First Call: Hall of Fame still hopeful Steelers' Troy Polamalu will attend; Tyler Boyd says Joe Burrow's knee still 'iffy'

In Thursday’s “First Call,” we try to figure out if Pittsburgh Steelers legend Troy Polamalu will be able to attend his own enshrinement at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tyler Boyd isn’t 100% sold on Joe Burrow’s knee rehab in Cincinnati just yet. We check in on some former Pirates in new places.

And transfers are starting to role out from the tattered Robert Morris hockey teams.

Will he stay or will he go?

As the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies draw near, Troy Polamalu is still a question mark in terms of attendance.

Polamalu announced last week that he had contracted coronavirus. But Hall of Fame officials are still holding out hope that the Steelers safety will be able to attend.

“We’re monitoring it on a day-to-day basis,” Hall of Fame president David Baker said on the latest “Eye Test for Two” podcast (fullpressradio.com). “He’s progressing well. … If he shows no symptoms the first day which he’s allowed to travel, it should be Friday (to) Monday. So we think he can make it here for the Saturday enshrinement.”

Polamalu is one of three Steelers set to be honored Saturday. His former coach Bill Cowher and safety Donnie Shell are the other two. Guard Alan Faneca is slated to go in Sunday. Scout Bill Nunn was enshrined posthumously in April.

Take it from Tyler

Former Pitt Panther wide receiver Tyler Boyd raised some eyebrows in Cincinnati on Wednesday when he said Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow may still be a bit “iffy” on his surgically repaired knee.

“I think he looks good. Just watching him move around in the pocket, his pocket presence seems great. I think he’s kind of a little iffy on his knee,” Boyd said. “But it’s kind of hard to tell. I feel like he’s ready to go. But I also think he doesn’t want to do too much.”

That quote was part of a longer answer where Boyd softened his opinion by saying that the offense wasn’t quite trying to go full throttle against its own defense just yet.

Taylor said Joey B will take today off and Tyler Boyd said Joe's ready to go this season but a little IFFY on the KNEE #Bengals #WhoDey @WLWT pic.twitter.com/Dgy4VTZljr

— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) August 4, 2021

Burrow had 13 touchdowns in 10 games before a knee injury ended his rookie season in 2020.

Taillon time

Former Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon made his first start in August since being named American League Pitcher of the Month for July.

It was OK. But not to the standards of his previous five outings. Taillon allowed three runs (two earned) in 6⅓ innings as the Bronx Bombers fell behind the Baltimore Orioles 3-0. Taillon allowed only four earned runs in his five July starts.

However, Taillon did strike out 10 Orioles, while walking just one.

And the Yankees ultimately won 10-3 behind a home run from newly acquired Anthony Rizzo.

Rizzo's 1st in Pinstripes at the Stadium pic.twitter.com/b2LEXalxm5

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 5, 2021

That was Rizzo’s 17th homer this season, and first at Yankee Stadium since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs.

Another ex-Pirate, Clay Holmes, pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Taillon wound up with a no decision.

New surroundings

Another former Pirates pitcher is getting used to new surroundings. J.A. Happ is now a St. Louis Cardinal. The left-hander got his first start for the Redbirds on Wednesday and was so-so.

Happ yielded five hits and two earned runs in five innings. He totaled four strikeouts against just one walk and got a no decision as the Cards lost 7-4 to the Atlanta Braves.

Former Pirate Rich Rodriguez got into the game for Atlanta and worked a clean fifth inning. He has yet to allow a run in three outings for the Braves.

Meanwhile, Adam Frazier was 1-4 for the San Diego Padres as they lost 5-4 in the 10th inning to the Oakland A’s.

Can’t wait forever

As Robert Morris University drags out its decision about potentially reinstating the school’s hockey teams, men’s players are now starting to announce their transfers.

Defenseman Brendon Michaelian let it be known Wednesday that he’ll be attending Ferris State to play with his twin brother, Justin.

Time to meet our new Dawgs over the next few days.

First up, he joins us from Robert Morris, and joins his twin @Jmichaelian81 . Meet defenseman @Bmic91 ! pic.twitter.com/CkThvSZbmY

— Ferris State Hockey (@FerrisHockey) August 4, 2021

Many of the men’s players tried to hold back on such announcements for as long as possible in hopes that the school would reverse course. But no decision has come from the university president Chris Howard.

Women’s players had previously announced transfers to places such as Ohio State, Boston College and Syracuse.