‘That’s the goal’: After winning Cy Young, Paul Skenes eyes a World Series title for Pirates
As Paul Skenes reflected on the historic season that resulted in winning the National League Cy Young Award, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace couldn’t help but look forward to the future. For someone who prefers to talk about the why, Skenes admits that awards and accolades are not his motivation. From...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans don’t hold back on Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers
Despair about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent 1-3 stretch knows no limits. The frustration is pulsating with our readers when it comes to Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers, the offense and even our coverage of the team. In this week’s “U mad, bro?,” fans express their displeasure with help...
Joe Flacco’s last stand? Bengals QB faces uncertain future as Joe Burrow returns to practice
CINCINNATI — Joe Flacco might have more starts for the Cincinnati Bengals under his belt than he has ahead of him. And it has nothing to do with the quarterback’s injured right shoulder. The move Monday to open the 21-day window Joe Burrow’s return from a September turf-toe injury means...
Pirates ace Paul Skenes completes historic season as unanimous NL Cy Young winner
On a day when Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington dismissed trade talk about his ace with the declaration that “Paul Skenes is going to be a Pirate in 2026,” he has some additional incentive: For the first time in 35 years, the Pirates now have a Cy Young Award...
Broncos to rely on several backups at key positions vs. Chiefs
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos are a hurting bunch as they prepare for their showdown with the nine-time defending AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. They’re still without their best defensive player with cornerback Pat Surtain (strained pectoral) about to miss his third straight game. Their leading...
Notre Dame pass defense navigates quick turnaround at Pitt
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 9 Notre Dame spent last week figuring out how to slow down Navy’s run-heavy offense. This week, the defense is switching gears against No. 23 Pitt. Yes, the Fighting Irish began this week with the usual emphasis — stopping the run — while fully understanding...
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. out vs. 49ers after surgery for appendicitisVideo
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will miss Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers after having surgery this week for appendicitis, coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday. Harrison — a second-year receiver out of Ohio State — has played in all nine games this season, catching 34...
NCAA puts Michigan State football on 3 years of probation for recruiting violations under Mel Tucker
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The NCAA put Michigan State’s football program on three years of probation and penalized the school $30,000 plus 1.5% of the team’s budget after agreeing former staff members under coach Mel Tucker broke rules regarding recruiting inducements and benefits, communication and unofficial visit expenses. Michigan State...
Coming off surgery absence, new Steelers CB Asante Samuel Jr. ‘the healthiest I’ve ever been’
It’s been more than 13 months since he’s played in a game and less than seven months since he underwent a surgical procedure on his spine. It would be natural for teams and fans to assume that Asante Samuel Jr. — the newest Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback — is not at...
4 reasons for Penn State to be concerned vs. Michigan State
Over the past two weeks, Penn State not only had to face the best that the Big Ten had to offer, but also the best the nation had to offer. And despite having the lead against the No. 2 team in the nation with a little under two minutes to...
Giants’ Jameis Winston to start over Russell Wilson at QB for Giants with Jaxson Dart outVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jameis Winston walked off the field Wednesday following his first practice as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback, including some extra work after it was over, and flashed a big smile across his face. “We finally made it, huh?” Winston said. “We finally made it.” With...
Aaron Rodgers: No ‘major changes’ on offense needed as Steelers try to bounce back from ‘stinker’
When he took the field Sunday night at SoFi Stadium, Aaron Rodgers made the 250th start of his 21-year NFL career and the ninth for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a milestone that wasn’t worth celebrating for Rodgers or the Steelers, who played easily their worst offensive game of the...
Broderick Jones, Alex Highsmith, Darius Slay miss Steelers practice; Isaac Seumalo returns
A trio of starters sat out the first Pittsburgh Steelers practice of the week because of injury, but starting left guard Isaac Seumalo headlined a group of three of contributors who returned to practice. Broderick Jones, Alex Highsmith and Darius Slay did not participate in Wednesday’s session at UPMC Rooney...
‘A different cat’: Pitt’s confidence in QB Mason Heintschel high at critical point in season
Kade Bell distinctly remembers when he became 100% sold on Mason Heintschel. It was following a spring practice in 2024 when the Panthers hosted Heintschel, then approaching his senior season at Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio. Heintschel, despite attracting zero Power Four offers besides Pitt, stuck out to Bell...
Antonio Brown posts bail, agrees to house arrest before attempted murder trial
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown must wear a GPS ankle monitor and await trial at home after posting a $25,000 bail, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. Brown pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge stemming from an alleged shooting outside of an internet-celebrity boxing match May 16....
Minor league report: Penguins beat Islanders in shootoutVideo
Shootout goals by forwards Sam Poulin, Aaron Huglen, Valtteri Puustinen and Rafael Harvey-Pinard gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 5-4 win against the Bridgeport Islanders at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Conn., on Wednesday. Goaltender Maxim Pavlenko made 24 saves on 28 shots in regulation and overtime, then stopped two of...
Steelers activate QB Will Howard from IR, add CB Asante Samuel Jr. to practice squad
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a No. 3 quarterback available for the second half of the season. Rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard was activated from injured reserve Wednesday and joins starter Aaron Rodgers and backup Mason Rudolph on the 53-man roster. Howard began the season on injured reserve with a...
Mark Madden: Every point counts, so Penguins must solve shootout problems
Most (including me) had the Pittsburgh Penguins pegged as a non-playoff team angling for a top-five draft pick. But the Penguins have the fifth-most points in the Eastern Conference and two straight sellouts at PPG Paints Arena. That changes priorities. If the Penguins’ contention continues into 2026, the hockey media...
Penn State New Kensington men’s soccer advances to USCAA tournament
Penn State New Kensington men’s soccer coach Mark Duffield didn’t look but could only imagine the heart rate level charted by his fitness watch during the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference championship game. Few things went right for the local Lions before Armstrong graduate Tanner Stockdill scored in overtime to...
1st road trip, hostile West Virginia crowd to present new tests for Pitt basketball
To varying degrees, the majority of Jeff Capel’s Pitt basketball roster is experiencing a learning curve as it pertains to being successful players in the ACC. For sophomore guard Nojus Indrusaitis, that entails getting acclimated to more of a starring role after being used sparingly as a freshman at Iowa...
A move to center helped Penguins forward Danton Heinen return to the NHLVideo
The John B. Sollenberger Trophy has been awarded since 1948 in recognition of the leading scorer of the American Hockey League. And Danton Heinen’s chances of winning it are rotten. To be fair, he has a clear handicap in that pursuit. He’s in the NHL at the moment. When the...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger apologizes to former teammate; Ben Cherington dismisses Paul Skenes trade talk
Ben Roethlisberger issues an apology to a former teammate. Ben Cherington addresses trade conversations about Paul Skenes. Gerrit Cole gives a health update. Plus, the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a different CBS broadcast team this week. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” My bad Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger began...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ use of Jaylen Warren is confusing, and Mike Tomlin’s explanations are confounding
During his Tuesday press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked why Jaylen Warren doesn’t get more snaps. Particularly on third downs. “Not taking anything away from Jaylen, he plays a lot on first and second down. You’ve got to give him opportunities to catch a break. Sometimes...
As quality of competition ramps up, Duquesne sneaks past Queens in OT
It took overtime for Duquesne to pass its first serious test against an unlikely opponent. Queens, a fourth-year Division I program, gave the Dukes a spirited challenge Tuesday night. In the end, Duquesne won out. John Hugley IV scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and the Dukes overcame a...
Former Penguins defenseman Simon Despres signs in Scotland
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Simon Despres has signed with the Fife Flyers, a Scottish team based in the United Kingdom’s Elite Ice Hockey League. That team announced the transaction with a release on Tuesday. Despres, 34, was a first-round draft pick (No. 30 overall) of the Penguins in 2009. In...
