First Call: Oddsmakers favor Mason Rudolph as Steelers' starting QB in 2022; unhappy Pirates anniversary remembered

Thursday’s “First Call” looks at the future of the Steelers’ quarterback position and a page from the Pirates checkered past.

A Western Pennsylvania product with major influence in the college sports world is getting a new gig.

And the Philadelphia Flyers are just a mess.

Isn’t it great?

Money on Mason

BetOnLine.Ag is setting the odds on who the Steelers will name as the starting quarterback in 2022. And it’s not Pitt’s Kenny Pickett.

Well, at least not yet, anyway.

It’s an in-house candidate instead — Mason Rudolph.

Ben Roethlisberger’s current backup is listed as a 3/2 favorite to get the call as the opening day starter, with Big Ben himself in third place at 4/1. Here are all the results.

• Mason Rudolph … 3/2

• A Draft Pick … 3/1

• Ben Roethlisberger … 4/1

• Dwayne Haskins … 5/1

• Free Agent Signing … 5/1

• QB Added via Trade … 7/1

So whether it’s via free-agency or a trade, I guess the money isn’t coming in on Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers just yet, huh?

Honestly, I’m not sure I’m ready to wager much of my own cash on that option yet either. But I’d sure enjoy the results — and the pay out — if it happens.

More of the same

The Philadelphia Flyers just can’t get right. They lost their 10th game in a row Wednesday night. Philly was shutout 3-0 by the New Jersey Devils.

Here’s a tip: Mercer for Calder.#NJDevils | @PSEGDelivers pic.twitter.com/TtZFEDTuAn

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 9, 2021

It’s a shame, isn’t it?

That result was the second loss in as many tries for Mike Yeo as interim coach. The one-time Penguins assistant took over for the deposed Alain Vigneault Monday.

The Flyers haven’t won since a 2-1 overtime victory against Calgary back on Nov. 16. They are 0-8-2 in that time and have been outscored 47-18. As a result, they are nestled in seventh place in the eight-team Metropolitan Division with just 20 points.

Try to contain your sympathy, Penguins fans. I know it must be hard.

The Devils Twitter account seems to be enjoying this as much as Pens fans are.

Gotta have better hands than that to go pro, kid. pic.twitter.com/agAUAkLud0

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 9, 2021

The Penguins have 29 points and are currently in fourth place. They host the Flyers for a second time this year on Dec. 23.

Dark day remembered

Wednesday marked an unfortunate day in Pittsburgh sports history. On Dec. 8, 1992, (after a few days of MLB red tape) two-time National League MVP Barry Bonds officially left the Pittsburgh Pirates for the San Francisco Giants in free agency.

Following three straight playoff seasons in Pittsburgh, Bonds went out west for a six-year contract worth a then-record $43.75 million. He’d go on to win five more MVPs and become baseball’s all-time home run leader.

12/8/92: After 7 seasons, 176hr, 251sb, .275/.380/.503, 2 NL MVP’s, 3 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Sluggers, and 3 Division Titles, the Barry Bonds era in #Pittsburgh came to an end, when #Pirates best player signed with the SF #Giants and saved their franchise.
pic.twitter.com/mWOmh7ktd2

— 1986-92 Pittsburgh Pirates (@1992Pirates) December 8, 2021

While Bonds would never win a World Series, he’d get there once and reach the playoffs four more times before retiring in 2007. The Pirates didn’t get back to the playoffs until 2013, and still have yet to win a division title since he left.

New at ‘The U’

Monaca native and IUP Hall of Famer Dan Radakovich is on the move again.

The Clemson Athletic Director is leaving the successful Tigers program to take over as AD at the University of Miami (Fla.). Radakovich got a master’s degree in business administration from Miami in 1982.

While overseeing the Tigers, Radakovich witnessed two college football national championships. Revenue swelled to $120 million in 2019. He was named Sports Business Daily’s Athletic Director of the Year in 2017 at the Sports Business Awards. Clemson completed more than $180 million in facility enhancements while he was there.

This is his third stop as AD in the ACC. Before going to Clemson in 2012, Radakovich held that title at Georgia Tech.