Tag: Trending

Should Pittsburgh target an offensive lineman at the trade deadline? 

Poor penalty management by Steelers’ RT Broderick Jones, and injuries to the offensive line may need to be solved via trade by the deadline.

It is truly miraculous how the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to win games given how injured their offensive line is. In Week 8, the Steelers were missing three starting offensive linemen, with two out for the entirety of the regular season. The interior depth on the o-line has been great, but the tackle position may need an upgrade before the upcoming trade deadline on November 5th. 

LT Dan Moore Jr., whose play has been outstanding this season, was banged up and had to sit out one play late in Week 8’s contest. Backup offensive lineman Spencer Anderson replaced him and immediately allowed QB Russell Wilson to get sacked. 

RT Broderick Jones continues to commit penalties that kill offensive momentum, and while it is probably time for HC Mike Tomlin to bench him, there is truly no quality starter who could take his place. 

Offensive tackle trade targets such as Cam Robinson, Andrus Peat, or Walker Little could help alleviate the injury woes. This team looks primed to make a deep playoff run, but they’ll first need to address depth issues on the offensive side of the football. 

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Did Pittsburgh find their WR2 in Week 8’s victory over the NY Giants?

Calvin Austin stepped up in a major way for the Steelers in their Week 8 victory—potentially solidifying his position as the team’s WR2.

In the past decade, most, if not all, of the Steelers’ top receivers started out as dynamic punt returners. Steelers receivers such as Antonio Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Diontae Johnson all were incredibly successful as punt returners, eventually blossoming into phenomenal receivers for Pittsburgh. One receiver from Week 8 seemingly had his career breakout game and turning point, as WR Calvin Austin electrified both the New York Giants’ secondary and special teams unit. 

In the third quarter of his team’s contest, with the score tied 9-9, Austin knew he needed to make a splash play. He proceeded to step up when the team needed him most, returning a punt 73 yards for a touchdown. He further solidified his position as WR2 when he caught a 29-yard TD reception from QB Russell Wilson, his second touchdown of the night. 

Much speculation and trade rumors have been made over the Steelers necessity of an elite-caliber receiver opposite WR1 George Pickens, but scoring twice on the night and accumulating 54 receiving yards on just three receptions should prove why Austin is the WR2 Pittsburgh has been looking for. 

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Mike Tomlin offers poor excuse for illegal challenge flag in Week 8

Mike Tomlin has made some questionable game-time coaching decisions throughout his tenure, but perhaps the worst came in Week 8’s victory.

It seems like challenge flags bring Head Coach Mike Tomlin nothing but trouble. With the score tied 6-6 in the second quarter, QB Russell Wilson seemingly hit WR George Pickens on a solid touchdown pass to potentially put the Steelers up 13-6. However, as all scoring plays are automatically reviewed, it was determined by replay assist that Pickens did not get both feet in bounds. Tomlin, unaware of the referees stating aloud that further review took the play away, threw a challenge flag he wishes he could have taken back. He was not permitted to challenge a play that had already been reviewed, and a timeout was deducted from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tomlin’s excuse for the botched challenge was less than acceptable, as he claimed ignorance regarding whether or not the play was reviewed by officials. 

All 32 NFL coaches understand that scoring plays are automatically reviewed, and thankfully, the Steelers were able to pull off the win in Week 8, no thanks to the poor decision to challenge the automatically reviewed play.

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Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy’s mom opens up about viral moment after Week 5 touchdown

Kansas City #Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s mom opens up about viral moment after Week 5 touchdown | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy has handled his jump to the NFL smoothly through five games. He continues to show love to his biggest fan, his mother, Nicky Jones.

Jones recently appeared on ‘The Mama Bear Podcast,‘ reflecting on the memorable moment that has gone viral since last Monday night’s game.

“When I was there, obviously, like, I’m in the moment of it, but when I watched it back, on TV, it just made me so happy,” said Jones, “because he just it reminded me of when he was in Pop Warner, like, excited after a touchdown, and he hopped up, and the way he just ‘hold on,’ he, ran over there, and his smile was just so big and sweet. Oh, like, Oh, it’s my baby. Like, it was just so, so sweet.”

Jones was celebrating her birthday that night, and her son gave her the perfect gift on Monday Night Football.

https://www.instagram.com/sportscenter/p/DA302LqPlvZ/?img_index=2

“But it was this full circle moment, kind of because l was turning 40, which is kind of a milestone, and then, when he got drafted, he had turned 21 at the stadium as well,” said Jones. “So it was like, Wow, this little baby boy I had when I was 18, I’m here right now. In my wildest dreams, we pictured this, but I’m here, like, I’m living it. I wanted to soak it up, sit in, and feel it. And I did, and it was amazing. I’ll never forget it.”

Worthy and the Chiefs return from their bye week this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, hoping to create more memorable moments.

WATCH: Aaron Donald tackled two Duke players at once in college

Before Aaron Donald was a perennial All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion with the Rams, he was a Pittsburgh DT who terrorized the Blue Devils. In fact, one of his most iconic collegiate highlights came against Duke.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle and NFL legend Aaron Donald announced his sudden retirement on Friday morning, ending a 10-year career that included eight First-Team All-Pro honors, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Super Bowl title.

Donald ended his career with 111.0 total sacks, the 40th-most in NFL history.

Before he was a legend on Sundays, however, the interior lineman terrorized ACC quarterbacks with the Pittsburgh Panthers. In fact, one of his most iconic collegiate highlights came against Duke.

During a 2013 game against Pitt, Duke called a read-option run play. Donald, as he usually does, broke into the backfield immediately, but he couldn’t decide if the ball would go to Blue Devils running back Josh Snead or stay with quarterback Brandon Connette.

So Donald tackled them both, wrapping an arm around each Duke player and dragging them to the ground.

The former Panther slid down to the Rams with the 13th pick in the next year’s NFL draft due to size concerns (Donald is 6-foot-1) but any Blue Devils fans knew he’d be special back in 2013. The rest was history.

Duke remains a No. 3 seed…barely…in Lunardi’s projections after NC State loss

Despite a surprise upset in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi kept Duke as his last No. 3 seed on Thursday night.

Duke started the ACC Tournament with the idea that a championship win could move them up to contention for a No. 2 seed on Selection Sunday.

Instead, N.C. State sent the Blue Devils packing on Thursday with a 74-69 loss in the quarterfinals to leave Duke wondering if it would drop down to a No. 4.

There are still some games to play between now and Sunday, but according to ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi, the Blue Devils are safe…barely. Lunardi released an updated projection of his top 16 overall seeds after the Thursday night loss, and the Blue Devils were his 12th overall team and last No. 3 seed.

The loss punted Duke down to the East region behind Connecticut and Iowa State.

The teams most at risk of moving past the Blue Devils on the No. 4 seed line, according to Lunardi, are Illinois and Alabama.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Kyle Filipowski says court-storming altercation with Wake Forest fans felt intentional

Star Blue Devils forward Kyle Filipowski needed to be helped off the court after a run-in with Wake Forest fans, and he said the sequence felt personal and intentional.

Duke star forward Kyle Filipowski needed to be helped off the court with a knee injury on Saturday after he collided with some Wake Forest fans storming the court, and he said after the game that the sequence felt personal.

“I absolutely feel like it was personal,” Filipowski said of the incident after the game in a video posted by WFMY News 2’s Brian Hall. “Intentional, for sure.”

Fans across the nation tried to analyze the video, which appeared to show a fan colliding with Filipowski’s knee and the Duke player extending his arms out toward the fan, to decide how everything went down. The Duke 7-footer had his thoughts on the matter.

“There’s no reason where they see a big guy like me trying to work my way off the court and they can’t just work around me, you know?” he added.

Filipowski also shared his thoughts on court-storming after the game, posting the phrase “This gotta change…” on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

Filipowski said after the game that his knee was injured during the sequence.

Watch: Duke women’s golfer Phoebe Brinker makes full-court putt during Boston College game

Duke golfer Phoebe Brinker, who was being celebrated for her invite to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, wowed the Cameron Indoor crowd with a crazy full-court putt on Saturday

Duke women’s golf senior Phoebe Brinker was brought onto the court during the Blue Devils men’s basketball game against Boston College on Saturday, and she left a fun memory for every fan in attendance.

Brinker and her teammate, Emma McMyler, were being celebrated for their invite to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in early April.

The Blue Devils asked the star golfers to try and make a full-court putt across the court during the halftime break.

Brinker proceeded to do exactly what you’d expect one of the best collegiate golfers in the country to do in that situation. She drained it, earning a big cheer from the home crowd.

Duke fans will get to see Brinker and McMyler in action for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur during the first weekend of April. It will be Brinker’s third appearance in the event.

The women’s golf team gets back into action next weekend with the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida. The tournament will be played from February 18-20.

Fans call for Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s job after rocky performance vs. Bengals

#Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling trended on Twitter after his abysmal performance against the #Bengals.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had an exceptionally difficult 2023 season. The veteran pass catcher has become something of a scapegoat on the team’s struggling offense and didn’t help his cause against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

When Patrick Mahomes needed him most, Valdes-Scantling saw two balls slip through his hands in important situations and even seemed to show up the reigning MVP after one of his drops, as if to imply that the pass that blatantly bounced off his mitts wasn’t well thrown.

Fans across the country went ballistic on Twitter after the first drop and then followed up their outrage after the former South Flordia Bull’s second miscue.

“#CUTMVS” trended on Twitter as Chiefs Kingdom expressed their feelings about Valdes-Scantling, and despite Kansas City’s win on New Year’s Eve, the receiver’s performance seemed to define his team’s performance.

Check out what Twitter said about Valdes-Scantling as all of Sunday night’s drama unfolded:

Florida State athletic director releases statement on Seminoles not making CFP

The undefeated Seminoles were left on the outside looking in despite being undefeated and winning the ACC title.

Florida State, despite being undefeated and winning the ACC title, was left on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff. SEC Champion Alabama jumped ahead of them for the fourth seed with their victory over Georgia.

Seminoles’ athletic director Michael Alford released a statement on the decision, calling the choice destructive with permanent consequences for the sport of college football.

“The argument of whether a team is the ‘most deserving OR best’ is a false equivalence,” Alford wrote. “It made the season up to yesterday irrelevant and significantly damages the legitimacy of the College Football Playoff.”

Alford pointed out how the Seminoles are the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to ever not make the semifinals. He called the decision unforgivable.

“The fact that this team has continued to close out victories in dominant fashion facing our current quarterback situation should have ENHANCED our case to get a playoff berth EARNED on the field.”

“Wins matter. Losses matter,” Alford wrote. “Today, they changed the way success is assessed in college football, from a tangible metric – winning on the field – to an intangible, subjective one. Evidently, predicting the future matters more.”

Alford ended his statement by saying “the committee failed college football today.”

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell released a statement about the choice as well.

“I am disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision today,” he wrote. “What is the point of playing the games? Do you tell players it is okay to quit if someone goes down? Do you not play a senior on Senior Day for fear of injury? Where is the motivation to schedule challenging non-conference games?”