Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us about a former Pittsburgh Steeler who is about to be released. Another high-profile inside linebacker is available on the free agent market.

The Tom Brady speculation still won’t stop. But he’s not the only big-name NFL player being mentioned in the rumor mill.

And in hockey, Connor McDavid is back on track.

Bud looking to bloom again

Former Steeler Bud Dupree is about to be on the free agent market once again. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says that the Tennessee Titans are planning to release the outside linebacker.

The #Titans are expected to release pass-rusher Bud Dupree, sources say, the former big-ticket FA signing who was due $17M this season. More player turnover to reallocate resources, as another veteran pass-rusher hits the market.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2023

According to at least one report, Dupree tweeted (then deleted) a post suggesting he was less than thrilled to find out about that news on social media. The Steelers need depth at outside linebacker. As a result, many are wondering if a reunion in Pittsburgh would be possible with Dupree coming off the bench.

But that doesn’t seem likely to me. Dupree, who had to deal with injuries quite a bit when he was in Pittsburgh, hasn’t had much luck in that regard with Tennessee either. He missed six games in each of his two seasons in Nashville.

Speaking of the Titans, Michael Silver of Bally’s is reporting that star running back Derrick Henry may be on the trade block. And that’s not the only big name he mentioned.

“According to my sources — all of them current general managers — Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins are among the players who’ve been shopped in recent days,” Silver said.

Henry won the rushing title in 2019 and 2020. He finished second this year to Josh Jacobs. He has totaled 7,101 yards over the last five years.

While we are telling tales

Don’t let the NFL rumors stop there.

Upon returning from the NFL Combine, Rich Eisen of the NFL Network went on his radio show Monday and shared five hot rumors he heard at the event. One of them was that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady still might not be done with football and may un-retire a second time — this time coming back to the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.

Rich is back from Indianapolis and boy did he hear some things — his Top 5 Rumors Heard at #NFLCombine:

5. Philip Rivers4. #DaBears3. Lamar2. 1. #NFL #NFLFreeAgency #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/F08mMCAcGq

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) March 6, 2023

“The one place that folks are saying to keep an eye out for is Miami,” Eisen said. “If the Dolphins, somehow or some way get a doctor’s report or piece of information from a medical evaluation of Tua [Tagovailoa] that he may not be ready to go, and suddenly there’s Tom Brady sitting in Florida, where his family is located and where he can easily locate himself. Keep an eye on that, I was told by a couple of birdies at the Combine.”

Were those birdies from Miami, by any chance? Keep in mind, Miami was reportedly a potential target for Brady before he decided to retire after this season ended.

The Dolphins also reportedly met with Brady before his final season with the Patriots in 2019. That constituted a tampering violation and is part of the reason the Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick in 2023.

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Add another to the list

The free agent options at inside linebacker continue to grow for the Steelers. Erick Kendricks has been released by the Minnesota Vikings.

The 31-year-old Kendricks had 137 tackles last year and has been over 100 tackles each of the past seven seasons. The last three years, he has also defended 14 passes and has accounted for five interceptions.

The Vikings are going to save $9.5 million on their salary cap by releasing Kendricks. According to OverTheCap.com, as of Monday, they were approximately $24.4 million over the salary cap of $224.8 million. The Vikings have until March 15 at 4 p.m. to get under the cap.

During his time with the Vikings, Kendricks has been a Pro Bowler, a team captain and a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

With Devin Bush and Robert Spillane about to hit free agency and Myles Jack about to count for an $11.5 million cap hit, the Steelers could definitely use a quality, veteran starter at the position. Other potential free agent off-the-ball linebackers include Bobby Wagner (Los Angeles Rams), Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Tremaine Edmunds (Buffalo Bills) and T.J. Edwards (Philadelphia Eagles).

There has also been some speculation about the future of Devin White in Tampa Bay.

That didn’t take long

NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid is back to his scoring ways.

After being shutout in back-to-back games by the Winnipeg Jets over the weekend, McDavid netted two goals against the Buffalo Sabres during a 3-2 win Monday night. The first one came on a wraparound.

That's goal 53 for McD pic.twitter.com/Mu784scwPV

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 7, 2023

The second, his NHL-leading 54th goal of the season, was the game-winner early in the third period.

37 97 pic.twitter.com/26WIyZMAB5

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 7, 2023

McDavid had five straight multi-goal games prior to those games against the Jets. Now he may be starting a new streak.

The Oilers are currently in the Western Conference’s top wild-card spot. They next play the Boston Bruins on Thursday. Boston has an NHL-best 103 points and has won 10 games in a row. Boston won the first matchup between the clubs 3-2 back on Feb. 17.

McDavid scored both Oilers goals in the loss.

Looking for work

Former Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato is out of a job. He’s been let go by the University of Wisconsin.

After leaving the Penguins with the rest of Dan Bylsma’s staff after the 2014 season, Granato became an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. From there, in 2016, he took over the Badgers men’s hockey team.

Granato coached his alma mater for seven seasons, amassing a 105-129-16 overall mark and a 65-87-2 Big Ten record. Granato was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2021, when the Badgers won their most recent conference title. But those were Wisconsin’s only two winning seasons in his seven years.

A 1987 Badgers alum, Granato still ranks third in school history in career goals (100) and fourth in points (220). He then spent 13 years in the NHL as a player and 13 more as a coach.

Wisconsin’s 13-23 record this season followed a 10-24-3 mark in the 2021-22 campaign.

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