Steelers RB Najee Harris after tying Lions: ‘I didn’t even know you could tie in the NFL’
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris was apparently prepared for another quarter on the quest for a win, unaware the NFL recognizes ties if nobody leads after overtime. The Steelers and Detroit Lions tied 16-16 in a sloppy, weird football game from Heinz Field. The Lions recovered the fumble, ran an ill-fated hook-and-ladder with their final snap, and that was that. “I didn’t even know you could tie in the NFL,” Harris said after the game. This tie also represents Detroit’s second tie in three years, with two of the three most recent ties in the league belonging to the Lions.
mlive.com2021 NFL draft preview: The Lions have options at tight end if they don’t land Kyle Pitts
This is the third of an eight-part series previewing the Detroit Lions’ positional needs and priorities heading into the NFL draft, which is scheduled for April 29-May 1. It’s easy to understand the tight end fatigue in Detroit after failed experiments with Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron. With former Saints blocking tight end Josh Hill already signed to replace Jesse James, the Lions are in good shape at tight end if they don’t land Pitts. At 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, he’s big enough to block too, though still needs polishing there. Then there’s Hunter Long, who led the nation in catches by a tight end last season.
mlive.com2021 NFL Draft: 5 tight ends who could make sense for the Detroit Lions
Dan Campbell, a former 10-year NFL tight end, is Detroit’s new head coach and could see something to work with, though. Hockenson, on the other hand, emerged as one of the better tight ends in the league. Hockenson ranked 12th among tight ends with enough snaps to qualify in the run-blocking department per Pro Football Focus. ESPN ranks Long fifth among this year’s tight end class and PFF ranked him fifth among Power 5 tight ends, getting solid blocking marks to go along with his production. It’s hard to imagine the Lions using a pair of first-round picks on tight ends in just three years.
mlive.comAP All-Big Ten: Ohio State's Fields, Indiana's Allen honored
Fields led Ohio State to a 6-0 record and the No. 7 Indiana (6-1) to its highest ranking since 1967, knocking off three ranked teams along the way. Its only loss was 42-35 at Ohio State in a game that went down to the final play. u-QB — Justin Fields, Ohio State, 6-3, 228, Jr., Kennesaw, Georgia. C — Josh Myers, Ohio State, 6-5, 312, Jr., Miamisburg, Ohio.
Parsons, Sewell among AP preseason All-Americans not playing
Parsons and Oregon tackle Penei Sewell are among 11 players selected who are not slated to play this fall. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Oregon tackle Penei Sewell are among 11 players selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America first team who are not slated to play this fall. Tackles x-Penei Sewell, junior, Oregon; Alex Leatherwood, senior, Alabama. Linebackers y-Micah Parsons, junior, Penn State; x-Hamilcar Rashed Jr., senior, Oregon State; Dylan Moses, senior, Alabama. Safeties x-Jevon Holland, junior, Oregon; Trevon Moehrig, junior, TCU.
NCAA's top doctor: COVID-19 testing needs to improve to play
The Big Ten won't play football this fall because of concerns about COVID-19, becoming the first of college sports' power conferences to yield to the pandemic. Much of the fall college sports season has been canceled, with conferences hoping to make up competitions, including football, in the spring. The NCAA has no jurisdiction over major college football, so the conferences have been left to make their own calls. Six leagues, including the Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference and Big 12, are moving forward with plans to play in the fall. He added: Were not in a place today where we could safely play sports.___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Spring college football: When? How much? Who plays?
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said before a spring football season is planned, there has to be a discussion about fall 2021. He said conversations about a spring football season have been minimal, but there has been a theme. If the NFL does nothing to accommodate spring college football some of the sure-things are almost certain to leave. There is so much to sort out, including the NCAA signing off on a spring football season. At this point in time, we'll see.__Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Players unite in push to save college season, create union
College football players from across the country united Sunday in an attempt to save their season and ensure they will no longer be left out of the sport's biggest decisions. #BigTenUnited arrived on the scene a couple days later, a movement that claimed the backing off 1,000 Big Ten football players. Use our voices to establish open communication and trust between players and officials: Ultimately create a College Football Players Association. Another person with direct knowledge of the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no votes were taken or decisions made about the college football season. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
As college leaders meet, football players push to play
Meanwhile, college football players took to social media Sunday to push for the season to go on, led by Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with a series of tweets. We are ready to play and we want to play.Other players tweeted with the hashtag #WeWantToPlay. The parents of Ohio State football players weighed in, too, posting a letter saying they were confident in the university's plan to keep their sons safe. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said he has heard the same from Fighting Irish football players. They are going to want to know why.___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
No. 6 Penn State handles Michigan State 28-7
6 Penn State had little trouble shutting down Michigan State's anemic offense in a 28-7 victory Saturday. The Nittany Lions (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) avenged close losses to Michigan State from each of the past two seasons. The Spartans (4-4, 2-3) wrapped up a dreadful stretch in which they lost to Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State by a combined score of 100-17. Penn State now moves on to a surprising matchup of undefeated teams on Nov. 9 at Minnesota. 5 Oklahoma's loss to unranked Kansas State gives Penn State a chance to move up.
Clifford's 4 TDs lead No. 7 Penn State over No. 16 Michigan
Hassan Haskins #25 of the Michigan Wolverines carries the ball for a first down during the second quarter Penn State. But Michigan wideout Ronnie Bell dropped what would've been the tying touchdown with Penn State safety Lamont Wade playing tight coverage. Penn State went up 14-0 on its next drive when Clifford scored on a 1-yard run made easier by a 44-yard rush from Ricky Slade. It ended with Zach Charbonnet beating Penn State defenders to the end zone on a 12-yard run. Penn State visits Michigan State on Saturday.