First Call: Jets tried to ban Aaron Rodgers from Pat McAfee's show; Steelers DB lashes out at idea of Rodgers in Pittsburgh

“First Call” for Wednesday has some interesting news about Aaron Rodgers’ demise in New York. We also tell you which Steeler is aggressively opposed to the notion of Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh.

It might not take very much for the Steelers to pry Deebo Samuel loose from San Francisco.

Also, we preview Wednesday night tipoffs for the Robert Morris men and the Duquesne women on the basketball court.

No more McAfee

Perhaps part of the reason Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have come to the decision to split ways is that the organization had some very specific demands of the quarterback if he was going to remain in New York.

One of them was that he must refrain from doing any more interviews on “The Pat McAfee Show.” That’s according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

“I was told that when they had conversations with Aaron Rodgers about what the future would look like, ‘If you’re going to be part of this team, you’re going to attend all of training camp,’” Russini said at 28:10 on her “Scoop City” podcast. “You’re not going to do Pat McAfee interviews anymore. … They had a conversation with him, ‘If you were to stay here, here is how we would want it to be.’ So this to me is (new head coach) Aaron Glenn getting control back.”

Apparently, Rodgers didn’t like what he heard and left last week’s meeting with the presumption that he wasn’t going to be back with the team next year.

Although Russini also intimated that Rodgers could’ve had his mind made up already.

“I think that, no matter what the Jets were going to say, Aaron Rodgers wanted to move on,” she said. “I think he was smart to talk to the Jets and say, ‘Where do we stand, how does this work?’ And maybe if they were on the side of convincing him more, this could have changed, but this wasn’t the way it was when they traded for him when it was exciting.”

The organizational requirement that Rodgers show up for all offseason team activities comes in the wake of what former coach Robert Saleh called an “unexcused absence” from mandatory minicamp when Rodgers went to Egypt last offseason.

Thanks, but no thanks

Rodgers has been connected to the Steelers quarterback opening. Former coach Bill Cowher predicted there would be “dialogue” about acquiring him within the Steelers offices.

But one Steelers defensive back wants no part of the 41-year-old Rodgers in Pittsburgh. On Instagram, JPAFootball posted about how DraftKings has the Steelers listed as the favorite to land Rodgers.

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However, safety DeShon Elliott replied to that post by saying, “Leave his (backside) at the retirement home.”

The Steelers beat Rodgers and the Jets, 37-15, at Acrisure Stadium this year. Beanie Bishop had two interceptions in that game.

That’s it?

There has been a lot of chatter about the Steelers potentially acquiring Deebo Samuel. The San Francisco wide receiver has requested a trade.

At least one report stated that Samuel’s agent plans to reach out to the Steelers to gauge their interest.

According to ESPN.com’s 49ers reporter Nick Wagoner, the asking price is going to be quite low.

“Because Samuel is coming off a down year and is entering the final year of his contract with other top receivers set to be available in free agency or trade, a Day 3 draft pick and perhaps another late-round pick would probably satisfy the 49ers,” Wagoner posted Wednesday. “If there isn’t much of a trade market, the Niners might have to settle for less unless they package picks with Samuel.”

During 2024, Samuel caught 51 passes for 670 yards in 15 games and scored four total touchdowns. As of now, Samuel is set to earn $17.46 million in 2025 based on numbers from OverTheCap. This is the last year of his contract. He has four voidable years remaining after 2025. He is due a $15.4 million option bonus on March 22.

General manager John Lynch said in January that the team does not intend to release Samuel. However, as Wagoner reported, if San Francisco trades Samuel before June 1, they would absorb a $31.55 million dead money hit on the salary cap.

Releasing the player after the new league year begins on March 12 (but before that option bonus is due 10 days later with a post-June 1 designation) would decrease the dead money hits to $10.75 million in 2025 and around $20 million in 2026.

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Keep it going

The best team in Pittsburgh right now is Robert Morris men’s basketball. The Colonials are 18-8, 10-5 in the Horizon League. They have won eight of nine.

Andy Toole’s club has a huge game Wednesday night. It’s on the road at Cleveland State at 7 p.m. The Vikings currently lead the Horizon at 12-2 in conference play (18-7) overall.

The last time the two teams played, the Vikings won 80-69 in Moon on Jan. 8.

In their most recent game on Saturday, the Colonials topped North Kentucky, 81-76. Alvaro Folgueiras had a career-high 35 points on 12 of 14 shooting.

???? El PARTIDAZO de Álvaro Folgueiras @AlvaroFolgue en la NCAA

????35 puntos
????12/14 en tiros
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— Gigantes del Basket (@GIGANTESbasket) February 9, 2025

Before that, Folgueiras had 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting against Detroit Mercy. For those efforts, he was named Player of the Week in the Horizon League.

Trying to find their form

The Duquesne women’s basketball team has had a pretty good year at 15-8 (6-6 Atlantic 10). But the Dukes are in a bit of a lull right now. After four straight wins, they’ve suddenly lost two in a row to Rhode Island (59-57) and A-10 leading Richmond (82-58).

Dan Burt’s team will try to snap out of it Wednesday night at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse against Massachusetts. That’s a 6 p.m. start.

The Minutewomen are 13-11, 8-5 in conference play. They have won four of five but dropped their most recent contest against Davidson, 56-38.

Senior guard Meg McConnell is looking for an eighth straight game in double digits.