Pitt revamps offense, fires coordinator Shawn Watson
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh has fired offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman in an effort to overhaul its beleaguered offense.
Coach Pat Narduzzi made the announcement on Friday.
The Panthers went 7-7 this season and won the ACC Coastal Division for the first time but had trouble generating offensive against quality opponents, particularly through the air. Pitt finished 97th in the country in total offense, 93rd in scoring offense and 120th in passing offense.
Sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett struggled at times in his first full season as starter. Pickett completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,969 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Rafael Araujo-Lopes led the Panthers with 37 receptions. No Panther had more than 557 yards receiving.
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Steelers part ways with linebackers coach Joey Porter
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have parted ways with outside linebackers coach Joey Porter.
The team announced Friday that Porter’s contract would not be renewed. The move is the first of what could be several coaching adjustments by the Steelers after Pittsburgh failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
The 41-year-old Porter, who spent 13 seasons in the NFL before going into coaching, joined the Steelers as a defensive assistant in 2014 and was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2015. His tenure with the team was marred by an incident in January 2017 when he was arrested following an altercation with a bouncer at a bar. Most of the charges against Porter were later dropped.
Coach Mike Tomlin called the decision to fire Porter “difficult.”
Play by Pittsburgh’s outside linebackers was uneven during Porter’s tenure. Though T.J. Watt finished with a career-best and team-high 13 sacks, the development of 2015 first-round pick Bud Dupree has been slow. Longtime Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison also became problematic in his final season with Pittsburgh in 2017, eventually getting released due in part to insubordination.
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Aliquippa native Ty Law has been named as an NFL Hall of Fame Finalist. Also of local interest former Pittsburgh Steelers Alan Faneca made the cut. They will be joined by  First-time eligibles Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed and Champ Bailey . Others on the list include Steve Atwater, Tony Boselli, Isaac Bruce, Don Coryell, Tom Flores,  Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, John Lynch, Kevin Mawae (mah-WY’) and Richard Seymour.
Also being considered for induction are senior committee nominee former safety Johnny Robinson , ex-Cowboys GM Gil Brandt and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.
A maximum of eight new members can be elected, five from the modern-era group.
Law was a standout athlete at Aliquippa high school. His performance earned him a scholarship to the University of Michigan where he stared from 1992-1994. Law entered the NFL draft in 1995 and was drafted 23rd overall by the New England Patriots. Law’s NFL Career lasted for 15 seasons. He played for the Patriots, the Jets twice, the Chiefs, and the Broncos. Law win three Super Bowl titles with the Patriots  And is a member of the Pats Hall of Fame.