Category: Sports

Brady leaving Patriots, says ‘football journey’ is elsewhere

Brady leaving Patriots, says ‘football journey’ is elsewhere
By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer
Tom Brady says he’s leaving the New England Patriots. Brady posted on social media “my football journey will take place elsewhere.” The comments by the 42-year-old quarterback were the first to indicate he would leave the franchise he’s led to six Super Bowl titles, and the only pro team he has ever known. Comments from owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick made clear Brady’s remarkable stint in New England is over. The one-year contract the four-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player and three-time league MVP signed before last season expires Wednesday afternoon.

AP source: Saints, Brees agree on 2-year, $50 million deal

AP source: Saints, Brees agree on 2-year, $50 million deal
By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Saints and record-setting quarterback Drew Brees have agreed on a two-year, $50 million contract. A person familiar with the situation spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the deal has not been announced. Brees has said repeatedly that he is taking career decision one year at a time. His new contract gives the 41-year-old, 19-year veteran the leverage to decide after this season whether he wants to continue playing. Brees is the NFL’s all-time leader in completions with 6,867, yards passing with 77,416, and touchdowns with 547.

Panthers: Newton can seek trade; QB says didn’t request it

Panthers: Newton can seek trade; QB says didn’t request it
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers are moving on from Cam Newton. The team says it has given Newton permission to seek a trade. The quarterback responded on responded saying he never requested one. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said via Twitter that the team is working with Newton and his agent to find the best fit for him moving forward. Hurney added that Newton “will always be a Carolina Panther in our hearts.” Newton responded on Twitter by telling the Panthers to “stop the word play” and that the team is trying to manipulate the narrative and act like he wanted a trade.

Steelers place LB Shazier on reserve/retired list

Steelers place LB Shazier on reserve/retired list
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed the inside linebacker Ryan Shazier on the reserved/retired list. But the team says the move doesn’t rule out the possibility of Shazier playing again. Shazier spent the last two seasons on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from a spinal injury suffered in December 2017. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert called the move “a matter of protocol” that would ensure Shazier remains involved with the team. Shazier has made remarkable progress since the injury and has continued working out in hopes of one day being cleared to play again.

NASCAR suspends season until May but will reschedule events

NASCAR suspends season until May but will reschedule events
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has suspended its season until early May. The sanctioning body said Monday night it will not resume racing until Martinsville Speedway on May 9. NASCAR will postpone seven races as it obeys government guidelines to avoid large public gatherings. NASCAR says it still intends to run a full 36-race season. There have been four events so far.

April NFL draft on schedule, no public events in Las Vegas

April NFL draft on schedule, no public events in Las Vegas
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL will proceed with its draft but without public events next month in Las Vegas. It’s not yet clear, however, if the draft itself will be held in the city. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday the draft will take place April 23-25 as scheduled but under a modified format still being developed. The draft will be televised regardless of its venue or format.

MLB delays opening day to mid-May at earliest due to virus

MLB delays opening day to mid-May at earliest due to virus
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest because of the coronavirus. The move came Monday after the federal government recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following a conference call with executives of the 30 teams. MLB says it is committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed across the country for the next eight weeks.

Steelers place franchise tag on OLB Bud Dupree

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are holding onto outside linebacker Bud Dupree. The team placed the franchise tag on Dupree just ahead of the NFL-mandated deadline for clubs to use the designation. The move means Dupree, who collected a career-high 11 1/2 sacks in 2019, could make around $16 million in 2020 if he signs the tag. That number would likely change if Dupree reaches an agreement with the Steelers on a long-term deal by July 15.

Chris Shovlin Talks RMU Basketball, Calling His 1000th Game, & The Coronavirus

The 2019-20 season has had its highs and lows for the Robert Morris Colonials mens’ basketball team, and longtime announcer Chris Shovlin was there for them–along with his own highs and lows.

The Beaver County Radio alum and BC Sports Hall Of Famer joined Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the March 14 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam to talk about the high of Robert Morris’ victory over St. Francis (PA) in the NEC tournament on March 10, only to compound it with the low of the shutdown of the NCAA tournament–for which they had qualified–two days later due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Shovlin, who has been calling games for Robert Morris since 1987, also touched upon calling his 1,000th NCAA Division 1 basketball game earlier this season, and how he nearly achieved 1,000 with the Colonials alone–if not for early season back surgery and the aforementioned coronavirus. Shovlin was honored with a spot in the Robert Morris Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2012.

To listen to the full conversation between Chris, Greg, and Matt, click on the player below!

NHL ‘Pausing’ Season Amid Coronavirus Concerns

(AP)- The NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league is “pausing” its season. The move comes a day after the NBA suspended play following a player’s positive COVID-19 test. The NHL has not said any player has tested positive for the virus. The NHL is halting play with 189 games left in the regular season and sparking uncertainty about how many more if any could be go on before the playoffs. A handful of European hockey leagues have already called off the remainder of their seasons.