First Name: Feedback from Payments GM as Steelers followers monitor Tremaine Edmunds information; Quincy Roche celebrates return
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some fascinating news about a potential free-agent target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. An ex-Steelers linebacker returns to Pittsburgh. The Pitt basketball team is set for an even ACC duel.
And a former Robert Morris hockey player gets quite the conference honor.
open eyes
After the Steelers season ended, safety Terrell Edmunds raised eyebrows when he considered the notion of a possible “package deal” somewhere in free agency with his brother, Buffalo Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Both players are poised to hit the open market this off-season. They are free to look for the best contract available. Steelers fans would not only like to keep Terrell Edmunds in Pittsburgh, they would also like to land his brother as a potential solution to their perpetually troubled inside linebacker situation.
At a season-ending press conference, Bill’s general manager Brandon Beane gushed about Tremaine Edmunds as a player and said he’d like to keep the two-time Pro Bowler in Buffalo.
“He was just amazing watching his growth from a 19-year-old,” Beane said on WIVB-TV. “I mean, it’s not like he’s 29, he’s still a kid. He’s a young man. But very proud of who he is. And you can just see his maturation. … Like (Pro Bowl safety Jordan) Poyer and a lot of those other guys, I’d love to keep them all, and we’re going to do our best.
Beane pointed out that the franchise tag may not be a viable option to keep Edmunds because off-ball linebackers like him are placed in the outside linebacker category when it comes to setting the price. OverTheCap.com estimates the figure will be $20.95 million for a year.
Brandon Beane doesn’t rule out using the franchise tag on LB Tremaine Edmunds, but says the cost of doing so is high because it involves edge rushers. … Beane also addressed Jordan Poyer’s contract status, saying the team would like to have him back but need clarity on the cap.
— Jay Skurski (@JaySkurski) January 24, 2023
NFL Free Agency begins March 15.
sending a message
Steelers linebacker Quincy Roche celebrates his return to Pittsburgh. The former Steelers draft pick sent a tweet announcing his excitement at returning to the team that picked him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft.
Let’s get it Pittsburgh… let’s finish what we’ve been staring at #UnfinishedBusiness
— Q (@_Underated2) January 24, 2023
The Steelers signed a reserve/futures contract with Roche on Tuesday. He has been with the New York Giants since he was cut at the end of Steelers training camp in 2021.
Roche spent most of last season on the Giants practice team. Over two seasons, he appeared in 17 games (three starts) for a total of 36 tackles, 2½ sacks and one forced fumble.
The Steelers need outside linebacker depth. Malik Reed, who was acquired by the Denver Broncos in August, saw 281 snaps while TJ Watt was on injured reserve. He amassed just one sack and 17 tackles during that period and saw limited action after Watt’s return. He is an unrestricted free agent this spring. Reserve linebacker Jamir Jones is an exclusive free agent.
More sport
• Kris Letang’s return propels the Penguins to victory despite Tristan Jarry’s sudden absence
• Brother of ex-Steeler WR Antwaan Randle El convicted of murder
• Tim Benz: Steelers fans can hope for Cincinnati’s offense, but San Francisco is the more logical model
So much for that
For those hoping the Steelers get a compensatory pick in the 2023 NFL draft, don’t hold your breath.
Nick Korte, who contributes to OverTheCap.com when it comes to figuring out the NFL’s nebulous pay formula, doesn’t expect the Steelers to be among the teams to get such a pick.
In fact, none of the AFC North teams are on the list.
Here’s my final prediction for the equalizer pick for 2023. https://t.co/3o6FgV7Qhv pic.twitter.com/OPkEkxKPYI
— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) January 24, 2023
The compensation formula is designed to benefit teams that lose more value in the open hand than they gained in the previous offseason. Despite losing the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ray-Ray McCloud and James Washington, the Steelers have signed James Daniels, Mitch Trubisky, Myles Jack, Mason Cole and Levi Wallace.
Eyeing a bounceback
After a disappointing home loss to Florida State (7-13, 5-4 ACC) in their last game, the Pitt Panthers (13-7, 6-3) are looking to bounce back at home to Wake Forest on Wednesday (7 p.m.).
Like the Panthers, the Demon Deacons are 6-3 in ACC play, 14-6 overall. But they’re only going 3-3 this season. Wake Forest entered the league Tuesday night, scoring fourth in the ACC with 77.4 points per game. They shoot 46.7% from the floor, third best in the conference.
Conversely, the Panthers have the fifth best defense in the ACC with 67.7 points allowed per game. And they rank fourth when it comes to opposing field goal percentage at 40.9% and three-point percentage at 31.4%.
That’s what made the Florida State game feel like such an anomaly. The Seminoles shot 51% from the floor (25 to 49) and 50% (10 to 20) from behind the arc.
In conjunction with Wednesday’s game, Pitt will honor former All-American forward Jerome Lane on the 35th anniversary of his famous backboard-smashing dunk against Providence.
35 years ago today – Jerome sent it in. #H2P pic.twitter.com/Bm3zfQKmWT
— Oakland Zoo (@OaklandZoo) January 25, 2023
It is the second of three consecutive games at the Petersen Events Center for Jeff Capel’s crew. They also get 20th place in Miami on Saturday afternoon (4pm).
Colonial ‘Hall Call’
A third alum from the Robert Morris men’s ice hockey team is inducted into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Honor. Forward Brady Ferguson (2014-18) will join former teammates Zac Lynch and Cody Wydo as members of the conference’s opening class. Wydo and Lynch (Shaler, Pennsylvania) have already been announced.
In honor of their 20th season, the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) recognizes the top 20 players from the first 20 seasons of the conference. The AHA announces one candidate weekly during the 2022-23 season.
Ferguson, who was a Hobey Baker Award nominee as a senior in 2017-18, finished his career as the program’s top scorer with 167 points. He scored 66 goals and 101 assists. That total equaled the Atlantic Hockey record originally set by Brett Gensler (Bentley ’14). Ferguson’s 101 assists ranks third in Atlantic Hockey’s record book.
Ferguson appeared in 152 games during his four years with the Colonials, ranking second all-time in school history. RMU compiled a record of 88-51-16 (.619) during Ferguson’s career, including a mark of 64-34-14 (.633) in Atlantic Hockey. Ferguson helped lead the Colonials to Atlantic Hockey’s 2015 regular season championship, the first in the program’s history.
Robert Morris University suspended the men’s and women’s Division I ice hockey programs after the 2021 season due to budget constraints. After a series of fundraising efforts and legal investigations, the teams resumed in December 2021. They will resume play at the start of the 2023-24 NCAA hockey season.
Tim Benz is a contributor to the Tribune Review. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.
Categories:
Robert Morris | Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast with Benz | Tim Benz Pillars
