No Steelers on PFWA NFL All Pro team; Cam Heyward lands on all-AFC team
Mirroring the more publicized Associated Press All Pro team, the Pittsburgh Steelers were likewise shut out of having any All-NFL recognition from the Pro Football Writers of America. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, again, however was part of a still-prestigious but slightly lesser honor. Heyward was on the All-AFC team released...
‘I’m worried about it’: Pitt’s Jeff Capel weighs in amid college points-shaving gambling scandal
The recently revealed college basketball points-shaving scandal, one of a growing number of controversies surrounding gambling on games by both professional and collegiate athletes, featured ties to Pittsburgh. Former Robert Morris forward Markeese Hastings was among those federally indicted for intentionally underperforming during games as part of the scheme. In...
Mark Madden: Steelers could reunite Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy — and waste another season
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly open to Aaron Rodgers returning, even with Mike Tomlin quitting. Rodgers likely wouldn’t want to. He came to Pittsburgh specifically to play for Tomlin. But what if Mike McCarthy succeeded Tomlin? The Greenfield native coached Rodgers to a Super Bowl win (against the Steelers) in...
Bills fire Sean McDermott after 9 seasons of falling short of reaching Super Bowl
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Sean McDermott arrived in Buffalo in 2017, envisioning the day of looking out his office window and seeing a throng of fans celebrating a Super Bowl victory. That possibility ended Monday, when McDermott was abruptly fired by team owner Terry Pegula after a nine-year tenure in...
First Call: Brian Flores to have in-person coaching interview; Steelers must wait on Rams candidates
Monday’s “First Call” has some updates on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching situation. New England has tied a noteworthy Steelers’ historical mark. And we lay out the Penguins’ western road trip, which gets underway Monday evening in Seattle. Return trip Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is coming to Pittsburgh this...
Tim Benz: Steelers are reportedly ‘open to an Aaron Rodgers return.’ Here’s why they shouldn’t be
Aaron Rodgers’ reported reaction to the resignation of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin tells a lot. According to a post in “The Athletic,” the Steelers’ quarterback was heard “through sobs” telling his coach, “I’m sorry” after Tomlin’s announcement to the team. The reason for that is clear. Rodgers knows his presence...
Madden Monday: Art Rooney II ‘wasted a decade,’ so expect the Steelers to ‘hire the wrong guy’
Conventional thinking is that the Pittsburgh Steelers will attempt to hire a head coach who is in his mid-30s, has never held an NFL coaching job and is a current defensive coordinator. Their previous three coaches — Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin — all won Super Bowls. They...
Chris Gotterup wins PGA Tour opener in Hawaii. Elvira takes Dubai Invitational
HONOLULU — Chris Gotterup opened the new PGA Tour season with three big birdies on the back nine that carried him to a 6-under 64 and a two-shot victory in the Sony Open, his third straight season with a victory as he moves closer to golf’s A-list. Gotterup was two...
Coco Gauff advances to 2nd round at Australian Open despite serving struggles
MELBOURNE, Australia — Third-seeded Coco Gauff had some familiar struggles on serve but had still enough class and power to defeat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 on Monday in a first-round match at the Australian Open. Gauff has won two Grand Slam titles but has never gone past the semifinals at...
Rams shake off wild TD pass by Caleb Williams to force OT, beat Bears to reach NFC title game
CHICAGO — Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams survived an incredible throw by Caleb Williams that forced overtime, beating the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday night to advance to the NFC championship game. Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal in OT after Kam Curl intercepted a deep pass...
Mac Engel: College football’s 12-team playoff is way too long and far too expensive
The “get in” price to watch the Indiana Hoosiers play the Miami Hurricanes for the national title is now up to a record $3,434. According to StubHub, this price qualifies as “Amazing.” Not only is it amazing, but incredible, fantastic and a host of other glowing adjectives, provided you are...
Maye throws 3 TD passes, Stroud has 4 INTs as Patriots top Texans to advance to AFC title gameVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, Marcus Jones returned one of C.J. Stroud’s four interceptions for a score and the New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 on Sunday to advance to the AFC championship game for the first time in seven years. In Mike Vrabel’s...
New Penguins forward Egor Chinakhov finds success with linemate Evgeni Malkin
Even if he is the man in the middle of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ second line, center Tommy Novak is the odd man out. At least when it comes to discussions with his Russian wingers, Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin. “When they talk, I don’t understand what they’re saying,” quipped the...
Pitt adds another kicker from transfer portal in Western Illinois’ Antonio Chadha
Pitt’s situation at kicker took more shape Sunday when Western Illinois transfer Antonio Chadha announced a commitment to the Panthers. He follows Samuel Hunsaker, a kicker from Northern Arizona (which, like Western Illinois, competes in the Football Championship Subdivision), who committed to Pitt on Jan. 11. While the transfer portal...
Mark Cuban’s financial support has helped transform Indiana’s football program
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Mark Cuban understands what this moment means for Indiana football, probably more than most. Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur, is a minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. He knows what winning looks like. Knows what — and how long — it takes to build a successful program....
Injured Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson returns to practiceVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson rejoined his teammates for a practice session in Cranberry on Sunday. Currently designated to injured reserve due to an undisclosed malady, he operated in a non-contact fashion and worked on a “fourth” pairing with defenseman Jack St. Ivany. Karlsson has missed the past three games...
Curt Cignetti has brought Indiana to national championship game in just 2 years
MIAMI — Indiana coach Curt Cignetti built a winner right away with a recruiting strategy built for a new era of college football. Turns out, he’s not the only one with a knack for bringing talent to the Hoosiers. On the eve of Indiana’s first trip to the national title...
David Coit ties program record with 9 3s, scores 43; Maryland beats Penn State
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — David Coit tied the program’s single-game record for made 3-pointers and scored a career-high 43 points — 30 in the first half — to help Maryland beat Penn State, 96-73, on Sunday for the Terrapins’ first Big Ten Conference win this season. Coit made 14 of...
Penguins recall forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Sunday. In a corresponding transaction, rookie forward Rutger McGroarty was activated and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. This is Koppanen’s second recall to the NHL roster this season. Summoned on Nov. 6, Koppanen appeared in 10...
Report: Steelers to interview Pittsburgh native, Super Bowl champion Mike McCarthy
The Pittsburgh Steelers coaching search is adding a candidate with Steel City roots. Greenfield native Mike McCarthy, a Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, will interview with the Steelers, according to reports by NFL Network and ESPN. McCarthy, 62, is the oldest and most experienced of the head...
Bo Nix breaks his right ankle late in Broncos’ playoff win, will have season-ending surgery
DENVER — Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Denver Broncos’ divisional-round victory over Buffalo on Saturday and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs. Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his second-year quarterback in the aftermath of...
Cade Cavalli and Nationals agree to $870,000 contract, settle arbitration case with smallest gap
WASHINGTON — Right-hander Cade Cavalli and the Washington National avoided salary arbitration Sunday when they agreed to a one-year contract worth $870,000, a deal that includes a 2027 team option. When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries on Jan. 8, Cavalli asked for $900,000 and the Nationals offered $825,000. The...
Green Day to open 60th Super Bowl with anniversary ceremony celebrating generations of MVPs
LOS ANGELES — The NFL is marking the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl with a hometown opening act. Green Day will kick off the big game with an opening ceremony Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the league announced Sunday. The performance will celebrate six decades...
Joe Starkey’s Stick Route: Steelers should have at least interviewed Kevin Stefanski
He’s only 43. He’s a two-time NFL Coach of the Year. He made the playoffs twice as many times as all other Browns coaches combined since their rebirth in 1999. His team even won a playoff game (he wasn’t on the sidelines, but his offense dropped 40-plus on the Steelers)....
Trump plans executive order for Army-Navy game broadcast
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he intends to sign an executive order that would give an exclusive four-hour broadcast television window to the Army-Navy Game. “Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy!” he wrote on Truth Social Saturday. “I will soon sign...
