First Call: Mike Tomlin showers praise on Stan Savran; Danny Smith on kickoff controversy; Brewers blow it in the 9th
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Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin showers praise on the late Stan Savran. Danny Smith has some curious remarks on the new kickoff rule. A blown lead by the Brewers helps the Pirates in the National League standings.
And Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup champion, again. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”
Saluting Stan
Mike Tomlin had praise for the late Stan Savran. The longtime Pittsburgh broadcasting legend died Monday evening at the age of 76. Following Tuesday’s minicamp practice, Tomlin had nothing but respect for Savran’s many years of work in the Pittsburgh sports media.
“We had a long and prosperous past professional relationship with him. He was the absolute best,” Tomin said. “I just really enjoyed that gentleman. The spirit, the energy, the awesome stories of Pittsburgh, just a legend, just really appreciated (him) as a guy that at one time was new to the city, man, I always appreciated his perspective on my circumstance, being able to share a story from the past and educate me a little bit. Just really appreciated it.”
#Steelers Mike Tomlin acknowledging the great Stan Savran after practice @937theFan pic.twitter.com/Sl87Jtb6jY
— Jeff Hathhorn (@jhathhorn) June 13, 2023
Savran was a Pittsburgh broadcasting fixture since the late 1970s. He died this week at his Upper St. Clair home after an extended battle with lung cancer and diabetes.
As colleagues of Savran at iHeartRadio, fellow TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden and I had a chance to give our thoughts on Savran’s friendship and his career during Madden’s radio show on 105.9 The X.
You can hear those comments, as well as those from former Penguins assistant coach Pierre McGuire and Savran’s former broadcast partner Guy Junker at WXDX.com.
More sports
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• T.J. Watt, Pressley Harvin, Ryan McCollum excused absences from Steelers minicamp
• Steelers’ Najee Harris ‘advocating’ for more respect, better pay for running back position
Danny’s dilemma
Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith gave a cryptic response when he was asked for his opinion on the NFL’s new kickoff rule.
Last month, the league announced it is adopting the college football style fair-catch rule on kickoffs. So, from now on, a returner can call a fair catch at any spot inside the 25-yard line and be rewarded a fair catch at the 25. The theory from the league is that too many injuries happen on kickoffs, so the NFL wants to lower the number of times they happen.
Special teams coordinators, of course, seem to hate the rule because it minimizes the impact of the kicking game in the name of player safety. Allegedly, 19 concussions occurred on kickoffs last year. Yet many of those coaches doubt the veracity of those numbers. Smith threw a little shade at that data Tuesday as well.
Danny Smith pointed out that sometimes concussions found after kickoffs may have occurred on the play before
"When he got tested on the side, he was (concussed), but he had no contact on a kickoff… So it didn't occur there, but it got placed there bc that's when it came out."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) June 13, 2023
At the same time, when Smith was directly asked if he thought limiting kickoffs would make the game safer he gave a cryptic reply.
“I’m being honest with you guys.,” Smith said. “I’m supposed to say no, but I’m going to leave it at that.”
Smith also added he understands why the league is heading in this direction.
Is the NFL trying to legislate special teams out of the game?
Steelers ST coach Danny Smith: "If you footed the bill for concussions, would you make a change to show that 'I've made a change?' I think it don't surprise me. We'll see how it goes. It's a one year test."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) June 13, 2023
So maybe what Smith is trying to say is that, yes, he does think the game is made safer simply by having less contact-oriented plays. But is it impacting the game so much that practically eliminating kickoffs is worth it?
Well, to paraphrase Smith, I’m going to say no and leave it at that.
Thanks to the Twins
As the Pirates (34-31) were losing to the Chicago Cubs 11-3, the Milwaukee Brewers (34-33) were falling to the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins (34-33) by a 7-5 final score.
Michael A. Taylor and Carlos Correa both hit home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to key a two-run comeback. Correa’s two-run shot was of the walk-off variety.
Third homer in five games for Michael A. Tater! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/7FF6HERk6t
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 14, 2023
We’ve got your Carlos Correa moment right here. #TwinsWin | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/RuWms0679b
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 14, 2023
That blown lead by the Brewers, coupled with the Pirates loss, means that the Bucs remain atop the NL Central Division by a game over second-place Milwaukee.
Been here before
Two former Penguins got to hoist the Stanley Cup on Tuesday night when the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5.
Phil Kessel picked it up for a third time after having been part of the 2016 an 2017 championship clubs.
Phil Kessel is a three-time #StanleyCup champion. ???? pic.twitter.com/UnQfjFdJrv
— NHL (@NHL) June 14, 2023
And Teddy Blueger won it for the first time.
Teddy Blueger is a #StanleyCup Champion #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/QnNxfwL31v
— Vince Comunale (@PGHVC) June 14, 2023
Blueger joined the Pens in 2018-19, so he missed the two most recent Cup championships. He played in six postseason games this year, registering a goal and an assist. Kessel played in four playoff games, picking up two points.
Congrats to King
Robert Morris Athletics Director Chris King is a winner of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Cushman & Wakefield Athletic Director of the Year.
The Cushman & Wakefield ADOY Awards program was created “to honor intercollegiate directors of athletics for their commitment and administrative excellence within a campus and/or college community environment over the course of the last year.”
Among those achievements, King has been overseeing the return of the men’s and women’s ice hockey programs. They will return to the ice this fall after a two-year hiatus.
The award spans seven divisions (NCAA FBS, FCS, Division I-AAA, II, III, NAIA/Other Four-Year Institutions and Junior/Community Colleges) and annually honors 28 athletics directors (four from each division).