First Call: LaVar Arrington calls Steelers 'mid-tier'; 49ers Pro Bowler discusses Brandon Aiyuk situation

Thursday’s “First Call” gives us LaVar Arrington’s view of the Steelers in 2024. We get a teammate’s opinion of the ongoing Brandon Aiyuk saga in San Francisco. Former Penguin Carl Hagelin updates his health.

And the Pirates get a second crack at a pitcher that recently gave them problems.

No rush

At least one San Francisco 49ers star is unfazed by the current state of negotiations between his team and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

“I’m not concerned about it,” Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle said. “Aiyuk’s a phenomenal football player who’s a big part of our offense, and he’s one of the most complete receivers that I’ve ever played with. So I’m going to assume that Aiyuk’s going to be on our team by the time the season starts.”

Kittle made the comments on the “Rich Eisen Show.” The Pro Bowler reiterated a point we have made a few times in the wake of tracking these negotiations. The Niners’ franchise has a tendency to hammer out these deals late in August or even into early September.

“The way most of the contracts have gone, I didn’t get signed until the second week of training camp. Deebo (Samuel) was pretty late (two years ago),” Kittle said (courtesy of 49erswebzone.com). “(Nick) Bosa was the first week of (last) season. That’s just how business is done out there.”

Aiyuk has been frequently linked to the Steelers in trade talks ever since his contract dispute became public this offseason. The Washington Commanders have been mentioned quite often as well.

Little love from LaVar

WPIAL legend and FOX NFL analyst LaVar Arrington isn’t inclined to pump the tires of his hometown team.

The North Hills product was on Fox Sports Radio’s “2 Pros and a Cup Of Joe” recently. And it doesn’t sound like the three-time Pro Bowler believes the 2024 Steelers will be much more than what they have been in the recent past.

“I think that the Steelers are a mid-tier team,” Arrington said. “I don’t think that they’re a divisional winner this year. I think they’re mid-tier, so they’re second or third. If you betting people have the Cleveland Browns winning it, that means to me that Cincy and the Steelers are fighting for third and fourth.”

It sounds as if Arrington is high on the Ravens and then sees the fight among the other teams for wild card spots.

“I feel like Pittsburgh falls into that second space, and then Cincinnati and Cleveland fight it out for that third,” Arrington said. “I don’t say that as it’s not a successful season for Cleveland or Cincinnati. I’m just saying I think Pittsburgh and Baltimore, if history serves correctly, outside of recently, you’re looking at a Baltimore team that should be better. And you’re looking at a Pittsburgh team that should be good enough. They’ve been good enough as of late.”

I wouldn’t even say that, LaVar. I don’t think seven straight years without a playoff win is “good enough” by any standard.

Oops, did I say “standard”? I probably shouldn’t have said “standard.” 

Hagelin still healing

The Daily Faceoff picked up a story about former Penguin Carl Hagelin from a Swedish outlet this week.

Translating from HockeySverige.se, Hagelin says he is still having vision problems after an accident involving his left eye in practice that caused him to retire.

“Today, I have a black spot in the middle of my eye, and then I see blurry around it,” Hagelin said. “My right eye takes over and does the job. When it’s very bright, it bothers me a lot … Many times, I should probably wear sunglasses indoors. If I’m watching a game, it’s very bright inside the rinks, so I should at least have some darkened glasses.”

Hagelin was part of the fabled HBK line in Pittsburgh en route to the 2016-17 Stanley Cups. After being traded to the Los Angeles Kings, Hagelin found himself on board with the Washington Capitals. It was there he suffered the injury when a teammate’s stick struck him during a practice in March 2022.

“The doctor and I agreed that I wouldn’t be able to continue playing,” Hagelin said of his retirement. “The most important thing, now that we’re sitting here talking, is that I can keep my real eye. I always try to see the positive side, and there’s a huge difference when something like this happens when you’re 33 or 34 years old compared to if you were 23.”

Hagelin ended his career with 296 points in 713 NHL games. He’s been scouting with the Minnesota Wild in Bill Guerin’s front office.

You again?

When Paul Skenes and the Pirates show up to play the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, they’ll be facing a familiar foe that just gave them a tough time recently.

But he was wearing a different uniform.

Aaron Civale will be on the mound for the Brewers as the Pirates counter with Skenes. It was Civale who matched Skenes through five innings on a hot Sunday afternoon last month as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Aaron Civale, Filthy 78mph Curveball...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GPe7LVtweY

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 23, 2024

Civale came into that game with an ERA of 5.42, but he kept the Pirates to just one run over five innings, as Skenes did the same to Tampa through seven.

The Rays eventually went on to win the game 3-1, and after another start against Washington where he allowed two runs over 5 ⅔ innings, Civale was dealt to Milwaukee.

In his first outing with the Brewers, Civale gave up four runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers over five innings. L.A. won that game 8-5.

Civale is now 2-6 on the year with an ERA of 5.18. Skenes comes in 5-0 in his first 10 starts with an ERA of 2.12.