First Call: Kyle Shanahan tries to update Brandon Aiyuk situation; ex-Steeler Markus Golden discusses sudden retirement
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In Thursday’s “First Call,” San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan struggles to provide an update on Brandon Aiyuk as the Pittsburgh Steelers trade offer continues to sit on the table.
Former Steeler Markus Golden addresses his retirement. It appears that “Hard Knocks” is a bit toned down as the Steelers get ready to make an appearance later this year.
And two celebrity fans discuss their Pittsburgh sports obsession on late-night television.
Time is ticking
There is just a week left on the calendar, and nothing has changed regarding the Brandon Aiyuk situation in San Francisco.
As Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network said yesterday, Aiyuk is “10 toes down” and not budging on his bottom line when it comes to the contract he wants.
From The Insiders on @nflnetwork: Day 30 of the Brandon Aiyuk hold-in. He and the #49ers haven’t budged in recent days and Aiyuk seems dug in, the #Steelers still waiting and still in play. pic.twitter.com/kAp4nZFrJ5
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 21, 2024
Similarly, he says the 49ers are at the number they are comfortable offering Aiyuk. So it’s turned into a stare-down at the final point of negotiations, with the Steelers’ trade offer for Aiyuk still in play.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan was on KNBR Radio on Wednesday and unable to provide any update on the disgruntled wide receiver’s contract status.
“Oh, so much has changed. No, I’m just joking,” Shanahan said. “No. No new updates. I’m sorry to keep being boring with that. I wish I was saying something different, but nothing’s changed yet.”
He also says not much has developed on the Trent Williams front. The Niners are also in negotiations with him. The 11-time Pro Bowl tackle is still holding out.
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Golden’s goodbye
Former Steeler Markus Golden officially announced his retirement and commented about it on Instagram on Thursday.
“Football has always been more than just a sport to me; I’ve officially retired from the NFL after playing the game I’ve loved all my life,” Golden wrote. “I feel truly blessed to have been able to live out the dreams and goals I set for myself as a kid. A big thank you to God, my family, friends, St. Louis, Matthew Dickey Boys & Girls Club, Affton, Hutchinson Community College, Mizzou, The Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me the opportunity to pursue my dreams.”
Golden spent the 2023 season with the Steelers after being a member of the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants from 2015-22. A free agent for most of the 2024 offseason, Golden briefly returned to the Steelers. But his run with the club this time around only lasted about a week of training camp before he went on the reserve/retired list earlier this month.
Jeremiah Moon and Kyron Johnson are the most likely candidates to win the fourth outside linebacker job on the depth chart behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.
Golden’s career ends with 51 sacks (four with the Steelers) in 127 games played.
Sanitized situation?
How watered down has HBO’s “Hard Knocks” become? And how diluted will it be by the time the Steelers are on it with the rest of their AFC North foes in the second half of the season?
This may be a good indication.
As ProFootballTalk.com picked up, this summer’s “Hard Knocks” with the Chicago Bears doesn’t even include profanity because Bears ownership doesn’t approve.
The show’s director, Shannon Furman, told CHGO Sports that “the McCaskey family doesn’t want to be associated with profanity.” As a result, “Hard Knocks” is keeping the dialogue PG-13.
“This team curses much less than any other team I’ve been around, but it is out of respect for the McCaskey family,” Furman said. “It’s something that they don’t do and wouldn’t want to see, so it’s kind of been a decision that was made out of respect for them letting us in their house and wanting to be respectful to them.”
I’m guessing that scrubbing the audio track when it comes to trash talk on the field once the Steelers and Ravens start playing each other will be a little more difficult.
Yinz up late?
Actor Michael Keaton was on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Wednesday. Both men have Pittsburgh ties.
Keaton was born in Kennedy Township. Meyers’ father is from East Liberty. Both are big fans of Pittsburgh sports, and the topic came up during their conversation.
Steelers fans @michaelkeaton and @sethmeyers reveal the secret to converting your kids to root for your team. pic.twitter.com/KQrsKhQkf0
— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) August 21, 2024
Keaton insisted to Meyers that he’s not worried about the upcoming Steelers season. Meyers replied by calling himself “irrationally confident.”
Then they both talked about brainwashing their kids (and grandkids, in Keaton’s case) into becoming the same diehard Pittsburgh sports fans that they have become over the years.