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About an hour ago
Want to know the odds of Deshaun Watson ending up with the Steelers? We know it.
We also have NFL salary cap projections. Happy return for Joe Musgrove. And a hockey update from Robert Morris.
All this in Wednesday’s “first call”.
Watson Watch
Pittsburgh Sports Radio is picking up steam when it comes to discussing the prospect of the Steelers negotiating for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Can anyone explain to me why it is a bad idea to start a Steelers-DeShaun Watson trade? “The Steelers would never do it!” Based on what? A 25 year QB franchise has never been made available before. There is no precedent! Watson has a low cap hit in 2021. So $ is not a problem.
– Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 19, 2021
Big Ben 2021 cap reached: $ 41 million
Cap reached for Deshaun Watson 2021: $ 16 million
Cut the Big Ben 2021 cap: $ 22 million
Swap for Watson, lower Ben’s total cap in 2021: $ 38 millionThe Steelers would be better placed to negotiate for Watson than to keep Big Ben!
– Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 17, 2021
Watson is not happy with the property in Houston, and word is he might ask for a trade.
How do people on the outside see the prospect of Watson arriving in Pittsburgh? Well, Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr has ranked the Steelers the fourth most likely destination for Watson if traded. He thinks the New York Jets are the most likely landing point. Followed by the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins.
Other media are less optimistic about Pittsburgh’s chances. Athletic’s Mike Sando didn’t have Pittsburgh in the top five of potential teams likely to take on the reigning NFL passing yard leader. But he agreed with Orr’s assessment that the Jets were the lead contender, and he also had Miami and San Francisco in the mix.
As for the punters, they aren’t too excited about the Steelers’ chances of making this trade a success. BetOnline.Ag puts the odds at 20/1 for Pittsburgh as Watson’s likely new home – if he is traded at all. Seventeen teams are ahead of the Steelers.
In case you’re curious – as I was – the Patriots are 9/1. I see it as good value for money.
Help me. But not much
As we all know, the Steelers face a salary cap issue.
In fact, every team is going to feel a pinch. According to ProFootballTalk, thanks in large part to covid-19, the league expects the 2021 maximum count to reach around $ 180 million per franchise (up from $ 198.2 million in 2020). Teams like the Steelers were going to be in trouble even if the cap went up a bit because they have a great free agent class. So this is bad news.
But it could be worse. The league and the NFLPA have previously said the salary cap could drop as low as $ 175 million. That would be a drop of $ 23.2 million per club.
As PFT reports, “A lot of owners … don’t want to delay the full impact of the 2020 losses. They see it as an interest-free loan to players. And that mentality would bring the final figure closer to $ 175 million. ”
Good for joe
Former Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove has never been an equal return for Gerrit Cole. No one other than the Pirates acquired from Houston as part of this deal.
But Musgrove was always a good guy when he was in Pittsburgh. He’s always played hard and had a positive outlook despite a lot of losses for the franchise during his three years here.
So it’s nice to see him so happy with the business that sent him back to his hometown of San Diego Padres.
Joe Musgrove was asked about his father’s reaction when he learned his son had been traded to the Padres: pic.twitter.com/6KrlQSgIWN
– 97.3 The Fan (@ 973TheFanSD) January 20, 2021
It’s especially nice because his dad – who has serious health issues – will now have an easier time watching him play.
Joe Musgrove isn’t the only one thrilled to be back in his hometown with the @Parents, his family is waiting for him too.#FSSD | @ ItsbuccnJoe59 pic.twitter.com/OrCeRHgGSS
– Fox Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) January 20, 2021
There was also a homecoming in the other direction in the context of trade. San Diego returns right-hander David Bednar in the Pittsburgh area. He’s from Mars, Pa.
They also received outfielder Hudson Head and pitchers Omar Cruz and Drake Fellows from the Padres. Receiver Endy Rodriguez came from the Mets as part of the three-way trade.
‘All the good things…’
The 17theThe ranked Robert Morris hockey team picked up a point on Tuesday night in Erie. But their winning streak ended at six.
The Colonials lost 3-2 in overtime to Mercyhurst. The Lakers won a game against Georgi Feduolov with the 34 seconds remaining in the extra session.
Here is your OT goal! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/CGjHJ7JrLz
– Mercyhurst Men’s Hockey (@HurstMensHockey) January 20, 2021
Nick Lalonde and Cameron Hebert scored in the defeat of the Colonials. Derek Schooley’s club will next play at RIT in Rochester on Saturday night. Then they will face Mercyhurst again in a home and home series next Friday (January 29) on the road and Saturday (January 30) at the Island Sports Center.
Tim Benz is a writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
Categories:
Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz
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