Sports category, Page 507
On Sports: Penguins still national TV draw; prediction of big year for Najee Harris; Rich Hill still chugging along
Friday’s “On Sports” highlights the Pittsburgh Penguins national reach and broadcast schedule, Stephen Curry adds another year with the Warriors, pitcher Rich Hill has been dealing for 20 years, and a big year for Najee Harris? National treasure They haven’t been a playoff team since 2021-22, and they are mostly...
AFC East preview: Jets, Dolphins, Patriots looking to end Bills’ 4-year reignVideo
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have sat atop the AFC East for four straight years. Their drive for five could prove to be the toughest task of all. A ton of roster turnover has provided plenty of questions — and doubts. Especially with Aaron Rodgers back with the New...
AFC North preview: Bengals, Browns hope for better QB health as teams chase RavensVideo
Football’s top division wasn’t even at full strength in 2023. With better luck at the quarterback position, it could be quite a race for the AFC North title this season. Lamar Jackson stayed healthy last year and won his second MVP, helping Baltimore to the best regular-season record in the...
‘That’s 100% who I am’: Pirates lefty Bailey Falter uses elite extension to fool hitters
Bailey Falter realized in high school in Chino Hills, Calif., that something was different about his fastball. The left-handed pitcher found it weird that his velocity was only registering in the mid- to high-80s but he was “just absolutely blowing it by those guys.” When Falter was in the minor...
Pitt Take 5: Playing clean game just as important for Panthers as scoring lots of points
At the end of Pitt’s opener Saturday against Kent State at Acrisure Stadium, the statistic that will matter most will be points scored. But unless the Panthers beat the 551⁄2 over/under by themselves — 50 is offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s goal, anyway — it might be more instructive to check...
Tim Benz: An all-Pirates setlist request for Green Day’s concert at PNC Park
From a Pirates perspective, the best thing you can say about the month of August is that it’s almost over. At least it is at PNC Park. The beleaguered Buccos don’t return home until Sept. 5 against the Washington Nationals. Between now and then, though, there is one event worth...
A leaner Drew Allar looks to get No. 8 Penn State off to a good start at West VirginiaVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Quarterback Drew Allar was great in his Penn State starting debut a year ago against West Virginia. The rest of the season was a bit disappointing. The junior with the big arm expects the Nittany Lions to become more consistent behind a new offensive coordinator. “I think...
5 things to watch in Week 1: Aliquippa’s new coach debuts in battle of state champions
Some coaching jobs come with more pressure than others. Consider that Aliquippa’s Vashawn Patrick is the new head coach of a team coming off a state championship season, and his first game is against another defending state champion. There is no easing into his job. Aliquippa hosts Belle Vernon at...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 29, 2024: Matt Gorski goes 4 for 4, belts 20th homer for Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 63-63) outslugged Louisville (Reds), 10-6. RF Matt Gorski (.255) went 4 for 4 with a double, a two-run homer, his 20th, and four RBIs. LF Jack Suwinski (.194) went 1 for 4 with his fourth homer. CF Billy Cook (.282) went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. DH...
District college football roundup: Mercyhurst wins Division I debut
Adam Urena threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns as Mercyhurst defeated Wheeling, 28-25, on Thursday to win its first Division I FCS game after making the leap from Division II this season. Cameron Barmore caught seven passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns for the Lakers (1-0). Earnest Davis...
Toledo routs Duquesne 49-10 behind Tucker Gleason’s 3 first-half TD passes
TOLEDO, Ohio — Tucker Gleason threw for 198 yards and three first-half touchdowns, Jacquez Stuart added two rushing touchdowns and Toledo routed Duquesne 49-10 on Thursday in a season opener for both teams. Toledo scored 21 points in the first quarter and led 28-10 at the break. Jerjuan Newton highlighted...
Bettors banking on Eagles resurgence, Cowboys regression as NFL season begins
LAS VEGAS — The Philadelphia Eagles looked as if they were ready to return to the Super Bowl last season after beating the Buffalo Bills, 37-34, in overtime to move to 10-1. Then Philadelphia fell apart, losing six of its final seven games, including a 32-9 stinker in the playoffs...
Rich Hill, 44, makes it 20 straight MLB seasons
BOSTON — Rich Hill came on in relief for the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night and became the only active player to appear in a major-league game in each of the last 20 seasons. “There’s a lot of people to thank to get to this point,” the left-hander said...
Browns releasing QB Tyler Huntley, leaving them with 3 on rosterVideo
BEREA, Ohio — The Browns have thrown away one of their quarterbacks. Cleveland is releasing quarterback Tyler Huntley, who was signed as a free agent in March after the team was ravaged by injuries last season and was forced to start five QBs. Huntley became the odd-man out after second-year...
No. 1 seeds Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek move into 3rd round at U.S. Open
NEW YORK — Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner flashed their No. 1 form Thursday with powerful performances that moved them into the third round of the U.S. Open. Meanwhile, suddenly a point from getting to a third set, Naomi Osaka lost her way, missing forehand after forehand until she ceded...
Scottie Scheffler takes giant leap toward $25 million FedEx Cup prizeVideo
ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler started the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead based on his dominant season. And then he looked dominant as ever Thursday, posting the best round at 6-under-par 65 to build a seven-shot lead and take a huge step toward the FedEx Cup title. Scheffler had five...
Analysis: Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi must keep eyes wide open after putting redshirt freshman QB Eli Holstein in starting lineup
Even though Pat Narduzzi named Eli Holstein his starting quarterback for Pitt’s opener Saturday against Kent State, he said Nate Yarnell will play. You should believe him. Narduzzi said the competition at quarterback remains open. Again, you should believe him. Pitt fans should hope and expect that there will be...
Brandon Aiyuk agrees to new deal with the 49ers to end contract ‘hold in’Video
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brandon Aiyuk’s long contract dispute with San Francisco came to an end Thursday when the star receiver agreed on a four-year, $120 million contract extension to stay with the 49ers. Two people familiar with the deal says the sides came to the agreement Thursday after Aiyuk...
No, Mark Cuban is not buying the Pirates
In case you needed a reminder: Billionaire Mark Cuban is not buying his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. The topic came, yet again, Wednesday after the Pirates collapsed in epic fashion, blowing a 10-3 lead to the Chicago Cubs en route to a 14-10 loss. Pittsburgh...
Bolstered by veterans, transfers, Robert Morris excited for return to NEC
Robert Morris finished its last football season in the Big South with a 2-4 record and a 4-7 mark overall. The Colonials will look for better results this season as they return to the NEC, a conference they helped start in 1996. The Colonials finished 6-1 in the NEC in...
Jacoby Brissett is selected Patriots starting quarterback for Week 1 against CincinnatiVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is putting the keys to his offense in the hands of the veteran quarterback on his roster over the franchise’s potential quarterback of the future. Mayo selected Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback for New England’s season opener at Cincinnati, one of the...
Steelers bring back 8 recently cut players to practice squad
Half of the allotted 16 practice squad spots were filled Thursday by the Pittsburgh Steelers when they brought back eight players who were on their roster in training camp and the preseason. Returning to the organization are three defensive backs: Thomas Graham Jr., who competed for the starting slot corner...
Stephen Curry agrees to $63 million extension with Warriors for 2026-27 seasonVideo
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors agreed to extend his contract for the 2026-27 season, one in which the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader and Olympic gold medalist will earn nearly $63 million. Curry’s agent, Jeff Austin, confirmed the agreement Thursday to the Associated Press. ESPN first reported the agreement...
Ready or not, Steelers’ recent draft picks on offensive line will get the call in season opener
In the past two NFL Draft classes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have used five of 14 picks to address the offensive line. When the regular season opens Sept. 8 in Atlanta, all five of those prospects could be starting or playing supporting roles. The Steelers surely didn’t script it that way...
Alabama transfer Eli Holstein to start at quarterback for Pitt against Kent State
Redshirt freshman Eli Holstein will be the starting quarterback for the first snaps of Pitt’s football season when the Panthers meet Kent State at noon Saturday, coach Pat Narduzzi said Thursday. The Alabama transfer was named Pitt’s starting quarterback, though incumbent Nate Yarnell also will play, Narduzzi said. That division...
