Steelers Re-sign Clark; Randle El is Coming Back
3/09/2010
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Monday that free agent safety Ryan Clark has turned down an offer by the Miami Dolphins and has agreed to a new four-year contract with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers say they also expect former Pittsburgh wide receiver Antwaan Randle El to sign a deal today to return to the Steel City. Randle El was released over the weekend by the Washington Redskins after having been the Skins' second-leading receiver last season.
Pittsburgh also signed San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Arnaz Battle and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Will Allen, both of whom were unrestricted free agents, to bloster their special teams play. In addition, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers are expected today (Tuesday) to sign another unrestricted free agent, Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Jonathan Scott.
Clark's deal is said to be worth 14-million dollars. He had met with the Dolphins as recently as Monday.
Randle El played for the Steelers from 2002 through 2005-06, and was one of the team's heroes in Super Bowl XL.
Battle played for San Francisco for seven seasons, during which time he caught 178 passes for 2,150 yards and 11 touchdowns. He could be used as a fourth wide receiver, and is considered a standout on special teams. Battle's contract is for three years, and is reported to be worth 3.9 million dollars with a 975-thousand dollar signing bonus.
Allen was a fourth-round draft choice from Ohio State in 2004. He played six years for Tampa Bay, and was once the Bucs' special teams captain. Allen has four career interceptions, but played only eight games last season because of an injured thumb. His signing was announced before Clark made his decision to stay in Pittsburgh, so there had been some speculation that Allen might replace Clark in the Steelers' starting lineup. Instead, he will probably back up veteran Tyrone Carter.
Scott, who is 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds, was a fifth-round draft choice by Detroit in 2006. Last season, he started six games at left tackle and two games at right tackle for the Bills. He did not receive a contract tender from Buffalo. Former Bills line coach Sean Kugler, who oversaw Scott and others at Buffalo, is now a member of the Steelers' coaching staff.
Tim Shaw
The Steelers say they also expect former Pittsburgh wide receiver Antwaan Randle El to sign a deal today to return to the Steel City. Randle El was released over the weekend by the Washington Redskins after having been the Skins' second-leading receiver last season.
Pittsburgh also signed San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Arnaz Battle and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Will Allen, both of whom were unrestricted free agents, to bloster their special teams play. In addition, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers are expected today (Tuesday) to sign another unrestricted free agent, Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Jonathan Scott.
Clark's deal is said to be worth 14-million dollars. He had met with the Dolphins as recently as Monday.
Randle El played for the Steelers from 2002 through 2005-06, and was one of the team's heroes in Super Bowl XL.
Battle played for San Francisco for seven seasons, during which time he caught 178 passes for 2,150 yards and 11 touchdowns. He could be used as a fourth wide receiver, and is considered a standout on special teams. Battle's contract is for three years, and is reported to be worth 3.9 million dollars with a 975-thousand dollar signing bonus.
Allen was a fourth-round draft choice from Ohio State in 2004. He played six years for Tampa Bay, and was once the Bucs' special teams captain. Allen has four career interceptions, but played only eight games last season because of an injured thumb. His signing was announced before Clark made his decision to stay in Pittsburgh, so there had been some speculation that Allen might replace Clark in the Steelers' starting lineup. Instead, he will probably back up veteran Tyrone Carter.
Scott, who is 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds, was a fifth-round draft choice by Detroit in 2006. Last season, he started six games at left tackle and two games at right tackle for the Bills. He did not receive a contract tender from Buffalo. Former Bills line coach Sean Kugler, who oversaw Scott and others at Buffalo, is now a member of the Steelers' coaching staff.
Tim Shaw
Browns Trade for Backup Quarterback Wallace
3/09/2010
New Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren has gone back to his previous team, the Seattle Seahawks -- for a backup quarterback he acquired Monday in a trade for his new club.
Holmgren and the Browns agreed to exchange an undisclosed pick in the 2011 NFL draft for quarterback Seneca Wallace, who played under Holmgren at Seattle in 2008. That year, Wallace started eight games, and threw for 15-hundred yards and 11 touchdowns.
Wallace was a fourth-round draft pick by Seattle in 2003. He has played in 46 NFL games, including 14 in which he started at quarterback. Wallace was also utilized as a wide receiver and a kick returner. In 2009 Wallace started two games at quarterback because of an injury to regular starter Matt Hasselbeck.
Tim Shaw
Holmgren and the Browns agreed to exchange an undisclosed pick in the 2011 NFL draft for quarterback Seneca Wallace, who played under Holmgren at Seattle in 2008. That year, Wallace started eight games, and threw for 15-hundred yards and 11 touchdowns.
Wallace was a fourth-round draft pick by Seattle in 2003. He has played in 46 NFL games, including 14 in which he started at quarterback. Wallace was also utilized as a wide receiver and a kick returner. In 2009 Wallace started two games at quarterback because of an injury to regular starter Matt Hasselbeck.
Tim Shaw
Roethlisberger Attorney Says "No Assault Occurred"
3/09/2010
An attorney hired by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says his client "is completely innocent of any crime."
Attorney Ed Garland, who defended Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis against a murder charge, released a statement on Monday disputing claims by a 20 year-old Georgia co-ed that Roethlisberger had sexually assaulted her at a Georgia nightclub early last Friday morning. Garland is not the same lawyer employed by Roethlisberger in his defense of claims by a Nevada woman that he sexually assaulted her at a resort in Lake Tahoe in 2008.
Garland's statement declared, "The facts show that there was no criminal activity. No sexual assault occurred." Roethlisberger has not been charged in the alleged incident.
Police in Milledgeville, Georgia say they will be interviewing about eight people, including Roethlisberger, in the next few days, that they expect to take a DNA sample from Roethlisberger, and that they are in the process of reviewing video footage obtained from the nightclub and several nearby businesses.
Roethlisberger owns a home on Lake Oconee, about 30 miles north of Milledgeville.
Tim Shaw
Attorney Ed Garland, who defended Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis against a murder charge, released a statement on Monday disputing claims by a 20 year-old Georgia co-ed that Roethlisberger had sexually assaulted her at a Georgia nightclub early last Friday morning. Garland is not the same lawyer employed by Roethlisberger in his defense of claims by a Nevada woman that he sexually assaulted her at a resort in Lake Tahoe in 2008.
Garland's statement declared, "The facts show that there was no criminal activity. No sexual assault occurred." Roethlisberger has not been charged in the alleged incident.
Police in Milledgeville, Georgia say they will be interviewing about eight people, including Roethlisberger, in the next few days, that they expect to take a DNA sample from Roethlisberger, and that they are in the process of reviewing video footage obtained from the nightclub and several nearby businesses.
Roethlisberger owns a home on Lake Oconee, about 30 miles north of Milledgeville.
Tim Shaw
Big East Action Starts; Gibbs Wins "Most Improved" Award
3/09/2010
The first round of the Big East mens college basketball tournament begins today (Tuesday) at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Four teams, including 2nd-seeded Pitt, have received double byes and will not play until Thursday.
The schedule:
TUESDAY
South Florida vs. Depaul
Connecticut vs. St. John's
Seton Hall vs. Providence
Cincinnati vs. Rutgers
WEDNESDAY
Georgetown vs. South Florida/DePaul winner
Marquette vs. Connecticut/St. John's winner
Notre Dame vs. Seton Hall/Providence winner
Louisville vs. Cincinnati/Rutgers winner
THURSDAY
Pitt vs. Notre Dame/Seton Hall/Providence (7:00 PM)
Syracuse vs. Georgetown/South Florida/DePaul
Villanova vs. Marquette/Connecticut/St. John's
West Virginia vs. Louisville/Cincinnati/Rutgers
FRIDAY
Semifinals (Pitt would play at 9:00 PM, if they win Thursday)
SATURDAY
Championship Game - 9:00 PM
Pitt sophomore Aston Gibbs has received the Big East Conference's "Most Improved Player" award.
Gibbs is the Panther's leading scorer at 16.2 points per game after averaging 4.3 points last season.
Tim Shaw
The schedule:
TUESDAY
South Florida vs. Depaul
Connecticut vs. St. John's
Seton Hall vs. Providence
Cincinnati vs. Rutgers
WEDNESDAY
Georgetown vs. South Florida/DePaul winner
Marquette vs. Connecticut/St. John's winner
Notre Dame vs. Seton Hall/Providence winner
Louisville vs. Cincinnati/Rutgers winner
THURSDAY
Pitt vs. Notre Dame/Seton Hall/Providence (7:00 PM)
Syracuse vs. Georgetown/South Florida/DePaul
Villanova vs. Marquette/Connecticut/St. John's
West Virginia vs. Louisville/Cincinnati/Rutgers
FRIDAY
Semifinals (Pitt would play at 9:00 PM, if they win Thursday)
SATURDAY
Championship Game - 9:00 PM
Pitt sophomore Aston Gibbs has received the Big East Conference's "Most Improved Player" award.
Gibbs is the Panther's leading scorer at 16.2 points per game after averaging 4.3 points last season.
Tim Shaw
Pirates Drop Two Florida Games in the Same Day
3/09/2010
The Pittsburgh Pirates split their roster on Monday for two preseason games and dropped both decisions to fall to 2-4-1 in "Grapefruit League" play. One Pirate squad was shut out 6-0 by the New York Yankees in a game played in Bradenton, and in Port Charlotte, the remaining Buccos lost 4-3 in 10 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Alfredo Aceves, of the Yankees, who has retired all 18 batters he has faced this spring, pitched four innings of perfect baseball for New York. Alex Rodriguez started the Yankee scoring with a two-run, first-inning single off Pirate starter Paul Maholm, who will probably start for Pittsburgh on opening day. Steve Pearce managed the only hit in the Pirates' boxscore.
In the Rays game, Pittsburgh infield hopeful Brian Friday hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, giving the Bucs a 3-1 lead, but Tampa Bay tied the score, and the Rays' Fernando Perez singled home the game-winning run with two out in the bottom of the tenth frame.
The Pirates will put a full squad onto the field against the Yankees today in a game in Tampa.
Tim Shaw
Alfredo Aceves, of the Yankees, who has retired all 18 batters he has faced this spring, pitched four innings of perfect baseball for New York. Alex Rodriguez started the Yankee scoring with a two-run, first-inning single off Pirate starter Paul Maholm, who will probably start for Pittsburgh on opening day. Steve Pearce managed the only hit in the Pirates' boxscore.
In the Rays game, Pittsburgh infield hopeful Brian Friday hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, giving the Bucs a 3-1 lead, but Tampa Bay tied the score, and the Rays' Fernando Perez singled home the game-winning run with two out in the bottom of the tenth frame.
The Pirates will put a full squad onto the field against the Yankees today in a game in Tampa.
Tim Shaw
Ping Eye2 Wedges to Be Banned
3/09/2010
Under an agreement reached Monday with the maker of Ping golf clubs, the PGA Tour will ban the controversial Ping Eye2 wedges with the square-shaped grooves that led to bickering and accusations on the tour earlier this year.
Although the wedges were initially ruled illegal in 1990, Ping had sued the PGA Tour and the United States Golf Association over the decision, and because of a settlement reached 20 years ago, the golf organizations later agreed to revise the USGA regulation to allow the use of any of the wedges manufactured before April 1, 1990.
On Monday, John Solheim, the chairman and CEO of Ping, said the company will waive its right to keep the PGA from banning the wedges. Tour officials then said the wedges will become illegal on March 29th on the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, and the Nationwide Tour. The agreement will not apply to amateur competitions.
Solheim, whose father, Karsten Solheim, founded the Ping company, said he hopes the agreement will result in equipment company representatives having a stronger voice in
new rule-making decisions by the USGA.
Tim Shaw
Although the wedges were initially ruled illegal in 1990, Ping had sued the PGA Tour and the United States Golf Association over the decision, and because of a settlement reached 20 years ago, the golf organizations later agreed to revise the USGA regulation to allow the use of any of the wedges manufactured before April 1, 1990.
On Monday, John Solheim, the chairman and CEO of Ping, said the company will waive its right to keep the PGA from banning the wedges. Tour officials then said the wedges will become illegal on March 29th on the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour, and the Nationwide Tour. The agreement will not apply to amateur competitions.
Solheim, whose father, Karsten Solheim, founded the Ping company, said he hopes the agreement will result in equipment company representatives having a stronger voice in
new rule-making decisions by the USGA.
Tim Shaw
UConn Women Break Own Winning Streak Record
3/09/2010
The University of Connecticut women defeated Notre Dame 59-44 on Monday in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament, and in so doing broke their school's own record for most consecutive womens basketball victories,
The 71st straight win, all by double digits, snaps the record of 70 wins set by UConn's team from November, 2001 to March, 2003 -- a streak that ended in the same semifinal round of the Big east tourney in 2003.
UConn is 32-0 this year and will face West Virginia tonight (Tuesday) as they go after their 16th tournament championship. The Mountaineers defeated Rutgers 56-49 in Monday's other semifinal.
Tina Charles led the Huskies on Monday with 16 points.
Tim Shaw
The 71st straight win, all by double digits, snaps the record of 70 wins set by UConn's team from November, 2001 to March, 2003 -- a streak that ended in the same semifinal round of the Big east tourney in 2003.
UConn is 32-0 this year and will face West Virginia tonight (Tuesday) as they go after their 16th tournament championship. The Mountaineers defeated Rutgers 56-49 in Monday's other semifinal.
Tina Charles led the Huskies on Monday with 16 points.
Tim Shaw
No James, No Parker; Cavs Beat Spurs
3/09/2010
Playing their second straight game without injured leading scorer LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday defeated the San Antonio Spurs 97-95 at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Spurs were playing their first game without guard Tony Parker, who will miss six weeks of action with a broken hand. San Antonio officials say Parker has learned he will not need surgery.
Before the game was over, new Cavs forward Antawn Jamison also left with an injury to his left knee. Jamison did not return to the game.
Mo Williams, who led Cleveland with 17 points, scored the game-winning foul shots with nine seconds remaining in the game. Delonte West added 16 for the Cavs. Manu Ginobili paced San Antonio with a season-high 38 points.
Cleveland (50-15) is idle until Friday when they play the 76ers in Philadelphia. The Cavs will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternnon.
Tim Shaw
The Spurs were playing their first game without guard Tony Parker, who will miss six weeks of action with a broken hand. San Antonio officials say Parker has learned he will not need surgery.
Before the game was over, new Cavs forward Antawn Jamison also left with an injury to his left knee. Jamison did not return to the game.
Mo Williams, who led Cleveland with 17 points, scored the game-winning foul shots with nine seconds remaining in the game. Delonte West added 16 for the Cavs. Manu Ginobili paced San Antonio with a season-high 38 points.
Cleveland (50-15) is idle until Friday when they play the 76ers in Philadelphia. The Cavs will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternnon.
Tim Shaw
Big East vs. Big Ten, Big Deal?
3/08/2010
Penguins 4-0 Since Olympics Hiatus
3/08/2010
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth straight game since NHL play resumed following the Winter Olympics break, edging the Boston Bruins on Sunday by a score of 2-1.
Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin scored the Penguins' goals, and Pittsburgh took a five-point lead in the Atlantic Division over New Jersey, who lost to 2-0 to the Oilers on Sunday night. Pittsburgh (40-22-4) trails Wasington by 12 points in the battle for the best point total in the Eastern Conference with 16 games remaining in the regular season.
The third period of Sunday's game in Pittsburgh was delayed for several minutes after a blindside hit by the Penguins' Matt Cooke leveled Bruins star Marc Savard. Reports on Sunday night indicated the league office may look into the hit, although no penalty was called on Cooke. Savard was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for overnight evaluation. Bruins' officials reported Sunday night that their player had sustained a concussion, and that they were unaware of any other medical problems.
On Thursday, the Penguins will begin a five-game road trip which will see them playing the Devils twice in six days in New Jersey. Thursday's contest will be against the Carolina Hurricanes, who are in last place in the Southeast Division. Carolina blanked Atlanta 4-0 in their last outing onto the ice on Sunday.
Tim Shaw
Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin scored the Penguins' goals, and Pittsburgh took a five-point lead in the Atlantic Division over New Jersey, who lost to 2-0 to the Oilers on Sunday night. Pittsburgh (40-22-4) trails Wasington by 12 points in the battle for the best point total in the Eastern Conference with 16 games remaining in the regular season.
The third period of Sunday's game in Pittsburgh was delayed for several minutes after a blindside hit by the Penguins' Matt Cooke leveled Bruins star Marc Savard. Reports on Sunday night indicated the league office may look into the hit, although no penalty was called on Cooke. Savard was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for overnight evaluation. Bruins' officials reported Sunday night that their player had sustained a concussion, and that they were unaware of any other medical problems.
On Thursday, the Penguins will begin a five-game road trip which will see them playing the Devils twice in six days in New Jersey. Thursday's contest will be against the Carolina Hurricanes, who are in last place in the Southeast Division. Carolina blanked Atlanta 4-0 in their last outing onto the ice on Sunday.
Tim Shaw
 |
Archives
June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]