The NFL season may be over, but that doesn’t mean Steelers stories stop. In fact, as Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us, they may be coming in even more frequently now that a busy offseason is upon us.

The first post-Super Bowl NFL gambling odds are out for 2021’s Super Bowl LVI. Ike Taylor is doubling down on his suggestion that Ben Roethlisberger should retire. Kevin Colbert extends an olive branch to Antonio Brown. And Bill Cowher discusses the prospect of a Steelers rebuild.

And why he doesn’t see it happening yet.

Applause for A.B.

If there is an animosity toward Antonio Brown for how he dissolved his relationship with the Pittsburgh Steelers, it isn’t being reflected by general manager Kevin Colbert.

He appeared on WDVE Monday morning to share the team’s excitement over Alan Faneca and Bill Nunn getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. During the cvonversdation, Colbert admitted he was rooting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Super Bowl because of the litany of former Steelers on that roster and coaching staff and in the front office. Especially head coach Bruce Arians.

But Colbert specifically mentioned he was happy to see Brown get a ring.

“I was happy for A.B. to win a Super Bowl trophy,” Colbert said. “That’s something that is unique. Once a player does it, there is nothing else that can compare. When you get that first one, it’s unique and you remember it. Those (ex-Steelers), I know they enjoyed that. That was a special group. And we are happy for all of them.”

Bouncing from Oakland then to New England then to Tampa probably made that sentiment easier for Colbert to share. And we are quite some time removed from Mr. Big Chest’s midnight run on his treadmill. So maybe Colbert is ready to let bygones be bygones.

Adding on

Former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor recently told 93.7 The Fan that he felt it was in Ben Roethlisberger’s best interest — and the best interest of the team — to retire.

In short, Taylor essentially said that Roethlisberger has nothing left to prove in the NFL and that his continued starting status on the Steelers would simply delay rebuilding efforts. Also, he believes that the Steelers will lag behind in development at the quarterback position while Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow continue to grow in Cleveland, Baltimore and Cincinnati respectively.

The two-time Super Bowl winner took the discussion one step further on Sunday, though. While speaking with TMZ, Taylor reiterated all those opinions. Then Taylor said if Roethlisberger does decide to play with the Steelers again in 2021, he needs to adopt some of Tom Brady’s approach to conditioning.

“I think if Seven [Roethlisberger] wants to come back, Seven has got to get on this Tom Brady regimen,” Taylor said. “He’s got to really hone-in in the offseason and get some of his mobility back. In the NFL, unless you’ve got an offensive line like Tom Brady’s, you can’t be a pocket quarterback. They’re becoming extinct right now.”

Taylor also said Roethlisberger needs to adjust his in-game mentality when it comes to offensive approach.

“Seven’s got to change,” Taylor continued. “Big Ben has to tell the offensive coordinator, ‘We need to run the ball.’ Seven won Super Bowls with a good defense and having a good running game. Seven needs to go tell Matt Canada, ‘Hey, bro, we’ve got to establish a run game.’”

I don’t know if “Two-Four” is holding his breath for that. But I’m not.

Looking up at the top

Some of you may be optimistic about the Steelers bouncing back from their postseason swoon and returning to Super Bowl contention.

Well, if you feel good about it, put your money where your mouth is. The odds will be very much in your favor if you are right.

The Steelers’ Betonline.ag odds to win the Super Bowl are 33/1. That’s 17th place in the NFL. Here are the top five clubs.

• Kansas City Chiefs 5/1

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9/1

• Buffalo Bills 12/1

• Green Bay Packers 12/1

• Los Angeles Rams 12/1

The Steelers are third place in their own division. The Baltimore Ravens are at 7th at 16/1. The Cleveland Browns are 8th at 20/1.

Would Bill rebuild?

Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher seems to have a different opinion than the odds makers. He did a sit-down interview with KDKA’s Rich Walsh over the weekend.

And he seems to think that his former club is closer than what the sportsbooks may be indicating.

“I don’t think they’re that far,” Cowher said.

He isn’t expecting drastic changes.

“I think you have to re-tool. There are some decisions that are going to have to be made,” Cowher said. “Dan (Rooney) did it. Art’s gonna do it. I’m sure Mike (Tomlin) will do it, too. You don’t make rash decisions right after the season,” Cowher said.

The soon-to-be-enshrined Hall of Famer pointed out that you have to “let the emotions kind of clear.”

Well, what the Steelers really need to clear is salary cap space. How “emotions” come into play is anybody’s guess.

As for the frequent rumors about a return to coaching somewhere, someday in the NFL, Cowher continues to push that talk aside claiming he’s “had more balance in his life than he ever had before” now that he is in retirement. He also spoke about enjoying offseason time when his CBS television duties end.

“I haven’t lost a game in 14 years,” Cowher joked.

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