First Call: Steelers suggested as landing spot for Eagles LB; Cam Heyward advocates for return of Martavis Bryant to NFL

Thursday’s “First Call” has a free agent name to track at linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cam Heyward kicks around the idea of Martavis Bryant returning to the NFL. More hype for Oneil Cruz. We check in on the Islanders as the Penguins rest up for their game against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

And no one is watching the NBA All-Star game anymore.

I mean, no one.

Adding a name

In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we told you about ESPN.com’s top 50 list of NFL free agents and their “best fit” landing spot. They had Las Vegas cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (rated 34th) with Pittsburgh as his best potential new home.

Pro Football Focus agrees. That outlet projected a top 50 free agent list of its own, with predicted destinations. PFF places Ya-Sin (41st on its list) in Pittsburgh as well. Writers Arjun Menon and Brad Spielberger made that prediction in part because they are forecasting a departure of Cameron Sutton (23rd on the list) for Minnesota.

About Ya-Sin, PFF said, “The former second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts earned a 74.4 coverage grade lined up out wide over the past two seasons, which ranks 24th, and he allowed an explosive reception on just 0.9% of coverage snaps, which was the top mark across the entire NFL.”

The website also targeted Philadelphia linebacker T.J. Edwards (28th on the list) for the Steelers.

“While Pittsburgh does not traditionally spend much in free agency, they have departed a bit from that stance in recent offseasons, notably signing guard James Daniels, among others, last offseason. The price would have to be right here with Edwards coming off a very strong 2022 campaign, during which he posted career highs with 54 defensive stops, 11 quarterback pressures and eight pass breakups,” PFF said.

Spotrac’s projected contract for Edwards is four years, $47.9 million. That’s $11.9 million per year.

More from Martavis

Steelers Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is suggesting the time may be right for a return of wide receiver Martavis Bryant.

If not to the Steelers, at least to the NFL in general. And that goes for exiled receiver Josh Gordon too.

Both men currently play in the XFL. Bryant is with the Las Vegas Vipers. Gordon is a member of the Seattle Sea Dragons. Both received multiple suspensions during their time in the NFL, reportedly for (at least in part) marijuana use.

The NFL has since relaxed its marijuana policies in the collective bargaining agreement. So Heyward — the Steelers’ players rep — would like to see those players get another shot if they perform at the XFL level.

“You look at guys like Martavis Bryant, and you look at Josh Gordon, and you see that the rules of the NFL have changed,” Heyward said on his “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast. “If those things had changed before, those guys wouldn’t be out of the league. Those guys can play in the NFL. They’ve proven that. Let’s see if they can continue to do it, and they work their way back up.”

Bryant still hasn’t been reinstated by the league. That would have to happen before any NFL return. Gordon played in the NFL for two games with the Titans last season. He was released Oct. 17, 2022. He was not suspended but he did not make a significant impact on the field.

More sports

• Despite recent frustrating losses, Penguins' hot starts help build foundation
• Steelers sign long snapper Christian Kuntz to 1-year contract
• While games grow in intensity, Pitt's Jeff Capel seeks more of the same on defense

No surprise here

ESPN.com compiled a list of the most intriguing players on every Major League Baseball team.

To the surprise of no one, for the Pirates, it’s shortstop Oneil Cruz. I supposed you could’ve argued Bryan Reynolds, because how well he plays is intriguing since it could augment trade talks.

But in terms of raw talent, obviously, it’s Cruz. ESPN’s David Schoenfield agreed.

“He ranked in the 100th percentile in max exit velocity, 98th percentile in sprint speed and 97th percentile in arm strength. Alas, he was also in the first percentile in strikeout rate, so his range of outcomes is wide. Keep in mind that he’s not as young at 24 as some other recent stars,” Schoenfield said. “I think there’s hope he can lower that strikeout rate. In Triple-A, it was 22%, and studies have shown that major league rates eventually map pretty close to minor league rates. Cruz was at 34.9% as a rookie, so you want to see him get under 30% this year and eventually to 25%.”

Cruz says he’d like to put up a 40-home-run, 40-stolen-base season. That’s only been done four times in Major League history. As Schoenfield pointed out, the Pirates haven’t had a 40-home-run player in a season since 1973.

That bad?

I know very few people watch the NBA in Pittsburgh. What I didn’t know was how few people watched the NBA All-Star game nationally.

I mean, I assumed that. But I didn’t know for sure until I saw some numbers.

Yikes!

According to SportsMediaWatch.com, the NBA All-Star game just reached its smallest audience on record.

The website reports that the game’s broadcast “averaged a combined 2.2 rating and 4.59 million viewers across TNT and TBS, making it easily the lowest rated and least-watched edition of the game. The previous lows were a 3.1 (2021 and 2022) and 6.1 million (2021).”

SportsMediaWatch added, “Ratings declined 29% and viewership 27% from last year’s All-Star Game (3.1, 6.28M). While All-Star Game viewership has been trending down, this year’s declines are the steepest for the game since 2000 — the first All-Star Game after a one-year hiatus due to the 1998-99 NBA lockout.”

The numbers raise the question, if the players don’t care enough to play hard in the game, and the fans don’t care enough to watch it, then why have it?

Isles ground Jets

The New York Islanders defeated the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 at UBS Arena on Wednesday. Ilya Sorokin stopped 25 of 26 shots for New York. Simon Holmstrom scored the game-winner.

HOLMSTROM WITH THE BEAUTY. pic.twitter.com/moZJ5hrVN8

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 23, 2023

That boosts the Islanders point total to 67. They are in the Eastern Conference’s top wild card slot. The Florida Panthers currently own the second one with 64 points. Then it’s the Penguins with 63 points in ninth place.

The Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals have 62 points, right behind the Pens. Star winger Alex Ovechkin is back with the Caps after mourning the death of his father, Mikhail.

Ovechkin missed four games over the past week to fly to Moscow. He may get back to game action as soon as Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks. Sidney Crosby and company next play at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night against Hart Trophy favorite Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.