First Call: Reaction from Philadelphia to Steelers signing Isaac Seumalo; Seahawks' signing of Devin Bush praised

Monday’s “First Call” takes a deep look at the Steelers’ signing of offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo. We also find a surprisingly optimistic view of an ex-Steeler going to a new team.

The struggling Penguins welcome an opponent from Canada with plenty of problems of its own. Another chapter of history is written between Alex Ovechkin and Marc-Andre Fleury.

And we check in on the lone team remaining from the ACC in this year’s NCAA tournament.

‘Don’t sleep’ on Devin

Most of Pittsburgh seemed to have a dismissive attitude towards Devin Bush’s free agent departure last week. Given the lack of production from the former first-round pick, that’s no surprise.

But what Steelers fans may find surprising is the view of NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks. He called Seattle’s signing of Bush one of the “10 free-agent signings that you should not overlook” during a post he authored Friday.

“Pete Carroll loves a reclamation project, as evidenced by his work with Geno Smith, among many others, during his tenure with the Seahawks,” Brooks wrote. “Bush is next on the list as a former top-10 pick who struggled with injuries and inconsistency in Pittsburgh. Despite failing to live up to expectations as a Steeler, the ultra-competitive defender still has the dog in him that made the Michigan product a ballyhooed prospect in the Class of 2019. If Carroll can crack the code and unlock the feisty defender who delivered a number of splash plays as a rookie, the Seahawks’ defense could rejoin the ranks of the elite with Bush and a group of junkyard dogs leading the way.”

Based on his performance, and his often nonplussed attitude about it, I’d debate Brooks’ assessment of Bush as an “ultra-competitive defender” that “still has the dog in him.”

In fact, I’d ask Brooks when he has seen that “dog” at all over the last two years. Simply being a guy who doesn’t like cats, doesn’t make Devin a “dog.”

If the greater point is just hoping that the Seahawks can find something in Bush’s play that the Steelers couldn’t, that I understand. Anything beyond that, though, is just relying on memories of Bush at the University of Michigan and ignoring anything he’s done at the NFL level.

Related:

• Steelers add top free-agent guard Isaac Seumalo from Eagles in free agency
• Devin Bush leaves Steelers, signs 1-year deal with Seahawks
• Tim Benz: Penguins’ failures against own division highlight big-picture problems

Gone from Team Green

While the Steelers eventually won the bidding for free agent guard Isaac Seumalo, apparently his previous team was never in the running to retain him.

Via NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Reuben Frank, “The Eagles were never involved in talks with Seumalo, who started 60 games for the Eagles and is one of only seven players to play in both the 2017 and 2022 Super Bowls.”

But based on how Frank frames it, that’s not because of Seumalo’s play.

“When healthy, Seumalo is a very good player, but injuries derailed his 2020 and 2021 seasons, when he was limited to a total of just 12 games. He bounced back to start all 20 games this year and played at a very high level,” Frank said on Sunday. “Pro Football Focus ranked him 10th of 79 guards who played at least 300 snaps this past year with a 72.7 grade.”

Frank added that the emergence of young guard Landon Dickerson and 2022 second-round pick Cam Jurgen’s presence made Seumalo’s roster spot expendable — especially with Philadelphia’s cap issues and free agency questions looming.

Seumalo’s contract is a reported $24 million over three years, according to the NFL Network. That may seem hefty, but it’s not according to some comps.

Baltimore’s Ben Powers got $12.875 million per year over four years from the Denver Broncos and Nate Davis of the Tennessee Titans got $10 million per year over three years to join the Chicago Bears, so Seumalo’s deal is third-highest among guards so far in free agency. Also, Spotrac.com projected $12 million annually for Seumalo making him the 19th-highest-paid guard in the NFL as of now.

In the same boat

For as much of a struggle as it has been for the Penguins lately, their next opponent is having an even harder time.

The Pens have lost three in a row. But on Monday, they welcome the Ottawa Senators who have lost five in a row and six of seven.

In each of those defeats, the Senators allowed at least five goals. For the season, the Senators’ goals against average of 3.29 is the 13th most in the league, one spot higher than the Penguins at 3.26. Their 71 points rank 12th in the NHL, seven points behind the Penguins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Pens are 1-0-1 against Ottawa this season. The clubs played back-to-back games on Feb. 18 and 20. The Penguins dropped a 5-4 overtime decision in Canada for the first game, then won the rematch two nights later In Pittsburgh 4–1.

Fleury just fine

Former Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury helped out his old team Sunday.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion stopped 33 of 36 shots against the Washington Capitals to help secure a 5-3 victory for the Minnesota Wild.

The Capitals are in 10th place of the Eastern Conference. They trail Pittsburgh by five points for the final wild-card spot with 11 games remaining.

Fleury has now won seven starts in a row.

That said, no surprise here, Alexander Ovechkin managed a pair of power play goals against Flower, from his usual spot atop the left circle. He has 27 goals in 45 games against Fleury, his most against a single goaltender in his career.

HAMMERTIME! pic.twitter.com/UHgyKadSpJ

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 19, 2023

819 pic.twitter.com/Xg4ddqMbQz

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 19, 2023

Via ESPN.com, “Ovechkin has recorded a point in every game in Minnesota since Oct. 12, 2006, and his 0.90 goals per game against the Wild — 19 goals in 21 games — is the highest rate he has recorded against an opponent. With 39 goals, his next tally will mark his 13th season with at least 40 goals, breaking a tie with Wayne Gretzky for most in league history.”

Rock you like a Hurricane

With the Pitt Panthers losing to Xavier on Sunday, that left just one team standing from the ACC in the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament.

And they won. It was the Miami Hurricanes who beat Indiana 85-69 in the second round of the Midwest Region.

So that means Jim Larrañaga’s team is the only ACC team to qualify for the Sweet 16. Pitt, Duke, Virginia, and N.C. State all lost over the first weekend.

Miami’s victory over the Hoosiers extends the ACC’s streak of having at least one team in the Sweet 16 to 43 years. This is Miami’s second straight trip to the Sweet 16, that’s a first in program history.

Euro-steppin' for two @CanesHoops pic.twitter.com/1M5rICqwkh

— CBS Sports College Basketball ???? (@CBSSportsCBB) March 20, 2023

In the last game of the weekend, former Pitt coach Jamie Dixon and his TCU Horned Frogs lost to Gonzaga 84-81.