January 15, 2025 4:39 am
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans have waived Diontae Johnson after the beleaguered receiver played just two games for them. Johnson had one reception for 12 yards in Houston’s wild-card playoff win over the Chargers on Saturday. He played four games for Baltimore after a trade from Carolina before being suspended for refusing to enter a game and then being released on Dec. 20. He has 4,726 yards receiving in a six-year career that started in Pittsburgh. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t provide any details about why the Texans let him go, simply saying “it didn’t work out.”
January 14, 2025 4:25 am
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams overwhelmed the Minnesota Vikings, sacking Sam Darnold an NFL playoff record-tying nine times to win 27-9 Monday night. The NFC wild-card game was moved out of Southern California because of devastating wildfires. Rookie Jared Verse returned a fumble for a 57-yard score for the Rams, who looked comfortable in their adopted home of State Farm Stadium from the first snap. LA drove for a touchdown on the opening drive and built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The game was played in Glendale, Arizona, nearly 400 miles east of the Rams’ home stadium.
January 14, 2025 4:36 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the offseason with plenty of questions to answer after another quick playoff exit. While coach Mike Tomlin is expected to return for his 19th year with the club in the fall, there could be substantial changes to the coaching staff and on the roster. Pittsburgh currently doesn’t have a quarterback under contract for next season. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have both indicated they hope to return but the Steelers could go in a different direction after their playoff victory drought extended to eight years. You can hear Mike Tomlin’s news conference today at 12:30 p.m on 1450AM.
January 13, 2025 2:16 am
PennWest California announced Monday that long-time softball head coach Rick Bertagnolli has retired, effective immediately, ending a more than 30 year run. The Vulcans won 972 games under Bertagnolli’s leadership (972-389, .714), including back-to-back national championships in 1997-1998. Cal U made 21 NCAA Tournament appearances, won six regional championships and seven PSAC titles. “Rick Bertagnolli built a legacy in the softball program as one of the most dominating teams within the PSAC each year and a national powerhouse in the sport. He built champions on the field while stressing academic success in the classroom,” California Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe was quoted in the release. “He was a true teacher of the game and developed the skills of the players in his program. His passion for the sport showed in the countless hours of dedication to his team.”
The University announced that assistant coach Nikki Yanchak will serve as interim head coach for the upcoming season, due to begin Feb. 25, and that a nationwide search for Bertagnolli’s replacement will begin in the coming months. (Photo, courtesy of PennWest California website)
January 14, 2025 4:31 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The running backs want to run it back at Penn State. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both announced Monday on social media that they plan to return to the Nittany Lions for the 2025 season. The duo each topped 1,000 yards rushing this season for Penn State, which went 13-3 and lost to Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal. Quarterback Drew Allar also is returning to Penn State, though star defensive end Abdul Carter signed with an agent and is expected to enter the NFL draft.
January 13, 2025 4:33 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, and Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul had empty-net goals. Tampa Bay recorded points in both halves of back-to-back games for the first time this season. It lost in overtime against New Jersey on Saturday. Rickard Rakell scored his 22nd goal of the season for Pittsburgh.
January 13, 2025 4:36 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jayden Daniels ran for a critical first down to set up Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal that clanged off the right upright and went through as time expired, and the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in an NFC wild-card game for the franchise’s first playoff win in 6,945 days. Daniels became the third rookie quarterback in three years to win a playoff game. The Commanders will face the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions in the divisional round. Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers missed several opportunities and the veteran quarterback committed a critical turnover in the fourth quarter.
January 13, 2025 4:30 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes in his first game since a late-season concussion, Dallas Goedert threw three stiff-arms on a rugged touchdown catch and the Philadelphia Eagles rode their NFL-best defense to a 22-10 wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. Hurts threw for a modest 131 yards but played with no hesitation as he came back from a three-week layoff after a concussion in December. The NFC East champions will host a divisional round game against the winner of Monday night’s game between Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams next week.
January 13, 2025 4:37 am
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes, James Cook scored on a 5-yard run and finished with 120 yards rushing, and the Buffalo Bills leaned on a balanced offensive attack in a 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a wild-card playoff game. The Bills methodically wore down the Broncos by scoring on six of their first seven drives in building a 31-7 lead in an outing where they finished with a 23-minute edge in time of possession. The five-time AFC East defending champion Bills advanced to the divisional round for a fifth straight postseason, and will face the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens next Sunday night. The seventh-seeded Broncos were outclassed in their first playoff appearance since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015.
January 13, 2025 4:34 am
Pittsburgh women’s coach Tory Verdi had a simple second-half message Sunday for his team, which was getting absolutely blown out at home against SMU. “I kept saying ‘fight,’” he said. His team responded — in record fashion. The Panthers — down by 32 points in the first half, still down by 31 at intermission — tied an NCAA Division I women’s basketball record for biggest comeback, rallying to stun SMU 72-59 behind 22 points from Mikayla Johnson and 21 from Khadija Faye.
