First Call: If David DeCastro wants to keep playing, many teams may want him; Jameson Taillon's gem for New York

If former Steelers guard David DeCastro has any interest in pursuing his NFL career outside of Pittsburgh, he may have some suitors.

A former local high school hoops star is keeping his career going. Robert Morris hockey alumni want to keep the sport alive at their alma mater. And Jameson Taillon spins a gem for the Yankees.

All that in Friday’s “First Call.”

DeCastro linked to … everybody

Within hours of David DeCastro’s release from the Steelers, just about every blog for every NFL team linked their franchise to the sweepstakes to sign him.

Count the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers among those teams. SportsTalkATL says that the Falcons need to make the former Steelers guard “a priority.”

The New York Giants were apparently interested in Trai Turner before he signed with the Steelers. So might they now want to ask about DeCastro?

The AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals almost always are in need of offensive line help.

Seattle could use some beef up front, too. But how badly?

The San Francisco 49ers? Eh, could be a stretch. But, hey, DeCastro did play his college ball at Stanford. Close enough!

And this outlet throws hats from the Raiders, Jets and Dolphins into the ring.

Anyone else? There’s at least one or two teams left, right?

But for as many teams that may be interested in DeCastro, how much does he want to keep playing? How injured is he? How much have his skills eroded? DeCastro needs to determine the first part. Other teams in the NFL have to figure out the rest.

Taillon time

Things haven’t been easy for Jameson Taillon in the Bronx this year.

Heading into Thursday’s start with the New York Yankees, the former Pirates starter was just 1-4 with a 5.59 ERA. But the right-hander had one of his best performances of the year against the Kansas City Royals.

Jameson Taillon stepped his game He had 6Ks 5Hs and 1ER in 6.1 innings on the mound. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/eKydLazd1C

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 24, 2021

Not only did Taillon get the win en route to an 8-1 victory over the Royals, but he also had six strikeouts while allowing only one run in 6⅓ innings. It’s just the second time this season Taillon pitched into the seventh.

From Schenley to Syracuse

Former Schenley basketball star DeAndre Kane is still making waves at age 32.

A three-time winner of the 64-team, made-for-TV, single-elimination “The Basketball Tournament,” Kane is participating again in 2021. But it won’t be for his usual team, Overseas Elite.

They won’t be competing in 2021, so Kane is hooking up with the Syracuse University alumni team Boeheim’s Army.

We are excited to announce the addition of DeAndre Kane (@King_Kane50) to our squad! DeAndre is a 3x TBT champion who will help lead us to our first title this summer! #GradTransfer pic.twitter.com/0Y4VsuWhHG

— Boeheim's Army (@BoeheimsArmy) June 24, 2021

Kane teamed up with former Schenley teammates DeJuan Blair and D.J. Kennedy to win the TBT in 2017. Now he’ll be playing with the likes of former Jim Boeheim disciples Tyler Lydon, CJ Fair, Chris McCullough, Eric Devendorf and Malachi Richardson. However Kane played his college ball at Marshall and Iowa state.

The event starts July 16 on ESPN.

Not done yet

The fight to save the Robert Morris hockey programs isn’t over yet.

A group of alumni and other interested parties have put together a foundation with the goal of reinstating the men’s and women’s teams.

The Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation has been “founded with the objectives of reinstating and sustaining the Robert Morris University women’s and men’s NCAA Division I ice hockey programs and promoting the continued growth of hockey in the Pittsburgh region.”

The group is leading fundraising efforts in the wake of last month’s cancellation of the programs by the RMU administration. Former Colonials goalie and U.S. Olympian Brianne McLaughlin is at the forefront of efforts along with her husband Logan Bittle. He was a member of the men’s team and a former assistant coach on the women’s team.