Aug 23, 2022 3 min read

Steelers trim roster

The Steelers released five players Tuesday to get down to the mandatory 80-man roster. Among the players cut was a 2022 draft pick.

Pittsburgh released linebacker Genard Avery, wide receiver Christian Blake, running back Mataeo Durant, quarterback Chris Oladokun and kicker Nick Sciba.

Oladokun, who played at South Dakota State, was selected in the seventh round of this year’s draft. He didn’t see any action in the first two preseason games.

Avery, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round in 2018, was signed as an unrestricted free agent in March. Blake was signed Aug. 11 during training camp, after playing three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Durant is an undrafted rookie free agent. Sciba, made both of his field-goal attempts in the preseason.

Teams will have to cut their rosters to 53 players by Aug. 30.

In college football

Alabama coach Nick Saban is getting a new eight-year contract worth at least $93.6 million, eclipsing the recent megadeal of Southeastern Conference rival Kirby Smart.

The University of Alabama trustees compensation committee on Tuesday approved a one-year extension through Feb. 28, 2030 for the 70-year old Saban, who has led the Crimson Tide to six national titles. Saban’s deal averages out to $11.7 million per year, topping Smart’s $11.25 million pay at defending national champion Georgia.

The announcement comes a month after Smart agreed to a 10-year deal worth more than $110 million. The Bulldogs beat Alabama in the national championship game in January.

• Marshall running back Rasheen Ali, one of the nation’s top freshman rushers last season, is taking a leave of absence for undisclosed reasons, coach Charles Huff said.

Ali rushed for 1,401 yards and 23 touchdowns last season and was expected to be a big part of the offense again as Marshall enters its first season in the Sun Belt Conference.

No timetable was given for Ali’s return.

In the NHL

The Carolina Hurricanes signed veteran Paul Stastny to a $1.5 million contract on Tuesday, a move that shores up their forward depth.

Stastny’s addition could fill a void with winger Max Pacioretty expected to miss several months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. The Hurricanes are trying to improve their scoring after averaging fewer than three goals a game in the playoffs this past season.

Stastny scored 21 goals in 71 games with Winnipeg last season and has 310 in the regular season and playoffs since breaking into the NHL.

In golf

Fresh off his first PGA Tour victory, Will Zalatoris is out of the Tour Championship and the Presidents Cup because of two herniated disks.

Zalatoris was the No. 3 seed going into the FedEx Cup finale and the chase for the $18 million prize, meaning he would have started three shots out of the lead.

The field was reduced to 29 players with his withdrawal and everyone keeps their seeding and how far behind they start Thursday at East Lake behind Scottie Scheffler.

The injury is serious enough that Zalatoris already has ruled himself out of the Presidents Cup on Sept. 22-25 at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.