First Call: Dolphins pass Steelers for dubious playoff stat; interesting college coaching name gets NFL interview
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Postseason accolades keep rolling in for Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. A familiar college coaching name that may catch the Steelers’ eye is getting a look from the Denver Broncos. The Steelers have been passed by the Miami Dolphins for a dubious statistical note.
In hockey, Connor McDavid keeps dazzling, and some former RMU Colonials are being recognized in goal.
All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”
More for Minkah
Minkah Fitzpatrick continues to get postseason honors. The Steelers safety has been named to the Pro Bowl. He has also been named to the NFLPA’s All-Pro team.
Now NFL.com is revealing its All-Pro list. Nick Shook was in charge of putting it together. He has Fitzpatrick as one of the defensive players on the team.
“Fitzpatrick is the definition of a ballhawk,” Shook said. “The fifth-year playmaker shined on an incredibly opportunistic Pittsburgh defense, which led the league in interceptions as a team thanks, in part, to Fitzpatrick leading the league among individual players with a career-high six. … Fitzpatrick, who ranks fourth in total takeaways (24) since entering the league, always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, sliding underneath passes or catching them off deflections for game-turning plays. The three-time Pro Bowler finished the year with 94 tackles and matched a career-high in passes defended, with 11.”
Jordan Poyer of the Buffalo Bills is the other safety mentioned. The Steelers’ Cameron Heyward did not make the list of interior defensive linemen. Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets and Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants got the nod there.
Not much faith
With Tua Tagovailoa ruled out of this weekend’s wild-card game, the NFL gambling public isn’t showing much faith in the Miami Dolphins.
Via ESPN Stats and Info, the Bills are now 13-point favorites to beat Miami in Buffalo this weekend.
With Tua Tagovailoa out, Buffalo is now a 13-point favorite over Miami @CaesarsSports (was 9.5).
That would be the largest point spread in the history of Wild Card Weekend (previous high: 12). https://t.co/j1LRgcrBfP
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2023
As Pittsburgh fans may remember, the Chiefs-Steelers wild-card game in Kansas City opened at 13-points last year via Bet MGM, but dropped to 12.5 and went off at 12 at some books. Kansas City ended up winning — and covering — by a final score of 42-21.
More sports
• Tim Benz: Biggest reasons Steelers turned season around — and can they do it again in ’23?
• Steelers’ Cameron Heyward on retirement talk: ‘When I do something, I put my whole heart into it’
• Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick part of first NFLPA All-Pro team
On the radar?
David Shaw’s name has been kicked around as a potential offensive coordinator for the Steelers, if they decide to move on from Matt Canada — or as an offensive assistant, similar to what Brian Flores was on defense this year.
However, he just got an interview to potentially take a head coaching job. Via NFL.com, the former Stanford head coach met with the Denver Broncos about potentially taking over for Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired after just one year on the job.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reports that Shaw and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh have already interviewed, along with Denver defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. He also said former Saints head coach Sean Payton has received a request, while former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is scheduled for an interview.
Shaw went 96-54 in his career at Stanford, but the Cardinal just had back-to-back 3-9 seasons and he resigned in November. Shaw coached his alma mater for 12 seasons.
Prior to his return to Palo Alto, Shaw spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant coach with the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens.
Connor can
NHL star Connor McDavid scored another highlight-worthy goal Wednesday night.
lol just absurd.
Connor McDavid's (@cmcdavid97) 35th (yes, 35th) of the season was… well, just check it out. ???? pic.twitter.com/7LkyW7HZPS
— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2023
That was McDavid’s league-leading 35th goal of the year. He beat Whitehall’s John Gibson in net for Anaheim. McDavid and the Oilers ended up roasting Gibson and the Ducks 6-2.
With 47 points apiece, the Oilers and Calgary Flames currently hold the Western Conference’s two wild card spots. The Ducks have 28 points. Only the Chicago Blackhawks have fewer in the West.
Alumni honors
A pair of former Robert Morris Colonials are on the Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association watch list for National Women’s Goalie of the Year. The award was created in 2021 to recognize the top female goalie in NCAA Division I hockey.
Raygan Kirk of Ohio State and Arielle DeSmet of Syracuse are both on the list. They were both part of the last RMU women’s team before the school disbanded the program. That group of Colonials won the CHA in its final season before the school scrapped the team.
Both the women’s and men’s teams are returning to the ice next season.
This year with the Buckeyes, Kirk is 6-1-1 with a 1.85 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. DeSmet is 5-14-1 with the Orange, posting a 2.88 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.