First Call: J.J. Watt considered NFL return in Pittsburgh; Steelers look for a pass-game coaching specialist
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Thursday’s “First Call” has J.J. Watt’s quotes about considering a comeback to the NFL with the Steelers or Texans. A passing game coordinator is apparently in the future for Pittsburgh. The NFLPA isn’t on board with the hip-drop tackle ban.
And a pair of Duquesne Dukes hit some milestones on Wednesday.
What was Watt thinking?
On Wednesday’s “Pat McAfee Show,” future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt said he was “monitoring” the Steelers’ injury situation in 2023, with the possible idea of ending his retirement and returning to the field with his brother, T.J.
“I definitely was monitoring the Steelers’ and Texans’ situations, but it never escalated to any sort of actual potential,” Watt said. “It would have been an absolute dream come true. To play with my brother would have been great. It’s just, realistically, … they were all set. They’ve got great players.”
However, Watt now says that he is fully retired, although McAfee and the other guys on the show tried to prod him into keeping the idea of a comeback alive. It sounds like the elder Watt had had pangs of jealousy about playing when he came back to visit T.J. at a game at Acrisure Stadium.
“When I went to Pittsburgh and visited T.J. and watched him get ready for the game, that was hands down the moment, where I was like, ‘This is the first time I definitely miss playing,’” Watt said.
Those feelings were fleeting, though.
“I felt all those emotions before the game, and then the next morning, he woke up all sore, bruised up, has to go get treatment and everything. I popped up, went for a nice walk and had a coffee. It was great. I don’t have any of those things,” Watt joked.
"I absolutely am retired and I'm 1,000% done..
I definitely was monitoring the Texans and Steelers situations this year but nothing ever escalated" ~ @JJWatt #PMSLiVe pic.twitter.com/tmEfPsXIIX
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 7, 2024
Watt last played in 2022 with the Arizona Cardinals.
Arth and Arthur
According to NFL Insider Aaron Wilson, the Steelers are interviewing Tom Arth for a passing-game position. That’s a title they haven’t had on their coaching staff before.
#Steelers are interviewing #Chargers assistant Tom Arth, per a league source, for passing game position. Was passing game specialist for Brandon Staley in Los Angeles. Former @JCUFootball quarterback, backup to Peyton Manning with #Colts was head coach @ZipsFB @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 7, 2024
Arth, 42, is on the Los Angeles Chargers staff as their pass game specialist. So, he worked with Justin Herbert. They are undergoing a coaching change, with Jim Harbaugh taking over for Brandon Staley.
Before going to L.A., Arth served as the Akron Zips’ head coach for three seasons, from 2019 to 2021. He also served as the head coach at John Carroll (his alma mater) and at Chattanooga. His overall record is 52-45.
As a player Arth spent time with the Colts and Packers. He was also in the CFL, NFL Europe, and the Arena Football League.
More sports
• U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pop off about Arthur Smith’s interview, Mason Rudolph’s situation
• Tim Benz: How are we to believe Art Rooney II is feeling ‘urgency’ when he’s already walking back his ‘impatient’ statements?
• Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon suspended 3 games for hit on Penguins forward Noel Acciari
Drop the hip drop?
The NFL is trying to ban the so-called “hip drop” tackle. But the NFL Players Association is pushing back.
The hip drop is when a defensive player wraps themselves around the body of a ball carrier and then allows themselves to drop on the back of a runner’s legs to take them down. Plays like that have led to lots of injuries in recent years.
However, members of the NFLPA executive committee said Wednesday at the union’s press conference in Las Vegas that such a rule would be too hard to officiate during games and would make playing defense too difficult.
“A lot of rules that were put in place over the last 10-plus years that made the game a lot safer were big adjustments for players,” Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell said via ProFootballTalk.com. “I feel like this particular rule change, I don’t understand how you can police it the right way and allow us to do our job.”
Campbell went on to say, “There’s only so much you can restrict (in) the game and still call it football.”
He’s right on both fronts.
My prediction is that the NFL will cram some poorly worded hip-drop ban onto the books. It will be an absolute nightmare for the officials to interpret, and the rule will only last one year, like video reviewing pass interference.
Good night all-around
On Wednesday night, the Duquesne women’s basketball team got a win and hit a few milestones.
The Dukes won at UMass 79-62. They improved to 14-9, 9-3 in Atlantic 10 play. Dan Burt’s team has now won five of its past six games.
Massachusetts fell to 3-21, 1-11 in the A-10.
Also, during the game, guards Megan McConnell and Naelle Bernard both passed 1,000 points in their college careers.
With her last three-pointer, junior guard Nae Bernard has eclipsed 1,000 collegiate points‼️
Congratulations Nae✨#GoDukes | @Naelle_soa pic.twitter.com/Rd18amoM3Z
— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) February 8, 2024
With her triple to end the first quarter, junior guard Megan McConnell surpassed 1,000 career points‼️
Congratulations Meg????#GoDukes | @megg_mcconnell4 pic.twitter.com/8YyWF89rPg
— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) February 7, 2024
Bernard led the team with 15 points. McConnell had 14 to go along with nine rebounds and seven assists.
McConnell has spent all four of her years on the Bluff. This is Bernard’s second season with Duquesne. She spent her first two at Salt Lake Community College.
The Dukes currently sit in fifth place of the Atlantic 10. Their next game is Saturday at home against LaSalle.