First Call: Steelers touted as potential new team for Aaron Rodgers, ‘Duck’ Hodges flies west, Super Bowl odds

Monday’s “First Call” gives us a dream scenario for the Steelers quarterback situation.

Well, a pipe dream anyway.

Speaking of Steelers quarterbacks, Devlin “Duck” Hodges has signed with another NFL team.

We also look at some Pitt and Steelers connections to the Super Bowl.

Plus, we give you the early gambling line on the big game.

Another Mr. ‘Rodgers’ in Pittsburgh?

Pfft! All these quarterbacks potentially moving teams! Matt Stafford, Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold.

The Steelers have only been on the fringes of a few of those discussions. At best.

But Aaron Rodgers? Sure. Let’s just cannonball off the high dive instead of wading into the shallow end of the pool.

The likely NFL MVP was eliminated from the playoffs Sunday as his Green Bay Packers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game 31-26.

Via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, Rodgers sounded like a quarterback who wasn’t sure he’d be back with the Packers next year.

Aaron Rodgers said there are a lot of uncertain futures – "myself included." It's clear even he isn't sure whether he will get another shot to do this with the Packers. https://t.co/hAA4pzjpno pic.twitter.com/uKbW8SAvwj

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) January 25, 2021

Green Bay Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman of The Athletic echoed that sentiment.

Aaron Rodgers, more than any athlete on planet Earth, knows exactly what he's saying with every word. He has a purpose with every syllable he says.

He said he's uncertain about his future.

He wouldn't say that if he fully felt he'd be the QB here next season. End of story.

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) January 25, 2021

Rodgers is under contract through 2023. But Green Bay drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the first round last spring. And Rodgers’ cap number next year is over $39.8 million. It’s at $28.3 million in 2023.

If Rodgers moves, ProFootballTalk lists Pittsburgh as one of the favorites to acquire him.

Top potential Aaron Rodgers destinations in 2021: 49ers, Patriots, Steelers, Raiders, Colts, Saints.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 25, 2021

Of course, that would require the release or trade of Ben Roethlisberger for that to happen. And the Steelers have been listed as long shots for all of those other quarterbacks if they get moved.

Perhaps ProFootballTalk is assuming the Steelers won’t move on from Roethlisberger for one of those candidates, but they may do it for Rodgers.

I would.

Killer Bs in the big game

Former Steelers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell will both be on rosters for Super Bowl LV next week. Bell with the Kansas City Chiefs. Brown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So expect that to be referenced a few hundred times between now and kickoff a week from Sunday.

But will either of them actually play in the game? And if so, how much will they impact the result?

A knee injury for Bell made him inactive for the AFC Championship Game Sunday against Buffalo. And Brown was also inactive with a knee problem Sunday in Green Bay for the NFC Championship.

Brown had a huge game in Week 17, catching 11 balls for 138 yards and two touchdowns. But he only has three catches in the postseason, thanks in part to being slowed by that knee problem during last week’s win in New Orleans.

As for Bell, his biggest output since being traded to Kansas City was 15 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 20.

That’s not where the local ties stop.

There will be a strong western PA flavor to Super Bowl LV. Woodland Hills’ Rob Gronkowski and South Fayette’s Justin Watson joins other players on both teams with ties to the region.#WTAE pic.twitter.com/ZKmfoVdgxp

— Andrew Stockey (@astockeyWTAE) January 25, 2021

By the way, the odds for the Super Bowl are out. The Action Network has Kansas City listed as -3.5 point favorite. The over-under is set at 57.5

What’s up with Whitehead?

Another former Panther with the Bucs is safety Jordan Whitehead.

He made a huge play against the Packers, jarring a fumble away from running back Aaron Jones.

Another turnover for the Bucs defense.

Whitehead and White combine on the fumble recovery. #GoBucs #NFLPlayoffs

: #TBvsGB on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/cHuzDq5flQ pic.twitter.com/XhkveJAbAt

— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2021

That was on the first play of the third quarter. And Tom Brady threw a touchdown pass to Cameron Brate on the next snap. But Whitehead had to leave the game shortly thereafter. We’ll see how he recovers with two weeks off before the Super Bowl.

The Bucs also had to play that game without their other starting safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Beverly Hills Hodges

The Duck is flying west for the winter.

And next summer for training camp, it would appear.

According to the Twitter account of Devlin “Duck” Hodges, the former Steelers quarterback has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams.

Excited for the opportunity to sign and be apart of the @RamsNFL! I’ve been to LA before 😉 let’s get it! pic.twitter.com/2gqGDNhcuo

— Devlin Hodges (@DevlinHodges10) January 24, 2021

Hodges made his first NFL start in L.A. against the Chargers last year, a 24-17 Steelers victory. The story of “Duck” hit a high point in 2019 when he helped the Steelers overcome the loss of Ben Roethlisberger by aiding the team to four victories while flip-flopping starting duties with Mason Rudolph.

But he and the rest of the team faded with losses over the last three weeks. Hodges was kept by the franchise as a fourth quarterback in 2020. He didn’t see the field in a game. His contract wasn’t renewed after the season.