No limit placed on Porter’s leaveSteelers coach Mike Tomlin called the arrest of outside linebackers coach Joey Porter “disappointing” and “unfortunate” and said there is no limit to how long he will remain on leave from the team, even indicating he could return for Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game in Kansas City.“It’s an honor and a privilege, it’s not a right,” Tomlin said about playing and working in the National Football League. “We should accept it as such. There are consequences because of it.“In this league we’re all held to a standard of decorum — coaches and front office people even more so.”The Steelers announced Monday that Porter had been placed on “leave” pending review of the incident. When asked who will assume Porter’s responsibilities this week, Tomlin said, “We’re not ready to say he won’t be a part of it.”

Grid title game drew fewer viewersTAMPA, Fla. — The College Football Championship rematch between Clemson and Alabama drew 680,000 fewer viewers on TV and online than last year’s game, though combined viewership for all the New Year’s Six bowls and title game was up 15 percent, ESPN said Tuesday.Clemson’s 35-31 victory against Alabama on Monday night got a 14.7 overnight rating for ESPN and a 15.3 rating for ESPN’s MegaCast, which combines viewers for ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

6,000 Clemson fans welcome champsCLEMSON, S.C. — About 6,000 Clemson fans turned out to welcome their national champion Tigers, capping a giddy day of celebration after their team toppled Alabama.People screamed as the buses pulled up, calling out “DE-SHAUN” over and over as Tigers’ star quarterback Deshaun Watson walked with his luggage and national championship hat into Clemson’s football building.

Wildcats’ Hankins committed suicideEVANSTON, Ill. — The Cook County medical examiner says Northwestern women’s basketball player Jordan Hankins killed herself in her dorm room earlier this week.The office released the results of an autopsy a day after the body of the 19-year-old Hankins was found.Hankins was recruited out of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis. She averaged 3.6 points in 11 games this season.Coach Joe McKeown called the 5-foot-8 sophomore a “remarkably dynamic young woman.” Because of the tragedy, Northwestern’s game against Minnesota today has been canceled.

18 women suing Michigan doctorDETROIT — A Michigan doctor accused of sexually abusing gymnasts was sued by 18 women and girls, the latest legal action over alleged assaults, mostly at his clinic at Michigan State University.The lawsuit against Dr. Larry Nassar, Michigan State, USA Gymnastics and a Lansing-area gymnastics club was filed in federal court in western Michigan. It makes claims of civil rights violations, discrimination and negligence.