In “First Call” for Wednesday, Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is still looking for work. And he may not find it anywhere else in the state of Pennsylvania.
Baker Mayfield is acting like a quarterback who knows he may be traded, even if the Cleveland Browns don’t get Deshaun Watson.
What looked like a dog of a hockey game produces a fun result. And the Penguins loss to the Nashville Predators proves costly in the standings.
Still no juice for JuJu?
As of Tuesday night, JuJu Smith-Schuster still doesn’t have a team.
The Steelers wide receiver continues to float in free agency. And the other team down the turnpike is apparently uninterested in bringing him on board.
The Philadelphia Eagles could use some help at wide receiver. But according to Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice, Smith-Schuster isn’t on their radar.
“The Eagles reportedly had interest in Smith-Schuster last year, and he makes sense as a big, tough slot in the Eagles’ offense. However, I’m told the Eagles are not interested in him,” Kempski said.
There has been some scuttlebutt about Smith-Schuster from media types that cover the Chicago Bears, though.
The biggest power move the #Bears can make at WR at this point would be to re-sign A-Rob and somehow add JuJu Smith-Schuster, too. If Poles wants to really level up the WRs, a corps of Robinson, Smith-Schuster, and Mooney is... exciting.
— Bryan Perez (@BryanPerezNFL) March 15, 2022
I’d be quite happy with a #Bears WR room of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Darnell Mooney and George Pickens.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) March 15, 2022
Just thought I’d throw that out there in case Ryan Poles is listening.
The Bears need to surround Justin Fields with weapons. There’s a new name emerging as a potential free agent target: JuJu Smith-Schuster. https://t.co/QtzJ6QIGOs
— BearsWire (@TheBearsWire) March 13, 2022
If that doesn’t work out, could Smith-Schuster come back to Pittsburgh yet again on a short, cheap deal? It sure is starting to feel as if he could. It’s a very similar situation to what happened with Smith-Schuster after the 2020 season.
Bye-Bye Baker
Officials for the Cleveland Browns were in Houston Tuesday, meeting with Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson about the prospect of bringing him to town in a trade.
Perhaps uncoincidentally, incumbent Browns QB Baker Mayfield penned what could be interpreted as a preemptive goodbye to the city that drafted him.
With many uncertainties, here is where my head and heart is. pic.twitter.com/psipN96cmh
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) March 16, 2022
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com cites league sources as telling her that “the Texans want picks and not players, which is a major reason Mayfield isn’t part of the Browns’ package. The Texans are also prepared to start Davis Mills, their 2021 third-round pick out of Stanford, again next season.”
However, even if the Browns fail in their apparent attempt to land Watson, Cabot says Mayfield could be dealt anyway. She advanced the Seahawks, Colts and Giants as teams that may be potentially interested. However, the Giants are reportedly close to inking Tyrod Taylor.
ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter suggests Mayfield may request a trade soon if he hasn’t already.
Related:
• Tim Benz: Remember recent history when it comes to the Steelers signing Mitch Trubisky• Former Steelers, Bears QB says Mitch Trubisky was 'being vilified as the problem maker' in Chicago
• Steelers receive 4th-round compensatory pick in next month’s draft
Tough night
As the Penguins were losing 4-1 on the road in Nashville, a few of their Metropolitan Division rivals were cleaning up at home.
Alexander Ovechkin scored as part of a 4-3 Washington Capitals win over the New York Islanders in a shootout. That gives Ovechkin 767 goals in his career, passing Jaromir Jagr for third-most all-time. Only Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801) have more.
Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801) and now Alex Ovechkin (767). pic.twitter.com/lSXPSxw8AW
— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2022
The New York Rangers won 4-3 as well, clipping the Anaheim Ducks in overtime. Defenseman Adam Fox had the game winner.
ADAM FOX, PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/M8NACgrwYz
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 16, 2022
That means the Rangers and Penguins are now tied with 81 points in second place of the Metro, six points behind the idle division-leading Carolina Hurricanes.
The Caps are in fourth place as the Eastern Conference’s second wild card with 76 points. That’s 13th points clear of being caught by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
How did he do that?
Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield somehow scored two goals in the span of eight seconds for the Canadiens against the Arizona Coyotes Monday night.
Cole. Caufield. Scores. GOALS. pic.twitter.com/scB3dFJX8H
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2022
Caulfield now has 11 goals on the season. He has four with five assists in seven games this month alone. Via NHL public relations, only two players in Montreal history have recorded two faster goals at any time of a game: Peter Mahovlich (0:05 on Feb. 20, 1971) and Stephane Richer (0:07 on Nov. 30, 1987).
But it wasn’t good enough as the hapless Habs lost 6-3 to the suddenly streaking Coyotes. Somehow Arizona has won six of seven games. They host the Penguins on Saturday.
The Canadians have the lowest point total in the NHL at 40. The Coyotes are last in the Central Division with 44.
