First Call: Comments from Bills GM as Steelers fans track Tremaine Edmunds news; Quincy Roche celebrates return

Wednesday’s “First Call” has some intriguing news concerning a potential Pittsburgh Steelers free-agent target. An ex-Steelers linebacker is coming back to Pittsburgh. The Pitt basketball team is set for an evenly matched ACC clash.

And a former Robert Morris hockey player gets quite a conference honor.

Keeping an eye out

After the Steelers season ended, safety Terrell Edmunds raised eyebrows when he entertained the notion of a potential “package deal” somewhere in free agency with his brother, Buffalo Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Both players are about to hit the open market this offseason. They are free to shop for the best contract available. Not only would Steelers fans like to keep Terrell Edmunds in Pittsburgh, they’d love to land his brother as a potential fix for their continually problematic inside linebacker situation.

At a season-ending press conference, Bills general manager Brandon Beane gushed about Tremaine Edmunds as a player and said he’d like to keep the two-time Pro Bowler in Buffalo.

“He’s just been amazing to watch his growth from a 19-year-old,” Beane said via WIVB-TV. “I mean, it’s not like he’s 29, he’s still a kid. He is a young man. But very proud of who he is. And you can just see his maturation. … Like (Pro Bowl safety Jordan) Poyer and many of these other guys, I would love to keep them all, and we’ll do our best.”

Beane pointed out that the franchise tag may not be a viable option to retain Edmunds because off-ball linebackers like him are lumped into the outside linebacker category when it comes to setting the price. OverTheCap.com estimates the number will sit at $20.95 million for one year.

Brandon Beane doesn't rule out using the franchise tag on LB Tremaine Edmunds, but says the cost to do so is high because it includes edge rushers. ... Beane also addressed Jordan Poyer's contract status, saying the team would love to have him back, but will need cap clarity.

— Jay Skurski (@JaySkurski) January 24, 2023

NFL Free agency begins March 15.

Sending a message

Steelers linebacker Quincy Roche is celebrating his return to Pittsburgh. The former Steelers draft choice sent out a tweet proclaiming his excitement to come back to the team that selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft.

Lets get it Pittsburgh…lets finish what we stared #UnfinishedBusiness

— Q. (@_Underated2) January 24, 2023

The Steelers inked Roche to a reserve/futures contract on Tuesday. He’s been with the New York Giants since he was cut at the end of Steelers training camp in 2021.

Roche spent most of last season on the Giants practice squad. In two seasons, he appeared in 17 games (three starts), totaling 36 tackles, 2½ sacks and a forced fumble.

The Steelers need outside linebacker depth. Malik Reed, acquired from the Denver Broncos via trade in August, saw 281 snaps while T.J. Watt was on injured reserve. He accumulated just one sack and 17 tackles in that time and saw limited action after Watt returned. He is an unrestricted free agent this spring. Reserve linebacker Jamir Jones is an exclusive rights free agent.

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So much for that

For those hoping that the Steelers will get a compensatory pick in the 2023 NFL draft, don’t hold your breath.

Nick Korte, who contributes to OverTheCap.com when it comes to figuring out the NFL’s nebulous compensation formula, isn’t projecting the Steelers to be among the teams who will receive such a selection.

In fact, none of the AFC North teams are on the list.

Here's my final projection for the 2023 compensatory picks.https://t.co/3o6FgV7Qhv pic.twitter.com/OPkEkxKPYI

— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) January 24, 2023

The compensation formula looks to benefit teams that lose more value in free agency than they acquire the previous offseason. So even though the Steelers lost the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ray-Ray McCloud and James Washington, they signed James Daniels, Mitch Trubisky, Myles Jack, Mason Cole and Levi Wallace.

Eyeing a bounceback

After a disappointing home loss to Florida State (7-13, 5-4 ACC) in their last game, the Pitt Panthers (13-7, 6-3) are looking to rebound against Wake Forest at home Wednesday (7 p.m.).

Like the Panthers, the Demon Deacons are 6-3 in ACC play, 14-6 overall. But they are only 3-3 on the road this season. Entering league play Tuesday night, Wake Forest was fourth in the ACC in scoring at 77.4 points per game. They are shooting 46.7% from the floor, third best in the conference.

Conversely, the Panthers have the fifth-best defense in the ACC at 67.7 points allowed per game. And they are tied for fourth place when it comes to opponent field-goal percentage at 40.9% and three-point percentage at 31.4%.

That’s what’s made the Florida State game feel like such an anomaly. The Seminoles shot 51% from the floor (25 for 49) and 50% (10 for 20) from behind the arc.

In conjunction with Wednesday’s game, Pitt will honor former All-American forward Jerome Lane on the 35th anniversary of his famous backboard-shattering dunk against Providence.

35 years ago today- Jerome sent it in.#H2P pic.twitter.com/Bm3zfQKmWT

— Oakland Zoo (@OaklandZoo) January 25, 2023

It’s the second of three consecutive games at Petersen Events Center for Jeff Capel’s crew. They also get 20th-ranked Miami on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.).

Colonial ‘Hall call’

A third alum from the Robert Morris men’s hockey team is getting into the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Honor. Forward Brady Ferguson (2014-18) will join former teammates Zac Lynch and Cody Wydo as members of the conference’s inaugural class. Wydo and Lynch (Shaler, Pa.) were previously announced.

In honor of its 20th season, the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) is recognizing the top 20 players from the conference’s first 20 seasons. The AHA is announcing one inductee weekly throughout the 2022-23 season.

A nominee for the Hobey Baker Award as a senior in 2017-18, Ferguson concluded his career as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 167 points. He tallied 66 goals and 101 assists. That point total tied the Atlantic Hockey record that was originally established by Brett Gensler (Bentley ‘14). Ferguson’s 101 assists rank third in the Atlantic Hockey record book.

Ferguson appeared in 152 games during his four years with the Colonials, tied for second all-time in school history. RMU compiled a record of 88-51-16 (.619) during Ferguson’s career, including a mark of 64-34-14 (.633) in Atlantic Hockey. Ferguson helped guide the Colonials to the 2015 Atlantic Hockey regular-season championship, the first in program history.

Robert Morris University folded the men’s and women’s Division I hockey programs following the 2021 season for budget reasons. After a slew of fundraising efforts and legal investigation, the teams were reinstated in December 2021. They will resume play at the start of the 2023-24 NCAA hockey season.