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Sometimes folks in the NFL will change their minds about work

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press A deal is a deal until it’s not in the NFL. Liam Coen’s decision to withdraw his name from consideration for Jacksonville’s head coaching position and sign a new contract to remain the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay didn’t last long. Coen passed up the opportunity to become the highest-paid assistant coach in the NFL and took a second interview with the Jaguars on Thursday, leading to his eventual hiring as head coach in Jacksonville on Friday. Coen changed his mind just one day after agreeing on a deal with the Buccaneers. The ...

Players, not coaches, hold PSU back

Although I’m in general agreement with Neil Rudel’s report card after the Orange Bowl, I really feel for Drew Allar. Yes he did not have a good game, but what effective QB has only a tight end and running backs he can count on, throw to? Not many. And how does it affect his confidence when two to three of his reads/transitions are flat out covered all night, and he has to force just about every pass into a small window? I can only imagine how good he could be with Ohio State, Texas, Alabama receivers. Or our competition. Have you noticed how open their receivers get just ...

Never a shortage of baseball humor

By Wayne Stewart For the Mirror Any devout baseball fan could sincerely paraphrase a line from a famous sonnet and declare, “How do I love the game? Let me count the ways.” A new book entitled “I Love Baseball” contains 11 chapters which do just that, enumerating a slew of reasons fans adore the sport — from the serious reasons to the humorous. One chapter focuses on the entertaining and unusual promotions and the mascots associated with baseball. Did you know, for instance, that Joe Engel, owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, once signed a female pitcher named Jackie ...

Prime Video helping fans understand NFL game more

By Joe Reedy The Associated Press CULVER CITY, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams defense appeared to be content to drop back in coverage and prevent San Francisco’s Brock Purdy from completing a Hail Mary on the final play of their Thursday night game on Dec. 12. The broadcast on Amazon Prime Video saw it differently, though. Before Purdy snapped the ball, a defensive alert appeared on the screen, indicating that Rams inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom could rush the quarterback. Sure enough, Rozeboom came in on a rush and sacked Purdy for a 6-yard loss to end the ...

Rich Rod will fit nicely (back) at WVU

By Ira Kaufman For the Mirror The press conference for Rich Rodriguez’s return to West Virginia last month was epic. I have always loved West Virginia and found the people to be so nice and friendly. The state is beautiful with mountains and valleys. Morgantown is such a fun town, and the bars in the city are legendary. The people of West Virginia are proud of their state and want anyone who comes to West Virginia to love it. I was last there for Penn State’s visit to start this season. Rodriguez grew up in West Virginia, his entire extended family lived in West ...

Final 4 teams are blue-blood programs

By Eric Olson The Associated Press The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams to get some new blood. The final four are decidedly blueblood. The semifinals match Penn State vs. Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 and Texas vs. Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10. All four teams are among the eight programs with at least 900 all-time victories. By the NCAA’s count, Ohio State ranks second with 976 wins, Notre Dame and Texas are tied for fourth with 961 and Penn State is seventh with 943. The four teams have combined for 18 national titles since 1936, when the ...