First Call: Deshaun Watson wanted Omar Khan in Houston, Lions trying to lure Kevin Colbert

Sunday night was “last call” for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that doesn’t mean we stop doing “First Call” at “Breakfast With Benz.”

Apparently, Steelers executive Omar Khan was closer to getting that Houston Texans general manager job than we thought. The Detroit Lions are still trying to bring back current Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert.

There’s a logo controversy that doesn’t involve JuJu Smith-Schuster. And the Robert Morris hockey team just keeps winning.

Khan connection

There may be a few Pittsburgh connections to the reason why Deshaun Watson is so miffed with the Houston Texans.

For days, there have been reports that Watson was upset over the hiring of Nick Caserio as the team’s new general manager.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Texans owner Cal McNair ignored the advice of search firm Korn Ferry. Their suggestion was that the club hire Steelers vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan. And, if not him, “Monday Night Football” analyst (and former Pitt Panther) Louis Riddick.

Via Schefter, Watson preferred one of those candidates as well. And he blew his stack when he found out that the franchise went with Caserio.

ProFootballTalk.com went so far as to say that the Texans were actually negotiating with Khan when the team pivoted to Caserio.

Schefter’s ESPN colleague Chris Mortensen reports part of Watson’s concerns are that he’s upset with the Texans’ view on social justice initiatives, and that’s now been underscored by these hiring practices given that both Khan and Riddick were minority candidates.

Schefter also states that Watson was under the impression that his input would be considered, and now he doesn’t feel as if it has been.

Don’t count on it

For the last couple of years the rumor has been that Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert may be wooed to Carolina as general manager of the Panthers. That’s because former Steelers minority owner David Tepper bought the team in 2018.

Now the latest talk is that the Detroit Lions are trying to bring Colbert back to Michigan. He was the franchise’s pro scouting director from 1990 to 1999.

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com posted the report. But even he doesn’t seem all that convinced the Lions will be successful in their efforts.

Reported on the Lions deep interest in Steelers GM Kevin Colbert a few weeks ago. Remains very real. Most who know Colbert do not think he would leave Pittsburgh but the Lions continue to gather info and strategize on how to possibly lure him

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 10, 2021

Their strategy should probably be to force Colbert into watching tape of that first quarter against Cleveland again. “Clockwork Orange” style if they have to.

More logo antics

The Steelers apparently aren’t the only team in the NFL that raises eyebrows for what they do on the logos of other teams.

After a late interception during their Sunday afternoon win against the Tennessee Titans, the Baltimore Ravens celebrated on—and stomped on—the home team logo at midfield.

THE RAVENS DANCED ON THE TITANS' LOGO pic.twitter.com/6HVIQ206qQ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 10, 2021

This appeared to be payback for the Titans converging on the Ravens’ logo prior to a Week 11 matchup that Tennessee won. That led to a pregame dust-up.

By the way, the Ravens beat the Titans 20-13 Sunday to advance to Round 2 of the AFC playoffs. And after the win, quarterback Lamar Jackson left the field early so he didn’t have to shake hands with the Titans.

Lamar Jackson said he walked off the field at the end of the game and didn't shake hands with the Titans because of what transpired before the last game in November, when the Titans huddled on the Ravens' logo.

Jackson said that was disrespectful.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 10, 2021

Baltimore next plays the Bills in Buffalo on Saturday night.

Staying hot

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team is on a six-game winning streak. They are now 11-3 after a three-game sweep of Niagara last week. That’s the best 14-game record in program history.

RMU won an overtime game 3-2 on a goal by Brendon Michaelian on Thursday. They won Saturday night’s game in overtime as well. That was courtesy of a score by Aiden Spellacy in the extra session to win it 5-4.

SPELLACY WINS IT!! #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/NwurvVGlHm

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) January 10, 2021

The Colonials were down 4-2 with just over six minutes left. But they stormed back with a goal by Nick Prkusic to make it 4-3. Then Randy Hernandez spotted an extra-attacker goal to force OT at 4-4.

The Colonials won Sunday afternoon’s game 6-2 thanks in part to two goals by Justin Addamo.

RMU was supposed to play Canisius on Thursday and Saturday this week. But those games have been postponed. They don’t have another scheduled game until Jan. 19 at Mercyhurst.