First Call: ESPN mock draft projects QB to Steelers, NFL plans to start on time, playoff expansion is official
In “First Call” Wednesday, the NFL is planning to start on time. ESPN is planning on the Steelers drafting a quarterback. And former Penn State receiver Chris Godwin is obviously planning to win over Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
Full steam ahead
While other pro sports leagues are hanging on to their current seasons for dear life, the NFL is pushing forward with a plan for a full 16-game season, uninterrupted by coronavirus.
This is what NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said during a conference call Tuesday.
NFL exec Jeff Pash says on a conference call “our planning, our expectation is fully directed at playing a full season and starting on schedule. … Just as we did in 2019. Am I certain? I’m not certain I’ll be here tomorrow, but I’m planning on it. That’s what we talked about."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 31, 2020
Pash added that the league is focusing on “a normal traditional season, starting on time, playing in front of fans, in our regular stadiums, and going through a full 16-game regular season and full set of playoffs.”
NFL.com reports that “the schedule of games will likely be released on or around May 9.”
Does this sound like a stretch to you, too?
ESPN’s Todd McShay is projecting a quarterback for the Steelers in the second round of his latest mock draft.
It’s Washington’s Jacob Eason.
Here is a portion of McShay’s rationale.
“Ben Roethlisberger isn’t getting any younger, and last season showed us that the other quarterbacks in Pittsburgh’s system aren’t the future. Eason has some developing to do, but there’s no denying his raw arm strength and terrific measurables.”
Those measurables McShay is referencing for Eason include a 6-foot-5, 231-pound frame.
The former Husky completed 64% of his passes for 3,132 yards last season. He also posted a 23-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
All of McShay’s points are true. Indeed, Roethlisberger is not defying time by aging backwards. Meanwhile his reserves did set back the art of quarterbacking a few years.
But doesn’t it make more sense for the Steelers to give Roethlisberger more weapons to improve upon last year’s offense during one of his final seasons, than to prepare for his departure? After all, the offensive unit appears to have regressed, aside from just the contribution of Roethlisberger’s injury.
If the Steelers want to help depth at the position, sign an available veteran backup.
I’d rather see the team get a good wide receiver, running back or offensive lineman. Maybe even a capable contributor at inside linebacker.
That’s some valuable stuff
Ramon Foster was always a popular guy within Steelers circles.
Current and former players. Fans. Media. Coaches and executives.
This retirement gift from former teammate Willie Colon illustrates that.
Thank you @willcolon66 for the retirement gift! I could write a book about how much you helped me grow up and the person you are but ima just say thanks. @graeters @willcolon66 pic.twitter.com/NboMAepDmJ
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) March 31, 2020
Colon and Foster overlapped in Pittsburgh for three years.
Great timing on that gift, too!
Been to a Giant Eagle lately? Notice how empty the ice cream aisle has been because of the pandemic shut in? That makes this present all the better.
Done deal
The expanded NFL playoff format is official. We will see seven teams in the postseason per conference starting in 2020.
That was expected after the collective bargaining agreement was finished. An announcement came Tuesday that the NFL owners voted via conference call to officially expand the playoffs.
The first weekend of the playoffs will include six games. Six division winners will host six wild-card teams. Two new details are clear about the decision, via ProFootballTalk.com.
• There will be three games on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021 and three on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021.
• CBS and NBC will each broadcast one of the additional games.
The regular-season AFC and NFC champions will get the only byes.
Good move by Godwin
You can bet Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are going to angle themselves for “favored receiver” status with new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
Godwin may have gotten an early start.
He’s yielding jersey #12 to Brady. That’s the number Brady wore for 20 years in New England. Godwin will switch to #14.
The former Penn State Nittany Lion posted an image of the two in celebration on his Instagram page.
Godwin told the team’s website that he received no compensation for giving up the number. He just did it out of respect.
Again, that’s what he told the team website on the record. What he and Brady may have worked out under the table, that’s a different story.
Who knows? Maybe it’s just the promise of getting that first red-zone target of the season.
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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