[naviga:h3]Steelers part ways with Joey Porter[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have parted ways with outside linebackers coach Joey Porter.

The team announced Friday that Porter's contract would not be renewed. The move is the first of what could be several coaching adjustments by the Steelers after Pittsburgh failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

The 41-year-old Porter, who spent 13 seasons in the NFL before going into coaching, joined the Steelers as a defensive assistant in 2014 and was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2015. His tenure with the team was marred by an incident in January 2017 when he was arrested following an altercation with a bouncer at a bar. Most of the charges against Porter were later dropped.

Coach Mike Tomlin called the decision to fire Porter “difficult.”

Play by Pittsburgh's outside linebackers was uneven during Porter's tenure. Though T.J. Watt finished with a career-best and team-high 13 sacks, the development of 2015 first-round pick Bud Dupree has been slow.

[naviga:h3]Pitt fires offensive coordinator Watson[/naviga:h3]

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh has fired offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman in an effort to overhaul its beleaguered offense.

Coach Pat Narduzzi made the announcement on Friday.

The Panthers went 7-7 this season and won the ACC Coastal Division for the first time but had trouble generating offensive against quality opponents, particularly through the air. Pitt finished 97th in the country in total offense, 93rd in scoring offense and 120th in passing offense.

Sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett struggled at times in his first full season as starter. Pickett completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,969 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Rafael Araujo-Lopes led the Panthers with 37 receptions. No Panther had more than 557 yards receiving.

[naviga:h3]U.S. advances to junior hockey final[/naviga:h3]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Oliver Wahlstrom and Alexander Chmelevski scored, Cayden Primeau made 35 saves and the United States advanced to the world junior hockey final with a 2-1 victory over Russia on Friday.

Seeking its fifth title and first since 2017, the United States will face the Finland-Switzerland winner in the championship game Saturday night.

Wahlstrom opened the scoring with 5:31 left in the first period. Forward Logan Cockerill powered down the ice, faked a shot and sliced to Wahlstrom.

The U.S. made it 2-0 on a power play at 4:20 of the second after Vitali Kravtsov was called for tripping. Jack Hughes got a pass off to Chmelevski directly in front of the net, and Chmelevski poked it under goalie Pyotr Kochetkov.