First Call: NFL schedule plans, Buccaneers reporter stands by Jameis Winston-Steelers story
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Tuesday’s “First Call” gives us the odds on new Steeler Chase Claypool winning offensive rookie of the year. The reporter who claims the Steelers offered Jameis Winston a contract isn’t changing his tune. And the NFL schedule could be a real mess if the season is pushed back because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Money where your mouth is
For those of you who think the Steelers got a steal in Round 2 of the NFL Draft, here’s a chance to call your shot.
The odds are out for NFL rookie of the year. And former Notre Dame receiver Chase Claypool is … well … down the list.
Via Oddsshark.com, Claypool is a +3500 longshot to bring that reward back to Pittsburgh. Some of the deepest odds on the board.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback — and top overall pick — Joe Burrow is the favorite at +250.
The Steelers passed on Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins. He went to the Baltimore Ravens instead. He’s at +1800.
Standing by his story
Nick Sitro writes for “Bucs Report.”
He’s the guy who reported that the Steelers offered former Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston more money to sign in Pittsburgh than he got in New Orleans.
Sitro insists Winston turned down the offer.
That report was met with — uh — skepticism from Steelers fans.
Me: John Snow
The horses: Steelers fans pic.twitter.com/NMY85YKOTn— Nick Sitro (@nicksitro) April 26, 2020
Read his Twitter feed. When it comes to responses from Pittsburgh, they are … aggressive.
Steelers fans apparently aren’t comfortable with the idea that anyone could turn down the glory of being Ben Roethlisberger’s clipboard holder to be another quarterback’s clipboard holder.
Even if that other quarterback is future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. In a dome. Closer to Winston’s home in Alabama. In the same division he used to call home with the Buccaneers.
Yeah, totally impossible, right?
Hey, I’m a bit dubious, too. Allegedly more money for, potentially, a better chance at more snaps based on Roethlisberger’s injury history and the lack of competition without Taysom Hill here? Sounds like a better deal to come to Pittsburgh.
But it’s not outlandish. And the reaction from Steelers fans — and media members — was a bit hysterical.
And Sitro stuck by his story on 93.7 The Fan Monday.
“I have a source connected to Jameis Winston that said the Steelers offered him a better deal,” Sitro said. “I’ve been following the Buccaneers for 10-15 years now. I know people that know Winston. And I have sources that have called the Gerald McCoy sources and other stories before that.”
The deal between Winston and the Saints isn’t done yet. But ProFootballTalk.com says to “expect it sooner than later.”
Speaking of the Saints
I know what you are thinking.
“Tim, I haven’t heard enough about Saints quarterbacks. Please tell us more.”
OK. I can do that.
This may interest Penn State fans. New Orleans drafted former Nittany Lion quarterback Tommy Stevens to play a hybrid role like Hill has done the past few seasons.
“He is a player we kind of followed throughout the full draft process,” head coach Sean Payton said via NewOrleansSaints.com. “We’ve seen him at quarterback and we’ve also seen him do a number of different things, kind of in that ‘F’ tight end role. We think he’s a real good athlete. We kind of have a vision that’ll start with quarterback, but a little bit much like Taysom’s.
“He’s athletic enough to play in the kicking game, he’s certainly someone that we feel like catches the ball exceptionally well, and he’s someone that I think is in a developmental role more as a quarterback. But we saw him do a number of things.”
Stevens played three seasons at Penn State after a redshirt year. He then transferred to Mississippi State. That’s where he finished his college career.
This could get complicated
What might happen if the NFL season gets delayed because of the covid-19 pandemic?
Buckle up. It gets complicated.
* A Super Bowl on Feb. 28.
* A regular season that starts in mid-Oct.
* No bye weeks.
* No Pro Bowl.
These are all contingencies the NFL has considered as it moves forward with plans to hold a full regular season. My story with @BenFischerSBJ. https://t.co/iS2mrp3aje— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) April 27, 2020
That’s from Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand. And he’s got a lot more information about how a season may go down if it starts late.
There are a series of contingencies. And it, at least, sounds like the Super Bowl would be played in front of fans. Otherwise, potentially moving its date with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission shouldn’t be an extremely difficult task if it is to be played in an empty building.
By late February. That would be about a year removed from when “coronavirus” became a word we unfortunately had to learn.
The NFL schedule is supposed to be released on May 9. But Ourand claims it may be published by May 7.