First Call: Differing opinions on Steelers' 'Plan B' if Aaron Rodgers doesn't sign; Hurricanes stay alive

Tuesday’s “First Call” features different opinions on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fallback plans if Aaron Rodgers flakes.

We also spread the word on Duquesne’s newest basketball recruit and how a former Penguin helped the Carolina Hurricanes finally get it in gear against Florida in the Eastern Conference finals.

Best they can do

Why are the Steelers practicing so much patience with Aaron Rodgers?

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, it’s because the franchise spent this entire off-season not being invested in any other option.

”If you got the Steelers and you gave them truth serum, what they would tell you is, ‘We didn’t really like any of the options that were available at quarterback this off-season, including Aaron Rodgers. So, we’re just kind of going with what we ended up being left with,’” Graziano said on ESPN Radio Monday morning (31:23 of this link). “They didn’t feel like spending more on Justin Fields than the Jets did. They didn’t feel like bringing Russell Wilson back. They didn’t feel, for whatever reason, like (planning) on Sam Darnold in free agency or drafting a quarterback in the first five rounds.”

Essentially, Graziano is saying that the Steelers have the approach of “We’re stuck with him, and he’s stuck with us, so let’s make it worse.”

Honestly, that’s not a bad interpretation of what is going on as we, apparently, will be waiting through organized team activities to see if Rodgers is going to play in Pittsburgh or not for the 2025 season.

“Around the time of the draft, I got the sense the Steelers were looking at like the next two drafts — the one that just happened, and the one next year — as, possibly, a better option for addressing their long-term quarterback situation,” Graziano continued.

He insists that part of the reason for their nonchalance in the process is the franchise’s belief in Mason Rudolph.

“They don’t hate Mason Rudolph. He helped them get to the playoffs two years ago with the way he played in December. They feel like Mason Rudolph can play quarterback well enough that they can be a playoff team because of their defense and their run game,” Graziano said. “So, I think if Aaron Rodgers shows up, they’re fine with it. I think if he doesn’t show up, they’re fine with it, and they don’t feel like they’re sitting here waiting for Patrick Mahomes to make a decision.”

Agreed. They don’t hate Rudolph. But if they really liked him, they wouldn’t be waiting for Rodgers like this, would they?

Kirk C. is the Plan B

If the Rodgers deal falls apart, former Steelers beat reporter Jeremy Fowler said on ESPN that Kirk Cousins is “the Plan B.”

#Steelers have sights set on Aaron Rodgers and have Mason Rudolph in the fold - is Kirk Cousins a viable Plan B?@SportsCenter with @aminajadeTV pic.twitter.com/E7rmr6WWDG

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 26, 2025

“I had some conversations with people this week that led me to believe that Cousins is, at the very least, on the Steelers’ radar if something were to fall through on Rodgers,” Fowler said on ESPN Monday. “Cousins has $37.5 million in guarantees between this year and next year. Somebody’s on the hook for that money, whether it’s $4 million, $20 million, whatever it is. But the feeling around the league is that Atlanta has not been willing to budge on this. They haven’t shown a lot of interest in trading Cousins. It would take a hefty price tag for another team to wiggle that out.”

That’s counter to Graziano’s previous report that the Steelers would be fine with Rudolph if Rodgers doesn’t come through.

I tend to fall in line with Graziano’s version of the story.

Staal seals it

Former Penguin Jordan Staal iced a Carolina Hurricanes victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He scored an empty-net goal to wrap up a 3-0 Canes win over Florida.

Jordan Staal makes a nice move into open ice and puts home another empty net goal for Carolina!#RaiseUp | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/tRUpysPHV5

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 27, 2025

Staal’s empty netter came just 26 seconds after Sebastian Aho scored one to give Carolina a 2-0 lead at the 17:49 mark of the third period.

That win staves off elimination for the Canes. They were down 3-0 in the series to the Panthers heading into this contest on Monday.

Game 5 is in Raleigh on Wednesday. Staal’s only other goal this postseason was in Game 5 of the Carolina win over Washington in Round 2.

Carolina had dropped 15 consecutive Eastern Conference finals games — including getting swept in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

More sports

• U.S. Open hole by hole: Players will face mental test with club selection on No. 7 at Oakmont
• Madden Monday on Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh: 'It just can't work'
• 'The hardest I played': Oakmont Country Club likely to raise scores, blood pressures at U.S. Open

Sir Serb

Duquesne has secured an international recruit. According to his own Instagram account, Lazar Milosevic has signed on to play basketball on the Bluff.

“I’m proud to announce my commitment to Duquesne University to continue my academic and athletic journey with the Dukes basketball program,” Milosevic posted. “I want to sincerely thank Coach Dru Joyce III and the entire Duquesne staff for believing in me and giving me this amazing opportunity. I’m honored to join a program built on discipline, development, and a winning mentality.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Momir Gajic (@nilplusgroup)

Milosevic is a 6-foot-9 wing. He most recently played for OKK Spars Sarajevo. That’s in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Last season, Milosevic averaged 12.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He is also a 40% three-point shooter.

It’s possible Milosevc could handle some minutes if Jakub Necas continues to deal with foul difficulty in his junior season and absorb some of the time Matus Hronsky ate up before transferring to Portland this off-season.