December 5, 2020 3:48 am
(AP) – A person familiar with the discussions tells The Associated Press that the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association are focusing their discussions on a mid-January start date for the season.
Jan. 1 had been the stated target, but there are a number of issues that need to be resolved before players can travel to begin practice. The two sides still need to agree on a schedule. The current working plan featuring between 52 and 56 regular season games.
December 4, 2020 10:15 am
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November. This is the third time Watt has won the honor and the second time this year. He was AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September, as well as once in 2019. Watt had 18 tackles, including 13 solo stops, five and a half sacks, 17 quarterback hits and three pass defenses in November.
December 4, 2020 2:39 am
UNDATED (AP) – The unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs are closing in on clinching their respective divisions going into Week 13. The Steelers, who are 11-0, can wrap up the AFC North with a win over Washington on Monday night and a Browns loss against Tennessee on Sunday. The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or losses by the Raiders, Dolphins or Colts on Sunday. The Chiefs can take the AFC West again with a win over the Broncos on Sunday night and a Raiders loss to the winless Jets. Or earn a playoff spot with a win. And in the NFC, the Saints, who have won eight in a row, can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a loss by the reeling Bears.
December 4, 2020 3:47 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to pursue perfection without outside linebacker Bud Dupree. Dupree is lost for the season after injuring his right knee in a victory over Baltimore that pushed the Steelers to 11-0. Rookie Alex Highsmith will get the first shot at replacing Dupree, whose eight sacks rank second on the team. This isn’t the first time this year the Steelers have lost a starting linebacker. Devin Bush went down in October with a knee injury. Coach Mike Tomlin says Highsmith is capable of taking over Dupree’s workload. Pittsburgh hosts Washington next week.
December 4, 2020 3:49 am
Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow had knee surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Burrow’s season ended Nov. 22 when he was hit by Washington pass-rushers and his leg was bent severely. The structural damage in his left knee required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Meanwhile, Browns star Myles Garrett came through practice OK and is on track to play Sunday at Tennessee after missing two games with COVID-19. Garrett came back on Wednesday and coach Kevin Stefanski said the defensive end looked like himself. The 24-year-old was leading the NFL in sacks when he got sick.
December 4, 2020 3:51 am
UNDATED (AP) – Michigan canceled this weekend’s game against Maryland because it had at least 12 positive COVID-19 cases within the football program, according to a person familiar with the situation. While outbreaks have disrupted more than 100 games across major college football since late August, the problems with the Wolverines are being closely watched in part because they could put next week’s rivalry game at No. 3 Ohio State in jeopardy. Ohio State has missed two games already in this pandemic-shortened season because of COVID-19 issues. One more would leave the 4-0 Buckeyes unable to reach a conference-mandated minimum to be eligible for the Big Ten championship game and potentially hurt their resume for a playoff berth.
December 4, 2020 3:53 am
The Las Vegas Bowl has been canceled because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The decision comes as Nevada state officials ordered a statewide pause that includes smaller public and private gatherings. The game was slated to be the first bowl game played in Allegiant Stadium and was to feature a new matchup between the Pac-12 Conference and Southeastern Conference as part of a rotating cycle that also includes the Big Ten. Also, No spectators will be allowed at the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1 because of state, county and city of Pasadena COVID-19 restrictions. The Tournament of Roses says it requested special permission but was denied.
December 3, 2020 5:37 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to pursue perfection without outside linebacker Bud Dupree. Dupree is lost for the season after injuring his right knee in a victory over Baltimore that pushed the Steelers to 11-0. Rookie Alex Highsmith will get the first shot at replacing Dupree, whose eight sacks rank second on the team. This isn’t the first time this year the Steelers have lost a starting linebacker. Devin Bush went down in October with a knee injury. Coach Mike Tomlin says Highsmith is capable of taking over Dupree’s workload. Pittsburgh hosts Washington next week.
December 3, 2020 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Ben Roethlisberger threw for 266 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to JuJu Smith-Schuster and the Steelers improved to 11-0 with a disjointed 19-14 win over the undermanned Baltimore Ravens. The game was postponed three times while the Ravens dealt with a COVID-19 outbreak that forced Baltimore to take the field minus star quarterback Lamar Jackson among others. The extended layoff led to some ugly football in a game filled with turnovers and inconsistent play. Still, the Steelers survived behind just enough offense and a defense that forced a pair of turnovers and had three sacks.
December 3, 2020 3:55 am
Joel Ayayi matched his career high with 21 points and Andrew Nembhard and Corey Kispert each had, and No. 1 Gonzaga rallied to beat No. 11 West Virginia 87-82 on Wednesday night in the Jimmy V Classic. The Bulldogs struggled to get in sync early and again after freshman Jalen Suggs injured an ankle in the first half. But Gonzaga used a late 13-4 run to take control and scored six straight points late to seal it. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for West Virginia and dropped the Mountaineers to 0-5 in the series.
