First Call: XFL TD reception leader to join Steelers' rookie camp; ex-Steeler with blunt words for Devin White

Thursday’s “First Call” introduces us to a new pass catching target with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the XFL. General manager Omar Khan reveals some details about trade discussions for the second-round pick that ended up being used on Joey Porter Jr.

A former Steeler has little sympathy for one of the players he is coaching in Tampa Bay. And the Pirates got some help in Colorado.

Hak attack?

The XFL has announced that one of its best pass catchers is going to get a look from the Steelers. The XFL tweeted that St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler is heading to Pittsburgh for rookie minicamp.

???? Hakeem Butler from the @XFLBattlehawks invited to @steelers camp#XFL | #LeagueOfOpportunity pic.twitter.com/LE0PQhmGpV

— XFL (@XFL2023) May 3, 2023

Butler is a big target, standing at 6-foot-5. He led the league with eight touchdown receptions. The Iowa State product is also second in receiving yards (599) and receptions (51). The Battlehawks were 7-3 this year and threw for more passing TDs (26) than any other team in the XFL thanks to former NFL quarterback A.J. McCarron.

A 2019 fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, Butler has already had lots of stops in the pro football world. From Arizona, he landed on the rosters of the Panthers, Eagles and two teams in the CFL (the Edmonton Elks and British Columbia Lions).

During his final year at Iowa State, Butler posted 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns.

Tempted, but not enough

How close did the Steelers come to trading away the top pick in the second round? Omar Khan said that was under significant consideration, but the decision was made to retain it so that the club could select Joey Porter Jr. out of Penn State.

“We had some good offers,” Khan told WDVE Wednesday. “They were strong and we considered them very hard. The draft started at 7 p.m. Friday. We were right at it. It was 6:55 and we were still communicating. But at the end of the day, we talked about it and we just didn’t want to trade away from Joey.”

One team that was likely in the mix was the Tennessee Titans. They eventually moved up to No. 33 after trading with the Arizona Cardinals. At the time, the Steelers were without a fourth-round pick because of the Broderick Jones trade.

If it’s any indication of what the Steelers may have gotten, Arizona got pick No. 41 (second round) and pick No. 72 (third round) and next year’s third-rounder from Tennessee in exchange for that 33rd pick and No. 81 (third round).

The Steelers eventually secured a fourth-round pick from Carolina in a trade back deal. The selection was turned into Nick Herbig (Wisconsin, OLB) at pick No. 132.

‘Champagne problems’

Ever since the 2019 draft, Steelers fans have bemoaned getting “the wrong Devin” at inside linebacker.

At pick No. 5 the Tampa Buccaneers took Devin White out of LSU. In 2020, he was a second-team All-Pro and helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl. He also made the Pro Bowl in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Steelers traded up to draft Devin Bush out of Michigan. He washed out after four years and signed with the Seattle Seahawks in March.

It hasn’t been all sunshine and daisies with White and the Tampa franchise, though. His play — particularly in coverage — has slipped to the point that Pro Football Focus graded him 74th out of 81 inside linebackers across the NFL last season.

White has also asked for a new long-term deal and hasn’t gotten one. Instead he’ll play 2023 on the fifth-year rookie contract option. Due to the contract stalemate, he’s not at team workouts this spring. His position coach, former Steeler Larry Foote, isn’t worried so much about White missing reps. But he’s not showing a lot of sympathy either.

“He’s not going to be the first and he’s not going to be the last, we know that,” Foote said via Fox Sports. “Like I told him: You’re getting paid $11 million this year. Those are champagne problems.”

Great to see Foote hasn’t changed a bit.

“You look now at the guaranteed money, and you know, he wants his money now. He’s got to understand, the organization, they’re preparing for next year, so you know, we’ve got to meet somewhere in the middle, however this is going to play out. They picked up his fifth-year ($11.7 million) option. (I was) seeing a lot of players, they don’t get that option. But it’s money. I understand that,” Foote continued.

White has asked for a trade. The Bucs aren’t planning to grant that request.

No damage done

The Pirates may be in a funk down in Tampa. But their lead isn’t shrinking atop the National League Central.

That’s because while they have dropped two in a row to the best team in Major League Baseball, one of MLB’s worst teams keeps beating the Milwaukee Brewers.

After a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies (11-20) on Tuesday, the second-place Brewers (18-12) dropped a 7-1 decision in Denver Wednesday night.

After getting two important hits for the Rockies Tuesday, former Pirate Elias Diaz was at it again Wednesday. He had two more hits, another RBI and this throw on a steal attempt.

On the money ???? pic.twitter.com/5X0fZH97FJ

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 4, 2023

At the plate Diaz is up to .337. Kris Bryant added a homer for the Rockies as well.

Fire up the fountains for this KBOOM ???? pic.twitter.com/tP3TezSNRU

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 4, 2023

The loss for the Brewers keeps them 1 ½ games back of the Pirates.