Sports category, Page 461
Pitt Take 5: Panthers’ final 2 games could be most revealing of the season
On some teams in Pitt’s situation — a three-game losing streak, only two games to go, both away from home — there might be a tendency to treat the end of the season as an afterthought. By all accounts from remarks made by players and coaches, that’s not the case...
5 things to watch in H.S. football: WPIAL finals at Acrisure Stadium bring added excitement and sometimes new shoes
Pine-Richland coach Jon LeDonne wonders what the grass at Acrisure Stadium might look like when the WPIAL 5A final kicks off Saturday night. He’s not necessarily worried, just curious. The three WPIAL championship games LeDonne coached in previously were all played elsewhere on artificial turf. Peters Township’s T.J. Plack shares...
Steelers’ George Pickens: ‘I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all’Video
CLEVELAND — For the sixth time over their past seven games here, the Pittsburgh Steelers headed home without a win. George Pickens has lost each of the three games in Cleveland since he entered the league in 2022. But after Thursday’s 24-19 loss, Pickens evoked similar words about the Browns...
After outshining Steelers’ T.J. Watt, Browns’ Myles Garrett proclaims himself ‘No. 1 edge defender’ in NFL
CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett finally had a signature game against his biggest rival. As in, both the team and peer at his position. Garrett had three sacks, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss on a fourth down in helping lift the Cleveland Browns to a 24-19 win against...
Browns stun Steelers with last-minute TD for another Thursday night loss
CLEVELAND – This was everything the Pittsburgh Steelers expected of a Thursday night game in late November against the Cleveland Browns: sub-freezing temperatures, a snow-covered field and a deflating defeat. The Browns capitalized on a confusing call when the Steelers’ decision to accept a penalty backfired, and Nick Chubb scored...
Steelers notes: Justin Fields deployed in ‘jumbo’ short-yardage package fails early
CLEVELAND — During the first half of Thursday night’s game, the Pittsburgh Steelers went “big” with a play involving backup quarterback Justin Fields. Twice. The results, however, were not good. On two short-yardage, “possession-down” occasions during the first quarter, the Steelers inserted Fields into the game in lieu of starting...
Folgueiras’ 19 help Robert Morris knock off Cornell 86-76Video
ITHACA, N.Y. — Alvaro Folgueiras had 19 points in Robert Morris’ 86-76 win over Cornell on Thursday night. Folgueiras added 12 rebounds — which gave him four double-doubles this season — and three steals for the Colonials (5-2), who won their fifth in a row. Amarion Dickerson scored 15 points...
Frustrated Bengals still looking for ways to win close games
CINCINNATI — After the Cincinnati Bengals let yet another close game slip away, Joe Burrow acknowledged this is the most frustrating season of his NFL career. Someone asked why. “Self-explanatory,” Cincinnati’s star quarterback said. That it is. Burrow is playing great football. He’s making spectacular throws on the run and...
Ravens’ Jackson, Chargers’ Herbert will take center stage once Harbaugh Bowl kicks off Monday nightVideo
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Most of the attention surrounding Monday night’s showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers has been centered on the first coaching matchup since 2012 between John and Jim Harbaugh. Once the game kicks off, all the focus will be on quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and...
WR Scotty Miller inactive for Steelers vs. Browns
CLEVELAND – For the second time in three games since the team acquired Mike Williams, wide receiver Scotty Miller was deemed a gameday inactive by the Pittsburgh Steelers for Thursday night’s game at the Cleveland Browns. A six-year veteran who won a Super Bowl ring playing with Tom Brady’s Tampa...
Ohtani wins 3rd MVP award, 1st in NL; Judge wins second AL MVP in 3 seasonsVideo
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third MVP Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. The L.A. Dodgers’ Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by...
Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legVideo
Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from...
With 10th victory within reach, Penn State hopes to maintain momentum vs. Minnesota
Slow starts have been a recurring theme this season for Penn State. The first case of a sluggish beginning came in Week 2 against Bowling Green, with the Nittany Lions needing to dig themselves out of a halftime hole against a Mid-American Conference foe. From there, Penn State navigated through...
Quarterback Eli Holstein cleared to play, but Pitt’s starter vs. Louisville remains mystery
If he chooses to use them, Pat Narduzzi will have both quarterbacks available Saturday when Pitt visits Louisville. Narduzzi said Thursday that Eli Holstein, who left the Syracuse and Virginia games with apparent head injuries, has been cleared medically to play. “He’s cleared to play right now,” Narduzzi said, without...
MLB will test robot umpires at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teamsVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is...
NFL issues security alert to teams, players’ union after recent burglariesVideo
The NFL issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union Thursday following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by the Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for...
Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk remains ‘a work in progress, for sure’
It was a pretty sedate offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins this past summer. After splurging on the likes of defensemen Ryan Graves and Erik Karlsson the year prior, management mostly operated with a frugal budget and looked for the clearance rack of dented cans or torn boxes in the rear...
Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe traded in Western Hockey LeagueVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe was traded within the Western Hockey League (WHL) on Thursday. A left-handed shot, Howe was dealt by the Regina Pats to the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for forward Keet Fawcett and defenseman Reese Hamilton as well as draft picks in future WHL draft. Serving...
Penguins’ Drew O’Connor adjusts to life at center; Bryan Rust tapped as temporary alternate captain
Drew O’Connor offered a self-critique about his game earlier this week, specifically regarding a recent change to his nightly duties, having been deployed at center as opposed to the wing. “There’s definitely some things I can continue to work on — faceoffs being one of them,” O’Connor said. “That’s probably...
West Virginia tries to secure bowl eligibility in final home game against UCF
UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) at West Virginia (5-5, 4-3) Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) BetMGM College Football Odds: UCF by 3. Series record: West Virginia leads 3-0. What’s at stake? West Virginia can become bowl eligible with a win. UCF, coming off a bye week, needs to win both of...
Injured Penguins forward Kevin Hayes closing in on return to lineup
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kevin Hayes is closing in on a potential return to the lineup as he recovers from an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him for the past seven games. On Thursday in Cranberry, Hayes skated in practice in a full capacity. He engaged in full contact but did...
New hitting coach Matt Hague excited to help Pirates find ‘road maps’ to success at the plate
Once the opening became official that the Pittsburgh Pirates were searching for a new hitting coach, Matt Hague didn’t just express interest. He wanted to beat them to the punch. A former Pirates farmhand who made the Opening Day roster in 2012, Hague was energized during the interview process by...
Tim Benz: It’s not ‘How do the Steelers keep losing in Cleveland?’ It’s ‘Why haven’t they been able to fix the problem?’
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent failures in Cleveland, the question shouldn’t be, “How does this keep happening?” The question should be, “Why do the Steelers constantly let this happen?” Because the “how” part is clear. There has been an obvious formula that the Browns have followed to...
First Call: Would Andy Weidl leave for New York? Bad weather predicted for Steelers-BrownsVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” examines the prospect of Andy Weidl potentially leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers to assume the vacant general manager’s job with the New York Jets. The weather is supposed to be lousy for Thursday night’s Steelers-Browns game. A quintet of former Penguins find the back to the net with...
U mad, bro?: The Steelers are 8-2, but readers still have plenty of complaints
These days, I find that a lot of people are mad about the election, political appointments, inflation, taxes, border security, international conflict and a few other weighty topics. Like how Netflix streamed the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight and why the Pittsburgh Penguins can’t hold a two-goal lead. But my readers...
