KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs earned a much-deserved extended rest after their Christmas Day rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which capped an unbeaten stretch of three games in 11 days and clinched them the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs . That extended rest? Well, it can be just about as long as Chiefs coach Andy Reid wants it to be. The Chiefs (15-1) face the Broncos in their regular-season finale next weekend, a game whose kickoff remains up in the air. But it will be at least 10 days after their 29-10 win in Pittsburgh, a nice rest for a weary team whose bye was back in Week 6. But with nothing to play for in that game, Reid could conceivably give some of his most important players the entire week off ahead of the playoffs. And now that the Chiefs have a first-round bye , that means they wouldn't face anybody until at least Jan. 18 in the divisional round, meaning a full 24 days between games. “It's been almost 10 weeks of football, grinding on this short schedule at the very end of the year,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “We'll see how Week 18 goes — who plays, who doesn't play. That's up to Coach. But having this break, getting healthy, getting ourselves ready for the playoffs, it was super important, especially with the guys we have banged up.” The Chiefs dominated the Steelers without four-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was resting his sore calf on Wednesday. They also have not had cornerback Chamarri Conner, who has been out with a concussion, or D.J. Humphries, the former Pro Bowl left tackle who appeared in one game for Kansas City before straining his hamstring. All of them figure to be healthy for the playoffs. The same for guys who have been dealing with minor injuries, such as right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who played against the Steelers despite straining his hamstring the previous week against Houston, and running back Isiah Pacheco, who dinged up his ribs in the win in Pittsburgh. “It will definitely help with some of the guys that are banged up, to get guys back, freshened up a little bit,” said Reid, who has rested important players in Week 18 in the past, including last season against the Chargers. “I think it will be a positive for us.” The trick is to decide exactly how much rest to give everyone. For those dealing with injuries, that full 24-day span without a game could be exactly what they need. For others, it might be too long between games, and getting at least a half of play against the Broncos would help prevent some rust from setting in. “I was just talking to my family about it,” Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “My rookie year, we were able to get, you know, all home games, and you just can't be out (on the road) in the playoffs. I mean, I'm excited to go out there. I know we got the first round, you know, off, but I mean, I can't wait to play now.” What’s working The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season with a wide receiver group that — outside of Rashee Rice — was lacking in dynamic ability. But with the trade for DeAndre Hopkins, the return of Hollywood Brown from an injury and the emergence of rookie Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs have gone from a position of peril to one of profound strength. What needs help The Chiefs have struggled to the run the ball consistently the past few weeks. Pacheco gained just 18 yards on six carries before hurting his ribs against Pittsburgh, and Kareem Hunt was held to 20 yards on nine carries — a 2.2-yard average. Stock up Worthy has smashed through the rookie wall, just as Rice did at this point last season, and has proven to be more than a speedster. He had eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown Wednesday, giving him at least five catches in each of his past five games. Stock down Pacheco has not been the same after missing more than two months to injury. He has been held to 55 yards rushing or fewer in each of his past five games, and he's averaging just 2.7 yards per carry over his past three. Injuries There were no significant injuries sustained against the Steelers. Key number 77 — Travis Kelce caught his 77th touchdown pass, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez for the Chiefs record. Kelce finished with eight catches for 84 yards and a score against Pittsburgh, making him the third tight end in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions. Gonzalez had 1,325 and Jason Witten had 1,228 while Kelce has 1,004 and counting. Next steps The Chiefs get the long weekend off before deciding who will play in Denver in their regular-season finale. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Browns cut former 1st-round Giants pick Kadarius Toney after multiple blunders in loss to Steelers - Yahoo SportsNoneChiefs earned a rest after their third win in 11 days. For some, the rest could be 24 days
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in PulteGroup, Inc. ( NYSE:PHM – Free Report ) by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 36,152 shares of the construction company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,067 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in PulteGroup were worth $5,189,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in PulteGroup in the 3rd quarter valued at $788,000. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of PulteGroup by 5.0% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,426 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $348,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc lifted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 9,654 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $1,386,000 after buying an additional 438 shares during the last quarter. Knuff & Co LLC boosted its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 62.8% during the 3rd quarter. Knuff & Co LLC now owns 4,747 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $681,000 after buying an additional 1,832 shares during the period. Finally, Caprock Group LLC raised its holdings in PulteGroup by 16.5% in the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 28,129 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $4,043,000 after acquiring an additional 3,993 shares during the period. 89.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently commented on PHM. Bank of America upped their target price on PulteGroup from $138.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. BTIG Research increased their price objective on PulteGroup from $139.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wedbush reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $115.00 target price on shares of PulteGroup in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of PulteGroup from $148.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of PulteGroup from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, PulteGroup currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $145.00. Insider Activity at PulteGroup In related news, Director Thomas J. Folliard sold 19,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.14, for a total value of $2,491,660.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 45,230 shares in the company, valued at $5,931,462.20. This trade represents a 29.58 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . 0.83% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. PulteGroup Stock Performance PulteGroup stock opened at $129.76 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $26.61 billion, a PE ratio of 9.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. PulteGroup, Inc. has a 12-month low of $86.59 and a 12-month high of $149.47. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $136.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.83. PulteGroup ( NYSE:PHM – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The construction company reported $3.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.10 by $0.25. PulteGroup had a net margin of 16.64% and a return on equity of 25.30%. The business had revenue of $4.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.90 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 12.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. PulteGroup Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is an increase from PulteGroup’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 17th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.68%. PulteGroup’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.90%. PulteGroup Profile ( Free Report ) PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PHM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for PulteGroup, Inc. ( NYSE:PHM – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for PulteGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PulteGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Chris Cenac Jr., the top center in the Class of 2025 according to the ESPN100, has committed to play for the Houston Cougars. The five-star recruit announced his decision Tuesday via the Bleacher Report's B/R App. Cenac previously said he wouldn't make his decision until the spring, but his stock soared over the summer after his impressive play on the Puma Pro 16 circuit with Dallas-based YGC, vaulting him into the national top-10 rankings. The 6-foot-10 New Orleans native was reportedly choosing between LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky, Tennessee and others before making the decision to join Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson's team. "I just like the coaching staff a lot, I like their plan to develop me and I like coming into a winning program," Cenac told 247Sports. "I'm looking forward to producing and just helping them win more. But the main thing was development and them being able to get me better so I can be ready for that next level." Cenac's rating of .9978 by 247Sports Composite makes him the Cougars' highest-rated commit in the modern era, according to multiple outlets. "They see me as a four who can kind of play all over the court and do everything," Cenac told 247Sports. "I can get rebounds, push the ball, shoot and play all over the floor." With Cenac joining other Houston commits like five-star shooting guard Isaiah Harwell, four-star point guard Kingston Flemings and three-star wing Bryce Jackson, Houston's Class of 2025 is ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247Sports and ESPN. --Field Level Media
Pitt running back Rodney Hammond’s strange senior season — which began with him being ruled ineligible by the program days before kickoff of the season opener and proceeded with his reinstatement five weeks later — has ended, head coach Pat Narduzzi announced on Monday afternoon. Hammond did not travel with the team for its Week 13 contest at Louisville this past weekend and Narduzzi said it was because Hammond intends to redshirt and preserve his final year of college eligibility. Hammond has appeared in four games this season. If he had played in one more, he would be ineligible for a redshirt year, and his collegiate career would be over. “Rodney would like to redshirt. I’m going to grant his wishes,” Narduzzi said. “Would I like him to play? Yeah. But he’s got to do what he’s got to do, and everybody has got to make a business decision, and I’ll make a business decision, as well, at times.” Narduzzi added that Hammond has not informed the team of whether he intends to stay in Pittsburgh or enter the transfer portal when it officially opens on Dec. 9. “That’s the last thing I’m worried about,” Narduzzi said. “I’m worried about our football team that’s playing right now.” Hammond could have been a useful piece for the Panthers, whose ranks at running back have thinned in recent weeks. Daniel Carter, the team’s third-leading rusher behind quarterback Eli Holstein, is out for the season after suffering a grisly leg injury against Clemson, and there is limited experience elsewhere on the roster. True freshman Juelz Goff and junior Derrick Davis Jr. are the backups to Reid now that Hammond and Carter won’t be able to play this weekend. Hammond was declared ineligible on Aug. 30, roughly 24 hours before the Panthers opened the 2024 season against Kent State at Acrisure Stadium. He was Pitt’s leading rusher during the 2023 campaign and has accounted for just 45 total yards on 14 rushes and receptions during his limited action in 2024. The starting job that Hammond took over last season was claimed by Reid, the Western Carolina transfer who has become Pitt’s best playmaker this year. The 5-foot-9 and 175-pound Reid has rushed for 797 yards and four touchdowns and is currently the Panthers’ leading receiver with 47 catches for 564 yards and four more touchdowns. The transfer portal was a hot topic during Narduzzi’s weekly Monday press conference as he and the team look forward to the regular season finale against Boston College. Pitt won seven games in a row to open the season and climbed to as high as 18th in the AP poll and College Football Playoff rankings before dropping four straight contests in November. With the opening of the transfer portal and national signing day so close to the end of the season, players will have to make quick decisions about their futures. However, Narduzzi is working hard to keep his team focused on Boston College in the meantime. Players will make their decisions about where to play football next year when that time comes, but for now, Pitt has at least one more game to play before the portal begins to siphon pieces from rosters around the country. “That’s going to happen either way. You’re going to have to deal with the portal. Not really worried about it,” Narduzzi said. “I think our guys in here are pretty happy. The ones that aren’t — hey. But we feel pretty good about that.” DL gains one veteran, loses another There weren’t many positives to take away from Pitt’s 37-9 loss at Louisville last Saturday, but it did feature the return of a veteran defensive lineman who was thought to be out for the season. Sixth-year senior Nate Temple saw his first game action of the season after suffering a knee injury in preseason training camp. Temple had been slowly ramping up during practices over the latter half of the season. The reward for working hard to get “way ahead” of his scheduled recovery time, as Narduzzi put it, was 16 snaps on Saturday night and perhaps another year of eligibility. “He’s still rusty and raw, but that will come with time,” Narduzzi said. “It was good to have Nate back. He’s got a motor. He cares. And I love his attitude.” Still, Narduzzi had some bad news to share about one of his senior defensive linemen. Defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, a Pittsburgh native who transferred in from Youngstown State this offseason, hasn’t played since the season opener after suffering what Narduzzi called a “scary” back injury in practice the following week and won’t return this season. Johnson had been using a walker but is now able to move on his own. The program is looking into getting him a medical waiver and more eligibility, but Narduzzi can’t say for sure if that will be possible. “He’s getting better now, thank God. ... He’s back moving around pretty good,” Narduzzi said. “But my heart goes out to Anthony — just another one of those injuries. I don’t think he’s got another year left. We’ll still have to look at that.” While Johnson’s ailment isn’t new, it’s one part of a constantly growing injury report that Pitt has dealt with during the second half of the season.
Asian America’s Unofficial Photographer LaureateNoneRico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get our free email newsletters — latest headlines and e-edition notifications.