Yardbarker

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

Saint Francis-Alabama State highlight beauty of First Four games

Alabama State's 70-68 First Four win over Saint Francis (PA) on Tuesday night is not going to be remembered as clinical masterpiece of basketball. 

West Virginia's basketball week gets worse with HC departure

This has not been a good week for West Virginia basketball. It started with the team being snubbed for the NCAA Tournament in a highly controversial decision by the selection committee that put North Carolina in ahead of them.

West Virginia AD rips selection committee after tournament snub

The NCAA selection committee is never going to make everybody happy when it comes to the 68-team tournament field, but there are some instances where they really do get it wrong. That seemed to happen on Sunday when they left the West Virginia Mountaineers out of the field in favor of North Carolina.

Reputation put North Carolina in men's NCAA Tournament

The North Carolina name is what got the Tar Heels in. Not the actual basketball. 

Five sleepers in men's NCAA Tournament that could win it all

Let's take a look at five sleeper teams outside of the favorites that could turn the tournament upside down and go on deep runs — perhaps even winning it all. 

Sam Darnold's contract with Seahawks may not be what it seems

According to ProFootballTalk on Sunday, while Darnold's $37.5 million salary for the 2025 season is fully guaranteed, the Seahawks have a couple of outs in the deal.

49ers continue offseason purge by trading away leading 2024 rusher

In terms of the names and faces the San Francisco 49ers are going to be mostly unrecognizable next season.

Watch: Golden Knights lose game after trying to get revenge goal for Jack Eichel 

The Vegas Golden Knights dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon, a result that had to be frustrating enough for the Golden Knights given that Buffalo is one of the league's worst teams.

Penguins' late-season surge is too little, too late for playoff hopes

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the early stages of a rebuild and have spent most of the 2024-25 season selling off veteran assets to collect draft picks and prospects. They hope to complete this rebuild relatively quickly, but the playoffs never seemed like a realistic possibility at any point this season.

North Carolina's NCAA Tournament hopes look bleak 

Remove the name. Remove the North Carolina brand and its history. If any other mid-level program had that sort of resume going into selection weekend, what sort of chance would they have to get into the tournament? 

Retooled Seahawks offense still has massive weakness

Through all of this change, there is still one big issue that has not received anywhere near enough attention this offseason.

Winners, losers from Friday's NFL free agency: Cooper Kupp finds new home

Cooper Kupp wasn't the only big name in the news on Friday. Who won and lost during the latest round of free-agency news?

Two Bills free-agent signings already hit with six-game suspensions

General manager Brandon Beane announced that both players will be facing six-game suspensions for violating the league's PED policy. 

Watch: Linus Ullmark helps crush Bruins' playoff hopes with incredible save

For the Bruins, this is an absolutely gigantic loss and really puts them in a tough position to make the playoffs.

Winners, losers from Thursday's NFL free agency: Steelers get a QB 

The NFL offseason is officially under way with the beginning of the new league year this week. Let's take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from Thursday's movement and deals. 

Red Sox star willing to change positions after initially balking at idea

Now that the 2025 regular season is inching its way closer, he has seemingly had a change of heart.

Joey Bosa news is huge win for everybody involved 

The only losers are the teams Bosa will face.

49ers' Super Bowl window seems to be slamming shut (for now)

The San Francisco 49ers were, by pretty much every objective measure, one of the NFL’s best teams between 2019-23. They played in four conference championship games, played in two Super Bowls and won at least 10 games in four of the five seasons during that stretch.

Winners, losers of Tuesday's NFL free agency: Vikings beef up lines 

Line play is everything, and the Vikings are not missing an opportunity to beef up on it this offseason. What other teams did well, and which teams struck out?

Sunday's NFL transactions prove that money still matters

NFL players can say they want certain things from a team or their next destination, but Sunday's series of moves should prove one thing matters most when it comes to deciding on a team.

Could Steelers' DK Metcalf acquisition push George Pickens out of Pittsburgh?

It is a huge deal for the Steelers offense. It is also a fascinating deal because it now creates some uncertainty around the returning top wide receiver in Pittsburgh.

Bills make Josh Allen highest-paid player with massive contract extension

The Buffalo Bills have spent the offseason re-signing core players to long-term contract extensions. None of them compare to the one they handed out on Sunday night. Not in terms of money, and certainly not in terms of importance.

Sam Darnold would be massive gamble for Steelers 

Sam Darnold is the top quarterback option available this offseason, but he would be an extraordinary risk for the Steelers should they be able to strike a deal with him. 

Vikings keep top RB off market with multiyear deal

The top NFL free agents keep coming off the board before the offseason officially begins.

Hurricanes reportedly asked for Maple Leafs star in Mikko Rantanen trade talks

The Carolina Hurricanes Mikko Rantanen saga was quite an ordeal over the past week, finally concluding with him being traded to the Dallas Stars for Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and two third-round picks on Friday afternoon.