Sports category, Page 1108
First Call: Hear Tom Brady’s expletive-filled reaction to a question about his future; a Steeler gets postseason honors
Tom Brady has a NSFW reaction to a question about his NFL future. A former Pittsburgh Steeler is joining the college coaching ranks. Two current Steelers get postseason recognition. And the Penguins had a good night without even taking the ice. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Blustery Brady Tampa...
Tim Benz: Steelers fans may hope for Cincinnati’s offense, but San Francisco’s is the more logical model
As the NFL playoffs move along without the Pittsburgh Steelers involved, I’ve noticed a lot of conversation on sports talk radio and on social media to the following effect: ”If Kenny Pickett continues to develop, can the Steelers offense ever become what the Cincinnati Bengals have with Joe Burrow?” I...
Disrespected no more, Bengals prepare to face Chiefs again
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals went into Buffalo feeling disrespected and played their most complete game of the season. With tickets on sale last week for a potential neutral-site Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs AFC championship game, the Bengals came into a snowstorm and dominated the second seed. Cincinnati’s 27-10 win...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel makes connecting with his players a priority
There was a moment Saturday in the heat of Pitt’s loss to Florida State that players gathered around Jeff Capel during a timeout. With passion showing in his face, he was teaching, encouraging and making his players aware of all that was awaiting them on the court. At one point,...
Steelers sign former Penn State WR Dan Chisena to reserve/futures contract
Former Penn State wide receiver Dan Chisena is returning to his home state. After spending the past three seasons in the Minnesota Vikings organization, the 25-year-old wide receiver from Downingtown signed a reserve/futures contract Monday with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chisena, who is 6-foot-3, 202 pounds, spent last season primarily on...
Dak Prescott, Cowboys stuck in divisional-round rut another year
FRISCO, Texas — For all the progress of the first road playoff victory in 30 years, Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys still can’t get out of their divisional-round rut. Now they have another year to think about it. “They’re all independent,” the Dallas quarterback said after dropping to 0-3...
Penn State hires Virginia assistant Marques Hagans as new wide receivers coach
One week after firing Taylor Stubblefield, James Franklin and Penn State have their new wide receivers coach. Former Virginia assistant Marques Hagans will be the Nittany Lions’ new wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator, the program announced on Monday morning. “We are excited to add Marques to our family,”...
Georgia football transfer Thomas arrested on felony charge
ATHENS, Ga. — A wide receiver who recently transferred to national champion Georgia from Mississippi State was arrested Monday on felony and misdemeanor charges. Rodarius “Rara” Thomas was booked at around 4 a.m. on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery, according to...
Purdue back at No. 1 in AP Top 25, Alabama right behind
Purdue is back at No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Alabama is right behind the Boilermakers. Purdue returned to the top spot in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll on Monday, moving up two spots after Temple knocked off No. 1 Houston over the weekend. The Boilermakers received...
Penguins defenseman Jeff Petry thrives in finding shooting lanesVideo
Jake Guentzel had a pretty good perspective on the return of teammate Jeff Petry to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup. By … oh … let’s say … 40 feet. During a 4-1 home win against the Ottawa Senators, Petry, a right-handed defenseman, played his first game in more than a month...
Optimism permeates Saint Vincent men’s volleyball programVideo
Kate McCauley is in her second season as the Saint Vincent men’s volleyball coach. In a way, however, it seems a lot like Year 1. Hired in October 2021 to take over the third-year program, McCauley was thrown into the fire right before the start of preseason workouts. On top...
Plum’s Decheck brothers want to put Gannon men’s swimming on the mapVideo
Being only a year apart, brothers Justin and Joey Decheck have done a lot together. Mostly, they have competed in swimming together: through youth ranks, at Plum High School and now at Gannon. Throughout their time at Plum, they teamed on countless relays, but they never were able to set...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Seton Hill’s Jaylen McDuffie declares for NFL Draft
Jaylen McDuffie, the king of tackles at Seton Hill, is aiming big. One of the top linebackers in NCAA Division II, McDuffie announced he is declaring for the NFL Draft. The redshirt senior, collected a number of postseason honors. He was a Don Hansen Division II All-American, made the D2Football.com...
Canucks fire coach Boudreau, hire Tocchet as replacement
Bruce Boudreau has been fired as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, who are again on track to miss the playoffs with another underachieving season. The team announced the change Sunday, less than a week since president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said “major surgery” was needed to fix the Canucks,...
Jerome Lane’s rim-rattling, glass-breaking dunk still a grand slam 35 years laterVideo
Jerome Lane, a player who dominated Big East backboards for two seasons, said his legendary slam was “just another dunk.” The only difference? “Just the glass coming down,” he said. Oh, is that all? The dunk occurred Jan. 25, 1988, in Pitt’s Big East game against Providence at Fitzgerald Field...
Mark Madden: Steelers should fight neutral-site conference championships
The Pittsburgh Steelers must make sure the NFL doesn’t play its conference championship games at neutral sites. Because the NFL surely wants to. The NFL mooted the concept because of the Damar Hamlin near-tragedy, which caused cancellation of the Week 17 game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. Because...
Analysis: Defense still wins in the NFL playoffs
Defense stills wins in the playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the conference championship games with excellent defensive performances Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles also had a standout defensive effort Saturday night. While high-flying offenses led by star quarterbacks get most of the attention, defense matters. It...
Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul give U.S. 3 men in quarterfinals at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Ben Shelton’s concerns leading into his first Australian Open had less to do with playing tennis and more to do with everything else associated with the trip. His first time outside of the United States. His first time using a passport. The jet lag. The time difference....
3 takeaways: Penguins lose another Metropolitan Division game
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, in overtime at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Sunday. The result dropped their record against Metropolitan Division foes to 5-4-3. The only other team in the Metropolitan Division with fewer divisional wins this season are the Columbus Blue...
First Call: Ex-Steeler calls out Ben Roethlisberger; Brian Flores’ Arizona interview; the cash Lamar Jackson rejected
In Monday’s “First Call,” an ex-Steeler is starting up some Twitter beef with Ben Roethlisberger. We are getting some financial details about Lamar Jackson’s contract situation. Steelers assistant Brian Flores has a job interview today. And the Ravens may be trying to poach an assistant from the Cleveland Browns’ staff....
Madden Monday on long-range NHL playoff prospects: ‘I don’t think the Penguins will make it’
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest overtime defeat came Sunday afternoon in New Jersey. It was a 2-1 loss to the Devils, courtesy of a Doug Hamilton game-winning goal. The shot that won it for the Devils came on a power play after the Penguins were busted for too many men on...
Tim Benz: Where Andrew McCutchen’s presence may best benefit the Pirates — if he’s willing to go there
When Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen made the comment, I figured it was simply the right thing to say. “I want to win,” McCutchen said during a press conference to announce his return to Pittsburgh after a five-year absence. “Specifically, I want to win here. I know what it feels...
49ers beat Cowboys to advance to NFC title game
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian McCaffrey scored on a go-ahead 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and San Francisco’s defense did the rest, sending the 49ers to their second straight NFC title game with a 19-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The 49ers (15-4) used back-to-back long scoring...
Rahm outlasts rookie Thompson to win AmEx by 1 strokeVideo
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Jon Rahm took advantage of mistakes by rookie Davis Thompson over the adventuresome final three holes and closed with a 4-under-par 68 to win The American Express by one stroke Sunday, his second PGA Tour win in as many starts this year. The Spanish star pumped...
Transfer WR Dante Cephas bringing ‘the complete package’ to Penn State
Daequan Hardy was the star four years ago in Hershey. Now a starting nickel back at Penn State, Hardy led Penn Hills to a 2018 PIAA championship win over Manheim Central with four touchdowns, three interceptions and 340 all-purpose yards. His incredible individual effort helped secure Penn Hills’ second state...
