First Call: Could USFL give Steelers OLB depth?; Deshaun Watson update; memorable Pirates anniversary

Monday’s “First Call” suggests an unconventional plan toward finding a solution to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lack of depth at outside linebacker.

There is an update on the Deshaun Watson situation. Josh Allen’s interesting angle to the Buffalo Bills playoff loss.

We’ve got a look at the next opponent for the Pirates. And we celebrate a famous Buccos anniversary as well.

Changing conversation?

We’ve talked at length about the Steelers’ need to add pass-rushing depth. Mainly, we’ve been talking about adding an NFL veteran pass rusher such as Ryan Kerrigan, Justin Houston, Alex Okafor or Jeremiah Attaochu.

But could the USFL path be a possibility?

The Pro Football Network came up with a list of the top-10 USFL prospects for NFL teams. Two of the potential targets are edge rushers. One of them is Chris Odom of the Houston Gamblers.

Dallas Robinson of PFN said, “If there’s a USFL alum virtually guaranteed to attract NFL interest, it’s pass rusher Chris Odom. Arguably the best player in the league, Odom led the USFL with 12½ sacks. NFL teams are always looking for rotational edge rushers, and the 6’4″, 257-pound Odom deserves another shot. After an excellent senior season at Arkansas State in 2017, Odom went undrafted and signed with the Falcons. He appeared in seven games with the Packers in 2017 and posted two sacks in four games with Washington in 2019. It will be a surprise if Odom is not in an NFL camp this summer.”

Another candidate is Davin Bellamy of the New Orleans Breakers.

“After starting the year off right with three sacks in the season opener, Davin Bellamy cooled down over the rest of the season and finished with only 5½ total sacks. Still, like Odom, he’s a solid edge rusher with NFL experience who should garner some interest,” Robinson said. “Bellamy put up 13 sacks over four years at Georgia before going undrafted in 2018. He’s been on offseason/practice rosters with the Texans, Bengals, Titans, 49ers, and Chargers, but he’s yet to play an NFL snap. That could change in 2022 if he gets the chance to latch on with a team in training camp.”

PFN’s Aaron Wilson recently reported any USFL player on a team that didn’t qualify for the postseason is immediately eligible to pursue NFL opportunities. Once the USFL playoffs are over, teams on playoff clubs should be able to target NFL contracts as well.

The Philadelphia Stars and Birmingham Stallions will face off Sunday, July 3 in the USFL championship game.

Discipline for Deshaun?

Over the weekend, The Wall Street Journal posted an update on the Deshaun Watson situation. Specifically, as matters relate to the prospect of settlement talks toward a suspension.

Settlement talks between the sides haven't yielded any progress so far—the NFL won't accept anything shorter than one season, at minimum. But the sides may also revisit those talks this week depending how the arbitration hearing plays out.

— Andrew Beaton (@andrewlbeaton) June 25, 2022

ProFootballTalk reported the NFL Players Association may argue that “the proposed punishment for Watson does not mesh with discipline or lack thereof for multiple owners who allegedly have run afoul of the Personal Conduct Policy. Beaton’s article confirmed the report.”

Watson had 24 civil suits against him alleging sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and assault. Watson recently settled 20 of the cases. The NFL has said that the settlements wouldn’t be a factor in the league’s investigation into Watson.

Watson has publicly maintained his innocence.

Josh’s jinx

Check out this angle to last year’s playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.

On a recent “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was asked what hurt more — the 42-36 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round or losing the coin toss for overtime.

Allen said it was the coin toss. And he claims that he was jinxed by the CBS production crew.

“Up to that point, I think I was 9-0 (on road coin tosses) throughout the season. In our production meeting, it was jinxed, and I was 0 for 2 in that game,” Allen recalled. “They brought up (the) stat, you’re 9-0. … (Then) I go 0-2 on coin tosses that game.”

Allen said he switched up his decision as to what he was going to call.

“I went heads first and then I went tails at the end. It was obviously flip-flopped,” Allen said.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs got the ball first in the extra session as a result. They scored a touchdown on the opening overtime drive to end the game. It took eight plays and ended with a TD to Travis Kelce.

Allen didn’t rat out who it was that jinxed him with the question.

Woeful Washington

The Pirates find themselves limping into their next series.

But the team they are playing isn’t exactly in the best state of affairs themselves.

After getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays, the Pirates now head to Washington to play the Nationals for three games. Washington has won four of its last six. Former Pirate Josh Bell is hitting .308. He had three hits Sunday as the Nats beat the Texas Rangers 6-4.

But the team is 27-48. That’s the worst record in the National League East. The only club in the National League that has a worse record is the Cincinnati Reds at 24-47.

The Nationals are particularly bad at home, 12-26. That’s the most home losses in the NL. The Pirates took three of four games from the Nats earlier in the season.

Remembering Mac’s mad moment

Perhaps the most memorable moment of Lloyd McClendon’s tenure as Pirates manager was his infamous ejection after a close call at first base in June 2001.

Specifically, June 26, 2001. Yesterday was the 21st anniversary of Mac stealing first base at PNC Park.

After Jason Kendall was called out against the Milwaukee Brewers, McClendon went ballistic. Rick Reed was the umpire who felt McClendon’s wrath. The game was tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh when the call was made.

The Pirates ended up winning 7-6. Rob Mackowiak singled to right to score the winning run in the 12th.