Sports category, Page 680
Department of Justice, 3 more states, District of Columbia join lawsuit against NCAA transfer rules
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Department of Justice, three more states and the District of Columbia have joined a lawsuit against the NCAA’s transfer eligibility rule. The federal agency signed on to the action, saying in its announcement this week that the NCAA rule on transfers is “an illegal restraint on...
Atlanta Falcons complete 2nd interview with former Patriots coach Bill Belichick
ATLANTA — Bill Belichick completed his second coaching interview with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, moving closer to joining the franchise that endured its biggest disappointment with him on the opposite sideline. The Falcons also met virtually with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, but all eyes were on Belichick...
Capitals sign Aliaksei Protas to a 5-year extension worth $16.876 million
The Washington Capitals have signed forward Aliaksei Protas to a five-year extension worth $16.875 million, a long-term commitment to a young player the organization believes is on an upward trajectory. General manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal Friday. When the new contract kicks in next season, Protas will count $3.375...
Examining potential offensive coordinator candidates for Steelers
For only the second time since 1999, the Pittsburgh Steelers will go outside the organization to find their offensive coordinator. Coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that he wants to bring in a newcomer as the full-time replacement for Matt Canada, who was dismissed in November midway through his third season...
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka reaches 4th round at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and U.S. Open winner Coco Gauff swept to commanding wins at the Australian Open on Friday to reach the fourth round. Second-seeded Sabalenka beat Lesia Tsurenko, 6-0, 6-0, in 52 minutes, and No. 4-seeded Gauff lost just two games in beating fellow American...
Report: Reliever Josh Hader agrees to 5-year, $95M contract with Astros
Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros agreed to a $95 million, five-year contract Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Hader will get a $19 million salary in...
Raiders hire Antonio Pierce as coach, remove ‘interim’ tag
Las Vegas Raiders players lobbied for Antonio Pierce to be the full-time head coach since he stepped in as the interim at midseason. On Friday, Pierce officially got the gig. The Raiders announced the hiring of Pierce as their new coach, crossing out the word “interim” in a post on...
Pirates add 21 prospects from 7 countries in international signing period
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday they have signed 21 prospects from seven countries in the international signing period, including a pair of players ranked in the top 50. The list features nine players from Dominican Republic, five from Venezuela, three from Panama and one each from Australia, the Bahamas, Curacao...
Sports Illustrated fires all staffers
Sports Illustrated, one of the most respected sports publications in the country since its inception in 1954, fired all of its staffers Friday, according to a report in the New York Post. The Post report stated that Sports Illustrated owner the Arena Group informed staffers of their termination Friday. SI...
Steelers’ T.J. Watt will skip Pro Bowl event because of injury
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt will not participate in the NFL’s Pro Bowl games because of a knee injury that prevented him from playing in last week’s playoff game. The Cleveland Browns gave word of Watt’s absence via the announcement that two of their players — linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah...
Mark Madden: Unless the Penguins really heat up, Kyle Dubas must trade Jake Guentzel
The NHL trade deadline is March 8. The Pittsburgh Penguins must do a lot better between now and then to justify not trading winger Jake Guentzel, who is a free agent at season’s end. For me, the minimum level would be top two in the Metropolitan Division, a reborn power...
Penguins visit Vegas with goal of sweeping defending Stanley Cup champs
Considering that they’ve won as many games as they’ve lost midway through the season, it’s safe to say the campaign has been something of a mixed bag so far for the Pittsburgh Penguins. On one hand, they’re 21-15-6 (48 points) and are on the outside of the NHL playoff picture...
Football Footnotes: Beyond the QBs, analyzing 5 other points Mike Tomlin made about improving the Steelers
This week’s “Football Footnotes” provides an in-depth look at many topics Mike Tomlin addressed regarding the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers during his season-ending press conference. Except for the quarterbacks. We talked about them already. But there are plenty of other marshmallows in this bowl of Lucky Charms. The big picture Tomlin...
Tim Benz: Mason Rudolph should charge Steelers a ‘trust tax’ if they try to sign him
During the course of quarterback Mason Rudolph’s unlikely three-game win streak to help push the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs, coach Mike Tomlin often seemed guarded in his praise of the former third-stringer. It was almost as if Tomlin didn’t want to feed the hype surrounding his resurgence. Or,...
Dwight Clay earned ’15 minutes of fame for 50 years’ with streak-busting basket to beat UCLA
The story of how Dwight Clay ended up making the long journey — geographically and culturally — from Pittsburgh’s Hill District to Notre Dame’s South Bend campus where he impacted college basketball like no one before him starts with Mary Clay, his mom. “Everyone knew Mary Clay,” Dwight Clay said....
Pitt Take 5: After confronting Duke at Cameron, will Panthers’ road get easier?
No one should be surprised North Carolina and Duke are the only two ACC teams that appear to have Final Four potential. At least, to this point of the season, with seven weeks left before the conference tournament. Yeah, it’s early, but ESPN’s Joe Lunardi posts his bracketology in June....
John Harbaugh, with mix of love and old-school rigor, has Ravens set for playoff run
Anxiety percolated behind the scenes. How could it not? Lamar Jackson, the superstar quarterback around whom the Baltimore Ravens had shaped their roster and their plans, asked to be traded. John Harbaugh, entering his 16th season as the team’s coach, faced the prospect of starting over at the most important...
Packers QB Jordan Love offers different challenge for 49ers from past playoffs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers had plenty of success going up against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs when Aaron Rodgers was running the show. The Niners knocked Rodgers and the Packers out of the playoffs four times, including twice in the previous four seasons. While...
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Texans’ C.J. Stroud ready for rematch
BALTIMORE — When Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud faced off in Week 1 back in September, it was not a good representation of how those two would play this season. Jackson threw an early interception. Each quarterback lost a fumble. Stroud was sacked five times and Jackson four. “I haven’t...
Mike McCarthy sells belief in playoff breakthrough that has eluded Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy sifted through several versions of selling his belief that the Dallas Cowboys can find a level of postseason success that has eluded the storied franchise for nearly three decades. The coach faced reporters a day after a meeting with owner and general manager Jerry Jones...
Mike Tomlin looking for experienced NFL offensive coordinator to join Steelers’ staff
If Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin were placing a help wanted ad for a new offensive coordinator, he likely would include the following phrase: “Those without previous experience need not apply.” Tomlin said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference that he wants his next offensive coordinator to have NFL coordinating...
Anna Blinkova upsets Elena Rybakina in record-long Australian Open tiebreaker
MELBOURNE, Australia — Her hand and her legs were shaking, she’d missed nine match points but also saved six, and Anna Blinkova was 41 points into a wild tiebreaker that was the longest ever in a women’s Grand Slam event. Elena Rybakina, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, was just as...
Miami TE Cam McCormick says he’s coming back for 9th year of college
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami tight end Cam McCormick said Thursday that he is coming back for a ninth season of college football. He is believed to be the first with a ninth season granted by the NCAA. McCormick’s career was derailed multiple times by season-ending injuries, some of which...
Falcons plan for 2nd interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Eagles’ Brian Johnson
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are planning for a second interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson for the head coaching vacancy on Thursday. Belichick made the Falcons his first known interview Monday since leaving the New England Patriots. Belichick won a record six...
Kenny Pickett back to Steelers QB1 but Mike Tomlin hopes Mason Rudolph returns to competeVideo
He didn’t resort to trademark “Tomlinisms,” or deploy the extra wordiness he’s sometimes wont to do. Instead, Mike Tomlin’s use of an extraordinarily elongated vowel delivered most of his message when he was asked about the man who still seeks to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise quarterback. “It’s a huuuuuuuge...
