First Call: Steven Nelson says pay cut was never in play with Steelers; Triple H on idea of Ben Roethlisberger joining WWE

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us some answers about Steelers free agency from former cornerback Steven Nelson. A former WWE star kicks around the idea of a guest spot with Ben Roethlisberger. Ex-Steelers are being considered for the team’s Hall of Honor. And the NHL’s East Division continues to be constantly confusing.

How confusing? The Buffalo Sabres are actually winning!

Yeah. I know. I can’t believe it either.

Nothing held back by Nelson

Former Steelers quarterback Steven Nelson went on “Movin’ the Chains” with Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan on SiriusXM Radio on Tuesday. And he didn’t mince words about how he was let go by the Steelers last month.

“It was either trade or release,” Nelson said. “So I was pretty much in a bad spot.”

Free Agent CB Steve Nelson came on to clear the air about what happened in Pittsburgh that led to his release and how many suitors he has now.

"It was either a trade or release"

Take a listen ? pic.twitter.com/qio4zApGrH

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 6, 2021

Nelson made it sound like the Steelers never approached him with the option to lower his salary cap number with an extension or take a pay cut.

“The Steelers wanted to move a different way and thought I was, I guess, expendable, in my prime via trade,” Nelson said with a laugh. “It came down to me being traded, or being released, and I just want to make it very clear, to those out there who might not know — or assuming — that there was never a discussion with me being able to take a pay cut. I was never even given that opportunity to take a pay cut.”

Nelson also said he felt like he deserved a new deal because he outperformed the three-year, $25.5 million contract signed prior to the 2019 season when he left the Kansas City Chiefs to come to Pittsburgh.

“I felt — and also my agent felt — that we were due an extension due to the fact that I had outplayed my current contract for the past two years,” Nelson said. “Given where the corner market is, there were a lot of high cap numbers on the team going into the offseason. Everybody can put two-and-two together. Somebody like myself, in my prime, would’ve thought to help that situation —(that) an extension would at least be at the front of the line for discussion. But it clearly didn’t go that way for whatever reason.”

Nelson wouldn’t say which teams reached out to him, but he claims somewhere between 10-15 franchises have been in contact. But he said the cap numbers have been hard to figure out and finding a team that is a fit has been challenging.

The Steelers have yet to comment on any of their free agent moves and sometimes don’t until their pre-draft press conference.

Triple H on ‘Big Ben’ and the WWE

Pro wrestling star and WWE vice president Triple H was on Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” podcast Monday. He’s friends with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and was asked (at 1:01:11 of the link above) if we might see Big Ben get in the ring and “take a few bumps.”

Triple H didn’t say “no.”

Don’t get excited, Steelers fans. He didn’t exactly say “yes” either.

“Ben is tough, dude,” Triple H said. “He is one of those guys that’s played some seasons pretty banged up and just keeps rolling.”

But Triple H never got any more specific than that, simply saying that he and Roethlisberger don’t talk about wrestling and football very much when they do interact.

Roethlisberger was in the ring with his offensive linemen once back in 2009. But you knew that had to be a work, because the gag was that Roethlisberger was going to run a quarterback sneak at The Big Show.

And we all know, Big Ben would never run a QB sneak in real life.

News from the ‘90s

Over at Steelers.com, they are taking nominations for the Hall of Honor.

Stan Savran and former Steelers running back Merril Hoge revealed three players up for consideration from the 1990s category. And they all seem very worthy members of the “Blitzburgh” defense.

They are defensive back Carnell Lake, inside linebacker Levon Kirkland and outside linebacker Jason Gildon.

Kirkland was a two-time All-Pro and member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team from the ‘90s. Lake was also an All-Pro, a member of the All-Decade team and a part of the Steelers All-Time Team.

Gildon was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. He also set the franchise sack record at 77.5 before it was eventually broken at 80.5 by James Harrison. Although all three of his Pro Bowls and 40.5 of his sacks were in the 2000s.

Regardless, I’d argue all three men belong in the Hall of Honor. Others who played primarily in the 1990s who have already been inducted include Rod Woodson, Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, Dermontti Dawson and head coach Bill Cowher.

And Jerome Bettis who played in Pittsburgh between 1996-2005.

Around the beat down

As the Penguins were getting squished by the New York Rangers 8-4 Tuesday night, all the other East Division teams were in action.

At the top of the standings, the New York Islanders shut out the Washington Capitals 1-0. Brock Nelson got the lone goal.

? Another look at Brock's GWG! ? pic.twitter.com/xs9tomDQ2r

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 7, 2021

The victory pulled the Islanders into a virtual tie with the Caps in first place at 54 points each with the same amount of games played and one extra ROW victory (23-22) for Washington.

The Penguins are in third with 50 points.

In the battle for fourth place, the Boston Bruins doubled up the Flyers 4-2 in Philadelphia. So they firmed up their hold on the division’s final playoff spot with 46 points.

Given the two points picked up by the Rangers against the Penguins, that means that Philly and New York are now tied at 41 points apiece in fifth place after 38 games each. In fact, the Rangers have the tiebreaker with three additional wins in regulation.

And, don’t look now, but the Buffalo Sabres suddenly aren’t quite as horrible as they used to be. They beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 Tuesday night. That’s three wins in the last four tries for the Sabres. They were able to grab at least one point in five consecutive games after losing 18 in a row.