September 9, 2021 3:42 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has found an ally in his contract negotiations with the team in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger says the Steelers should pay Watt “whatever the heck he wants.” Watt is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Steelers want to lock Watt up long term, but negotiations between the two sides appear to have bogged down with the season opener in Buffalo looming. Roethlisberger says Watt is one of the best players in the league and should be paid accordingly.
September 9, 2021 3:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will miss the start of the regular season after undergoing wrist surgery. General manager Ron Hextall says the surgery was necessary to address a lingering issue. The team estimates Crosby will be out a minimum of six weeks. The Penguins begin training camp later this month and open the 2021-22 season on the road against two-time defending Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay on Oct. 12.
September 8, 2021 3:46 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Ben Gamel had a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning among his three hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2. Gamel also made an outstanding catch in left field to end the top of the sixth, slamming into the fence to take away a potential extra-base hit from Derek Hill with two runners on and preventing the Tigers from adding to their 2-1 lead. Miguel Cabera went 3 for 4 with a double for the Tigers, raising his career hits total to 2,967.
September 8, 2021 3:47 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt will be available when the defending AFC North champions open the season in Buffalo. The three-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and negotiations on a possible extension are ongoing. Watt didn’t play during the preseason and did not participate in 11-on-11 drills during training camp. If Watt for some reason can’t go, veteran Melvin Ingram will likely get the start against the Bills.
September 7, 2021 3:49 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Ke’Bryan Hayes and Yoshi Tsutsugo each hit a two-run single during Pittsburgh’s four-run seventh inning, and the Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 to stop their six-game losing streak. Hayes finished with three hits, and Tsutsugo, Jacob Stallings and Cole Tucker each had two. Kevin Newman hit a two-run homer in the first for Pittsburgh. Niko Goodrum hit a two-run double for Detroit.
September 7, 2021 3:46 am
UNDATED (AP) – Coaching football is the genes for the Sirianni family. Nick Sirianni spent three hours listening to his brother coach Washington and Jefferson College to victory over John Carroll in a Division III college football game Saturday. On Sunday, the entire family will tune in to watch Nick coach his first regular-season game in the NFL when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Atlanta Falcons. Fran Sirianni is a legendary football coach in New York and a member of the Chautauqua (County) Hall of Fame for his successful career as a head coach at Southwestern High School. His three sons, Mike, Jay and Nick, each coach football at various levels.
September 7, 2021 3:51 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Novak Djokovic was able to turn a lousy opening set into a berth in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. The top-ranked Djokovic pulled out a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over American Jenson Brooksby. Djokovic was broken twice in the opening set, which he lost in just 29 minutes. Djokovic converted six of his 12 break points and is now three match victories away from becoming the first male to complete a calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969. Djokovic will next face No. 6 seed Matteo Berrettini, the man he beat to win Wimbledon and give him 20 Grand Slam titles. He’ll break a tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most major championships by a male if he wins at Flushing Meadows. Berrettini advanced by defeating Oscar Otte, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
September 6, 2021 3:57 am
CHICAGO (AP) – Frank Schwindel hit a go-ahead grand slam, Matt Duffy homered twice, including a grand slam, and the Chicago Cubs outslugged the Pittsburgh Pirates for an 11-8 win. With Chicago trailing 8-7 with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, Schwindel hit a curveball off reliever Nick Mears to the bleachers in center turn the game around. Duffy also had three hits and Jason Heyward also went deep as the Cubs won their sixth straight. He had just one homer before Sunday.
September 6, 2021 3:58 am
ATLANTA (AP) – Patrick Cantlay has won the FedEx Cup and its $15 million prize. Cantlay had a one-shot lead over Jon Rahm on the final hole of the Tour Championship. With Rahm just behind the green in light rough in two, Cantlay hit a 6-iron to 12 feet. Rahm narrowly missed his chip-in for eagle. That left Cantlay a safe two-putt birdie for a 69. Rahm made $5 million as the runner-up. Cantlay is now a front-runner for player of the year.
September 5, 2021 1:01 am
Justin Heacock completed 23 of 27 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns, all caught by Andrew Wolf as #19 Washington & Jefferson knocked off #11 John Carroll, 21-14, Saturday afternoon in University Heights. The hosts broke a scoreless halftime tie with Demerius Goodwin’s 37-yard spring up the middle. Heacock and Wolf answered two plays later on a 65-yard bomb. The teams combined for just four first downs, two by penalty, over the next five possessions, leading to the end of three quarters. Heacock and connected again, giving the Presidents a lead never surrendered on a 56-yard streak route past the JCU defense. After forcing a short punt, W&J took over at the John Carroll 27-yard line. Joey Koroly carried three times, giving W&J a third down at the seven. Heacock threw a nearly perfect fade to the deep right corner with Wolf making the grab for a 19-0. Koroly caught a conversion pass to give the Presidents a 14-point lead. Two penalties and a long pass play set the Blue Streaks up at the W&J 22 yard line with just under three minutes to play. Jake Floriea scrambled away for a near sack and found Joe Torok open at the goal line. After recovering the onside kick attempt, the Presidents were able to run out the clock and seal the win. The meeting was the first between the two teams since John Carroll left the Presidents Athletic Conference following the 1988 season with W&J winning six straight times.
