First Call: Steelers sparse on NFL.com list of top free agents; Aaron Rodgers update; ticket prices for Coach K's finale

Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us an apparent lack of appetite for Pittsburgh Steelers free agents. We try to figure out Aaron Rodgers’ future in Green Bay. A tough anniversary for Pittsburgh to celebrate on behalf of Sidney Crosby. And the ticket prices for Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell game at Cameron Indoor Stadium will make your eyes pop.

What’s that tell you?

As free agency approaches on March 16, the available talent pool will be flooded with top-rated players from all over the NFL.

Well, except from the Steelers apparently.

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal compiled the NFL.com list of the top 101 available free agents in the league this offseason. And the only Steeler on the list is wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster at No. 43.

The evaluation of Smith-Schuster wasn’t exactly glowing.

“Yes, that 1,400-yard season (2018) feels like a distant memory. JuJu will probably have to build up his value on a one-year deal with a functioning offense. Hint: Don’t turn down Patrick Mahomes again,” Rosenthal said.

That reference about Mahomes was harkening back to the Chiefs’ alleged offer to sign Smith-Schuster when he was a free agent last year, but he claimed that he wanted to stay with the Steelers instead for 2021.

It didn’t go so well. Smith-Schuster played just five games before injuring his shoulder. He sat out the remainder of the regular season before returning for the playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, catching five passes for 26 yards. Smith-Schuster wound up with just 15 catches for 126 yards and no touchdowns in 2021.

That doesn’t say much for other Steelers free agents such as James Washington, Terrell Edmunds, Joe Haden, Ray-Ray McCloud and Chuks Okorafor.

Like Smith-Shuster, the top two players on the NFL.com board are receivers — Green Bay’s Davante Adams and Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin.

Ex-Steelers running back James Conner is No. 60 after a very good 2021 season with the Arizona Cardinals that featured 18 total touchdowns.

Price of cheese?

We still don’t know what Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants to do in 2022.

Does he want to retire? If he does play, does he want to remain in Green Bay? If he decides to leave Wisconsin, might he want to come to Pittsburgh?

The reigning NFL MVP has yet to answer any of these questions, and free agency starts March 16. Rodgers is currently under contract for $46.6 million against the salary cap next year. So, if the Packers and Rodgers decide they want to remain in business together, they’ll likely want to restructure his contract. Or they may be forced to trade Rodgers to a mutually acceptable destination.

According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, there is progress toward a restructured, short-term contract.

“Nothing is done, but they are having discussions,” Rapoport said on “NFL Total Access.” “They are having negotiations to have a deal, hopefully for them, ready to go if and when Aaron Rodgers firmly and finally decides that he wants to return.”

After a year of speculation that Rodgers may want to leave, since the end of the season there has been a growing belief that if the 38-year-old continues to play, he’ll remain with the Packers. Rapoport added that the reconfigured deal would still make Rodgers the highest-paid player in the NFL on a per-year basis.

Tough ticket

Pitt hosts Duke on Tuesday night. It will be the final game at the Petersen Events Center for retiring Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. His former assistant, Jeff Capel, will be on the opposing sideline.

If you are looking to get to Durham, N.C., for Krzyzewski’s final home game Saturday, get ready to pay up.

According to numbers illustrated by ESPN during Monday’s North Carolina-Syracuse game, the average low price on the secondary market for an individual ticket Saturday at Cameron Indoor Stadium was $2,900. They ranged to a high of $75,000. Yahoo found a range of prices anywhere from $5,392-$7,498 as an average low.

Krzyzewski’s fourth-ranked Blue Devils host North Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m. He has 1,195 wins, most in NCAA men’s basketball history. Plus, he won NCAA Tournament Championships in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015.

The game against the Tar Heels on Saturday will be the 97th Krzyzewski has coached against UNC. His record against the Tar Heels is 50-46, including an 87-67 win in Chapel Hill earlier this season.

Happy anniversary, Sid

Well, maybe not this one.

It takes a lot for Pittsburgh hockey fans to feel torn about a Sidney Crosby goal. But in this case, you could understand why.

Monday marked the 12th anniversary of Crosby’s “golden goal” in Vancouver to beat the American team 3-2 in overtime of the 2010 Olympic gold medal game.

Future Penguins teammate Jarome Iginla set up Crosby for that game winner. He and Iginla both had seven points during the tournament. Jonathan Toews led the team with eight.

Team USA claimed the silver medal. Finland won the bronze.