Call it the ‘Tush Push’ or ‘Steel City Shove,’ Steelers deployment of ‘Spartan’ is working
It started out in the NFL community as something between a joke and an appropriately whimsical moniker for what was a new, unconventional phenomenon being introduced by one of its highest-profile teams. The “tush push.” The team that popularized the rugby scrum-like, short-yardage play advocated to call it “the brotherly...
Corey Rucker surpasses 4,000 yards receiving as Arkansas State defeats Missouri State in Xbox Bowl
FRISCO, Texas — Corey Rucker racked up 166 yards receiving and a score, Jaylen Raynor threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and Arkansas State took down Missouri State, 34-28, in the inaugural Xbox Bowl on Thursday night. Rucker ends his collegiate career with 4,111 yards, ranked 21st in FBS....
First Call: T.J. Watt spotted at Steelers facility; Tristan Jarry already injured for Oilers
In Friday’s “First Call,” we have a T.J. Watt sighting at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ headquarters. A former Steeler went down with an injury on “Thursday Night Football.” Tristan Jarry is already hurt in Edmonton. And we look at the Penguins’ latest attempt to snap their now seven-game losing streak on...
Tim Benz: On Aaron Rodgers and 2 very different kinds of ‘belief’
After the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins on “Monday Night Football,” Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a message during his postgame interview. “Hopefully, the belief can pick up because it’s tough to play in the cold weather. And if we can take care of business, we’ll be hosting a...
Seahawks rally from 16-point deficit and stun Rams in OT to move atop NFC West
SEATTLE — Sam Darnold connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in overtime, then hit a wide-open Eric Saubert for the winning 2-point conversion, and the Seattle Seahawks rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Los Angeles Rams 38-37 on Thursday night and take a one-game lead in...
Penguins shut out by Senators as losing streak reaches 7
Including Thursday, Evgeni Malkin has been sidelined for seven consecutive games by an undisclosed injury. And during that stretch, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been perfect in one sense. That is to say they haven’t won a single game without the dazzling superstar inhabiting his typical station as center of the...
Reports: WR Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars agree to 3-year, $60M extension
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Receiver Jakobi Meyers and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms on a three-year, $60 million contract extension Thursday that includes $40 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The Jaguars (10-4) traded two 2026 draft picks — fourth- and sixth-rounders — to Las Vegas to acquire Meyers at...
Pitt volleyball swept by Texas A&M as Panthers fall in Final 4 for 5th straight year
The national semifinals have been both familiar territory and an insurmountable obstacle for Pitt volleyball every year dating to 2021. Over four consecutive seasons, the Panthers have advanced to and fallen in the Final Four, their seasons ending just short of a shot at a national championship. Thursday night in...
Allen and Bills look to clinch playoff spot and prevent Browns’ Garrett from getting sack record
Josh Allen will attempt to reach a couple of milestones Sunday while also not becoming part of what Myles Garrett hopes is a record-setting day. Allen and the Buffalo Bills can clinch a seventh consecutive playoff spot with a win at Cleveland and a loss or tie by either Indianapolis...
WNBA players union authorizes negotiators to call a strike if needed during CBA talks
NEW YORK — WNBA players have authorized their union’s executive council to call a strike if necessary, the union announced Thursday as it continues to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the league. The WNBPA and league have been negotiating a new agreement for the past few months, extending the...
Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and family among 7 killed in North Carolina plane crash
STATESVILLE, N.C. — A business jet crashed Thursday while trying to return to a North Carolina airport shortly after takeoff, killing all seven people aboard, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, authorities said. The Cessna C550 erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground. It...
‘You could feel the tension in the room’ — Air-it-all-out meeting helps turn around Steelers defense
A few weeks ago, ranking much closer to the bottom of the league than the top in many relevant categories, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense decided it needed to talk. Collectively, and to each other. According to the player who most often lines up in the center of the unit and...
Former Steelers linebacker Myles Jack arrested on felony firearms charge in Texas
Myles Jack, a former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, is facing firearms charges after being arrested Tuesday in Frisco, Texas. According to a Frisco Police Department news release, officers responded to a welfare check at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday and heard gunshots from inside a residence. Officers set up a perimeter and evacuated...
4 more players added to Steelers’ injury report; Nick Herbig, James Pierre remain out
Starters Zach Frazier and Keeanu Benton were among four players added to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ injury report Thursday, and none of the previously injured players was given any upgraded statuses. Center Frazier (triceps) and safety Jabrill Peppers (illness) did not practice at all Thursday after previously not being mentioned as...
Jack Sawyer prepping for 1st start for Steelers in wake of injuries to T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig
For the first time in his young NFL career, Jack Sawyer played more than half of the defensive snaps in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 28-15 victory Monday night against the Miami Dolphins. The rookie fourth-round draft pick from Ohio State could exceed that workload Sunday when the Steelers face the Detroit...
Penn State’s Terry Smith offers updates on coaching staff, opt-outs ahead of Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith met with media members on a video conference call on Thursday morning ahead of the Lions’ Pinstripe Bowl matchup with Clemson at Yankee Stadium. Smith said as of Thursday morning, only four Penn State veterans have opted out: defensive tackle Zane Durant, running...
Former Penn State QB Beau Pribula enters transfer portal again, will leave MissouriVideo
A former Penn State quarterback and fan favorite is entering the transfer portal again. Beau Pribula, Penn State’s former backup quarterback, has informed Missouri that he will enter the transfer portal, according to a Thursday report from CBS Sports. Pribula spent one season as the Tigers starter after leaving Penn...
Returning to hometown not as important as returning to field for Steelers’ rookie Derrick Harmon
After missing the past three games — and five overall — in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers because of knee injuries, first-round pick Derrick Harmon is expected to return Sunday when the Steelers face the Detroit Lions. It will be a special moment for Harmon — and not...
Anthony Richardson cleared to practice, but Colts plan to keep Philip Rivers as starting quarterback
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson returned to practice Thursday, marking the first time in two months he has taken snaps. He’s still not ready to challenge 44-year-old Philip Rivers for the starting job. Coach Shane Steichen said Richardson’s fractured orbital bone has healed sufficiently enough for him to...
Riverhounds, captain Danny Griffin agree on new 2-year contract
The captain of the USL Championship-winning Pittsburgh Riverhounds will continue to wear the black and gold. Danny Griffin and the Hounds agreed on a two-year contract Thursday that will keep the midfielder in Pittsburgh for the near future. The deal also includes a club option for 2028, which would make...
With T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig ailing, Steelers sign Jeremiah Moon to add to OLB room
Amid uncertainty regarding the health of two of their top three outside linebackers, the Pittsburgh Steelers are suddenly deprived of the exceptional depth they thought they had at the position. To address that, the Steelers on Thursday brought back a player who served as their No. 4 outside linebacker last...
Dry needling is common around the NFL, and players aren’t worried despite T.J. Watt’s collapsed lung
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride heard about what happened to Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt — and McBride plans to continue his weekly dry-needling sessions. “It’s something I do frequently. I’ve never had an issue like that,” he said. “But with every treatment, everything that...
Oklahoma, Alabama to meet for 3rd time in 13 months with Rose Bowl berth on the line
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma and Alabama will meet Friday for the third time in 13 months in the most significant game of their budding rivalry. Last year, underdog Oklahoma stunned the Crimson Tide, 24-3, and cost the Crimson Tide a spot in the College Football Playoff. Last month, Oklahoma won...
Pirates manager Don Kelly finalizes staff, adding new infield, assistant pitching coaches
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly rounded out the rest of his coaching staff by hiring Chris Truby as infield coach, Shawn Bowman as field coordinator and Thomas Whitsett as assistant pitching coach, the team announced Thursday. They will be joined on Kelly’s staff by Kristopher Negrón as bench coach, Bill...
Delaware holds off Louisiana for 68 Ventures Bowl win in 1st season of FBS play
MOBILE, Ala. — Jo Silver ran for 116 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown, and Delaware wrapped up its first year in the FBS with a 20-13 victory over Louisiana in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Wednesday night. The Fightin’ Blue Hens, who went 6-6 in their first year of FBS...
