Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at the odds of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We search for an update on defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt. Another defensive coordinator candidate is interviewing with the Steelers for Keith Butler’s old job.

A look at Pitt versus Syracuse. And a positive amidst some struggles for Duquesne basketball.

How does it look?

For Steelers fans who want Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to come to Pittsburgh, at least one gambling outlet likes your chances.

But not as much as those of one AFC competitor.

BetOnline.ag set the odds on whether or not Rodgers will be on the Packers Week 1 of the 2022 regular season. The organization sounds like it is preparing to bring him back. But the payout is set at minus-225 (4/9) that he won’t be back in Wisconsin and +160 (8/5) that he will be. So those making the odds no longer seem to think the gambling public believes Rodgers is going to be able to work things out in Green Bay.

They also don’t think he is retiring. Retirement is paying out at +700 (7/1). Whereas continuing play is at a hefty minus-2000 (1/20).

In terms of where else he may go, the Denver Broncos are the favorites at 5/2, with the Steelers next in line at 7/2 and the Miami Dolphins in third at 9/2.

The Philadelphia Eagles (11/2), the Cleveland Browns (15/2) and the Las Vegas Raiders are also within hailing distance at 9/1.

If it is one of those three teams that means Jalen Hurts (PHI), Baker Mayfield (CLE) or Derek Carr (LV) would be looking for new jobs if their franchise acquires Rodgers.

I could see the Steelers making a run at Carr, maybe even if Rodgers doesn’t go to Vegas and Carr is made available via trade. But Hurts and Mayfield strike me as long shots.

I’ve long been of the opinion the Steelers should approach the Packers and see what the asking price is on Rodgers and be a serious bidder for his services. But I’m with these odds, Denver has always been my prediction of where Rodgers will end up if he leaves Green Bay.

Moving beyond Butz

The Steelers aren’t done with their defensive coordinator search just yet.

Despite speculation that the decision to promote secondary coach Teryl Austin as a replacement for Keith Butler is a done deal, the Steelers are continuing to look at other options.

On Sunday, we learned the team is talking to New York Giants coordinator Patrick Graham. Now the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the franchise is talking to New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

The #Steelers have requested to interview #Saints DBs coach Kris Richard for their vacant defensive coordinator opening, source said. The former #Seahawks DC gets another chance after impressing in New Orleans.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2022

Richard joined the Saints staff a year ago after being out of the league in 2020. He was Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2015-17, assuming that position when Dan Quinn left to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

From there, Richard went to the Dallas Cowboys as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for two seasons.

Time for Tuitt?

Meanwhile, Butler told 93.7 The Fan on Monday that he’s unsure when defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt may be back in uniform for the Steelers.

Tuitt missed all of 2021 after dealing with a knee injury and the loss of his brother who was killed in a hit and run incident in June.

“I really don’t know,” Butler said regarding a return for Tuitt. “That’s going to be up to (Art) Rooney III. I have no idea. I don’t know where he is set mentally. That’s something very private. We didn’t know a whole lot about (it). We just took it for granted that the thing that happened to him and his family was very hard on him and he struggled with it. I hope he comes back for the team. I don’t know if he will.”

Tuitt is under contract for the Steelers next year for a $13.9 million cap hit.

Sour Oranges

Pitt won’t be the only struggling team on the Petersen Events Center court Tuesday night. The visiting club is as well.

The Syracuse Orange come in at 9-10 (3-5 ACC), the first time Syracuse has been under .500 this late in a season since 1968-69.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are 7-12 (2-6 ACC).

Syracuse has lost two of its last three games since beating Pitt 77-61 on Jan. 11. The Panthers have dropped two of three since then as well.

The Orange will also be without reserve guard Symir Torrence. The Marquette transfer was injured versus the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. Torrence has been providing bench minute relief for starting guards Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard.

Prime Primo

It’s been tough sledding of late for the Duquesne Dukes men’s basketball team.

They lost to Fordham 72-71 on Jan. 12, then to Dayton 72-52 on Jan. 15, and St. Bonaventure 64-56 Friday night.

But freshman guard Primo Spears garnered some recent recognition. Spears has been named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the second time this season for his performance in Duquesne’s loss against St. Bonaventure last week.

The freshman guard was 7 of 13 from the field (2 of 3 from 3-point range) and added six assists with just one turnover in 35 minutes of action against the Bonnies.

Defensively, Spears helped limit SBU Player of the Year candidate Kyle Lofton to just three points on 1 of 7 shooting.

Duquesne (6-10, 1-3) plays at Saint Joseph’s on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.

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