of their 10 opponents once at home and on the road, according to...
5 bobblehead nights part of Penguins’ 2024-25 promotional schedule
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their 2024-25 home promotional schedule Wednesday, which notably includes five opportunities for fans to take home commemorative bobbleheads. The club’s Championship Bobblehead Series celebrates moments from its five Stanley Cup victories (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, 2017). On Oct. 18, the first bobblehead featuring Mario Lemieux will...
Robert Morris hockey looks to move from back on the ice to back in contention
Robert Morris hockey players took the ice last week to begin practices for the second season of the rebooted program. The sense of being a newly constructed team has faded a bit after 2023-24’s return to the ice. And that’s exactly how the players want it. “Expectations will be a...
Mark Madden: Cam Heyward’s contract another case of do the Steelers know what they are doing?
Let’s be blunt: It’s time to wonder whether the Steelers know what they’re doing. The Steelers drafted Broderick Jones to be their franchise left tackle, or so we thought. Traded up to pick him. But, over a year later, Jones still isn’t at left tackle. Coach Mike Tomlin said he...
Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula thriving in Swiss Army knife roleVideo
Prominent among the takeaways from Penn State’s convincing season-opening win over West Virginia is the Nittany Lions have no shortage of playmakers who can cause trouble for opposing defenses. Quarterback Drew Allar looked sharp to begin his junior campaign, running back Nick Singleton stole the show on the ground and...
First Call: Brandon Aiyuk’s admission about his negotiations; Ben Roethlisberger thanks Denver for Russell Wilson
Wednesday’s “First Call” has former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sharing some thoughts about new Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. We also have an interesting admission from Brandon Aiyuk, news about a pair of former Steelers wide receivers and a health update on Gerrit Cole. No kidding? San Francisco 49ers wide...
Tim Benz: How Mike Tomlin is putting the ‘O’ in the Steelers’ offense — from optimistic to oblivious
While listening to head coach Mike Tomlin describe the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “O” on Tuesday, plenty of “O” words came to mind. When discussing Russell Wilson’s taking over the offense as the new starting quarterback for 2024, Tomlin sounded optimistic. Rightfully so. There is at least some reason to believe that...
Eli Holstein’s high school coach says mix of humility, confidence set Pitt QB on right path
One of the first to speak to Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein on Saturday after his successful introduction to college football was David Brewerton, his coach at Zachary (La.) High School. “We talked after the game for a while,” Brewerton said. “It was good to hear his voice.” Brewerton’s praise for...
David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski sharp in shutout of CubsVideo
When David Bednar took over in the ninth inning Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, he found himself in a familiar position. At least in a sense. Bednar has been called on in the ninth by the Pittsburgh Pirates countless times over the last few seasons, in both...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 3, 2024: Omar Alfonzo homers in Greensboro loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 66-64) was idle. Next: Wednesday at Toledo (Tigers), 6:35 p.m. ALTOONA (Double-A, 55-72) was held to four hits in a 5-0 loss to Hartford (Rockies). CF Sammy Siani (.255) was 2 for 3 with a single and a double. C Carter Bins (.193) also went 2 for 3...
Paul Skenes not at his best, but Pirates still shut out Cubs, take series
Paul Skenes has shown a knack for navigating tough situations and limiting damage so far into his young MLB career. He had to do both Tuesday at Wrigley Field vs. the Chicago Cubs, with Skenes lasting only five innings and needing 100 pitches to get that far. But the Pittsburgh...
New rules led to more kickoff returns, no hip-drop tackle penalties in preseason
The early returns on the NFL’s new kickoff rules are in from the preseason, and the result is a significant increase in returns. Owners voted this spring to overhaul the kickoff, hoping to revive a play that had little action last season after most kicks resulted in no returns while...
Falcons add 3rd QB ahead of season opener, signing Nathan Peterman to practice squadVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons added a third quarterback ahead of their season opener, signing former Pitt standout Nathan Peterman to the practice squad Tuesday. Peterman provides some insurance behind starter Kirk Cousins and backup Michael Penix Jr. after the Falcons dealt third-stringer Taylor Heinicke to the Los...
Brandon Aiyuk returns to 49ers practice with a new contract after making the process ‘difficult’Video
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brandon Aiyuk’s first choice during his lengthy contract dispute with the 49ers that featured social media outbursts, a trade request and an awkward “hold in” was to remain in San Francisco. The 49ers never wanted to part ways with their star receiver, either. So what took...
Special teams, Desmond Reid play big role in Pitt victory, but kicker Ben Sauls is willing to wait his turn
The football rested on the Kent State 10-yard-line, fourth down, 5 yards to go. It was early in the second quarter Saturday, and Pitt was leading the Golden Flashes by a mere touchdown. Decision time for coach Pat Narduzzi. Should he opt for the 28-yard field goal and an easy...
Steelers, Cameron Heyward agree to 3-year contract
If Cameron Heyward fulfills his wish of playing three more NFL seasons, he’ll get a chance to do it with the Pittsburgh Steelers and be a “one-helmet” NFL player. The veteran defensive lineman agreed to a three-year contract Tuesday, the team announced. The deal runs through the 2026 season. We...
Pirates claim lefty reliever Joey Wentz off waivers from Detroit
The Pittsburgh Pirates added an arm to their bullpen Tuesday, claiming 26-year-old lefty Joey Wentz off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. Wentz went 0-2 with a 5.37 ERA in 38 games with the Tigers this season before being designated for assignment Aug. 30. In 55 1/3 innings, he struck out...
