Sports category, Page 608

The San Francisco 49ers and their deep group of playmakers accomplished a rare feat. They soon could have company from the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. Tight end George Kittle became the latest Niners player to eclipse 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season, joining Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo...

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Michael Blowen’s love for horses stretched far beyond the racetrack and spurred him into starting a mid-life career as founder of a retirement farm in Kentucky, where older thoroughbreds could spend their remaining years in dignity and security — long after their earning days were over. For...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has some unfortunate details about the officiating crew for Saturday’s Steelers-Ravens game. One former Pittsburgh Steeler is looking for work, while another one is on a new roster. The Penguins are helping out Cameron Heyward. Marc-Andre Fleury is still working to catch Patrick Roy. And a former...

A dust-up has been swirling around the allegations that Kenny Pickett refused to be a backup quarterback Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Seattle. Pickett addressed that storyline Tuesday and denied it. Something else he said is the bigger story, though. “There was no talk of me being a backup...

Having worn the colors of both sides of the rivalry, Lars Eller can articulate the decades-long feud between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals with an educated perspective. “It’s a divisional game,” said Eller, currently the Penguins’ third-line center. “A rivalry game. There’s going to be high emotions on both...

The missed shots hurt – badly – and Pitt had plenty of those in its 70-57 loss to No. 8 North Carolina on Tuesday night. Shots that go awry create opportunities for rebounds and second-chance points. But that was no advantage for a Pitt team that lost the battle of...

Bryan Rust burst into 2024 with a pretty buoyant attitude. At least that’s what one could surmise when the Pittsburgh Penguins forward took to the ice at PPG Paints Arena for a morning skate Tuesday waving to the handful of media members there to watch. His quips and one-liners to...

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts weren’t supposed to be here, playing a prime-time game in Week 18 with a chance to make the playoffs. Not with a rookie quarterback who then suffered a season-ending injury that forced Indy (9-7) to rely on a veteran backup for its final 12 games....

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Don’t count the Buffalo Bills out of — or into — the playoffs just yet. This has, after all, been a team that’s not made much appear easy this season. It’s remarkable that the Bills (10-6) have made made it this far. They’ve won four straight...

Seven seasons and 100-plus games into his NFL career, T.J. Watt finally is allowing himself to, at times, stop and smell the proverbial roses. “I’m able to more live in the moment a little more and be present,” Watt said after Pittsburgh Steelers practice Tuesday. “I am able to enjoy...

The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned forward Vinnie Hinostroza and defenseman Ryan Shea to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. These transactions allowed the team to formally activate forward Bryan Rust from long-term injured reserve. Hinostroza (Dec. 16) and Shea (Dec. 19) each cleared waivers recently, allowing them to be...

The prospects of All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick returning for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular-season finale look considerably more bleak after Fitzpatrick sat out Tuesday’s practice. Fitzpatrick has missed the past two games because of a knee injury, but coach Mike Tomlin left the door open that he could return for Saturday’s...

The New York Jets are waiving running back Dalvin Cook before the final game of the season, according to Cook’s agents, LAA Sports & Entertainment. The 28-year-old Cook had a disappointing tenure with the Jets, who signed the four-time Pro Bowl selection to a one-year deal worth $7 million —...

With his play the past two weeks, Mason Rudolph has put himself in position to earn a measure of job security next season when he hits free agency for the second time in his NFL career. Rudolph isn’t looking that far ahead. Not with the Pittsburgh Steelers trying to secure...

CLEVELAND — Frank Ryan, the quarterback who led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964, has died. He was 87. The team said Ryan died Monday at a nursing home in Connecticut. There was no immediate cause of death given, but Ryan’s son, Frank Ryan Jr., told...

Saying he felt like his character was attacked, Kenny Pickett strongly denied accusations that he refused to be the backup quarterback behind starter Mason Rudolph on Sunday in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-23 victory at Seattle. Pickett addressed the allegations Tuesday morning before practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “There was...

Of the two clear signs the PGA Tour is about to embark on a new year at Kapalua, one is obvious: The magnificent view from the first tee of an 80-yard fairway that seemingly drops into the Pacific Ocean. The other is more bizarre: Jon Rahm sightings. Rahm is the...

Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t faced a defense like Michigan’s, and the Wolverines certainly haven’t faced a quarterback like the Heisman Trophy runner-up from Washington. The matchup will be the most intriguing in the College Football Playoff championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Jan. 8. That much was assured...

MADRID — The Spanish player kissed on the lips by the soccer president at the Women’s World Cup final appeared in court on Tuesday to testify in the sexual assault case against the former official. Jenni Hermoso was at the Madrid court to give her version of the kiss by...

BRISBANE, Australia — His arms raised triumphantly, unable to conceal a winner’s grin, Rafael Nadal took time to savor a victory that was 12 months and a lot of rehab in the making. Sure, it was the first round of a season-opening tournament, but it felt momentous for the 22-time...

NEW ORLEANS — The remarkable comeback story of Michael Penix Jr. is a victory away from a perfect ending for Washington. Penix passed for 430 yards and two touchdowns, and the Huskies held off Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night to advance to the College Football Playoff...