First Call: Steelers-Bills in line for 'dynamic' weather system; ex-Steelers front office member gets GM interview with Panthers

For Thursday’s “First Call,” we get word on exactly how bad the weather is going to be in Buffalo on Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers game. We find out the CBS broadcast crew for the contest. We also get word on a former Steelers executive who may be in line for a promotion with his new team.

And we take a look at a tough Penguins opponent Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.

I don’t like that word

For this weekend’s opening round AFC playoff game, the Steelers are already having to deal with a player who is often described as “dynamic” in Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Now the weather in Buffalo is being described as “dynamic” as well.

That doesn’t sound good in either case.

According to WIVB-TV, a “dynamic system” is approaching Buffalo from Friday into Saturday.

“A rain/snow mix Friday late evening transitions to all rain as temperatures warm up,” says meteorologist Nick Guzzo on the station’s website. “This will not last long, though, as temperatures drop throughout the day Saturday, allowing for a transition from rain to snow.”

But the wind appears to be the real factor. Guzzo says that the temperature at kickoff (1 p.m. Sunday) is expected to be 24 degrees. He is also projecting wind gusts as high as 50 mph.

I don’t care how dynamic Allen’s arm is. Even he is going to have trouble with that, let alone Mason Rudolph and/or Kenny Pickett. That’s to say nothing for the punters and kickers in the game as well.

The wind chill could create a “feels like” temperature of zero.

On the call

CBS’ No. 1 broadcast crew will be on the call Sunday for Steelers-Bills. Via SteelersNow.com, Jim Nantz will do play-by-play and Tony Romo will be the color commentator with Tracy Wolfson on the sideline.

Headed to Buffalo as we start our run to #SBLVIII #wecantwait #Steelers #Bills pic.twitter.com/QxrNvWZFQe

— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) January 8, 2024

Bundle up, Tracy.

The last time Nantz led a Steelers playoff game broadcast, he wasn’t working with Romo yet. He was still paired with Phil Simms. It was the 2016 AFC Championship Game loss in New England.

Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts were on the CBS broadcast for the Steelers’ loss at home in the divisional round to the Jacksonville Jaguars the next year.

Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth were in the booth for the Steelers’ two most recent playoff performances against the Browns (2020) and Chiefs (2021) on NBC. Both were losses.

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Familiar name

A former Steelers front office member is getting an interview to become the new general manager of the Carolina Panthers.

Samir Suleiman was the football administration coordinator in Pittsburgh prior to 2020. That’s when he was hired by the Panthers to be the franchise’s director of player negotiations and salary cap management.

Now, the Panthers have him as an internal candidate to replace Scott Fitterer, who was fired Monday. Former linebacker Dan Morgan is also on that list, along with at least 10 external candidates.

The Panthers are owned by former Steelers minority owner David Tepper. Carolina finished an NFL-worst 2-14.

After Suleiman went to Carolina, Pittsburgh replaced him with Cole Marcoux. At one time, Suleiman was perceived to be a replacement for Omar Khan whenever Khan got promoted or left for another team. Khan eventually took over for Kevin Colbert as general manager in Pittsburgh when he retired following the 2022 draft.

Best in the West?

The Penguins have an interesting run of games coming up, starting Thursday night at home against Vancouver.

Over their next five dates between now and Jan. 22, the Pens play four teams from the Western Conference with an important game against Metropolitan Division foe Carolina sandwiched in between on Saturday.

The Canucks skate in Thursday night with 57 points. That’s good for a six-point lead on the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific. Only the Winnipeg Jets have more points (58) in the NHL.

Former Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is the president of hockey operations there now. Former Penguin Rick Tocchet is the head coach. Their team has won three in a row and seven of its last 10. Pittsburgh Hornets alum J.T. Miller has 55 points to lead the team. That’s sixth-best in the NHL. Brock Boeser’s 25 goals are the most on the club, fifth-best in hockey and six off the league lead of 31 from Toronto’s Auston Matthews.

After Vancouver and Carolina, the Penguins host Seattle on Monday, then they head west to visit Vegas on Jan. 20, and they are in Arizona on Jan. 22.