First Call: Luke Getsy beats out Mike Sullivan for reopened Raiders job; Le’Veon Bell wants a comeback with Steelers
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Monday’s “First Call” sees a Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach passed over for another NFL job by a former WPIAL standout. Le’Veon Bell is talking about a comeback. T.J. Watt gets a nod of approval from his peers at the Pro Bowl, and it was a good weekend of hockey for both Robert Morris teams and one of the Penguins’ minor league affiliates.
Second time not a charm
Steelers quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan didn’t get the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator position on the second try either.
After Kliff Kingsbury backed out of discussion for that post to take a job with Washington instead, Sullivan was believed to be back in the mix as a candidate. He had interviewed prior to Kingsbury initially being tabbed to take over.
However, Steel Valley alum and one-time Pitt Panther quarterback Luke Getsy got the job instead, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Getsy had previously been the OC in Chicago.
Sullivan could return to the Steelers on Arthur Smith’s staff in his current position or another capacity. But according to Noah Strackbein of All Steelers, the franchise is set to meet with Los Angeles Chargers passing game specialist Tom Arth, Tennessee Titans quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Charles London and New York Jets wide receivers coach Zach Azzani.
Should one of those candidates get hired, Sullivan may find himself promoted, demoted or out of a job entirely.
Ringing the Bell once more?
Ex-Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell says he is planning a comeback.
In a Snapchat post, the former All-Pro said he is going to start training for a comeback in March. And he only wants to come back with one team.
“I’m going to be honest with myself. I’m going to put my foot in the ground. Do I feel it? Am I hurting? Can I go out there and really play again?” Bell said via an Si.com
The presumption is that Bell is talking about Pittsburgh. After all, he did visit with Mike Tomlin at the team’s facility before the Week 16
Keep in mind that Bell hasn’t played a down since 2021, and he admitted in his video that he hasn’t tried a full sprint in well over a year.
More sports
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• Madden Monday: ‘Never have liked’ NHL players in the Olympics
• Under OC Arthur Smith, Steelers set to prove strong running game is key to NFL success
The players’ pick
Fox Sports’ Greg Auman conducted a players poll at the Pro Bowl this week. Topics ranged from NFL MVP votes, to most underrated player in the league, favorite throwback uniforms and dream Super Bowl halftime performers.
On the topic of Defensive Player of the Year, Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt won the vote among 35 anonymous players conducted by Auman. Watt received six votes. Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland had 5.5. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Cowboys edge star Micah Parsons received 3.5 votes and three votes, respectively.
Maxx Crosby, Roquan Smith and Aidan Hutchinson each got votes as well but didn’t rank as highly as I expected.
The actual 2024 NFL Honors show is on Thursday in Las Vegas. CBS Sports just did a straw poll of its contributors as well. Watt won that balloting too.
Three outta four
It was a pretty good weekend for both Robert Morris hockey teams.
The men (9-18-3) swept a series from Mercyhurst (7-17-3). They won the first game 5-2 in Erie on Friday night. Cameron Garvey had a hat trick. Then, on Saturday, the teams played on Neville Island, with the Colonials winning 4-3.
Dallas Tulik scored twice, including a shorthanded goal.
GOAL@DallasTulik on the breakaway!
RMU 2 – 2 MU#BobbyMo #AHA20 pic.twitter.com/RcMf9bM6p6
— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) February 4, 2024
In net, Francis Boisvert won both games. He has now won three in a row. During this stretch, the netminder from Quebec owns a 1.67 GAA and .960 save percentage, along with one shutout.
As for the women (11-17-0), they split a series against RIT (12-15-2). The Colonials won Friday in overtime 3-2. Then they lost by that same score Saturday in overtime as well. Alaina Giampietro scored four goals over the weekend for RMU.
On fire
While we are discussing the Colonials, an RMU alum is helping the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate to stay on a hot streak.
Justin Adamo scored a game-winner for the Wheeling Nailers on Saturday night to beat the Orlando Solar Bears 4-3.
JUSTIN. ADDAMO. OT. GAME. pic.twitter.com/HMxaWzrUPN
— Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) February 4, 2024
That was the Nailers’ eighth win in a row. They came back from three goals down Sunday to win in overtime, 4-3 once again to make it nine straight.
Between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre, Adamo has 13 goals and 28 points.