First Call: Former WVU star visits Steelers; Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert at Notre Dame's Pro Day; Sabres finally win

The Steelers may try to snag a defensive free agent away from the Cleveland Browns. They are also looking at some draft prospects from Notre Dame and North Carolina.

Postseason odds are getting even longer for the Pirates. Plus, the Buffalo Sabres’ losing streak is finally over.

And guess who they beat to end it? Those glorious details and more are in Thursday’s “First Call.”

Another spin?

The Steelers may be taking another whirl at former West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Karl Joseph.

Josina Anderson of “Undefined” reported Wednesday that the former Cleveland Browns safety was heading to Pittsburgh for a visit. Joseph played in Cleveland last season after spending his first four years with the Oakland Raiders.

Perhaps he’ll be best remembered there — and in Pittsburgh — for recovering Maurkice Pouncey’s airmailed snap on the first play of the wild-card game between the teams last January.

THAT WAS QUICK.

?: https://t.co/vcgHu2syur pic.twitter.com/Y3Xn6DhI0S

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 11, 2021

He signed a one-year deal with the Browns last season worth $2.4 million. The Steelers were linked to Joseph in free agency last year, and head coach Mike Tomlin admitted he was intrigued by Joseph coming out of Morgantown in the 2016 draft.

Tomlin could use another safety to backup Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds. Or maybe even press Edmunds for snaps. Joseph started eight games for Cleveland and appeared in 14 of them. Joseph tallied 67 tackles, one interception and two fumble recoveries.

Via SI.com, “Joseph became a better player for Cleveland as the season went on. A suitable role was found for the safety and he became a player to play mostly in the box, where he can make tackles and did not have to focus on coverage as much.”

Sounds familiar to some other guys the Steelers have had at the position over the years. But they could use some depth anyway, especially with Sean Davis as an unsigned free agent.

Eyes on the Irish

Could the Steelers take a Notre Dame Fighting Irish player in the NFL draft again?

Without the benefit of a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, the Steelers used their second-round pick on wide receiver Chase Claypool. That worked out pretty well, to the tune of 62 catches, 873 yards and 11 total touchdowns during his rookie season.

This year, the Golden Domers may have a few players of interest for the Steelers. That’s why Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert were on hand for the team’s Pro Day in South Bend Wednesday.

From the NBCSN telecast of #NotreDame Pro Day: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Colts coach Frank Reich are in the building.

— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) March 31, 2021

Jeff Ireland of New Orleans, Pittsburgh's Kevin Colbert and Denver's George Paton here at Notre Dame. https://t.co/b60d20p3Qh

— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 31, 2021

Linemen Liam Eichenberg and Robert Hainsey could be enticing early in the draft. Inside linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, too. The consensus All-American won the Butkus award as the nation’s top linebacker and was ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He may be the next player drafted at that position after Penn State star Micah Parsons.

Eichenberg was first-team All-ACC in 2020 and is rated as the fifth-best tackle in the draft by ESPN.com. Hainsey, the Irish team captain last year, is a likely third-day pick and could play tackle or guard.

Highly touted guard Aaron Banks also worked out, but with David DeCastro and Kevin Dotson back at that position, he may not be on the Steelers’ radar quite as much.

With all that blocking talent on hand, Steelers offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was also reportedly in attendance.

And don’t forget about tight end Tommy Tremble, generally perceived as one of the top five tight ends on the board. He may be a prospect to replace the retired Vance McDonald on Day 2 or Day 3.

Meanwhile, Steelers Wire reports that Steelers running back coach Eddie Faulkner was on hand for North Carolina’s Pro Day on Tuesday, presumably to watch Javonte Williams and Michael Carter. They are often ranked as the two best running backs available after Clemson’s Travis Etienne and Alabama’s Najee Harris.

How did it get worse already?

Was it Steven Brault’s injury? Mitch Keller’s rocky spring? The fade of Gregory Polanco in Bradenton?

Or did they just have to set the odds so incredibly low that they could sucker one last bet on the Pirates to win the World Series?

I’ll go with that last one.

But whatever the reason, as Pirates Opening Day arrives Thursday afternoon in Chicago against the Cubs, oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag somehow made the odds of the Pirates winning the World Series even longer.

The Pirates had been the longest shot in baseball on Dec. 30 at 200/1. Now they have extended out to 250/1.

Derek Shelton’s crew is 125/1 to win the National League. And 80/1 to win the National League Central Division. That number was as narrow as 33/1 on Jan. 14.

Yet the win total over-under actually jumped a game. It’s now 59.5. The Pirates’ win total had opened at 58.5.

The streak is over

If you are going to end a losing streak, end it in style.

That’s what the Buffalo Sabres did on Thursday night. They won for the first time since Feb. 23, thumping the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 in Buffalo.

The Sabres had gone 0-15-3, setting the NHL shootout-era record of 18 games without a win. The shootout was implemented in the 2005-06 season, eliminating ties.

Steven Fogarty netted his first NHL goal and was the first star.

? Congrats on your first @NHL goal, Steven Fogarty! ?#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/BAPAaJ0OUW

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 1, 2021

As for the Flyers, it was their fifth loss in seven tries. It was the fourth time since March 17 that they allowed six or more goals in a loss.