December 30, 2021 2:30 pm
(WPXI) – Will Monday night’s game at Heinz Field be the last home game of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s career? “This is the most important game of the season for us right now,” Roethlisberger said during a press conference. “All signs are pointing to: This could be it. In terms of regular seasons, signs are pointing this way that this could be it.”There’s been speculation that Roethlisberger would retire after this season. “It’s 18 years. It’s almost half my life I’ve given to this city and this team and the fans. I know I still have it in the tank this week to go out there this week and next week and give it everything I have, and do everything I can to get us into the post season,” Roethlisberger said. “I can’t sit here all week and just be nostalgic and think about everything that my career has been when I just have to focus on this game. This is the most important game of the season for us right now.” “My focus is winning this game,” Roethlisberger said. “If it is indeed my last regular season game, it’s going to be one of the most important games of my career.”
December 30, 2021 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – No. 19 Clemson beat Iowa State 20-13 in the Cheez-It Bowl for coach Dabo Swinney’s 150th victory. D.J. Uiagalelei completed 21 of 32 passes for 187 yards and Mario Goodrich scored on an 18-yard interception return, while Will Shipley had a 12-yard touchdown run and finished with 61 yards rushing and 53 yards receiving for Clemson. Clemson won its sixth straight game to reach 10 victories for an 11th consecutive season. In other college football bowl games: Taulia Tagovailoa threw touchdown passes of 70 and 32 yards to Darryl Jones, and Maryland routed Virginia Tech 54-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Tagovailoa was named the game’s MVP, finishing with 265 yards passing and his 26 touchdown passes this season tied the Maryland single-season record.
December 30, 2021 3:56 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NHL is following other leagues and the CDC by cutting COVID-19 isolation times to five days under certain conditions and where it is allowed by local laws. The change applies only in the U.S. because of stricter pandemic regulations in Canada.
December 30, 2021 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – The remainder of the world junior hockey championship in Canada has been canceled after a few positive tests prompted fears of a COVID-19 outbreak. The top tournament in the world for players under age 20 had completed nine games in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. But positive coronavirus test results among U.S. and Czech players had led to two games being forfeited, and another was imminent with Russia. Citing the spread of the coronavirus and the omicron variant, the International Ice Hockey Federation’s council determined the integrity of the event had been compromised by the forfeits.
December 29, 2021 3:49 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he has no issue with offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s play-calling. The Steelers have struggled to score points in the first half in recent weeks, one of the main reasons they are in the middle of a 2-4-1 funk. Tomlin says he takes responsibility for the shortcomings and said Canada and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are doing what they can to help the team get off to better starts. The Steelers are at 7-7-1, but still have a path to the playoffs if they can find a way to beat Cleveland and Baltimore in their final two games.
December 29, 2021 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NFL says Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster John Madden has died at age 85. Madden’s exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades. The league says he died unexpectedly on Tuesday morning and did not provide a cause. Coaching the renegade Oakland Raiders, Madden compiled a stellar 103-32-7 regular-season record and led his team to victory in the Super Bowl after the 1976 season. He became an even more impactful figure after he stopped coaching at age 42, entertaining millions who tuned in to NFL football. He also was the name behind the hugely popular sports video game, “Madden NFL Football.”
December 29, 2021 2:27 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) – The Holiday Bowl has become the fifth postseason college football game to be canceled. UCLA was forced to pull out just hours before kickoff because of COVID-19 issues with the team. The Bruins were scheduled to face No. 18 North Carolina State at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres. The Hawaii, Military, Fenway and Arizona bowls have already been canceled with virus issues leaving teams without enough available players. The Sun and Gator bowls have had to scramble to find replacement teams. North Carolina State is the fifth Atlantic Coast Conference team to have its bowl disrupted.
December 28, 2021 3:51 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Rookie sensation Jaylen Waddle returned from the COVID-19 list to catch 10 passes for 92 yards and touchdown, and the Miami Dolphins beat the short-handed New Orleans Saints 20-3. Miami became the first NFL team to win seven straight after losing seven in a row. Nik Needham intercepted Saints rookie quarterback Ian Book and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown to help Miami become one of four 8-7 teams in contention for one of the final playoff spots in the AFC. The Saints started Book because of a COVID-19 outbreak that took 16 players off of the active roster, including starting QB Taysom Hill.
December 28, 2021 3:46 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are struggling to score points, bringing first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s long-term prospects into question. The Steelers failed to score a first-half touchdown for a fifth straight game in a 36-10 loss to Kansas City that dropped them to 7-7-1. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he doesn’t know why the team starts so slowly, particularly on the road. The Steelers are somehow still in the playoff race, but need to win their final two games against Cleveland and Baltimore to have any shot at the postseason.
December 28, 2021 3:48 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Nick Patti’s long wait for a second chance as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback is finally ending. Following the decision by Kenny Pickett to opt out and prepare for the NFL draft, Patti has been named No. 13 Pitt’s starter in the Peach Bowl against No. 11 Michigan State. It will be the first start for Patti since September 28, 2019 when, as a redshirt freshman, he led the Panthers to a 17-14 win over Delaware. There’s another important change for Pitt. Tight ends coach Tim Salem is serving as interim offensive coordinator after Mark Whipple left for the same job at Nebraska.
