First Call: Terry Bradshaw praises Ben Roethlisberger, offers thoughts on Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers and Mason Rudolph's outlook

Terry Bradshaw praises Ben Roethlisberger, shares his thoughts on the idea of Aaron Rodgers going to the Pittsburgh Steelers and has opinions on Mason Rudolph.

Could the Steelers reunite with former offensive line coach Mike Munchak?

An ex-Penguin is making his presence felt in Seattle. Two former Pitt stars are heading to the Super Bowl. And more college hockey teams are taking advantage of the Hunt Armory.

All that in Monday’s “First Call.”

Bradshaw on Ben

Terry Bradshaw’s relationship with Ben Roethlisberger could be described as rocky over the years. At best.

During an appearance on Rich Eisen’s show last week, Bradshaw said that a bond with his fellow former Steelers quarterback has never really been forged.

But as Roethlisberger fades into retirement, Bradshaw showered him with quite a compliment.

“Listen, before they just beat the snot out of him, there was none better. I would have taken him over any quarterback in the league and that includes the guy down in Tampa Bay,” Bradshaw said of Roethlisberger and Tom Brady. “The young man in Tampa Bay has been very blessed and fortunate to have been surrounded with talent and talent and talent. Ben came in and they all went out and the offensive line got old, got bad and he got the heck beat out of him for the last three years. And we all know he stands in there and takes a beating.”

Bradshaw added that he doesn’t think the answer to replace Roethlisberger is currently on the roster, doubting Mason Rudolph’s potential to properly take the job. He also said that Aaron Rodgers would probably prefer to go to a different team besides Pittsburgh. It’s Bradshaw’s opinion that the Steelers are in too much of a rebuilding process to entice him to leave Green Bay for Heinz Field.

More Munch?

Might we see the Steelers reunite with Mike Munchak? In theory, it’s possible.

The former Steelers offensive line coach may be in the market for a new job. And the Steelers haven’t formally replaced Adrian Klemm, who departed for that same role at the University of Oregon prior to the end of the season.

Munchak had been the offensive line coach in Denver on Vic Fangio’s staff. He departed Pittsburgh for the rocky Mountains after the 2018 season. Fangio was fired after this season ended, and he has been replaced by former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

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Munchak’s stated reason for heading to Denver was to be closer to his daughter and grandchild who live in that area. So he may not be inclined to come back to Pittsburgh even if he isn’t retained by Hackett.

The Steelers would definitely be wise to inquire if Munchak may want to come back, though.

Assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan finished out the season on an interim basis once Klemm left. But he hasn’t been formally given the job full time.

Pitt imprint

Fomer Pitt star Aaron Donald helped send the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The Penn Hills alum harassed San Francisco 49ers quarter back Jimmy Garoppolo into an interception that closed out the NFC Championship game.

THE PRESSURE! THE PICK!

???? @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/dqUUexZEIn

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 31, 2022

The Rams won 20-17. When Donald is on the field in two weeks for the big game, he’ll see another WPIAL product and fellow Pitt Panther on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Clairton’s Tyler Boyd will be playing wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Boyd pic.twitter.com/TAh2juRO5m

— Mark Slaughter (@MarkVSlaughter) January 30, 2022

Boyd had four catches for 19 yards as the Bengals upset the Chiefs in Kansas City 27-24 in overtime to win the AFC title. As our Chris Harlan points out, both Boyd and Donald were #Trib25 players in high school.

This is Boyd’s first Super Bowl trip. Donald was part of the Rams Super Bowl LIII team that lost to the New England Patriots. With the game on their home field, the Rams opened as 3.5-point favorites, according to BetRivers.com.

McCann can

Penguins fans saw plenty of Jared McCann Thursday night with the Seattle Kraken.

The former Penguins forward scored the Kraken’s game-tying goal in Thursday’s 2-1 Seattle victory at PPG Paints Arena.

revenge goal courtesy of canner! pic.twitter.com/BUNbPCPhbV

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 28, 2022

McCann stayed hot in the Kraken’s next game against the New York Rangers on Sunday. He scored again and had an assist.

???? CANNER STAYS HOT! ???? pic.twitter.com/ToIpNDbX84

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 30, 2022

McCann now has goals in three straight games. He has a career-high 18 on the season. McCann never exceeded 14 goals in over two and half seasons in Pittsburgh.

However, the Rangers won 3-2. They are in second place of the Metropolitan Division with 62 points. That’s a point in front of the third-place Penguins and two points behind division-leading Carolina.

Feels familiar

Pittsburgh’s “City Game” may be a thing of the past for men’s basketball. But it’s still happening in men’s hockey.

The Pitt and Duquesne ACHA teams are playing each other at the Hunt Armory in Shadyside on Monday night. It’s now being dubbed “The Armory Game.” Faceoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Both teams are in College Hockey Mid America. Pitt is 10-0-1 in conference play and 15-3-1 overall. The Panthers are ranked 14th in the ACHA. Duquesne is 2-7-1.

Chatham’s men’s team played the first college game at the Armory on Jan. 14. Both the men’s and women’s teams have future games scheduled there.

In November, the Pittsburgh Penguins, City of Pittsburgh and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh cut the ribbon on the redeveloped landmark as a seasonal ice rink. It’s the first new sheet of ice within the city in over 20 years.

The Penguins are hoping to grow the college game in Pittsburgh and have stated that the Armory could be a facility to help with that cause.