Friday’s “First Call” has some predictions about how the Pittsburgh Steelers may handle their quarterback situation next year. There are rumors about Bill Belichick coaching at the college level and Arthur Smith drawing interest from another NFL team for a head coaching spot.
We also examine some quirks in the college football schedule for this weekend’s conference championship games, and we check in on the Robert Morris hockey team’s challenge that lies ahead.
Match game
When it comes to the idea of the Steelers retaining either — or both — of their top two quarterbacks, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer is suggesting that could be a tougher task than Pittsburgh fans want to think.
On Thursday, Breer wrote that the Steelers have no current plans to deviate from their usual model of avoiding in-season contract negotiations with players. In Breer’s estimation, Russell Wilson may be inclined to take his talents to free agency, find an offer, and give the Steelers a chance to match it.
“While Russell Wilson’s been really good, I don’t think he’s been good enough to justify a franchise tag of between $40 million and $45 million,” Breer said. “If he plays well and Pittsburgh makes a nice playoff run, then there may be enough of a divide in a negotiation that the Steelers could let him hit the market and ask him to give them the right to match whatever is out there. Meanwhile, I’d think Fields would be looking for a Sam Darnold type of shot to start somewhere on a one-year deal.”
For Darnold, that’s a $5 million cap hit in Minnesota this year.
So, basically, if the Steelers can’t reach terms with Wilson, it comes down to the decision of whether the organization prefers Wilson for one year at $40 million to $45 million on the franchise tag or Fields at one year at $5 million to $10 million.
Personally, I’d pay for Wilson if he continues to play the way he has down the stretch. However, the franchise’s spending habits at the QB position since Ben Roethlisberger’s last contract suggest they’d feel otherwise.
We’ll see if Wilson’s play changes their minds.
More sports
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• Despite QBs coming off 400-yard games, Steelers don’t expect shootout with Browns
• Steelers offer up rare December clean injury report
New York state of mind?
Arthur Smith may be on the outskirts of the conversation for the New York Jets’ head coaching job. That’s according to Jets beat writer Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.
“He’s kind of a dark horse candidate,” Cimini said on his “Flight Deck” podcast.
Smith was a prospect for the job when New York hired Robert Saleh in 2021. That’s when Smith was the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans. He went on to take the head coaching job in Atlanta.
This summer, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini revealed that the Jets also tried to bring Smith on board as a consultant for offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was eventually demoted in advance of Saleh’s firing.
Saleh was fired after five games this season. General Manager Joe Douglas was fired after 11 games.
Belichick comeback?
Bill Belichick might be coaching at Acrisure Stadium again sometime soon.
No, not against the Steelers. Against Pitt as the head coach of North Carolina.
Believe it. According to Pat Forde of SI.com, the former Patriots head coach has been speaking with UNC for “several days” about their coaching vacancy. Forde insists that the six-time Super Bowl champion has a “genuine interest” in coaching college football.
The Tar Heels fired Mack Brown at the end of a 6-6 season. Belichick is 72 years old. He and the Patriots agreed to part ways on Jan. 11 after 24 seasons. He was also the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95.
Pitt doesn’t play UNC next year. But the Tar Heels do visit Pittsburgh in 2026.
How did that happen?
Here are some goofy quirks about the college football schedule for the conference championship games on Saturday.
Arizona State plays in the Big 12 title game at noon Eastern time. That’s 11 a.m. local time in Arlington, Texas, where the game is being played and a 10 a.m. start in Tempe.
Meanwhile, Texas (11-1) plays at 4 p.m. EST in Atlanta against Georgia (10-2) in the SEC Championship, even though Texas has a better record.
And, just for kicks, No. 8 SMU (11-1) has to travel from Texas to play in the ACC title game at 8 p.m. in Charlotte. That’s only 135 miles from 17th-ranked Clemson (9-3).
Even better, all three games are on ABC. College football always makes a ton of sense, doesn’t it?
Tiger Time
After gaining a split against American International College, the Robert Morris men’s hockey team is on the road this weekend in Rochester against RIT.
The Tigers were champions of Atlantic Hockey’s regular season and the conference tournament last year. This year, they are 2-7-1 for seven points, one point behind the Colonials, who have eight points.
Bentley is atop the standings with an 8-2-0 record and 24 points.
As for the women’s team, they are coming off a bye weekend in Syracuse for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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