(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) leaves the field after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still pondering his future for the 2026 NFL season, which will be his 22nd season if he plays. It seems like the chances are increasing that Rodgers could play, and that will be a beautiful day in the neighborhood for Steelers fans. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy spoke last week to KDKA’s Bob Pompeani, who asked McCarthy about Rodgers playing again, and McCarthy said: “That’s the plan.” According to several national outlets including the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Rodgers has told some of his closest friends that he feels refreshed and really appreciated his year with the Steelers. Pelissero stated that the plan is for Rodgers to take a little bit more time with his decision, and it will probably come prior to the start of NFL free agency in the middle of March. 

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of KDKA-TV, CBS Pittsburgh, Posted on Facebook on February 10th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Palm Beach Gardens, FL) Central Catholic High School alumnus and golfer Neal Shipley made the first hole-in-one ever in the history of TGL, which is a high-tech professional golf league based out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida that is held indoors at the Sofi Center. Shipley was competing for the Bay Golf Club in their match last night against Los Angeles Golf Club and whacked his golf ball with a wedge into a screen on a 110-yard par 3 and back-spinned it into the hole. Shipley finished as the runner up at the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2023 and earned a spot to compete in the Masters tournament in 2024. Shipley was bounced into the limelight in his debut at that tournament, because he earned its low amateur honor and golfed along Tiger Woods in the final round of the 2024 Masters.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Atlanta Braves’ Marcell Ozuna in action during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sept. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, file)

(PITTSBURGH, PA – AP) Veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna is heading to Pittsburgh.

The 35-year-old free agent has reached an agreement with the Pirates on a one-year deal worth $12 million, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending Ozuna passing a physical.

Ozuna would give the Pirates another experienced bat to potentially boost a lineup that was among the worst in the majors in 2025. The right-handed Ozuna hit .232 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs last season for Atlanta.

Pittsburgh previously acquired All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe and signed All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn during an unusually busy offseason for the club as it tries to give a young pitching staff anchored by reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes some help.

Ozuna’s arrival could mean Pittsburgh is moving on from longtime franchise cornerstone Andrew McCutchen. The 39-year-old, five-time All-Star and 2013 NL MVP, who has spent 12 of his 17 seasons in the majors with the Pirates, remains unsigned after hitting .239 with 13 homers while serving primarily as the club’s designated hitter.

Ozuna is a three-time All-Star himself and a career .269 hitter in 13 seasons with Miami, St. Louis and Atlanta. The native of the Dominican Republic has batted over .300 three times, most recently in 2024.

One of the few places where Ozuna has struggled is PNC Park, his potential new home. Ozuna is a career .225 hitter with just one home run in 36 games at the ballpark that has been historically difficult for right-handed hitters.

The Pirates are banking on Ozuna figuring it out to give a left-handed dominant lineup a little balance. Lowe, O’Hearn and outfielder Oneil Cruz are lefties. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds is a switch-hitter.

The Pirates begin spring training when pitchers and catchers report to their complex in Bradenton, Florida, later this week.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Canada forward Gavin McKenna (9) controls the puck during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship bronze medal game against Finland, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn, File)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped the most serious assault charge against Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna, considered a likely top pick in this year’s NHL draft, but he remains accused of less serious offenses.

The Centre County prosecutor said Friday that aggravated assault would have required proof McKenna acted with the intention of causing serious injury or that he showed an extreme indifference to the value of human life. McKenna was accused of injuring a man during an altercation last weekend.

Although the police complaint alleged the victim sustained injuries to both sides of his jaw and was missing a tooth as a result, Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna said subsequent investigation showed there were two fractures to the same side of his jaw and that no teeth were knocked out. He is recovering from surgery, Cantorna said.

Canadian McKenna, 18, is a freshman center from Whitehorse, Yukon. A phone message seeking comment was left late Friday for McKenna’s lawyer, Jason Dunkle. The incident occurred hours after Penn State lost to No. 2 Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium.

Cantorna said video evidence led him and police to drop the felony charge.

McKenna remains charged with misdemeanor simple assault, along with harassment and disorderly conduct. Cantorna said the preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for March 11.

McKenna decided to play for Penn State after the NCAA lifted its ban on Canadian Hockey League players competing at the Division I level. A name, image and likeness deal with the Nittany Lions helped draw McKenna to join the program.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Christinne Muschi/AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was selected as the captain of Team Canada’s men’s ice hockey team at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games yesterday morning. This is the second time that Crosby has been the men’s ice hockey team captain for Team Canada. He was a captain back in 2014 and won gold medals in 2014 and 2010. The men’s ice hockey team for Team Canada will take on Czechia on Thursday at 10:40 a.m. for their first match of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Detroit Tigers pitcher Jose Urquidy throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sept. 17, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

(PITTSBURGH – AP) Pitcher José Urquidy and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed Thursday to a $1.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Urquidy adds depth to the Pirates staff headed by NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and gives the team roster flexibility because he can be optioned to the minor leagues.

Urquidy had Tommy John surgery on June 5, 2024, while with Houston, signed a $1 million, one-year deal with Detroit last March and returned to the major leagues on Sept. 14. He made two big league relief appearances last year and had a 7.71 ERA over 2 1/3 innings.

A six-year major league veteran, Urquidy is 27-16 with a 4.00 ERA in 70 starts and 11 relief appearances for the Astros (2019-23) and Tigers. He was on the injured list with a forearm strain in 2024 before having surgery.

Urquidy has a 4.08 ERA in 15 postseason appearances, including eight starts.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and his wife Kiya will be honored at Acrisure Stadium on March 15th with the Patricia R. Rooney Community Impact Award at the annual Ireland Funds dinner. This award is given to leaders who in response to a significant contemporary problem, have produced successful organizational initiatives. Mike Tomlin resigned as the head coach of the Steelers after nineteen seasons with them on January 13th, 2026 and he never had a losing season in his career. Kiya Tomlin is a fashion designer who launched her brand in 2014 with the goal of uniting both ultimate comfort and cover girl glamour.  

(Credit for Photo: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(San Francisco, CA) Former Pitt football and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was one of the five inductees of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. The class was announced at the 2026 NFL Honors last night at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Fitzgerald is second in NFL history in both receiving yards with 17,492 and receptions with 1,432, and is sixth in NFL history in touchdowns with 121 Fitzgerald spent his entire NFL career with the Cardinals through seventeen seasons. The other inductees of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class are quarterback Drew Brees, linebacker Luke Kuechly, kicker Adam Vinatieri, and running back Rodger Craig, who was the only finalist to be inducted in the Seniors category. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 enshrinement is set for August 8th in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) NFL Films, in partnership with VisitPITTSBURGH, the Pittsburgh Steelers and U. S. Steel will present The Football Town, a film which explores the storied football tradition of the region as part of the celebration of Western Pennsylvania’s rich football history leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. It premieres on Saturday, February 28th at Kamin Science Center’s Rangos Giant Cinema, right next door to Acrisure Stadium, and it will run exclusively for two months leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh taking place on April 23rd-25th. The first-ever immersive format documentary produced by NFL Films, The Football Town, is an approximately 50-minute film that focuses on the unique history of football in Western Pennsylvania, which is a region defined by grit, steel, hard work, three rivers, the Appalachian hills and its community. Pittsburgh area native Pat McAfee will narrate the film and it will feature appearances by Steelers legends Jerome Bettis, Bill Cowher, James Harrison, Joey Porter Sr. and others. Tickets will go on sale beginning on Friday, February 13th and will be available on the Kamin Science Center website by clicking here. The Football Town is presented by U. S. Steel to celebrate its 125th anniversary and its deep roots in Pittsburgh.