First Call: Ex-Steelers QB could start in Arizona; pricey Roberto Clemente bat auction; Aaron Donald's new ring trend
Friday’s “First Call” sees a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback on the move. John Lynch’s real opinions on the Nick Bosa situation may be shining through in San Francisco. A piece of Roberto Clemente memorabilia is up for auction.
And Penn Hills product Aaron Donald may have started a very unique (and expensive) sports fashion sensation.
$tarting a trend?
Former Pitt Panther Aaron Donald may be at the forefront of a new Super Bowl tradition.
Rings for the wives and girlfriends, just like the players.
Exactly like the players.
Via TMZ, Donald’s wife, Erica, was just given a reconstructed version of her husband’s Super Bowl LVI championship ring. The jeweler, Moe Diamonds, says that he hopes other athletes will follow suit.
Moe Diamonds says the ring for Erica holds approximately three carats of diamonds — VS-VVS diamonds and yellow and blue sapphires matching Rams colors. Plus, there are F-color marquise center diamonds that look just like a football.
I don’t know what most of that means. But I know it costs $17,000.
It also features Aaron Donald’s initials, his No. 99 jersey number, the letters SBLVI and palm trees to represent Los Angeles.
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Truth coming out
If it’s possible for someone to be perturbed but optimistic at the same time, that was 49ers general manager John Lynch discussing the holdout of star defensive end Nick Bosa.
For a while now, everyone surrounding the 49ers has maintained a party line that Bosa’s holdout was going as expected and no big deal.
Appearing on KNBR radio Thursday, though, Lynch had a slightly different tone.
“I don’t like the situation,” Lynch said. “Since our tenure here, we haven’t had a holdout anywhere towards this magnitude. Not something I’m comfortable with. We’re working really hard to try to change that.”
Lynch also made it seem as if the two sides are still efforting to make an agreement happen.
“We’re in good communication with his reps. He’s a special player, he’s going to get a special contract, I can tell you that. We’re getting closer, and we’re eager to bring this thing to a close,” Lynch added.
Bosa is currently set to play on the fifth-year option of his entry-level contract. It will net the Defensive Player of the Year $17.859 million. But he wants a new deal now.
San Francisco visits Pittsburgh on Sept. 10, the first game of the regular season.
A great item from ‘The Great One’
Want a piece of Roberto Clemente sports memorabilia?
SCP Auctions is auctioning off Clemente’s “Silver Bat” award for winning the 1964 NL batting title with the Pirates. The auction will take place Saturday.
This is not the same thing as a modern-day Silver Slugger award. Via TMZSpo
It already has a preliminary bid of $107,000 and is expected to go for $350,000. Just the silver itself for the 34-inch Louisville Slugger replica is estimated at $1,300.
What a day for Dobbs
Former Steeler Josh Dobbs may be vying for a starting job now.
After the trade that sent Dobbs from Cleveland to Arizona on Thursday, the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the seven-year veteran may be given the chance to win the Cardinals’ starting job from another Browns alum, Colt McCoy.
Trade! The #Browns are sending QB Josh Dobbs and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the #Cardinals for a 2024 fifth-round pick, per sources.
Arizona hasn't named a starting QB, and now Dobbs is in the mix.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) Aug. 24, 2023
Dobbs was drafted in 2017, but he has only appeared in eight NFL games, starting two. Both of those starts occurred last year, both losses, with the Tennessee Titans.
Over the course of those defeats, Dobbs was 40 of 68 (58.8%) for 411 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked six times and had a 73.8 passer rating.
Along with his two stops in Pittsburgh, two in Cleveland and one in Tennessee, Dobbs has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions. In Cleveland, Dobbs worked with Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. He was on the Browns staff last year as the QB coach.
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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