Friday’s “First Call” examines an odd omission from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason game in Carolina. Things are tense between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys. Ke’Bryan Hayes is heating up with the Reds.
Also, the Pirates and Rockies clash in a meeting of … well, um, they are meeting.
And there is nothing we can do to stop it.
Not seen
According to the NFL gamebook, Beanie Bishop didn’t play for the Steelers during Thursday night’s preseason finale in Carolina. That’s odd, seeing as how defensive coordinator Teryl Austin specifically said this week that the Panthers game was going to be a big one for Bishop in terms of whether or not he made the roster.
It’s unclear if Bishop was hurt, sick, held back from playing on purpose as part of a potential trade, or for some other reason.
“He’s really going against some pretty good competition at the nickel now that you throw No. 5 (Jalen Ramsey) in there and then you throw (Brandin Echols) in there,” Austin said Monday. “He’s really got to fight and work to make some splash to put himself in the picture.”
Bishop played in all 17 games last year and logged 548 defensive snaps, posting four interceptions, half a sack and a fumble recovery.
However, this year’s training camp and preseason have been uneven for Bishop, and as Austin pointed out, loaded with increased competition at his position.
Making a statement
Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons has scrubbed his social media of any mention of the Dallas Cowboys. The Penn State product is in a contract stalemate with the club.
On X, his account now has a picture of him at the Cotton Bowl with the words “Penn State 2021. TBD.”
This was his most recent post.
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 22, 2025
On Instagram, Parsons also has “Athlete TBD” under his name.
Team owner Jerry Jones went on former Cowboy Michael Irvin’s podcast and claimed he and Parsons had a handshake deal. However, via the Dallas Morning News, he insists Parsons’ agent told him “to stick it up our (backside).”
‘Rock’in and rollin’
The Colorado Rockies already have 91 losses as they visit PNC Park this weekend for a three-game series.
However, interim manager Warren Schaeffer has the Rockies playing better baseball of late. The Vandergrift native is returning to Pittsburgh with Colorado winning seven of its past 10 games.
With the 40-year-old Greensburg Central Catholic alum at the helm, Colorado just split a four-game series with the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. That was after taking three of four against Arizona and two of three against St. Louis.
Still, the Rockies have the worst record in Major League Baseball at 37-91 (.289). They are 16-46 away from Coors Field.
The Pirates (54-74) are actually an above-average home team. They are 36-30 at home, and just took two of three from the American League East-leading Toronto Blue Jays.
Braxton Ashcraft (3-2, 3.02 ERA), Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.46) and Paul Skenes (7-9, 2.16) are the scheduled pitchers for Pittsburgh, according to MLB.com. Colorado counters with Antonio Senzatela (4-14, 7.00) on Friday and Kyle Freeland (3-12, 5.15) on Saturday, with Sunday’s starter still to be announced.
The Bucs lost two of three in Denver earlier this year.
More sports
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Settling in
Meanwhile, Ke’Bryan Hayes seems to be getting comfortable in Cincinnati. He and the Reds are going to Arizona for a weekend series.
The former Pirate is hitting .367 with a 1.124 OPS over his last 10 games in Cincy. That’s following a rough start with the Reds after he was dealt there in July. Hayes was just 5 for 30 after being moved in advance of last month’s trade deadline.
He also turned in this beauty of a play versus the Angels on Monday.
When in doubt, just kick the ball to Ke’Bryan Hayes pic.twitter.com/w72EMw4cfw
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 19, 2025
The Reds open play at 67-61, half a game back of the New York Mets for the final wild card spot in the National League.
