Sports category, Page 1118
Jaylen Warren promoted to Steelers’ 3rd-down back, plays more snaps than Najee Harris vs. Bills
That Jaylen Warren played more snaps at running back Sunday than Najee Harris is not necessarily a sign Warren is beginning to siphon away Harris’ playing time. But an unofficial official designation bestowed upon Warren by the coaches is. Warren’s role is as the Steelers’ third-down back was one few...
Braves sign rookie pitcher Spencer Strider to $75 million, 6-year contractVideo
ATLANTA — Even as they prepare for another postseason, the Atlanta Braves are stocking up for the future. The reigning World Series champions signed rookie right-hander Spencer Strider to a $75 million, six-year contract on Monday, the latest in a series of long-term deals for their young core. The signing...
Steelers wouldn’t mind repeat of 2019 turnaround, the last time they started 1-4
The turnover on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster has been significant enough that only about a dozen players remain from the 2019 team that also began the season with a 1-4 record. The situations are similar in that both teams underwent a quarterback change. In 2019, it was Ben Roethlisberger’s right...
Diontae Johnson responds to Ryan Clark saying Steelers ‘didn’t play like winners’
Ryan Clark criticized the effort and pride of players on his former team. A prominent current member of the team zinged back. Clark, a former Pittsburgh Steelers safety turned ESPN commentator, seemed put off by the Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. A day after posting to...
Deshaun Watson back with Browns, can attend meetings, not practice
CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson was back among his teammates, doing things he may once have taken for granted. Cleveland’s franchise quarterback is still almost two months away from playing for the Browns, but took a major step Monday. Watson returned to the team’s training facility for the first time since...
Penn State’s key stats during its 5-0 start
Penn State’s bye week is over. James Franklin’s 5-0 Nittany Lions produced a pair of impressive victories in September, winning at Purdue (35-31) and Auburn (41-12). But there is still plenty of work left. Remember: Penn State started 5-0 last season then lost six of its final eight. Will 2022...
5 things we learned: With loss to Bills, Steelers find themselves at bottom of AFC
5 things we learned from Bills 38, Steelers 3: 1. Bottom of the barrel No matter what transpires in the “Monday Night Football” game, the Steelers will enter Week 6 with the worst record in the AFC. It’s just a matter of whether they will be the sole 1-4 team...
Why doesn’t James Franklin show up on Penn State’s list of highest-paid employees?
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town. The Penn State Transparency Tracker is an ongoing effort by Spotlight PA to document and...
Panthers fire Matt Rhule after 1-4 start; Steve Wilks takes over
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said he ran out of patience with Matt Rhule’s inability to get the franchise “over the hump.” Tepper, a Pittsburgh native and Pitt and Carnegie Mellon graduate, fired his second coach in four years Monday, dismissing Rhule five games into his third...
Burrell junior shares love of hockey with Kenyan kids on mission trip to Africa
John Lukac has a burning passion for hockey and an equal desire to help people. He recently got the chance to incorporate both on a special journey that he will remember for a lifetime. Lukac, a junior at Burrell, volunteered for a 12-day mission to Kenya last month with the...
Penn-Trafford grad Kiley Dugan has been mainstay for rising Valparaiso women’s soccer teamVideo
When the Valparaiso women’s soccer team moved from the Horizon League to the Missouri Valley Conference five years ago, coach John Marovich knew he had to retool his roster. The style of play would be different. The opponents would have higher-caliber athletes. The MVC would have a higher conference RPI....
Burrell grad Ian Durci sees receiving numbers rise in second season at AlleghenyVideo
Ian Durci can laugh about it now, the way the Burrell football team’s offense has gone from coach Shawn Liotta’s preferred pass-happy style to ground and pound. “I bet coach Liotta isn’t too happy about that,” Durci said with a chuckle. Fortunately for Durci (5-foot-9, 160 pounds), as a receiver...
Mark Madden: The Steelers stink, and a fix could be years away
The Pittsburgh Steelers stink, and the horse manure is flying. Mike Tomlin threatened changes after Sunday’s 38-3 loss at Buffalo, be it to personnel or staff. But any change Tomlin makes will be to something he put in place. Kenny Pickett’s performance in his first NFL start is being overrated....
Questionable roughing the passer calls raise more questions
TAMPA, Fla. — Can’t touch this. Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett found out the hard way when he sacked Tom Brady and got flagged for roughing the passer in the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s 21-15 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday. The questionable penalty that benefited Brady and the Buccaneers...
First Call: Odd substance check for ex-Pirates pitcher in playoffs; Browns make a trade; Pitt vs. Penn State alumni showdown
Monday’s “First Call” features a strange occurrence surrounding a former Pittsburgh Pirate in the Major League Baseball playoffs. The Cleveland Browns are making a trade. A Cincinnati Bengals star is struggling. And a Pitt versus Penn State alumni battle lives up to the billing. Messin’ with Musgrove Former Pirate Joe...
Madden Monday: After Steelers’ ’embarrassing’ loss in Buffalo, there’s no doubt they’re ‘going to go into the bye 1-7’
If you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and, for whatever reason, you missed Sunday’s 38-3 loss in Buffalo, I’m guessing the first thing that went through your mind was: “Was it really that bad?” In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE is here...
Steelers vs. Bills: What they’re saying in Buffalo after rout
Not much to say in Buffalo. The Bills are looking to a premier matchup next week with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers? A mere speed bump. If that. “Bring on coach Andy Reid and his keep-defenses-guessing play-calling,” wrote Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News. “Can we please, please, please...
Justin Tucker’s leg lifts Ravens to 19-17 victory over Bengals
BALTIMORE — Justin Tucker kicked a 43-yard field goal on the final play to lift the Baltimore Ravens over the Cincinnati Bengals, 19-17, on Sunday night and into sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Tucker also made a 58-yard kick in the third quarter, and even when...
Joe Musgrove pitches hometown Padres past Mets and into NLDSVideo
NEW YORK — Joe Musgrove brushed off chants of “Cheater!” after a bizarre spot check by umpires on the mound, pitching his hometown San Diego Padres into the next round of the playoffs Sunday night with seven innings of one-hit ball in a 6-0 victory over the New York Mets....
Panthers QB Baker Mayfield to have MRI on injured left ankle
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Baker Mayfield limped to the podium following the Carolina Panthers’ 37-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, his left foot in a walking boot. The quarterback said he plans to have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. The former No. 1 overall...
Former Penguins defenseman Ian Cole suspended by Lightning following sexual assault allegations
The Tampa Bay Lightning have suspended former Penguins defenseman Ian Cole as the NHL and the franchise investigate allegations of sexual assault by Cole. A statement issued by the Lightning on Sunday night announced Cole’s status. “The Tampa Bay Lightning is aware of the allegations against player Ian Cole and...
With playoffs approaching, Riverhounds tie Sacramento Republic FC
Kenardo Forbes scored in the 57th minute to give Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC a 1-1 draw on the road at Sacramento Republic FC on Sunday at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, Calif. The Riverhounds stayed in the hunt for home-field advantage in the upcoming USL Championship playoffs. Fourth-place Birmingham holds a...
Airing of Grievances: Blame for every aspect of Steelers as they get ‘smashed’ in Buffalo
So much for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “spark” with Kenny Pickett. That didn’t last very long, did it? Actually, it didn’t even last through the fourth quarter of the New York Jets game. But in Sunday’s 38-3 defeat in Buffalo, the Steelers never found a spark at all. Never lit a...
Kenny Pickett shows fight in losing 1st start with Steelers
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A competitor at his core, Kenny Pickett could not have enjoyed that his first NFL start was his team’s worst defeat in 33 years. But even a 35-point loss couldn’t completely sour this day for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new quarterback. “Listen, I mean, it is my...
Steelers unhappy no penalty was called on Damar Hamlin hit to QB Kenny Pickett
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — That was no fake slide Kenny Pickett attempted late in the third quarter Sunday when he tried to scramble for a first down against the Buffalo Bills. And that was no fake hit delivered by safety Damar Hamlin, Pickett’s former teammate at Pitt. Hamlin lowered his...
