Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is making a late push for some Hall of Fame candidates. The NFL Combine is dialing back because of the pandemic. And a Steelers rival is leaving Baltimore.
Plus, we check in on former Penguins goalie Matt Murray.
All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”
Lending his support
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is doing a little stumping for a few of the Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists.
The vote is Tuesday, and Tomlin sent out a tweet advancing the candidacy of former Steeler Alan Faneca, along with former Buccaneers Ronde Barber and John Lynch.
Want to wish the absolute best of luck to three deserving @ProFootballHOF finalists, Ronde Barber, Alan Faneca and John Lynch, all who I have had the honor to work with.
— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) January 18, 2021
And there is no way the Class of 2021 can be complete without the legend, Bill Nunn, being a part of it.
Tomlin coached Faneca in 2007. That was his first year taking over the bench from Bill Cowher. He was in Tampa as defensive backs coach from 2001-05. Barber and Lynch were in that position group during Tomlin’s tenure.
A maximum of five modern era finalists from a group of 15 will be inducted. They need 80% of the vote. This is Faneca’s sixth time as a finalist, the eighth for Lynch and the first for Barber.
As for Bill Nunn, the former great Steelers scout is in the “contributors” category. He needs 80% as well in a separate vote. So do former Raiders coach Tom Flores and former Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson. He’s in the senior category.
The inductees are going to be announced during Super Bowl week. Inductions are scheduled for next August. That’s when the 2020 class and a special centennial class also will be enshrined. That’s because the covid-19 pandemic forced postponement of those ceremonies last year.
The 48 selectors will meet virtually this year instead of the usual in-person meeting the day before the Super Bowl.
No ‘covid combine’ after all
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine will be significantly minimized.
• No in-person workouts at the combine. They will take place at college pro days.
• No in-person interviews and psychological testing. Those will be done virtually.
• Limited in-person medical exams.
According to Pelissero, “The league added it would work with individual schools to achieve consistency in the drills and testing that takes place with each NFL team gaining access of video for the workouts. Schools also will be asked to conduct virtual media availabilities with combine invitees to help ‘promote’ the prospects and the 2021 NFL Draft.”
OK. Let’s see how all of that goes. As if last year’s draft wasn’t enough of a dice roll.
Keep in mind as well, as Pelissero points out, the in-person meetups of team front-office members, coaches and agents to talk about pending free agency disappear as well.
Ingram goodbye
A familiar Steelers rival is leaving the AFC North.
The Baltimore Ravens are releasing running back Mark Ingram. He was a healthy scratch in both playoff games for the team.
Ingram isn’t bitter, though. He posted a goodbye message on Twitter.
Thank you Mr.Bisciotti and the Ravens for being a first class organization. I love the real ones in flock nation that supported me and showed luv! My blood brothers, whats understood Ain gotta be explained. Best is still ahead, cant wait! Watch God work.#GodWins #BigTrussForever pic.twitter.com/Hx0GZrSIrz
— Mark Ingram II (@markingram21) January 19, 2021
He had a career-low 72 carries and a career-low 299 rushing yards this year. The former New Orleans Saints draft choice and University of Alabama running back is 31 years old. He totaled 1,374 yards in two years in Baltimore, scoring 17 total touchdowns.
The Ravens save $5 million in cap space by releasing him. They also waived quarterback Robert Griffin III.
How’s it goin’ up ‘ere?
The Penguins are underway in the post-Matt Murray era. And goaltender Tristan Jarry is off to a rough start. He allowed nine goals over his first two outings. Both were losses to the Philadelphia Flyers.
So how is Murray doing with his new team, the Ottawa Senators? Not phenomenal. But OK. Better than Jarry to start anyway.
He and the Sens split with the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first two contests.
Murray got the win in Game 1, as the Senators outscored the Leafs 5-3 Friday. But Toronto bounced back for a 3-2 victory Saturday as Murray absorbed the loss.
Murray has stopped 57 of 63 shots so far, for a 90.4 save percentage and a 3.02 goals against average.
The Senators play Winnipeg Tuesday night.
