First Call: Steelers suggested as landing spot for veteran linebacker; Joey Porter discusses Pittsburgh drafting son

Wednesday’s “First Call” takes us inside Joey Porter’s emotions as the Pittsburgh Steelers waited to draft his son. A familiar name is linked to the Steelers in free agency. And the team is giving the once-over to another XFL standout.

In baseball, a former Pirate is struggling with his new team, and a Buccos draft choice is thriving in Altoona.

Keeping quiet

Former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter insists his old team never gave him a clue that the franchise was going to draft his son with the first pick on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

That eventually happened as Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was selected by the Steelers with pick No. 32.

“I wanted it to be the Steelers so bad for him,” Porter Sr. told Steelers.com. “But they did such a good job of not letting us know. I have over 50 friends in that building that know me personally, and I got nothing from anybody to say, ‘Man, be ready, it’s coming,’ or anything. We wanted it. Trust me, that’s what we wanted. But we just didn’t feel like we could say for sure that’s what it was going to be.”

There’s good reason for that, I’m sure the Steelers weren’t 100% certain that was going to happen. They were apparently fielding phone calls about trading the pick even as the clock was ready to count down to open the Friday night selection process.

But, in the end, Porter Jr.’s name was called, and his father is basking in the result.

“It made the emotions even better not knowing,” said Porter Jr. “Just to have us by the string, we really didn’t know. When we got the phone call, it surprised everybody, and everybody was happy. The emotions were a 10. They did a great job of holding it in and not letting anybody know because without that, our emotions wouldn’t be so real. It was just such a great moment.”

Hopefully, Porter Jr. can prove worthy of starting opposite Patrick Peterson in the Steelers defense.

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Another run at it

If the Steelers are going to make one more splash during the offseason, some have suggested that it be signing free agent linebacker Kyle Van Noy.

Here’s a different suggestion. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus thinks the Steelers should make a run at former Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Rashaan Evans.

“The Steelers have rotated through a handful of former highly drafted off-ball linebackers over the past few seasons and follow a similar idea here with the 2018 first-rounder. Evans is coming off career highs with 1,104 snaps, 46 defensive stops and 110 tackles while missing only 7.3% of opportunities in 2022,” Spielberger wrote.

Before posting those numbers with the Falcons in 2022, Evans spent four years with the Tennessee Titans. Many thought the Steelers would take Evans out of Alabama in the 2018 draft at pick No. 28, but he ended up in Nashville at No. 22.

The Steelers wound up with Terrell Edmunds instead.

X marks the spot

The Steelers are welcoming another XFL standout to minicamp. This time it’s offensive lineman Mike Panasiuk from the St. Louis Battlehawks.

That’s according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Panasiuk was an All-XFL center.

#Steelers invited All @XFLBattlehawks center Mike Panasiuk to their minicamp. XFL players eligible to sign with NFL teams May 15.

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 9, 2023

Panasiuk had a tryout with the Steelers back in January. He was previously with the Carolina Panthers after converting from the defensive side of the ball in college with Michigan State.

The Steelers are also inviting Panasiuk’s St. Louis teammate Hakeem Butler. He led the league with eight touchdown receptions. XFL offensive tackle Chidi Okeke is also attending the camp.

Oh, Henry

As the Pirates were losing for the eighth time in nine games, their double-A team is making headlines in Altoona.

Well, at least one player is. It’s former top overall draft choice Henry Davis. The catcher/DH had three hits Tuesday, en route to a 12-6 Curve loss versus the Akron Rubber Ducks. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was in attendance for that game.

This is your weekly @henrydavis32 moonshot tweet! Please react accordingly... pic.twitter.com/2ZfqrUXZjR

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 9, 2023

Another 2-homer game for @henrydavis32! pic.twitter.com/FdlATfE6sO

— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 10, 2023

That’s eight on the season for the former Louisville standout. Davis’ batting average is now .316, and his OPS is 1.175.

Oh no, J’Mo

Former Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon is struggling with the Chicago Cubs. After two decent seasons in the Bronx with the New York Yankees, Taillon signed a four-year, $68 million contract with the Cubs in advance of 2023.

Taillon began the year with an early season groin injury back in April. Now he is sporting an ERA of 6.41. That’s because he was knocked around Tuesday by the National Central cellar-dwelling St. Louis Cardinals.

The 31-year-old right-hander gave up four earned runs and five hits along with two walks as St. Louis won the divisional showdown 6-4.

Taillon is now winless in five starts.