First Call: Time for Ben Roethlisberger to 'ride off into the sunset'? Former Steelers teammate says '100%'

A prediction on Ben Roethlisberger’s future from a former Steelers teammate.

Also, a Pittsburgh-area product has a big night in the NHL. The Baltimore Ravens are losing an assistant coach. And the Duquesne Dukes may have a freshman star on their hands.

All that in a well-balanced football-basketball-hockey “First Call” for Thursday morning.

Ike says it’s time

On 93.7 The Fan’s “PM Team” on Wednesday, host Andrew Fillipponi asked former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor if it is time for Ben Roethlisberger “to ride off into the sunset.”

“One hundred percent,” Taylor immediately replied. “It’s the mobility part. If you look at the three quarterbacks in the AFC North, they are young. They are mobile. They’ve got playoff experience.”

Well, Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Baker Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) do. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) doesn’t. But continue, Ike.

“Seven has done enough. He has had a heck of a run. It’s the mobility part,” Taylor said.

That said, Taylor expects Roethlisberger to play out the final year of his contract in Pittsburgh.

“They’re gonna let Ben rock out till he wants to rock out,” Taylor continued. “You know the Steelers, they’re loyal.”

Taylor says his concern is that the Steelers are delaying the clock on starting a “three-year” timetable for a new quarterback to get up to speed. And with those other three QBs in the Steelers’ division, he sees the AFC North as a potential big problem for the Black and Gold.

Raven leaves the nest

The Baltimore Ravens are losing an assistant coach.

The NFL Network reports that the Houston Texans are planning to hire David Culley as their new head coach. It’s the last NFL head coaching vacancy that needed to be filled.

Culley has been the Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach, as well as the passing coordinator and wide receivers coach, the past two seasons.

Miller time

Coraopolis product J.T. Miller had a pair of goals for the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators.

Petey with the drop pass to Hughes, who slides it over to Miller for the one-timer! ?? pic.twitter.com/3pJ3moqXDN

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 28, 2021

#passittoMiller ??__ pic.twitter.com/eKcAIuLq0s

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 28, 2021

The Pittsburgh Hornet alumnus had yet to score this season before potting those two as the Canucks blew by the Ottawa Senators 5-1.

And before you ask, no. Matt Murray wasn’t in goal for the Senators. Marcus Hogberg was between the pipes for Ottawa. Murray was given the night off after allowing seven goals to Vancouver on Monday.

Baker is ballin’

Duquesne’s Chad Baker picked up where he left off last week.

The freshman swingman was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. Then on Wednesday night, Baker hit seven 3-pointers en route to a game-high 23 points as the Dukes routed Fordham 86-62.

Chad Baker ???#GoDukes | #A10MBB pic.twitter.com/Zr8pafy6SP

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) January 28, 2021

The 24-point margin of victory is Duquesne’s largest ever in an Atlantic 10 road game.

Last Wednesday, he scored a game-high 19 points to help the Dukes rally from a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Rhode Island. Baker went 6 of 7 from the field — including 5 of 5 from the 3-point arc — as the Dukes stormed back to win 71-69.

Duquesne hosts St. Joseph’s on Saturday night at La Roche.