About an hour ago
Do you want the real chance that Deshaun Watson will end up with the Steelers? We have it.
We also have a number of NFL salary restrictions. Very happy returns for Joe Musgrove. And an update on Robert Morris hockey.
All this in Wednesday’s ‘First Call’.
Watson watch
Sports radio in Pittsburgh is getting steam when it comes to the conversation about the prospect of the Steelers trading for Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans’ fullback.
Can anyone explain to me why it’s a bad idea to do a Steelers-DeShaun Watson trade? “The Steelers will never do that!” Based on what? A 25-year-old QB franchise has never been made available before. There is no precedent! Watson had a low cut in 2021. So $ is no problem.
– Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) 19 January 2021
Big Ben 2021 Capacity: $ 41 Million
Deshaun Watson 2021 cap: $ 16 million
Big Ben 2021 cut cut: $ 22 million
Traded for Watson, cut Ben total 2021 cap hit: $ 38 millionThe Steelers will trade Watson better than retaining Big Ben!
– Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) 17 January 2021
Watson is not happy with ownership in Houston, and word is that he might ask for a deal.
How do people from outside the outlook view Watson coming to Pittsburgh? Well, Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr ranked the Steelers fourth among most likely destinations for Watson if traded. He thinks the New York Jets are the most likely landing spot. Followed by the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins.
Other stores are less optimistic about Pittsburgh’s chances. Athletic Mike Sando has not had Pittsburgh in the top five of potential teams that may go to the reigning NFL passing leader. But he agrees with Orr’s rating of the Jets as the best candidate, and he also had Miami and San Francisco in the mix.
As for the foreign manufacturers, they are not too keen on the Steelers’ chances of making the trade. BetOnline.Ag presents the 20/1 chance for Pittsburgh as Watson’s likely new home – if he trades at all. Seventeen teams are ahead of the Steelers.
If you’re curious – like I was – the Patriots are 9/1. I see value there for money.
Help. But not much
As we all know, the Steelers face a problem with salary caps.
In fact, every team is going to feel a pinch. According to ProFootballTalk, mainly thanks to covid-19, the league expects the 2021 cap number to be around $ 180 million per franchise (compared to $ 198.2 million in 2020). Teams like the Steelers would be in trouble, even if the cap would go up a bit because they have a large free agent class. So this is bad news.
But it can be worse. The league and the NFLPA have already stated that the salary cap could drop to as low as $ 175 million. That would be a drop of $ 23.2 million per club.
As PFT reports: ‘Many owners … do not want to delay the full impact of the impact of the 2020 losses. They consider it an interest-free loan to players. And that mentality will push the final number closer to $ 175 million. ”
Good for Joe
Former Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove has never been an equalizer for Gerrit Cole. The Pirates also did not acquire anyone else in Houston in that deal.
But Musgrove has always been a good man while in Pittsburgh. He always played hard and had a positive attitude, despite many losses for the franchise during his three years here.
So it’s nice to see him so happy about the trade that sent him back to his hometown of San Diego Padres.
Joe Musgrove was asked what his father’s reaction was when he found out that his son had been traded to the Padres: pic.twitter.com/6KrlQSgIWN
– 97.3 The Fan (@ 973TheFanSD) 20 January 2021
This is especially nice because his father, who has extensive health problems, will now be able to more easily see how he behaves.
Joe Musgrove is not the only one who is excited to be back in his hometown with the @padres, his family is also looking forward to it.#FSSD | @ ItsbuccnJoe59 pic.twitter.com/OrCeRHgGSS
– Fox Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) 20 January 2021
There was also a homecoming in the other direction as part of the trade. San Diego sends right-handed pitcher David Bednar back to the Pittsburgh area. He’s from Mars, Dad.
They also received fielder Hudson Head and pitchers Omar Cruz and Drake Fellows from the Padres. Catcher Endy Rodriguez comes from the Mets as part of the three-way exchange.
‘All good things…’
The 17deRobert Morris’ hockey team earned a point Tuesday night in Erie. But their finish line ended at six.
The Colonials lost 3-2 in overtime to Mercyhurst. The Lakers got a match winner from Gueorgui Feduolov with the 34 seconds left in the extra session.
Here’s your OT goal! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/CGjHJ7JrLz
– Mercyhurst Men’s Hockey (@HurstMensHockey) 20 January 2021
Nick Lalonde and Cameron Hebert were defeated in the defeat for the Colonials. Derek Schooley’s club plays RIT in Rochester on Saturday night. Then they fight Mercyhurst again in a home-and-home series next Friday (January 29) on the road and Saturday (January 30) at the Island Sports Center.
Tim Benz is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be re-posted. Unless otherwise stated, all emails are subject to publication.
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Sport | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz