For “First Call” Thursday, here’s what I’ve got, Steelers fans.
Jerome Bettis wants the Steelers to trade for a quarterback.
A punter is making eyes at Pittsburgh.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has reached an “agreement” with coronavirus.
And if the Steelers make the Super Bowl, it may not be until March.
That enough?
As we were saying …
Last week, I shared a number of links from Washington, D.C., national outlets and gambling sites which said that the Steelers should be interested in acquiring demoted starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
I didn’t say it would be a good idea. I just said it was something that others outside of Pittsburgh were discussing.
And I was roundly vilified for even advancing the topic.
That’s fine. That’s just the relationship that I have with my beloved readers, listeners and viewers.
But how do you feel about Jerome Bettis? Yup, THAT Jerome Bettis. The Bus. Stillers football icon, n’at. He says the discussion of Haskins going to the Steelers sounds pretty good to him.
“If I was in the Steeler brass, I would give a long, hard look at a young quarterback that has the ability to be really special,” Bettis said to NBC MidAtlantic via the WPXI studios. “You’ve got a young quarterback that has the ability to make every throw, still needs some developing.”
Unfortunately, the “ability to be really special” part is something I’d bring into question. But I see where “The Bus” is headed.
Get Haskins on the cheap. The team convinces itself that he could be better than Mason Rudolph. His affordable contract could be a year longer.
Well, then they might be onto something.
As we pointed out in our initial story, though, there are no NFL numbers between Haskins and Rudolph that suggest this would be the case.
Punter praise
It’s no secret that punting for the Steelers this year has been — how would Mike Tomlin say it?
“Below the line”? Or, “not varsity level”?
Well, Steelers fans are apparently getting impatient. This after the team cut Jordan Berry in the preseason and signed Dustin Colquitt.
The former Chiefs punter hasn’t been very good either. Only three punters in the NFL have a lower average (43.0 yards) than Colquitt. His net of 37.2 is the worst in football.
Tomlin hasn’t been shy in saying that performance needs to improve. And, apparently, Steelers fans are getting impatient and are flirting with free agent punter Marquette King.
And he wants everyone to know it.
S/O to all y’all Steeler fans showing me all this love 🖤🖤 I’m super thankful for the support and I trust God and kno something is going to shake somewhere very soon. 🏽
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) October 20, 2020
The Steelers have punter Corliss Waitman on the practice squad. And they brought Berry back for a visit on Monday.
Covid … 13?
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. looked dumb at the end of the Steelers game.
Punching the Gatorade cooler. Throwing his gloves. Taking off his cleats.
But this looks even dumber.
Was Odell Beckham, Jr. worried when he was sick last week that he had COVID-19?:
“No, not in an arrogant way. I don’t think COVID can get to me. I don’t think it’s going to enter this body. I don’t want no parts of it, it don’t want no parts of me. It’s a mutual respect.”
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 21, 2020
OK. I assumed he was kidding when I read that. When I saw the corresponding video clip? I’m not so certain.
COVID can’t touch @obj pic.twitter.com/UkcrJvfJGh
— Whistle (@WhistleSports) October 21, 2020
So, wait a minute. Covid-19 has too much respect to “enter” Beckham’s body? Why? Because he’s too good of a receiver?
But lesser receivers are susceptible then, I suppose. Like who? Donte Moncrief? Limas Sweed?
That would be ironic. Those guys couldn’t catch anything.
Super Bowl Sunday meets March Madness
At 5-0, Steelers fans have visions of Super Bowl Sunday dancing in their heads.
They may just have to keep that vision alive until March.
Via Sports Business Daily and CBSSports.com, Super Bowl LV “could be pushed back all the way to March if games keep getting postponed,” according to CBS’ John Breech.
The report states that Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy mentioned that prospect during a virtual pep rally that the team held before playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Murphy reportedly said, “We could move the Super Bowl as far as four weeks. Obviously, we’d prefer not to do that, but you do have that flexibility if we run into a number of outbreaks with different teams or if we have to kind of move the schedule back.”
This eventuality has been widely reported as an option if coronavirus issues force games to be rescheduled throughout the year, but Murphy is the first front office member to speak about it out loud.
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.
Categories:
Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz
