First Call: A different take on the Justin Fields-to-Pittsburgh talk; guess who almost became Steelers QB in the ‘90s?

A different consideration is being advanced about the prospect of the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for Justin Fields. A blast from the past reveals that he was almost a Steelers quarterback in the early 1990s.

The Penguins are preparing to renew acquaintances with their friends from Philadelphia. Some Robert Morris Colonials on the ice are getting postseason honors. And we look at the local college basketball calendar for the weekend.

All that in Friday’s “First Call.”

Something to consider

Here’s another angle to the chatter about quarterback Justin Fields potentially being traded to Pittsburgh from Chicago. It comes from NFL Network analyst Steve Wyche.

Earlier this week on “The NFL Report,” Wyche reminded us that the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator may not exactly be the biggest fan of Fields.

“This conversation about the Steelers continues to intrigue me because Arthur Smith, when he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he wanted no part of Justin Fields,” Wyche recalled. “He had the possibility to draft him (fourth overall in 2021). They took (tight end) Kyle Pitts. They bypassed Justin Fields.

“Why now, all of a sudden, would the head coach who designed the offense take a liking to Justin Fields?”

It’s a fair point. However, let me also point out that in 2022, Smith and the Falcons decided they wanted to draft a quarterback. But they passed on Kenny Pickett at pick No. 8, allowing the Steelers to select the Pitt alum 12 picks later. Atlanta took receiver Drake London instead. Smith didn’t take their QB until Desmond Ridder at No. 74 overall (Round 3).

So one could similarly conclude that Smith wasn’t highly enamored of Pickett and that he wasn’t willing to use a first-round pick on him in a year they wanted a quarterback.

Yet, the positive polish Smith put on Pickett in his Steelers.com interview a few weeks ago sure made it sound like Smith is leaning toward the belief that Pickett will be the starter in 2024.

Almost Everett

Here’s an interesting nugget from way back in time. Former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett says he almost became a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Appearing on the “Next on the Tee” golf podcast, Everett claimed that coach Bill Cowher tried to trade for him in 1991.

“I was almost a Pittsburgh Steeler. I was almost traded there, but my agent didn’t tell me,” Everett said via a Steelers Depot transcription. “In 1991, Cowher was trying to trade for me, and I didn’t find out about it until probably ‘98 after I retired.”

Everett’s timeline is at least a little bit off, as Cowher wasn’t named Steelers coach until Jan. 21, 1992. Perhaps what he is getting at is that the Steelers tried to acquire him before Cowher’s first season following the end of the 1991 campaign. That may make sense.

Neil O’Donnell ended up starting 12 games in Cowher’s first season, going 9-3. The Steelers won the AFC Central before falling in their first postseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

Everett would end up playing two more years with the Rams before relocating to New Orleans and San Diego. He’d throw for 16,054 yards, 91 touchdowns and 82 interceptions over his final six years. But he was never on a team that won more than seven games in a season with him under center.

Meanwhile, O’Donnell was a part of three division championships and one trip to the Super Bowl.

 

Rivalry renewed

Following their 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, the Penguins conclude their four-game homestand against their cross-state rivals from Philadelphia.

The Flyers are at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. start. While the Pens have lost five of seven, the Flyers have won five of seven. They sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division, 12 points behind the division-leading Rangers. Those two clubs battle Saturday afternoon in Philly.

The Flyers swept a home-and-home series in early December, winning the first game 4-3 in a shootout and the second game 2-1 in overtime. The Pens won the most recent contest 4-1 on Jan. 8 behind a goal and an assist from Evgeni Malkin.

An area where these two teams are similar is that they both have rotten power plays. The Pens are at 13.9%, 30th in the league. The Flyers are at 13.3%, 31st in the NHL. The teams also score the same rate, 2.91 goals per contest, tied for 24th in the NHL.