NFL Fines Player $10K for Calling Wife Mid-Game

(NEWSER) - The Pittsburgh Steelers got a 33-yard field goal from Jeff Reed 4½ minutes into overtime tonight to beat the visiting Tennessee Titans, 13-10, in the first game of the NFL season. It was an uneven performance for the defending champions, the Post-Gazette reports; Pittsburgh also lost Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu to a knee injury late in the second half. More»

And 10 other things Peter King thinks about the Super Bowl

(NEWSER) - Kurt Warner has a clock in his head, and he'll need to pay attention to its ticking in order to best the Pittsburgh defense, writes Peter King in Sports Illustrated. King feels that the Cardinals' chances are all in Warner's hands and head: If he can avoid turnovers, he could clinch it. King has other thoughts, as well: More»

Versatile, soft-spoken safety inks five-year, $33M contract

(NEWSER) - Troy Polamalu became the highest-paid Steeler and the top-earning safety in the league yesterday, signing a five-year extension on the first day of Steelers training camp. The mild-mannered Samoan-American's ability to line up at multiple positions, knack for reading defenses, and wacky free-wheeling mentality have made him the lynchpin of the defense that won Super Bowl XL. More»

And so did the fourth-quarter television ratings

(NEWSER) - This might just be a weird coincidence, or Tim Tebow's dramatic defeat of the Steelers last night may have been a miracle in more ways than one. The polarizing Denver quarterback wound up throwing for 316 yards, which, if you toss in a colon in the right spot, mirrors the call number of a famous bible verse, John 3:16. That's a verse Tebow occasionally wrote on his face while playing at the University of Florida, Fox News reports. More»

Broncos advance, will meet New England on Saturday

(AP) - They'll be Tebowing in Denver tonight: Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime and the Broncos defeated the stunned Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in the AFC wild-card game. Thomas hauled in a high play-action pass at the Denver 38, stiff-armed Ike Taylor and then outraced Ryan Mundy to the end zone. Tebow knelt in his own end zone, pounding a fist in triumph before taking a victory lap in jubilation. More»