March 14, 2024 4:40 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the financial details were not public. The restructuring frees up more than $21 million in salary cap space that the Chiefs can use elsewhere. That could include a much-publicized pursuit of help at wide receiver, their need for a new left tackle to protect Mahomes’ blind side, or in re-signing their own free agents.
March 14, 2024 4:39 am
The San Diego Padres have acquired right-hander Dylan Cease in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for reliever Steven Wilson and three prospects: right-handers Drew Thorpe and Jairo Iriarte, and outfielder Samuel Zavala. Cease, who turned 28 in December, was second in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2022 after going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA. He went 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA last year for a White Sox team that went 61-101. Cease joins a rotation that includes Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. He agreed in January to an $8 million, one-year contract and is eligible for free agency after the 2025 World Series.
March 13, 2024 4:42 am
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Drake Batherson scored 3:13 into overtime, and the Ottawa Senators ended a seven-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Michael Bunting scored the tying goal with 23 seconds left in regulation, but the Penguins lost for the seventh time in eight games. Jake Sanderson broke a scoreless tie 11 minutes into the third period for the Senators. Batherson’s winner was his 23rd goal of the season. Joonas Korpisalo made 34 saves, and Tristan Jarry had 37 stops for the Penguins. Pittsburgh had been outscored 15-1 in the previous three games.
March 13, 2024 4:41 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Carolina Panthers are giving quarterback Bryce Young the No. 1 wide receiver he’s been lacking. The Panthers have agreed to acquire Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Donte Jackson. The deal includes a swap of later-round picks in this year’s draft, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it has not been made official. Johnson had 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in five seasons with the Steelers. Jackson gives Pittsburgh a veteran opposite Joey Porter Jr., who thrived as a rookie last season.
March 13, 2024 2:26 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are luring inside linebacker Patrick Queen away from rival Baltimore. The Steelers and the inside linebacker have agreed to a three-year deal worth $41 million, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity the move can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday. The 24-year-old Queen is coming off a career year with Baltimore in 2023, when he led the team with 133 tackles and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
March 12, 2024 4:32 am
Looks like the Steelers are signing a new punter. Veteran Cameron Johnston will reportedly replace Pressley Harvin III. Johnston was either at league average or above in almost all categories including sixth in net yards per punt and third in fair catches forced. The Australian-born Johnston began his NFL career with the Eagels before joining the Houston Texans.
March 12, 2024 4:33 am
Kirk Cousins is heading to the Falcons. Saquon Barkley is joining the Eagles. Brian Burns is going to the Giants. The first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period was a free-for-all frenzy with teams making one big move after another highlighted by Cousins’ decision to leave Minnesota for Atlanta. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback and the Falcons agreed on a $180 million deal, four-year deal with $100 million guaranteed and a $50 million signing bonus. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the terms who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday.
March 12, 2024 4:35 am
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The NAACP says Black student-athletes should reconsider attending public colleges and universities in Florida. The NAACP sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker as well as current and prospective student-athletes. It was in response to the University of Florida and other state schools that have eliminated their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The letter read: “This is not about politics. It’s about the protection of our community, the progression of our culture, and most of all, it’s about your education and your future.” Last year, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting the use of state funds for any DEI programs.
March 11, 2024 4:42 am
A person familiar with the details told The Associated Press that quarterback Russell Wilson has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday night because the contract hasn’t been finalized and added Wilson will receive the veteran’s minimum of $1.21 million while the Denver Broncos pay the remainder of his $39 million salary. Wilson posted his intentions on X, formerly known as Twitter. He was 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos.
March 11, 2024 4:46 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists and Darnell Nurse scored twice in the third period and the Edmonton Oilers eased past the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. Mattias Ekholm also scored for the Oilers, who snapped a two-game losing streak by shutting down the struggling Penguins. A day after having his 13-game point streak ended in a loss to Buffalo, McDavid had his 118th game with three or more points. Calvin Pickard made 41 saves for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry stopped 38 shots for Pittsburgh. The Penguins have dropped six of seven.
