July 31, 2025 4:25 am
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is embracing what could be the final training camp of his career. The 41-year-old says he’s enjoying his time during Pittsburgh’s annual three-week stay at Saint Vincent College. Rodgers says living in a dormitory allows the group to build the kind of camaraderie necessary to find success on the field. Rodgers got an up-close look at the physical nature of Pittsburgh’s training camp during the team’s first fully padded practice. While Rodgers and the rest of the offense have struggled against the defense during the opening week of camp, he is optimistic things will improve quickly.
July 31, 2025 4:28 am
Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN, according to a person familiar with the decision. The decision follows his recent settlement of a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship. Sharpe’s last appearance on ESPN was in late April when the lawsuit was filed. No details of the settlement have been released. The lawsuit sought $50 million. Sharpe called the accusations false and hoped to return for the NFL season. Instead, ESPN decided to part ways with the Hall of Fame tight end. Sharpe joined ESPN in 2023 after leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” and was a panelist on “First Take.”
July 30, 2025 4:21 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Liover Peguero homered for the first time in nearly two years, Joey Bart singled in the go-ahead run against his former team and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their fourth straight game by beating the skidding San Francisco Giants 3-1. San Francisco has lost five in a row and 11 of 13 overall. Peguero’s solo shot in the fifth inning was the first in the majors for the Pirates shortstop since Sept. 9, 2023, and it marked a rare mistake on this night by 42-year-old Justin Verlander. Coming off his first win in a Giants uniform, the three-time Cy Young Award winner had seven strikeouts and allowed six hits in five innings. He remains 37 wins shy of 300 for his career.
July 30, 2025 4:24 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is heading for the 10-day injured list. Acuña was removed from Tuesday night’s loss at Kansas City with tightness in his right Achilles tendon. Acuña experienced the discomfort after chasing down a ball in right field. He’ll be evaluated further on Wednesday. Acuña said he initially felt pain while running the bases on Monday night. The discomfort returned after he ran for a foul ball in the sixth inning Tuesday night. Later in the inning, a ball was hit over his head and he gave chase. He left the game after the sixth.
July 30, 2025 4:23 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Trey Hendrickson is ending his holdout and will report to the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced. Hendrickson is an All-Pro defensive end who led the NFL in sacks last season with 17 1/2. He is seeking a long-term extension with guaranteed money that matches what the league’s top pass rushers are earning. Even after he reports to camp, he is unlikely to participate in practice until a deal is in place.
July 29, 2025 4:23 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Andrew McCutchen hits a go-ahead homer as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 for their third straight win. McCutchen’s homer, his 10th of the season, put the Pirates ahead in the seventh inning. Giants’ top pitching prospect Carson Wisenhunt made his major league debut, giving up four runs on five hits. Yohan Ramírez, the third of six Pirates pitchers, got the win, and David Bednar secured his 17th save. The Giants dropped to one game above .500 for the first time since the third game of the season.
July 29, 2025 4:29 am
Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a Major League Baseball investigation into sports betting. Clase, a three-time All-Star, becomes the second Guardians pitcher to be placed on leave in connection with a sports gambling probe. Luis Ortiz also is on non-disciplinary leave through Aug. 31. It was unclear if the cases were related in any way. The Guardians said in a statement they “have been informed that no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted.”
July 29, 2025 4:24 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65. Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free. But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”
July 29, 2025 4:28 am
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado coach Deion Sanders says he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer but after surgery his oncologist has considered him cured, so he plans to coach this season. Doctors at the CU Cancer Center/UCHealth University of Colorado hospital says Sanders had his bladder removed as part of the surgical plan. The 57-year-old Sanders spoke on the eve of fall camp as he enters his third season overseeing the Buffaloes. He brought his medical team with him to discuss his diagnosis. It was revealed that a section of his intestine was reconstructed to function as a bladder. His doctors say he won’t need radiation or chemotherapy.
July 28, 2025 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates let Paul Skenes return to a more normal workload, and his effectiveness remains unchanged. Skenes struck out nine in six innings, allowing just three hits, as the Pirates shut out Arizona 6-0 on Sunday. This marks his fourth scoreless outing in five starts. He threw 99 pitches, his most in over a month. Manager Don Kelly said they are “ramping him back up a little bit.” Pittsburgh’s pitching staff is on a roll, outscoring Arizona 8-0 in the last two games of the series. Skenes lowered his ERA to a major league-best 1.83.
