NFL SEASON OPENER
PITTSBURGH — T.J. Watt’s contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers have dragged on to the point of distraction as the season opener in Buffalo looms on Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger has some advice on how the organization can make it all go away: pay the All-pro outside linebacker “whatever the heck he wants.”
While Watt practiced in pads with his teammates on Wednesday for the first time since the end of last season, Roethlisberger urged the Steelers to do whatever it takes to lock Watt up long term before an unofficial deadline passes this weekend.
“One of the reasons I took less money was for guys like him to get paid,” said Roethlisberger, who renego- tiated his contract in March to lessen his salary cap hit for 2021.
“And he needs to get paid. He deserves every penny that he wants and asks for. T.J. Watt is that guy who should get whatever he wants.”
Watt, a three-time Pro Bowler, is in the final season of the deal he signed after the Steelers selected him with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He’s become one of the most dominant edge rushers in the league and his 49 1/2 sacks through four seasons is the sixth-highest total by any player during the first four years of his career.
Ravens sign ex-steeler Bell to practice squad
The Baltimore Ravens signed Le’veon Bell to their practice squad, adding another backfield option in the aftermath of J.K. Dob- bins’ season-ending injury.
Bell was cut early last season by the New York Jets, then rushed for 328 yards in 11 games with Kansas
City. He did not play in the Super Bowl for the Chiefs.
Bell rushed for more than 1,000 yards three times in five seasons for Pittsburgh. He then sat out the whole 2018 season in a contract dispute. He signed with the Jets and rushed for 789 yards in 2019.
The Ravens lost Dobbins to a knee injury in their final preseason game. That left Gus Edwards as their top remaining running back, although quarterback Lamar Jackson is a big rushing threat as well.
The Ravens announced running back Justice Hill
Dallas at Tampa Bay, 8:20 p.m. today, NBC was going on njured reserve, released safety Jordan Richards and also signed running back Tren- ton Cannon.
iVikings sign RT O’neill to contract extension
The Minnesota Vikings signed right tackle Brian O’neill to a contract extension, securing their most reliable blocker for the long term.
O’neill was drafted in the second round out of Pitt burgh in 2018 nd would have been eligible for free agency next year. He cracked the lineup as rookie and has started 42 games in his first three seasons. During his span as a starter, the Vikings have the third-most rushing yards in the NFL.
Financial details of the deal weren’t immediately available.
The Vikings have drafted an offensive lineman in the first or second round for four straight years.
O’neill is the oldest and most accomplished from that group.
saaHal Mccoy
Covering the Reds
The Cincinnati Reds took a different approach Tuesday night in Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
And it worked — a 4-3 victory.
their previous nine games, Cincinnati’s oppo- nents had scored first.
On Tuesday, though, the Reds scored two runs in the first inning on home runs by Jonathan India and Nick Castellanos.
The Reds hung on from there behind another strong pitching performance by wily Wade Miley. He shut down the Cubs and their seven-game winning streak on one run, five hits, no walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings.
And the Reds gained a game in the wild card chase on both Philadelphia and St. Louis, both of whom lost Tuesday. The San Diego Padres, a game ahead of the Reds when the night began, lost to the Los Angeles Angels.
Of the Reds finally scroung- ing up an early lead, India said, “That was good for our team. We needed a lit- tle momentum on our side after struggling the last couple of weeks. That was big for us to get a little groove, and Wade did his thing tonight.”
In addition to his home run, India began an eighth-in- ning two-run rally with a double. He scored twice.
The Reds came out swing- ing aggressively in the first inning against Cubs starter Adrian Sampson.
Sampson was making his second start of the season and his other start was against the Reds on Aug. 18, when he held the Reds to one run and five hits over four innings.
This time in the first inning Sampson’s pitches were in the hot spot and the Reds ripped. India led off the game with his 19th home run. With one out Castellanos homered and it was 2-0.
lndia’s home run was the 12th by the Reds leading off the first inning, tying the single-season National League record.
Miley and his devastating cutter baffled the Cubs, except for a two-out home run by catcher Willson Contreras in the third.
“It was the best cutter I’ve had in a while,” said Miley. “Me and D.J. (pitching coach Derek Johnson) worked on
few things the last couple of days..”
The Contreras home run made it 2-1 and the game settled into a pitcher’s battle.
Miley and the Reds caught a mammoth piece of luck in the sixth. With the score still 2-1, Ian Happ beat an infield single. Patrick Wisdom drove one over left fielder Max Schrock’s head.
At every other park, Happ would have scored to tie it. But the ball became entangled in the ivy on the brick wall. In Wrigley Field, that’s a ground-rule double and Happ had to stop at third. Miley then retired Matt Duffy.
hat was beautiful,,” said Miley. “I thought it was a two-run homer off the bat.”
a