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Analyst: Steelers Are Perfect Kirk Cousins Destination

Published

1 year ago

December 18, 2024

Analyst: Steelers Are Perfect Kirk Cousins Destination

The Pittsburgh Steelers, after enduring several years of substandard quarterback play following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, adopted a new approach this past offseason by adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to the roster at low price points.

Those acquisitions were aimed at simultaneously raising both the floor and ceiling of the offense and the team itself through two players with varying levels of starting experience at the NFL level.

That gamble has paid off for the Steelers, as they are currently 10-4 and have clinched a playoff berth while Wilson and Fields have each contributed at different points throughout the year. Both signal callers will reach free agency after the season concludes, however, meaning Pittsburgh could suddenly have to start fresh at the position.

Should the Steelers opt not to hand out a significant pay raise to their incumbent quarterbacks, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio believes they could go back to the well and target current Atlanta Falcons field general Kirk Cousins on a cheap contract after he was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.

“Think about this, they’ve got Justin Fields under contract for the rest of the year. They’ve got Russell Wilson under contract the rest of the year. They got them both for nothing. Like their entire quarterback depth chart was making less money than Mason Rudolph,” Florio said via NFL on NBC on YouTube. “If you can do this again, and you can bring Kirk Cousins to run your offense and play Steelers football with Arthur Smith … We’d like to get a long-term franchise quarterback. We haven’t found one yet. So, let’s just get a guy who, dollar for dollar, is a hell of a value.”

Cousins, who had spent the previous six campaigns with the Minnesota Vikings, inked a four-year deal worth $180 million back in March despite the fact that he tore his Achilles in Week 8 of the 2023 season.

The 36-year-old hasn’t looked like himself this year, throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over 14 contests. Now that he’s on the sideline in the middle of Atlanta’s playoff push, it’s become increasingly likely that he’ll end up elsewhere in 2025.

Cousins’ situation is rather similar to Wilson’s from his time with the Denver Broncos, who released him from a $245 million contract and took on $85 million in dead money in the process.

If the Falcons were to find a trade partner, they would incur $37.5 million in dead money. Because Cousins has a full no-trade clause, however, he could dig his heels in and simply refuse to agree to such a transaction for a multitude of reasons and hit the open market for a second-consecutive offseason.

In that case, Atlanta would be responsible for $65 million in dead cap. That would represent a far more palatable outcome for the Steelers, as Cousins would then garner a deal for the league minimum, much like the one Wilson agreed to with the team.

It’s far too early to gauge the true likelihood of such a move materializing for Pittsburgh, but it’s certainly an intriguing idea. Cousins should improve next season after being another year removed from his injury, and while losing Wilson would sting in this case, it would make it easier for the Steelers to also retain Fields if they so choose while continuing to build a contending roster.

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Silovs makes 22 saves, Penguins shut out Golden Knights | NHL.com

Published

10 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Silovs makes 22 saves, Penguins shut out Golden Knights | NHL.com

Vegas allowed two power-play goals on Pittsburgh’s four chances after giving up one on 12 opportunities the previous four games.

“I think we just had poor execution all game long,” Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith said. “Obviously, our penalty kill has been pretty good for us and that wasn’t good enough tonight.”

Rickard Rakell pushed it to 4-0 on another power play at 15:06, stopping a shot from Karlsson with his left skate and wrapping a shot around Hill.

Brazeau scored on a wrist shot from above the right circle at 14:59 of the third period for the 5-0 final.

“Second period, they took it to us,” McNabb said. “We were out of it, basically.”

NOTES: With goals from Kindel, Chinakhov and Brazeau, the Penguins have 73 goals by players in their first season with the team. It’s the most in the NHL this season and 13 more than the next closest (the Anaheim Ducks, 59). … The Golden Knights have been outscored 9-1 in the first and second periods of their first three games out of the break for the Olympics. … Karlsson has 908 points (204 goals, 704 assists), tied with Scott Stevens (908 points; 196 goals, 712 assists) for the 13th-most by a defenseman in League history. … Vegas forward Mitch Marner had a point streak end at six games (seven points; four goals, three assists).

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Pittsburgh and Vegas take the ice for non-conference matchup

Published

22 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Pittsburgh and Vegas take the ice for non-conference matchup

Vegas Golden Knights (28-17-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-13, in the Metropolitan Division)

Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -149, Penguins +125; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights square off in a non-conference matchup.

Pittsburgh has a 14-8-7 record at home and a 30-15-13 record overall. The Penguins have scored 197 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank 10th in NHL play.

Vegas is 28-17-14 overall and 14-9-7 in road games. The Golden Knights are 27-6-8 in games they score at least three goals.

Sunday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Mantha has 21 goals and 23 assists for the Penguins. Benjamin Kindel has six goals and one assist over the last 10 games.

Mark Stone has 21 goals and 38 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has seven goals and three assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 7-1-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 4-4-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Penguins: None listed.

Golden Knights: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Oneil Cruz Powers Pirates Past Astros

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz needs to have a great season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 and his strong Spring Training continued in their most recent victory.

Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray in the top of the fifth inning, playing a big role in the 5-2 victory at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He waited on a changeup on the second pitch, 85.1 mph over the middle of the plate and sent it 106.4 mph off the bat and 368 feet, scoring both left fielder Billy Cook and third baseman Alika Williams with two outs.

That marks the first home run for Cruz in the Grapefruit League, who has had a great Spring Training so far, slashing .538/.600/.846 for an OPS of 1.446 in five games, with seven hits in 13 at-bats.

Pittsburgh got the win after the top of the sixth inning, after a rain delay ended the game.

Pirates Rookie Pitchers Have Up-And-Down Showing vs. Astros

Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his second start for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and dominated vs. the Astros.

Sep 15, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (67) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Ashcraft threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk, while posting two strikeouts for Pittsburgh.

Former Pirates pitcher, right-handed starter Mike Burrows, countered Ashcraft for the Astros. He threw three scoreless innings himself, allowed one hit and a walk and posted four strikeouts.

The Pirates traded Burrows to the Houston Astros in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 19, that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed relief pitcher Mason Montgomery.

Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his second appearance for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and threw two innings.

Chandler immediately loaded the bases, walking both third baseman Carlos Correa and first baseman Christian Walker, then giving up a single to center fielder Cam Smith.

He came back and struckout right fielder Taylor Trammell and got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to pop out, but gave up a single to second baseman Brice Matthews and a run to the Astros, before ending the inning with a strikeout.

Chandler also gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, on a slider down in the zone.

He finished his outing with three hits, three walks and two earned runs allowed over 1.1 innings pitched, before left-handed pitcher Derek Diamond got the last two outs of the inning.

Chandler struggled in his first Spring Training start vs. the New York Yankees at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Feb. 23, where he allowed four earned runs over 1.2 innings of work.

Feb 23, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) throws a pitch during the second inning against the New York Yankees at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pirates will need better showings from Chandler, who should serve as a key piece of their starting rotation in 2026.

Other Important Notes from Pirates Victory

The Pirates added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Cook hit a single that scored second baseman Nick Yorke and then Williams singled, scoring Cook to make it a 5-2 ball game.

Cook had just one hit in eight at-bats coming into this game and scored twice in the victory, as he walked before the Cruz home run.

Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna led the Pirates with two hits, a good sign for them, as they’ll rely on him greatly for his power and hitting in 2026.

The Pirates are now 7-2 in the Grapefruit League and tied with the Yankees for the top of the standings.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

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