Football players don't usually find themselves longing for a good, old-fashioned practice, but the Arizona Cardinals definitely had reached that point this morning. ...more

January 28, 2009

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is trying to make the biggest event of his players' lives into something less mystical. ...more

January 27, 2009

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is trying to make the biggest event of his players' lives into something less mystical. ...more

January 26, 2009

A trip to the Super Bowl is anything but routine, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is determined to maintain a sense of normalcy this week as Pittsburgh prepares to face Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1. ...more

January 22, 2009

A sense of normalcy returned to the Lightning locker room Friday. Gone was the media throng that had descended on the Forum the day before. Missing was the air of doubt surrounding iconic center Vinny Lecavalier and a possible trade to his hometown Montreal Canadiens. Absent were members of the Montreal press corps, who flew down to get the scoop before swooping back out of town. ...more

January 17, 2009

There is a homefield advantage in the NFL playoffs after all, and it belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers. ...more

January 12, 2009

Jamie Heward walked down the hallway outside the Lightning locker room Friday afternoon looking for a shower and a clean shirt. ...more

January 3, 2009

There's a reason the Bucs treated Sunday's matchup against Atlanta as a must-win game - the difference between a 1-1 start and losing your first two games is enormous. In the past two seasons, only two (2006 Chiefs, 2007 Giants) of the 21 clubs that opened 0-2 made the playoffs. ... The Panthers have averaged 24 points per game in QB Jake Delhomme's five starts since the beginning of the 2007 season. Without Delhomme in that span, Carolina averaged 15 points. Jacksonville's struggling ground game is putting too much pressure on David Garrard, who has already matched last year's total of three interceptions. ... A week after rising up against Tampa Bay, the Saints' defense returned to normalcy in the nation's capital as the Redskins rolled up 25 first downs and 455 yards. ... Eddie Royal, an undersized WR drafted in the second round out of Virginia Tech, has enjoyed a spectacular start for the surprisingly potent Broncos. ... They won the turnover battle, committed only two penalties and outgained Indy 180-25 on the ground. So just how did the Vikings manage to blow a 15-0 lead at the Metrodome? ...more

September 16, 2008

"Fresh Kills," by Bill Loehfelm (Putnam, $25) How do you handle the death of a parent you do not miss? Where do you turn? More importantly, how do you care for a grieving sibling? ...more

September 14, 2008

Karen Florin, 51, Tarpon Springs Goals: Feel normal again after Mom's sickness and divorce. Conquer food issues. Build more muscle tone and kick-start fitness program. Seize opportunity to work out with daughter Logan, 16 ...more

August 23, 2008