First Call: Steeler most likely to make Pro Bowl debut; Steelers draftee who almost missed his call; Pierre McGuire's new job

Tuesday’s “First Call” takes a peek at potential Steelers who could make their Pro Bowl debuts. One Steeler almost missed Mike Tomlin’s draft day phone call. Remembering “Mr. Wonderful’s” football career. And a new job in the NHL for Pierre McGuire.

Sounds like a good idea

Last week, NFL.com compiled a list of players from each NFL team predicted to make their first Pro Bowl.

Writer Marc Sessler advanced one nominee for each franchise. For the Steelers, it was wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

“I’m banking on Johnson to reduce his frustrating drops and lean on his next-level ability to get open downfield,” Sessler said. “This is a special athlete with the skills to crack secondaries like an egg.”

When Sessler compiled this same study a year ago, I had Johnson fourth on my list. He went with Devin Bush. I went with Bud Dupree. Knee injuries cut short the attempts for both of our candidates.

Johnson is a pretty good call considering that, despite all of his drops, he led the team in targets (144) and yards (923) and was second in receptions (88). But if there is a breakout receiver, I’m going to go with Chase Claypool before Johnson.

Najee Harris is a good rookie choice. But I’ll lean in the opposite direction and pick a veteran that, surprisingly, has yet to get an invite: Stephon Tuitt.

The defensive lineman finished last year with a sack in each of the last five regular-season games and 11 overall on the season. It appears some in the NFL are starting to take notice. So maybe that’ll get him a trip to Las Vegas in February.

Can I put you on hold, Coach?

When the Steelers were about to select Pressley Harvin III in the seventh round, it turns out he was getting ready to make a free-agent deal.

According to Steelers.com, the Georgia Tech punter was on the phone with the nearby Atlanta Falcons.

“I didn’t realize the Steelers were on the clock,” Harvin told Steelers.com. “When I got the call, (Falcons head coach Arthur Smith) was on the phone with me and I said, ‘Coach, I hate to cut you off, but I have to take this call.’ I missed switching over by about three seconds. The call coming from Pittsburgh hung up. I raced to call back.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had a sense of what was going on.

“The voice on the other end said, ‘I hope you weren’t on the phone making free-agency deals,’’’ recalled Harvin. “I didn’t know it was Coach Tomlin because I never spoke to him. I was like ‘Coach, I am not going to lie to you, I am.’ He said, ‘Well, you don’t have to worry about that. This is Mike Tomlin from the Steelers, and we are going to pick you here.’”

Apparently, Harvin’s feed was a few minutes behind on the draft telecast and that’s what was throwing him off.

V.P. Pierre

When it became clear that NBC analyst Pierre McGuire wasn’t going to ESPN or Turner for their new NHL Network lineup, many wondered what was happening.

Now we know.

McGuire is going back to work for an NHL team. He’ll be the new senior vice president of player development for the Ottawa Senators.

The 59-year-old was a special assignment scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins, then he got promoted to assistant coach in 1991.

McGuire also has experience in Ottawa, serving as a scout from 1995-96.

Beyond the ring

Monday was a sad day for wrestling. Former WWF superstar Paul Orndorff died at the age of 71.

But before he became “Mr. Wonderful,” Orndorff was a football player.

According to Pro Football Talk, Orndorff was a running back who scored 21 career touchdowns and gained more than 2,000 all-purpose yards at the University of Tampa.

Orndorff was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the 12th round of the 1973 NFL draft. He also had a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, but never got on the field with either franchise. He played in the World Football League, too, but eventually gave up the gridiron for the wrestling ring.