Sports category, Page 1121
Alex Highsmith likely the lone candidate for offseason contact extension from Steelers
This past offseason, three significant members of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster were given big-money contract extensions. This coming offseason, there’s seemingly only one player who fits the criteria to receive such a multiyear contract. And the timing might not be better for Alex Highsmith, the outside linebacker who in his...
Steelers criticized for CPR-like act after sackVideo
Some on social media have expressed disappointment or anger toward a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers players for appearing to mime a CPR act after a sack late during Sunday’s season-ending victory. In an apparent celebratory act that the Steelers have, at various times, performed this season after big defensive plays,...
Jaguars finally get it right after years, decades of errors
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars usually mess it up. They fired Tom Coughlin too soon. They kept Jack Del Rio, Gus Bradley and Doug Marrone too long. They gambled on Urban Meyer, Nick Foles, David Garrard and countless others and almost always got burned. Whether it was draft picks,...
Robert Spillane, Terrell Edmunds among Steelers’ 18 UFAs expressing eagerness to come back
It’s a rite of passage in the days after a season ends for a professional sports team. In public comments with the cameras and recorders rolling, soon-to-be free agents express how much they love being part of their current team and that they’d love to be back. Monday at UPMC...
Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow make College Football Hall of Fame
Reggie Bush, whose Heisman Trophy victory for Southern California in 2005 was vacated because of NCAA violations, was among 18 players in the latest College Football Hall of Fame class announced Monday. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman in 2007, was also elected to the hall by the...
Bills safety Damar Hamlin back in Buffalo to resume recovery
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills safety Damar Hamlin said he returned to Buffalo on Monday “with a lot of love on my heart” to continue his recovery in a hospital there, a week after going into cardiac arrest and having to be resuscitated on the field during a game in...
Illinois women end 23-year AP Top 25 drought, LSU on rise
Off to one of the best starts in school history, Illinois cracked The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll for the first time in 23 years on Monday. The Illini (14-3) are ranked No. 24 in their first Top 25 appearance since Nov. 27, 2000. It’s been a remarkable...
Jim Rutherford wishes his Penguins tenure ‘had ended different’
It won’t be a homecoming for Jim Rutherford. That’s because he won’t be in Pittsburgh. When the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Vancouver Canucks at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, Rutherford will be elsewhere. His current employer, the Canucks, will be involved in scouting meetings, and, as president of hockey operations,...
Mark Madden: Mike Tomlin is ‘great’ just because. And that’ll have to do
The avalanche of praise began not long after the clock hit three zeroes in the Steelers’ victory Sunday: “Mike Tomlin is Coach of the Year, end of story. One of the best coaching jobs ever.” — ex-NFL GM Michael Lombardi, currently a podcaster. “Mike Tomlin is incredible. He has not...
Houston back at No. 1, Kansas State jumps to 11th in AP poll
Houston is back at No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the second time this season, while Kansas State continued its unexpectedly strong start by leaping from unranked to the verge of the top 10. The Cougars received 34 of 60 first-place votes in...
Kliff Kingsbury, Steve Keim out as Cardinals undergo franchise makeover
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have fired coach Kliff Kingsbury and parted ways with general manager Steve Keim after a dreadful season that saw constant unwanted headlines, a serious knee injury to star quarterback Kyler Murray and lots of losing. The team confirmed the changes Monday. “We have announced...
Mike Tomlin won’t commit on retaining Matt Canada; Browns requested to interview Brian Flores
Mike Tomlin made clear two things when asked whether there will be any changes to the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff. One, he wasn’t going to use Monday’s season wrap-up news conference to divulge any details on whether he was considering any changes. Two, rest assured, head coach won’t be one...
Packers LB Quay Walker apologizes after his 2nd ejection
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers linebacker Quay Walker has apologized via social media after getting ejected from Green Bay’s regular-season finale for shoving a Lions team physician who was attending to an injured player. “I reacted off of my emotions again and take full responsibility of making another stupid decision,”...
Penn-Trafford grad Hunter DeStefano contributes to 2 men’s sports at CarlowVideo
Ask Val Pennington how senior Hunter DeStefano manages his schedule, and the normally erudite coach struggles to find an accurate explanation. DeStefano, a Penn-Trafford grad, is a nursing major who carries a 3.9 GPA. He is in his fourth season as a member of the Carlow men’s basketball team, and...
Young Penn State New Ken men’s basketball has high hopes after solid 1st half of seasonVideo
Brant Mack took over the Penn State New Kensington men’s basketball team at a less-than-opportune time. He was hired in October 2020, when the world was in the grip of the covid-19 pandemic. Building up the program was going to be tough enough, but without a year of competition to...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Pitt-Greensburg women rally past Alfred State
What’s a trip to New York without a little excitement? Freshman Madison Scalese made two free throws with one second remaining as the Pitt-Greensburg women’s basketball team rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final 6:58 to defeat host Alfred State, 66-65. Senior Sidney McCully had 16 points, 12 rebounds...
John Clay: A question that has to be asked: Has John Calipari at Kentucky run its course?
TUSCALOOSA,, Ala. — Saturday night in downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats was enjoying dinner at the popular Chuck’s Fish restaurant, accepting congratulations for his team’s 78-52 rout of traditional power Kentucky that afternoon at Coleman Coliseum. Meanwhile, the losing Wildcats were on their quiet flight back to Lexington,...
3 takeaways: Penguins get 1st win at Arizona’s Mullett Arena
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-1 road win against the Arizona Coyotes was their first contest in Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University. The facility, which is named after university benefactors Donald and Barbara Mullett, is serving as a temporary home to the Coyotes after they were evicted from...
Browns fire defensive coordinator Joe Woods after 3 seasons
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Woods took the fall for the Cleveland Browns falling flat again. Cleveland fired its embattled defensive coordinator Monday as his group’s communication issues and inability to stop the run had a major role in the Browns finishing 7-10 and missing the playoffs for the second straight...
At 7-10, Browns short of expectations for 2nd straight year
PITTSBURGH — Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said he’s optimistic about the future of the organization, but admitted Sunday he’ll be “frustrated as hell” for the next several weeks as he watches other players live their dreams during the playoffs. “It’s frustrating to watch, whether they’re friends or former...
NFL playoffs: Seahawks are in field after Lions stun Packers
The NFL’s Week 18 saved its best drama for the final game of the weekend. The Detroit Lions — eliminated from playoff contention earlier Sunday when the Seahawks beat the Rams — pushed past their disappointment and played the role of a spoiler, rallying to beat Green Bay, 20-16, on...
Houston Texans fire coach Lovie Smith after just 1 season
HOUSTON — Lovie Smith fought until the bitter end to help the Houston Texans to a win in the finale of a dismal season, with his fate likely already sealed. Hours later he was out of a job. Smith was fired as coach of the Texans on Sunday night after...
Madden Monday: Reflecting on Steelers in 2022 — ‘I just don’t see it as a successful season’
The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 2022 regular season in what has become very routine territory for them of late. At 9-8, they are .500-ish. This year that’s not good enough to make the playoffs. Last year 9-7-1 was barely good enough to qualify. All too familiar is the fact that...
Steelers vs. Browns: What they’re saying in Cleveland after 28-14 loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not headed to the playoffs. But their AFC North rival Cleveland Browns had nothing to do with ruining any postseason dreams. Both teams head into the offseason trending in different directions after the Browns’ 28-14 loss Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers began the season with...
First Call: Steelers get top pick in 2nd round; Watt brothers honor J.J.; Bengals mock NFL’s coin-flip idea
Monday’s “First Call” sees the Steelers’ draft fortunes improve. Derek and T.J. Watt reach out from Pittsburgh to support their retiring big brother in Arizona. We have AFC playoff odds. The Cincinnati Bengals make fun of the NFL’s coin-flip idea. And Jets coach Robert Saleh apologizes to (almost) everybody for...
