PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran offensive lineman Trai Essex to a one-year contract.

Essex, an unrestricted free agent, spent the first six seasons of his career with the Steelers. He started five games in 2010 for the defending AFC champions.

From staff and wire reports

SLIPPERY ROCK — Becky Sciacca, who has served as an assistant softball coach for the last five seasons, has been named head coach of the program, SRU Director of Athletics Paul Lueken announced Monday.Sciacca replaces Vashion Johnson, who served as The Rock's head softball coach since 2004. Johnson recently stepped down as coach to accept a similar position at Montreat College in North Carolina.Sciacca will take over a program that has notched five winning seasons in the past seven years under Johnson.In her five seasons as an assistant at SRU, Sciacca has coached 19 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division performers and helped The Rock to a 115-96 record, as well as appearances in the PSAC tournament and the NCAA Mid-Athletic Regional Tournament.

PITTSBURGH — The agent for Penguins star Sidney Crosby is refuting a Canadian television report that says the former MVP has suffered a setback in his recovery from a pair of concussions.CTV News reported Monday that Crosby suspended his training after suffering a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms and wouldn’t be ready when the Penguins open training camp next month.Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson says the center “hasn’t been shut down by anyone” and instead has adjusted his summer program to address the different needs for his recovery.Penguins general manager Ray Shero said last week he anticipated Crosby will arrive in Pittsburgh a week before camp begins to be evaluated.