Sports category, Page 1379
Wednesday’s Penguins-Maple Leafs game postponed
The Penguins have had yet another game postponed due to covid-19. On Sunday night, the NHL announced the Penguins’ road contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs was postponed. It marks the fourth consecutive game the Penguins have had postponed including the following: Dec. 21 - vs. New Jersey Devils Dec....
Steelers notebook: After quiet game, T.J. Watt mum on possible rib injury
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A week after setting the franchise’s single-season sacks record, T.J. Watt was invisible for much of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 36-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. An injury to his ribs might have been a contributing factor to Watt finishing with just one tackle and no...
Despite blowout loss, Steelers still have path to playoffs
The 36-10 loss in Kansas City on Sunday was like a big hunk of stale coal. But in the spirit of the Christmas season, how about a little black-and-gold helping of hope? If the Pittsburgh Steelers can manage to win their final two games, two weeks from now they might...
Airing of Grievances: Another awful start, rotten possession-down play-calling among usual complaints as Chiefs hammer Steelers
Because we are coming up on New Year’s resolution season, I’d like to make one about my own coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I want to write an “Airing of Grievances” post that doesn’t include complaints about poor play-calling, awful first-half starts, a constant reliance on throwing short of the...
Steelers blown out by Chiefs as playoff hopes take hit
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Pittsburgh Steelers came to this Midwestern outpost and had their division title hopes smoked like so much of this city’s famous barbecue. Playing a game they needed to win to keep pace in the AFC North, the Steelers followed a familiar script of road letdowns....
Covid outbreaks at Virginia, Boston College scuttle Fenway, Military bowlsVideo
BOSTON — The Fenway Bowl and Military Bowl were both canceled because of the pandemic Sunday as coronavirus outbreaks at Virginia and Boston College forced them to call off their postseason plans. The game scheduled for Wednesday at Fenway Park was to pit the Cavaliers against SMU. The Military Bowl...
NFL roundup: Tampa Bay takes NFC South title for 1st time since 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their first NFC South title since 2007 on Sunday when Tom Brady threw for 232 yards and a touchdown and Antonio Brown made a grand return to the NFL in a 32-6 rout of the Carolina Panthers. In his first game since...
Allen’s 3 TDs, McKenzie’s big day push Bills past Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — With their season on the brink and several key players unavailable, the Buffalo Bills trudged into Sunday’s pivotal matchup against the New England Patriots needing somebody to step up. They wound up having too many to count. Josh Allen threw for three touchdowns, Isaiah McKenzie had a...
‘Hot topics’ emerge around Pitt as team arrives in Atlanta for Peach Bowl
Pat Narduzzi called it a “hot topic.” But it was no surprise Sunday when Narduzzi named Pitt tight ends coach Tim Salem the play-caller and interim offensive coordinator, replacing Mark Whipple, for Thursday’s Peach Bowl. Salem is one of only two on-field assistants who have been with Narduzzi through all...
Joe Burrow’s 525 yards, 4 TDs power Bengals past RavensVideo
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow’s franchise record-breaking 525-yard passing performance clearly meant something to the Cincinnati Bengals, who continued calling deep throws for him late in the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead against division rival Baltimore until the mark was secured. Only three QBs in NFL history have thrown for...
New Penn State transfer Mitchell Tinsley brings proven track record to WR position
Christmas came a little early for the Penn State offense Friday evening when Western Kentucky transfer Mitchell Tinsley announced he is joining the Nittany Lions. Tinsley is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound wide receiver who will use his final year of eligibility at Penn State. In 2021, Tinsley caught 87 passes for...
Steelers vs. Chiefs: Corliss Waitman to make NFL debut as Steelers punter
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Punter Corliss Waitman, who spent the 2020 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, will make his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs. Waitman will replace rookie Pressley Harvin III, who did not make the trip to Kansas City because of the death of his...
Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues placed into covid-19 protocols
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues has been placed into the NHL’s protocols for covid-19, a team spokesperson said. He is not currently part of the Penguins’ active roster. This is the first time the Penguins have had a player in the protocols since Nov. 13. The NHL as a whole...
NHL returning to taxi squads as Penguins remain in holding pattern
The NHL entered 2021 with taxis squads. It will exit 2021 with taxi squads. On Sunday night, the league announced a handful of operational changes to combat the still-present realities of covid-19. Over the past two weeks, well over 100 players — including Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues on Sunday —...
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., a North Allegheny grad, announces he’ll return in 2022
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. announced Saturday that he’ll return to the Nittany Lions in 2022. In the Christmas morning message on social media, Porter wrote, “At this time in my life, staying in college and completing my college degree is important to me and my family. After much...
Banged-up Colts shrug off injuries, beat Cardinals
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Indianapolis Colts have beaten some teams with Jonathan Taylor’s legs, some with Carson Wentz’s arm and a few with stellar defense. They added another formula for a victory Saturday night: sheer grit. “We’ve got a ton of ways to beat you,” receiver T.Y. Hilton said. “You...
Chiefs get big boost as receiver Tyreke Hill clears covid protocol; Travis Kelce yet to clearVideo
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill cleared the covid-19 protocols Saturday and will be available Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source told The Star. Tight end Travis Kelce, linebacker Nick Bolton and rookie tackle Lucas Niang, on the other hand, have not yet cleared. The Chiefs elected to...
Rodgers sets team record as Packers hold off Browns, 24-22Video
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Rasul Douglas and the Green Bay Packers’ pass defense didn’t let the Cleveland Browns spoil Aaron Rodgers’ milestone day. Rodgers surpassed Brett Favre to become Green Bay’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, and the Packers intercepted Baker Mayfield four times in a 24-22 victory over the...
Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III to miss game against Chiefs after death of his father
Rookie punter Pressley Harvin III did not make the trip to Kansas City with the Pittsburgh Steelers and will not play Sunday after the death of his father on Christmas morning. A Steelers spokesman said Harvin was downgraded to out because of “personal reasons.” Harvin wrote on his verified Instagram...
6 Penn State thoughts with Outback Bowl matchup vs. No. 22 Arkansas one week away
We’re firmly entrenched in bowl season now as college football took a break for Christmas Day. And that means we’re one week away from Penn State getting its turn in the postseason against No. 22 Arkansas in the Outback Bowl. The matchup is still scheduled for noon on Jan. 1...
Tim Benz: The Steelers have been repeating recent history — it’s time to rewrite the ending
If 2021 is starting to feel familiar to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, well, it should. Because you just lived through it in 2018. The longer this topsy-turvy NFL season winds along, the more it looks like that ill-fated Black and Gold voyage of three years ago that ended in late-season heartbreak...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: NHL should follow lead of NFL, NBA and just play
The NHL was supposed to resume its season Monday. That’s been pushed back to Tuesday. That postpones Monday’s game between the Penguins and host Boston. The Penguins are next scheduled to play at Toronto Wednesday. But the Maple Leafs had 13 players with covid as of Friday. There are also...
Players recall guidance of Steelers coach Chuck Noll on 30th anniversary of his retirement
It seems that anyone who ever played for Chuck Noll has a story about how he humiliated or confounded them. Noll was, to say the least, a puzzling character. Yet, they all seem to have come away with a feeling of enduring admiration for the man who led the Pittsburgh...
T.J. Watt the only one who doesn’t like talking about his dominant season for Steelers
From having two sacks in the season opener to missing a pair of game because of injury and racking up multiple sacks in seven of 12 games played this season, T.J. Watt is on pace to break the NFL’s single-season sacks record. Likewise, any time the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star outside...
Steelers Four Downs: No matter the method, offensive line rating among worst in NFL
1. The line is offensive Fans complain about it. The playcalling appears handcuffed by it. Troy Aikman seemed incredulous by it. And the number-crunchers agree: the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL. Fourteen games into the 2021 season, sample-size is no longer an issue,...
