First Call: Another interview for Brian Flores; Steelers 'unsung' hero; Clint Hurdle on Bryan Reynolds

Thursday’s “First Call” has another job interview for Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Brian Flores. One Steeler is highlighted as an “unsung hero” in the NFL. We recap another busy night in the Metropolitan Division while the Penguins were idle.

And former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shares his thoughts on Bryan Reynolds.

Options open

If Steelers defensive assistant coach Brian Flores doesn’t get the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job, he’s looking at other prospects.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Flores is under consideration for the defensive coordinator position with the Minnesota Vikings and is interviewing for that post today.

The #Vikings are interviewing Mike Pettine, the former #Packers DC and current assistant head coach, for their vacant DC job, source said. Brian Flores, the #Steelers senior defensive assistant and LBs coach, has his Minnesota interview tomorrow.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2023

Before this week’s interviews, Flores also took a look at the defensive coordinator position with the Atlanta Falcons.

Flores was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins last year before being fired under circumstances that eventually led to a lawsuit he filed against that organization and others within the league citing racial discrimination in employment practices.

High praise for Highsmith

NFL.com came up with a list of unsung heroes in the league. They found one “overlooked/surprise contributor” from each team, unveiling the AFC winners Wednesday.

The Steelers nominee was linebacker Alex Highsmith.

“T.J. Watt’s Week 1 pectoral injury dealt a significant blow to a Steelers defense that was expected to be the team’s strength in 2022. What folks didn’t realize was that former Charlotte standout Highsmith was about to break out,” Nick Shook wrote. “Highsmith blossomed in 2022, adding the strength he needed entering the league and blending it with his athleticism to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Without Watt, Highsmith recorded 22 tackles (five for loss), 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Once Watt returned, Highsmith truly took off, finishing with 14.5 sacks, a QB pressure rate of 13.8% (a product of the NFL’s fifth-most total pressures) and tying for the league lead in forced fumbles with five.”

I can’t disagree with any of that. But I’m not sure if Highsmith qualifies as unsung. Especially not in Pittsburgh. I’d suggest Mason Cole or James Daniels along a Steelers offensive line that ended up being much better than originally anticipated.

Much like wide receiver Diontae Johnson last summer, Highsmith may be in line for a contract extension heading into the last year of his entry level contract.

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Divisional dance

Wednesday night featured three games in the Metropolitan Division while the Penguins were idle. One of them involved the team atop the standings.

The Carolina Hurricanes grabbed a 3-2 overtime decision over the Dallas Stars. Martin Necas scored the game winner.

The last time the @Canes faced Dallas, Martin Necas was the overtime hero.

Guess who just scored the @Energizer overtime winner in the rematch. ???? pic.twitter.com/9BJBv4Z512

— NHL (@NHL) January 26, 2023

The Canes now have 68 points, two better than the second-place New Jersey Devils.

The third-place New York Rangers got a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. So they now have 60 points, four better than the Penguins and Washington Capitals who currently hold the wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.

As for the New York Islanders, they lost 2-1 to the Ottawa Senators. So they stick at 51 points in sixth place behind the Pens and Caps.

Bucco on the block?

Pirates centerfielder Bryan Reynolds continues to be at the center of trade speculation. His former manager with the Pirates, Clint Hurdle, spoke to PennLive on Tuesday night before the annual Hot Stove Banquet of the MLB Draft League’s Williamsport Crosscutters.

Hurdle is currently a special assistant to the general manager of the Denver Rockies (Bill Schmidt). He managed Reynolds his rookie year in 2019. Hurdle wouldn’t express an opinion on if the Pirates should trade Reynolds but said, “I don’t think the manager (Derek Shelton) wants him traded. … He is very professional and plays the game the way it should be played.”

Reynolds hit .262 with 27 homers and 62 RBIs last season. ESPN’s baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian, who was featured with Hurdle at the banquet, thinks the Pirates should trade Reynolds.

“I don’t believe his value will be any higher” Kurkjian said. “Now is the time. … If you can’t sign him long term, you should trade him and get something long term.”

The Yankees, Dodgers and Rangers are among teams rumored to be in the mix for Reynolds. He is under contract in Pittsburgh for three more years and is owed $6.75 million this year. He is eligible for arbitration in 2024 and 2025.