First Call: Mike Florio advances Steelers-Aaron Rodgers connection further; potential cost for top NFL free agent center

Tuesday’s “First Call” follows up on the Steelers’ alleged connection to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

There’s more news about an offensive lineman the Steelers may want in free agency.

Some AFC North standout players got franchise tags.

And a repeat personal honor for a Duquesne basketball player.

How much to match

Monday’s “First Call” mentioned that the Steelers, Bengals and Ravens may all be pursuing Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen in free agency.

But how much will he be looking to get? Well, Pro Football Focus is suggesting Jensen could get as much as $39 million over three years.

No less of an authority than noted NFL news-breaker and ex-Bengals defensive back, Adam “Pac Man” Jones, jumped on his podcast with Solomon Wilcots and said that report was accurate.

“I got some great news for you,” Jones said. “A little birdie said that (the Bengals are) gonna sign Ryan Jensen to a three-year deal for $39 million, which would be a starting center. I hope it goes through. It sounds like the little birdie is saying it’s almost a done deal.”

And if Pac says it, we know it has to be true … right?

Doubling-down

ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio is standing by his story that the Steelers, Broncos and Titans all have deals in place to acquire Aaron Rodgers if the 38-year-old quarterback feels like he doesn’t want to be in Green Bay anymore.

In fact, Florio is now taking it one step further.

Appearing on 93.7 The Fan’s “PM Team” Monday, Florio insisted that the Steelers have talked to Rodgers’ agent and that Rodgers’ representative knows how much the Steelers are willing to pay in a reworked contract.

Also, the Steelers have allegedly told Rodgers’ reps what they’d give up in a trade to get him.

.@ProFootballTalk confirms on @937theFan that the Steelers have talked to Aaron Rodgers agent. And that the Rodgers' representative knows how much the Steelers are willing to pay him. And have told Rodgers people what they'd give up in a trade to get him.

!!!

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) March 7, 2022

“If he chooses to leave, it’s not about the money,” said Florio. “I think if he decides he wants to play for the Steelers it all falls together, it all works out. They already know what it’s going to take.”

However, Florio added that he believes Rodgers’ decision comes down to Denver or staying in Green Bay.

Tag! You’re it

A pair of familiar names within the AFC North got franchise tagged.

The Bengals are tagging star safety Jessie Bates. And the Browns elected to tag tight end David Njoku.

For now, Bates will count $12.911 million against the team’s salary cap next year. The two sides have until 4 p.m. on July 15 to work out a long-term deal. Bates was a second-round draft pick in 2018. He has 406 tackles and 10 interceptions and was named a team captain in 2021.

If Njoku plays on his non-exclusive franchise tag he will cost the Browns $10.931 million in 2022. The 25-year-old caught 36 passes for 475 yards and four TDs in 2021. He was a first-round pick out of Miami back in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Happy highlight

There hasn’t been much good to discuss with the Duquesne men’s basketball program this year. The rebuilding club finished the 2021-22 regular season with a 6-23 record and a 16-game losing streak.

But guard Primo Spears was an occasional bright spot. The freshman was just named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for a third time this season.

Spears set career scoring highs in back-to-back games in becoming DU’s first three-time Rookie of the Week honoree since Eric Williams Jr. earned the award four times in 2018.

The Hartford, Conn. native opened the week with 25 points, six assists and two steals in 52 minutes of Duquesne’s triple overtime defeat at George Washington. He followed that by tying Williams’ Duquesne freshman scoring record with 34 points in the 85-76 defeat to conclude the regular season.

Spears pulls the Dukes within 8 as the first half winds down!#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/5xGw7oqFLU

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) March 5, 2022

For the week, Spears averaged 29.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals. Jackie Johnson III and Leon Ayers are other Dukes players to have won Rookie of the Week honors this year.

Duquesne plays Rhode Island on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Washington, D.C.