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First Call: Bruce Arians likens Tampa Bay to Super Bowl XL Steelers; huge night for (many) ex-Penguins | TribLIVE.com
Penguins/NHL

First Call: Bruce Arians likens Tampa Bay to Super Bowl XL Steelers; huge night for (many) ex-Penguins

Tim Benz
Tim Benz

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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians speaks with Ben Roethlisberger on the sidelines in 2011.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians shares some fond memories of the Steelers Super Bowl XL team.

Matt Stafford’s Detroit mansion is up for sale. So obviously he’s coming to Pittsburgh.

And a lot of ex-Penguins had big nights in the NHL. Well, not every ex-Penguin. See if you can guess which one didn’t.

All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”

Look familiar?

Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians appeared on NBCSN’s “The Rich Eisen Show” Tuesday. And he sounds optimistic about his team’s chances of winning Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday.

Why? Because in his words, this team reminds him of the 2005 Super Bowl XL-winning Steelers. Arians was the wide receivers coach on that team.

Arians actually told Eisen that his wife was the one who made the correlation. So he drilled down on the numbers and started to see some similarities.

Both teams were 7-5 after 12 games. Both teams had to win three playoff games. And both teams play excellent complementary football with strong team unity.

“The camaraderie on the sidelines,” Arians explained. “The way this team pulls for each other. The offense might pull out the defense. The special teams might pull out everybody. The defense pulls out the offense. Everybody just has so much fun doing it.”

Well, if Arians is right about the trend continuing versus the Chiefs, expect Tampa to get a few fortunate penalty flags. Look for Leonard Fournette to bust out a 75-yard touchdown run. And expect a trick pass from Antonio Brown to Mike Evans.

Then expect Steelers fans to stop thinking this analogy is all that cute.

Stafford estate for sale

Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford is one of many NFL quarterbacks that is expected to be on the move this offseason.

It certainly looks like he is expecting that, based on this little real estate tidbit.

Stafford has two years and $43 million remaining on his five-year, $135 million contract signed in 2017. He is due a $10 million bonus on the fifth day of the league year in March. So even if he doesn’t quite get $6.5 million for the house, I don’t think he and his family will starve.

You know how this news is going to go over in Pittsburgh, right?

“Hey, Stan. Love the show.

“Yinz know if Stafford gets ‘at much fir his haus, he can just rent one of ‘em places by the Hot Metal Bridge. Then take less to come to the Stillers and back up Big Ben for a year. Boom! Make it happen. I’ll hang up and listen.”

That’s … a lot

While the Penguins were losing to the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime Tuesday night, it was quite a night for ex-Penguins during other NHL games.

Justin Schultz and Daniel Sprong both scored as the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 3-2.

Patric Hornqvist got on the board during a 4-3 Florida Panthers shootout victory in Columbus, scoring with only three seconds left in regulation.

That’s his fourth goal already. And he got the shootout winner, too.

Remember David Perron? He had two and another in the shootout during a 5-4 St. Louis Blues win in Las Vegas.

Even Pittsburgh native Brandon Saad had a pair as his Colorado Avalanche won 7-3 over the San Jose Sharks.

I know, I know. Like overtime in Boston wasn’t painful enough.

Jabbing Jack

Meanwhile, providing balance in the universe, I give you Jack Johnson.

The much-maligned former Penguin isn’t having an easy time in New York. The defenseman took a penalty, leading to a Buffalo goal. And Rangers fans and media reacted with the usual, um, patience and forgiveness that Johnson typically got in Pittsburgh.

Yeah. That seems pretty consistent. The Rangers ended up losing 3-2. So far Johnson is a minus-4 in five games with no points.

Enjoy that acquisition, New York. Hopefully Jameson Taillon works out better for you.

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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Categories: Penguins/NHL | Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz
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