Sports category, Page 1475
First Call: Steeler voices optimism about run game; Bengals coach under scrutiny; McCutchen, Meadows go deep
Thursday’s “First Call” tries to provide optimism for the Steelers run game. We found a little extra stress for Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor before his trip to Pittsburgh. Two former Pirates homer as their teams jockey for the postseason. And ex-Penguin Beau Bennett never ceases to entertain. Positive attitude...
U mad, bro?: Steelers and Pitt fans viciously vent after dreadful weekend at Heinz Field
The Steelers lost their home opener to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Pitt lost at home to Western Michigan. A weekend like that leads to a “U mad, bro?” edition like this. The messages I received from readers were venomous. Vindictive. Vicious. And, occasionally, vapid. I didn’t even include any...
This day in sports history: Sept. 23Video
1926 — Gene Tunney beats Jack Dempsey with a 10-round decision to retain the world heavyweight title. 1952 — Rocky Marciano knocks out Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round to retain the world heavyweight title. 1979 — St. Louis’ Lou Brock steals his 938th base to break the record...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 22, 2021: Oneil Cruz homers in Indianapolis debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 57-63) lost 4-3 to Omaha (Royals). SS Oneil Cruz (.333) homered in his first Triple-A game, going 1 for 3 with a walk. RHP Roansy Contreras, making his first Triple-A start, went 3.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk, fanning six. RHP Shea Spitzbarth...
Joe Schobert watched his college teammate T.J. Watt fight through injuries at Wisconsin
Joe Schobert met T.J. Watt when both Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers were playing for the University of Wisconsin. Schobert was a walkon from Waukesha, Wis., Watt from 4 miles down the road in Pewaukee. Schobert remembers how injuries could not stop Watt from reaching his goals with the Badgers. “When he...
‘The Postman’ Ian Poulter delivers for Europe come Ryder Cup timeVideo
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Ian Poulter is a very good player who is writing the closing chapters of a very good career — 17 worldwide victories, $27 million in earnings and no major titles but enough top-30 and top-10 finishes to never be overlooked. When he swaps out his trademark plaid...
Justin Fields to make 1st start for Bears with Andy Dalton injuredVideo
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Justin Fields is set to make his first start for the Chicago Bears. The team will go with the prized rookie quarterback when the Bears visit the Cleveland Browns this week with veteran Andy Dalton sidelined because of a left knee injury, coach Matt Nagy said...
Bucs place WR Antonio Brown on reserve/covid-19 listVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — The Bucs may have to play one of their biggest games of the season without receiver Antonio Brown. The team placed Brown on the reserve/covid-19 list Wednesday, meaning he could miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. As a vaccinated player, Brown would have to have...
Dolphins say Tua Tagovailoa broke ribs, won’t play vs. RaidersVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa’s bruised ribs are actually fractured ribs, and that means the Miami Dolphins will have a new starting quarterback this week when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dolphins announced the updated diagnosis Wednesday after initial tests suggested Tagovailoa was dealing with bruised ribs....
3 linebackers listed on Steelers’ injury report, but Devin Bush practiced as full participant
The Pittsburgh Steelers listed three of their four starting linebackers on the injury report Wednesday, but the good news is Devin Bush (groin) was a full participant at practice and T.J. Watt (groin) also practiced, but in a limited capacity. Alex Highsmith (groin) was one of five Steelers who did...
College Football Playoff expansion stalls as commissioners sort through issues
A plan to expand the College Football Playoff stalled Wednesday when the management committee was unable to come to a consensus on a whether to grow the postseason format from four to 12 teams. The 10 major college conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director who make up the management...
Browns’ Odell Beckham full go in practice, could return vs. BearsVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Odell Beckham Jr.’s return moved a little closer to reality. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski did not rule out Beckham for Sunday’s game against Chicago, clearing the way for the star wide receiver to make his season debut and play for the first time since undergoing knee surgery...
West Virginia’s Jared Bartlett tries to stay positive after brother’s death
Jared Bartlett’s infectious smile and occasional giggle answering questions after his best game at West Virginia only temporarily masked the pain of his older brother’s hit-and-run death three months ago. After the death was mentioned by West Virginia coach Neal Brown, the linebacker was asked about Richard Bartlett III at...
5 former Steelers among modern era nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022
Hines Ward, who made 1,000 receptions not counting the touchdown grab that helped win Super Bowl XL, is among five former Pittsburgh Steelers named Wednesday as modern era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. Ward, who has been a semifinalist five times, is joined by...
Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger acknowledges pain, but says ‘we have a lot of time to get ready to go’
For nearly 10 minutes Wednesday morning, Ben Roethlisberger spoke with reporters on topics ranging from his painful left pectoral muscle to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ no-huddle offense (apparently a shell of its former identity) to offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Of course, the question that matters most is whether Roethlisberger’s pec —...
Pirates-Reds game postponed because of rain; makeup game scheduled for Monday
Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Pirates-Cincinnati Reds game was postponed, and the teams will play a makeup game at 1:10 p.m. Monday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Pirates and Reds were scheduled to start at 12:35 p.m. but the game was called because of rain. The series, which was tied...
Pirates ‘cautiously optimistic’ about David Bednar, Jacob Stallings returning this season
The Pittsburgh Pirates are being cautious with catcher Jacob Stallings’ concussion symptoms and are cautiously optimistic that both he and reliever David Bednar can return before the end of the season. They are also encouraged by the progress made by right-handed starter JT Brubaker, who has progressed to playing catch...
Goaltending prospect Filip Lindberg found ‘the right spot’ with the Penguins
Filip Lindberg almost missed his chance to play in Pittsburgh. Not with the Penguins, at least not at this juncture in the story. But certainly at PPG Paints Arena. In April. For the NCAA championship. Having helped lead Massachusetts to the tournament and the celebrated Frozen Four, Lindberg, a springy...
Transfer John Lovett shows speed, power out of backfield for Penn State
Penn State utilized one of its running backs for the first time Saturday against Auburn, and he could become a bigger part of the team moving forward. Senior running back John Lovett, who transferred to Penn State after playing four seasons at Baylor, took the field for the first time...
Mark Madden: Not a fan of the Manning brothers’ ‘Monday Night Football’ simulcast, but it works
I hate the Manning brothers’ “Monday Night Football” simulcast on ESPN2. I can’t get through more than 90 seconds at a time. It’s football expertise presented as inaccessible insider gibberish by two guys who think they’re funny but decidedly aren’t. (Think Tony Romo minus the polish and understated wit but...
Pitt’s issues may extend beyond just the focus, energy Pat Narduzzi has mentioned
During his postgame media Q&A Saturday, Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi admitted that his team wasn’t in a properly energized or focused state of mind during a disappointing home loss to Western Michigan. That certainly got my attention. It did again on Monday when Narduzzi reiterated those complaints during his...
First Call: Injuries, offensive issues for Steelers and Bengals; Ben Roethlisberger’s pectoral problem shifts gambling line
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an injury update on an important Cincinnati Bengal before the team visits Pittsburgh to play the Steelers this Sunday. We also take a deep dive into the Bengals offense, take a look at some shifting betting information and get a better understanding of Shane Baz’s Major...
Tim Benz: Steelers run game is so bad it’s impacting the rest of the team
Some put woes of the run game far down on the list of problems facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. To a certain extent, that’s understandable. There are plenty of other things to worry about. Injuries to star players. A passing game that’s struggling on offense, too. Spotty play in the secondary....
Nick Mears comes through in major moment for Pirates, escaping bases-loaded jam at Reds
The Pittsburgh Pirates were clinging to a one-run lead over the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh inning Tuesday when Nick Mears walked the first two batters, then gave up a bloop single to load the bases with no outs. Facing a high-leverage situation and the heart of the Reds’ lineup,...
After near-death experience, Bishop Canevin senior writing comeback story on football field
In a helmet and shoulder pads, Eli Wilson looks just like thousands of other high school football players across Western Pennsylvania. But the Bishop Canevin senior has a remarkable life story that started tragically before turning triumphant. He’s mostly kept the story to himself. “I thought people were going to...
