Steelers won't tag Bell; will explore trade for Brown
Le' Veon Bell' s time in Pittsburgh is over. Antonio Brown's potential departure isn't quite so certain.
Steelers general manager Kevin Col bert says the team will not place a transition or franchise tag on Bell, meaning the star running back will become a free agent next month. Colbert said the team did not want to potentially tie up millions by placing a tag on Bell, who sat out all of 2018 after declining to sign his one-year tender last spring.
The Steelers will explore trade options for Brown, but Colbert did not completely rule out Brown's possible return in 2019 if the team can' t find fair value for the fourtime All-Pro. Col bert said the team will not devalue Brown and will not release him under any circumstances. Stricker appointed US captain for Ryder Cup Steve Stricker is going to his seventh straight Ryder Cup, this time in his home state of Wisconsin as the American captain.
Stricker officially was appointed Ryder Cup captain Wednesday morning in Milwaukee, an hour south of where the Americans will try to win back the Ryder Cup in 2020 at Whistling Straits.
Europe already has appointed Padraig Harrington as its captain.
Stricker played in three straight Ryder Cups through 2012, followed by three stints as an assistant captain.
Elsewhere … •The Washington Capitals placed playoff hero Devante Smith-Pelly on waivers Wednesday ahead of next week's NHL trade deadline.
Smith-P el ly ,26, scored seven goals in last year's playoffs during the Capitals' run to the title. This season, Smith-Pelly hasn't scored a goal in 33 games.
•Former champions Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep overcame windy conditions to reach the quarter final soft he Dubai Championships on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Kvitova beat American
Jennifer Brady 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 despite struggling with her serve, while No. 3 Halep ousted Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine 6-3, 7-5.
• Second- seeded John Isner advanced to the third round of the Delray Beach Open on Wednesday night, beating Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-4, 6-3.
The 6- foot -10 American set up a match against eighth-seeded
Adrian Man nari no of France, a 6-2,7-6(3) winner over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in the outdoor hardcourt event in Delray Beach, Florida.