Sports category, Page 971
WVU receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton among 2 prospects to meet with Steelers
Among the two players to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday was a wide receiver who had to make the short commute up Interstate 79 from Morgantown, W.Va. Bryce Ford-Wheaton, a 6-foot-4, 221-pound receiving threat, and Bowling Green defensive end Karl Brooks conducted top-30 visits at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex....
First QB helmet designed to help reduce concussions approved
The first quarterback-specific helmet designed to help reduce concussions has been approved for use by the NFL and NFLPA, the AP has learned. The helmet, manufactured by Vicis, reduces severity of helmet-to-ground impacts, which league data says account for approximately half of quarterback concussions, including the one suffered by Miami’s...
Blackhawks announce Toews will not be back next season
CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will not return to the team next year, ending a wildly successful run that included three Stanley Cup championships in 15 seasons. General manager Kyle Davidson said Thursday that the team will not re-sign its longtime center, who turns 35 on April 29....
Penn State wideout Harrison Wallace III has taken a step forward this spring, but how big of a step?
When Penn State needed a wideout to break out and replace KJ Hamler after the 2019 season, Jahan Dotson stepped up and produced two elite years. After Dotson left the Nittany Lions to enter the 2022 NFL Draft, PSU leaned on the 1-2 punch of Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley....
Peter Skoronski stands apart in NFL draft class of legacy players
INDIANAPOLIS — Peter Skoronski looks like a custom-built NFL offensive lineman. He stands 6-foot-4, weighs 313 pounds and has 10-inch hands. He earned all-Big Ten honors three straight years at Northwestern, was named the league’s top lineman last season and honed his skills by working against defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore,...
Women’s tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott
The women’s professional tennis tour will bring its events back to China later this year, announcing on Thursday the end of a boycott instituted in late 2021 over concerns about the safety of former player Peng Shuai after she accused a high-ranking government official there of sexual assault. WTA Chairman...
First Call: A new Steeler has draft advice for the franchise; local MLB star signs big contract
A new Pittsburgh Steeler is giving out draft advice to the franchise. A Penn State alum is unhappy with his franchise tag. A local baseball star just hit it rich. And college hockey is catching on with ESPN viewers. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.” Pat Pete playing GM? Appearing...
Tim Benz: Plenty of worthy goats, sacrificial lambs after Penguins’ elimination — but no room for sacred cows
When we first heard the “Fi-re Hex-tall” chants from Pittsburgh Penguins fans at PPG Paints Arena during a 7-2 beatdown from the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 24, they really resonated. As general manager of the Penguins, Ron Hextall assumed a job that can’t escape criticism. His predecessors — Craig Patrick,...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: With JT Brubaker out, Pirates starting to sweat starting pitching depth
When Ben Cherington dabbed a black towel on the beads of perspiration on his forehead while talking to reporters Wednesday morning near the home dugout at PNC Park, it appeared the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager was battling the sunshine on his face. Then again, he could have been sweating about...
Pirates farm report for April 12, 2023: Mason Martin homers twice in Altoona win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 5-6) struggled to get the bats going in a 5-1 loss to St. Paul (Twins). C Grant Koch (.200) was 1 for 3 and drove in the only Indians run with an RBI single. SS Tucupita Marcano (.405) was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. RF Travis Swaggerty...
U mad, bro?: Penguins have been eliminated from playoff contention. And fans are every bit as angry as they should be
Now that the Pittsburgh Penguins will officially miss the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the angst from the fan base is thick. Wow! “U mad, bro?” is going to be stocked for weeks. It doesn’t even matter that no one cares about the Pirates anymore. And I don’t...
Mock draft predicts Steelers will take Georgia offensive tackleVideo
The Carolina Panthers have been on the clock since making a blockbuster trade last month to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and get their choice of potential franchise quarterbacks. There’s still no general consensus on which QB will go first. Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud?...
Masters champ Rahm ready to keep going at RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — An exhausted, jubilant Jon Rahm wondered if he’d earned a break. The Masters’ champion, worn out from his four-shot victory last week, thought hard about passing up the RBC Heritage and taking some well-deserved rest. In the end, Rahm honored his commitment — and will...
Browns DT Perrion Winfrey arrested on misdemeanor assault charge
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns second-year defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was arrested in Texas on a misdemeanor assault charge earlier this week for allegedly causing bodily harm to a woman he was dating. According to Harris County court records, Winfrey was arrested at 7 p.m. Monday and charged with one count...
Minor league report: Nailers’ win streak reaches 3
Two goals by forward Keltie Jeri-Leon led the Wheeling Nailers to a 5-2 road win against the Iowa Heartlanders at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Wednesday. Forward Ross Krieger had a goal and an assist for Wheeling (28-36-5-0) while defenseman Chris Ortiz contributed two assists. Goaltender Brad Barone made...
Where will former Nittany Lions go in the 2023 NFL Draft? Here are the latest projectionsVideo
Penn State football has multiple former players receiving projections to land in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. seemingly has a first round pick projection everywhere you look, while other Nittany Lions have projections with a broader range. Let’s take a look at...
Penguins eliminated from postseason contention after Islanders beat Canadiens
For the first time since 2006, the Pittsburgh Penguins have failed to qualify for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. They were formally eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday by virtue of the New York Islanders claiming a 4-2 home win against the Montreal Canadiens at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y....
Could five quarterbacks be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft? See latest odds
BY SPENCER URQUHART | Home Field Sports There are at least four quarterbacks expected to go in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but the latest odds show that up to five could be selected on Day 1. The 2023 quarterback class has four consensus first round prospects...
Umpire hospitalized after being hit in head by relay throw
CLEVELAND — Umpire Larry Vanover is being evaluated for a concussion and other injuries at a hospital after being struck in the head with a relay throw during Wednesday’s game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. The 67-year-old Vanover was knocked down by the throw from Guardians All-Star...
Rangers SS Seager out at least 4 weeks with hamstring strain
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager will miss at least four weeks after being placed on the injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain after getting hurt running the bases. General manager Chris Young said Seager had an MRI that showed a Grade 2 strain. Seager, who...
Penguins’ postseason hopes finally extinguished
Perhaps the only thing sharper than Sidney Crosby’s dagger of a backhander is his comprehensive memory. Ask him about any random game in November 2008 or some mundane goal a long-departed teammate scored during the late winter of 2014, he can recall seemingly any nugatory detail such as what kind...
Salt Lake City group seeks MLB expansion team
SALT LAKE CITY — While Major League Baseball has no current plans to add teams, the family that used to own the NBA’s Utah Jazz says it wants an expansion franchise. The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company said Wednesday a coalition calling itself Big League Utah has...
Penguins’ loss to Chicago joins long list of confounding, season-altering defeats
It has taken little time for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Tuesday night loss against Chicago to be assessed by fans and pundits as their worst defeat this season, one to be remembered for many years. The full impact of the loss was clear Wednesday night, after the Islanders beat the Canadiens,...
Pirates starter JT Brubaker has Tommy John surgery on right elbow, to miss 14-16 months
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will be out 14-16 months. The Pirates revealed news of Brubaker’s surgery, which was performed by Arlington, Texas-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, after their 7-0...
Tim Benz: Pirates riding the ups and downs during the early stages of life without Oneil CruzVideo
Not one to show much emotion, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington couldn’t help hide a wry smile and a chuckle at the turn of phrase during a reporter’s question. The suggestion essentially was that once doctors performed surgery on Oneil Cruz’s broken ankle, it was “the best case scenario” diagnosis....
