About an hour ago
The Steelers are listed among the teams favored to acquire Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield gets a subtle shot at one of his critics. A former Steeler is teaming up with the Browns in advance of their playoff showdown. And Robert Morris hockey is ranked again.
All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”
Callin’ Cowherd
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield finished off the Steelers Sunday with a 3-yard run on a third-and-one snap in the fourth quarter.
BAKER! @browns @bakermayfield pic.twitter.com/V2Wuh1X3zt
— NFL (@NFL) January 3, 2021
After picking up that first down, he and the Browns ran down the clock and beat the Steelers 24-22 to win the game and clinch a playoff spot.
The name of the play was “Maserati.” Which — via Outkick.com — was a reference to a jab Mayfield absorbed from FS1 host Colin Cowherd.
“When you’re a No. 1 pick, I want you to be a Maserati, not a Mazda,” Cowherd said in 2018. “Baker’s a Mazda in the NFL. He looked overwhelmed physically. He doesn’t have a great arm. Couldn’t outrun a lineman. Nothing wrong with a Mazda. I’ve driven a Mazda. I like Mazda. But you pay $85,000 for a car, that’s a No. 1 pick. You pay $85,000, (are) you bragging about the cup holder?
“If you don’t get ‘wow’ moments from your quarterback the first time you see him on a football field, then you made the wrong pick.”
Steelers fans are certainly hoping for Cleveland’s Mazda to pull onto the field Sunday night.
He’s a spy!
Or they just really need a defensive back.
The Browns signed Brian Allen off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad Monday. The one-time Steeler heads to Cleveland the week before the teams play in a postseason game at Heinz Field.
Hmm.
Allen was a fifth-round pick by the Steelers in 2017. He played in one game for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and 16 total games with the Steelers between 2017 and 2018.
Since then Allen has also been on practice squads and active rosters in Buffalo and Seattle.
Cleveland is dealing with a lot of coronavirus concerns in its secondary as they are awaiting clearance to get the likes of Denzel Ward, Kevin Johnson and Andrew Sendejo back in time for kickoff Sunday night.
Still ‘Wentzylvania’?
Many think the Eagles will try to trade Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz this offseason.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman denied that was being discussed during a Monday press conference. But rumors persist because the team benched Wentz in favor of Jalen Hurts late in the season.
So odds have emerged on who will acquire the former first-round pick. BetOnLine.ag lists the Indianapolis Colts as the favorites at 3/2. After all, Phillip Rivers is on a one-year contract.
But the Steelers are on the shortlist if Wentz is dealt or released. Why not? Ben Roethlisberger is 38 years old, and the jury is still out on Mason Rudolph.
The Steelers are projected eighth at 9/1.
Back in the pack
The Robert Morris Colonials hockey team is back in the national rankings.
They are No. 20 in the latest USCHO poll. That’s on the heels of their sweep of RIT last weekend.
The Colonials also cracked the top 20 after sweeping Air Force before the Christmas holiday break.
RMU is 8-3 so far this season. Coach Derek Schooley’s team is also a league-best 6-1 in Atlantic Hockey play.
RMU battles Niagara three times this week. They visit the Purple Eagles Thursday night. Then they come down to the Island Sports Center on Saturday and Sunday.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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Robert Morris | Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz
