January 11, 2024 7:55 am
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era. Belichick became just the third coach in NFL history to reach 300 career regular season wins, joining Hall of Famers Don Shula and George Halas. Belichick trails only Shula for the record for victories by a coach. But this season was Belichick’s worst in 29 seasons as an NFL head coach.
January 11, 2024 4:42 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – The Steelers mixed it up Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s playoff game in Buffalo. The team practiced at Acrisure Stadium instead of the South Side. Head Coach Mike Tomlin said the practice field isn’t in usable condition, and he wanted to host practice on a “game-like” field similar to the one they’ll see in Buffalo. Though weather wasn’t necessarily a factor in the decision, Wednesday in Pittsburgh was wet and windy. With winter weather expected in Buffalo Sunday, quarterback Mason Rudolph said any additional reps in the elements can only benefit. “Just like last week, there’s things we adjusted,” Rudolph said. “It’s good to get work like we did today. Weren’t great conditions either, so you try to prepare yourselves, but we know it will be tough weather conditions but I think that’s one of the many pluses of playing in Pittsburgh is that we start to get a dose of that in October.” The Steelers’ defense is also getting a reinforcement. Safety Damontae Kazee has been restored to the active roster following his suspension. To make room for him, safety Trenton Thompson was placed on Injured Reserve. He has missed three games with a neck injury. The Steelers play the Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m.
January 11, 2024 4:44 am
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Pete Carroll is out after 14 seasons as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, responsible for two NFC championships and the only Super Bowl title in franchise history during his long tenure. The 72-year old coach is moving into an advisory role with the organization, according to a statement from owner Jody Allen on Wednesday. Seattle closed the regular season with a 21-20 win at Arizona on Sunday. The Seahawks entered the final two weeks of the regular season with the chance at reaching the playoffs for the 11th time with Carroll in charge, but a Week 17 loss to Pittsburgh left Seattle in need of help it didn’t get to close out the season.
January 11, 2024 4:38 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sportsbook directors follow the money when it comes to cheering for particular teams. They are solidly behind the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. Both are sizable underdogs in the NFL playoffs, with the majority of the money from casual bettors going to the favorites. The Packers are 7 1/2-point underdogs at FanDuel Sportsbook in the wild-card round at the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Pittsburgh is an even bigger dog at plus-10 on Sunday at the Buffalo Bills.
January 11, 2024 4:43 am
Alabama coach Nick Saban is retiring after winning more national championships than any other major college football coach. Saban won seven national championships and turned Alabama back into a national powerhouse that included six of those titles in 17 seasons. He made the announcement Wednesday. Saban led the Tide to nine Southeastern Conference championships and won his first national title at Alabama with a 14-0 season in 2009. Titles came again in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020. He also won a national title with LSU in 2003.
January 10, 2024 2:07 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mason Rudolph’s unlikely renaissance will continue into the playoffs. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he is sticking with the former third-string quarterback ahead of a trip to AFC East champion Buffalo. Rudolph is 3-0 as a starter since taking over for an ineffective Mitch Trubisky before a game against Cincinnati on Dec. 23. While starter Kenny Pickett has fully recovered from right ankle surgery in early December, Tomlin doesn’t want to risk derailing the rhythm Pittsburgh’s offense has found under Rudolph.
January 10, 2024 4:40 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have fired coach Mike Vrabel after six seasons with the franchise having won only six of the past 24 games. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement that she told Vrabel of her decision Tuesday morning. She said it was a decision “as difficult as any I’ve made.” The announcement came a day after the Titans cleaned out their lockers with Vrabel not speaking to reporters. It was the first time in the franchise’s 27 seasons in Tennessee the head coach did not talk with reporters since the team moved to the state from Texas. Vrabel was hired in January 2018 and went 56-48 including playoffs.
January 10, 2024 4:38 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kyle Filipowski scored 26 points on 11 of 12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds as No. 11 Duke raced past Pittsburgh 75-53. The Blue Devils made quick work of the Panthers. Duke built a 25-point halftime lead and cruised to its seventh straight victory. Jared McCain added 12 points for Duke and Caleb Roach had eight points and five assists for the Blue Devils. Zack Austin led Pitt with 11 points but the Panthers were never really in it. Pitt shot just 33% from the field and spent most of the night trying and failing to get a handle on Filipowski.
January 9, 2024 4:41 am
HOUSTON (AP) — Jim Harbaugh and No. 1 Michigan completed a three-year climb to a national championship by beating No. 2 Washington 34-13 Monday night in the College Football Playoff title game. Blake Corum ran for 134 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns for the Wolverines. Michigan was undeterred by suspensions and a sign-stealing case that shadowed the program much of the season. The Wolverines sealed their first national title since 1997 when Corum blasted in from the 1-yard line with 3:37 left. Harbaugh delivered the title so many expected when he took over a struggling powerhouse in 2015.
January 9, 2024 4:43 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in a scrappy contest on Monday night. Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson and Chad Ruhwedel also scored for Pittsburgh. Alex Nedeljkovic made 36 saves for the Penguins. Owen Tippett scored for the Flyers, who have lost seven of nine. Carter Hart made 36 stops.
