Steelers

First Call: Mike Tomlin reportedly a ‘big fan’ of Justin Fields; Eddie Faulkner could be staying on as RB coach

Tim Benz
Tim Benz
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AP
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs in a Nov. 27 game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis.

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Tuesday’s “First Call” sparks up new conversation about the prospect of the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

There is also some coaching news concerning the Steelers. An ex-Steeler is retiring. And the Metropolitan Division is kicking the Penguins while they are down.

Just keepin’ an eye on Justin

The Steelers released quarterback Mitch Trubisky on Monday. In advance of that decision, ESPN’s Adam Schefter appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and assured that the Steelers are going to make some sort of move to acquire a quarterback of note.

“We know that Pittsburgh is going to go out and get some type of quarterback. Whether that’s Ryan Tannehill, whether that’s Russell Wilson, whether that’s Justin Fields,” Schefter said. “Mike Tomlin is a big fan of Justin Fields. Keep that in mind during the offseason and the coming weeks.”

Tomlin is a “big fan” of Justin Fields? OK. Schefter also said that Tomlin’s wife “loves Los Angeles” while drumming up speculation that Tomlin may want out of Pittsburgh after the 2023 season ended. So take that with a deer lick’s worth of salt.

But, to be fair, Fields-to-the-Steelers speculation has been out there for quite some time. I just question how committed the Steelers are to bringing in a QB who is legitimate competition for Kenny Pickett. If that’s what they want, just keep Mason Rudolph as opposed to turning him loose in free agency.

The reality is, though, there will be too much of a groundswell from the wide receivers, local fans and media to start Rudolph from Day 1 of training camp. Plus, the Steelers don’t want to get into a bidding duel with other teams on the QB market for Rudolph, a guy they don’t really perceive as a long-term starter anyway.

My bet is the Steelers bring in an obvious No. 2, non-threatening backup, such as Tannehill or Jacoby Brissett, so Pickett feels as comfy and confident as possible.

After all, Art Rooney II has already walked back any sort of narrative he may have helped advance that the Steelers may have an interest in trading for another signal caller with any sort of cache.

Yet Schefter thinks the Steelers are still willing to set up a training camp duel at Saint Vincent College between Pickett and….somebody.

“They’re not just going to leave it as Kenny Pickett as his starting job. Mike Tomlin made that very clear,” Schefter said. “Now, it’s which of these quarterbacks do they make a move for? Which one is somebody that they can go acquire? Who fits into what they are willing to give up to either another team or to play that player?”

Really, Schefty? They’re “not just going to leave it as Kenny Pickett as his starting job,” huh?

I understand that is what Tomlin said. But this is the same Mike Tomlin who has previously admitted he just says random things to the media for the sake of giving them storylines. And if he lets the QB who brought them back from the brink of playoff elimination walk away, and the owner isn’t comfortable with 24 hours worth of speculation over what he said about potentially trading for a QB, and new coordinator Arthur Smith is on the team’s own website gushing about the prospect of working with Pickett as if he is the only QB under consideration, are you really sure that they aren’t just going to give Pickett the starting job?

Because I kinda think they are.

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Fine with Faulkner

Eddie Faulkner is sticking around as the Steelers’ running backs coach. That’s according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 in Houston.

He reports that Faulkner is getting a contract extension.

Faulkner and Mike Sullivan took on the role of co-offensive coordinators after Matt Canada was fired during the 2023 season. Faulkner was credited as being the coordinator during the week, handling those practice and game plan duties. Sullivan took on the onus of being the play-caller on game days.

Counting the playoff loss in Buffalo, the Steelers were 4-4 with those two in charge.

Assuming the report is accurate, Faulkner will remain on the staff, with Smith now leading the offense.

Haeg hangs ’em up

Former Steelers offensive lineman Joe Haeg has retired. The 30-year-old native of Minnesota made the announcement in a social media post.

Haeg was part of the 2021 Steelers after signing a free-agent deal in Pittsburgh. He appeared in 12 games, starting twice.

Haeg spent his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted out of North Dakota State in 2016. There, he tallied 35 starts. He then won a Super Bowl ring with the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Black and Gold.

Following his release from the Steelers in August 2022, Haeg bounced over to the Cleveland Browns. But he played in just one game, logging one offensive snap. He was released in June and didn’t play anywhere in 2023.

Haeg appeared in 80 NFL games.

Just the way it’s going

It was a bad night for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they didn’t even play.

While the Pens sat idle in advance of their home game Wdensday night against the Florida Panthers, there were three Metropolitan Division teams in action. They all won.

We start with the division-leading New York Rangers. They blanked the visiting Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden. Igor Shesterkin posted a 30-save shutout.

New York has now won five in a row. They sit atop the Metro with 71 points. Philadelphia is third with 64 points. The Flyers won a fourth consecutive contest, clipping the Arizona Coyotes 5-3 in Philly. Scott Laughton gave the Flyers a 4-3 lead in the third period with a wrap-around.

The New Jersey Devils were victorious as well, improving to 56 points thanks to a 3-1 defeat of the Seattle Kraken. Jack Hughes scored for the first time since his return from an 11-day absence due to an upper-body injury.

Hughes was hurt Jan. 5 versus the Chicago Blackhawks. This was his third game back. It’s his 16th goal. New Jersey is in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, four points behind Detroit. The Red Wings have the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot at this time. The Penguins are in 12th place with 53 points.

As for the Panthers, they come to PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday in second place of the Atlantic Division with 70 points, three points behind division-leading Boston. They have won six times in their last seven tries. In that stretch, Florida is yielding a measly 1.57 goals per game. The last time the Panthers gave up more than two goals in a game was a 6-4 loss in Minnesota on Jan. 19.

As for the Penguins, they are losers of two in a row and five of seven.

Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss the Penguins, Marc-Andre Fleury and Jaromir Jagr in this week’s Gerger Construction hockey podcast.

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