First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush '100%' sure he can cover Browns’ Jarvis Landry; Ray Shero's new job; Dave Parker turns 70

Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage.

There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin.

Plus, we wish a happy birthday to a Pirates legend and celebrate a Penguins memory.

Be careful what you ask for

Steelers linebacker Devin Bush has a message for Cleveland Browns receiver Jarvis Landry.

I can cover you.

Bush was asked Wednesday if he felt like he could cover Landry in the slot. The nature of the question was referring back to how often the Browns managed to get slot receivers, such as Landry, matched up in coverage against the Steelers linebackers over the last two weeks of the season.

One play, in particular, ended up with inside linebacker Robert Spillane trying to track Landry on a third-and-2 snap with the Steelers down by 12 points at the start of the fourth quarter.

Basically, if they ever had any chance of getting back in that game, it was going to have to be in that moment. And Landry beat Spillane for 17 yards.

To no one’s surprise. That’s just a silly mismatch.

During the game, Landry had five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. But Bush insisted he could cover Landry in the slot if such a challenge presented itself, once his knee is healthy.

“Yes. A hundred percent,” Bush replied during media interviews Wednesday.

Bush says his surgically repaired knee only has him back to 80-90% of what he was before last year’s injury. But his confidence sure is up at 100%.

No response yet on Landry’s Twitter account. But I suspect one is coming.

Happy birthday, Cobra

Pirates legend Dave Parker is 70. Yup. The Cobra had a landmark birthday Wednesday.

Parker was my favorite baseball player ever. From the day I was born. So, wait then that must make me …

Never mind. Anyway, some young whippersnappers know Parker best by two famous throws from right field in the 1979 All-Star Game.

OTD in 1979, Dave Parker made two incredible throws in the All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/piu9CBl2E4

— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) July 18, 2020

Frankly, because I’ve seen those highlights so many times, I guess that I do, too. But I still remember him as a hitter as well.

And even though I am at least young enough to say that most of Parker’s prime is fuzzy, at best, in my memory banks, the numbers still hold up.

He totaled 19 seasons in the big leagues with 339 home runs, 1,493 RBIs, 2,712 hits and a .290 batting average. Five times Parker finished in the top five of MVP balloting, winning it in 1978.

Plus, two World Series rings (1979, 1989), three Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, seven All-Star selections, two batting crowns (1977, 1978) and an RBI championship (1985).

In Pittsburgh, we tend to forget Parker finished second in MVP balloting in 1985 with the Cincinnati Reds, won that second World Series ring with the Oakland A’s with 22 homers and 97 RBI at 38 years old and managed to make an All-Star game with the Milwaukee Brewers at 39 en route to a 92-RBI season.

If you haven’t watched the “Cobra at Twilight,” find it and watch it. Immediately.

In 2021, when Parker’s bluster and trash talk and over-the-top personality would be so much more embraced than it was in the 1970s — he’d be an even bigger star today than he was then. And a surefire Hall of Famer.

While we are at it, let’s tip our birthday caps to another Pirates legend, Bill Virdon. He turned 90 on Wednesday. Virdon was part of the 1960 World Series team. He won a gold glove and was also National League Rookie of the Year in 1955. He managed the Pirates from 1972-1973.

Nittany notes

There were a few NFL news items surrounding some big-name Penn State products.

First off, former Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley is still uncertain about a timetable for a return from his injured knee. He missed the last 14 games of the regular season in 2021 with a torn ACL.

Saquon Barkley, speaking for the first time this year, declined to give a timetable for his return: "You know me, I’ll take it one day at a time. … It’s going to be whenever my body tells me I’m ready."

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) June 9, 2021

Saquon Barkley was asked about his timetable 10 different ways, including directly if he'd be ready for Opening Day. Each time, he declined to answer and said he's working to get ready "whenever that is."

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) June 9, 2021

Saquon Barkley said the rehab process has taught him patience. "You've got to be smart." He wants to be the best for his team not in a short span but for the long run.

— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) June 9, 2021

Then there is Micah Parsons. The former Penn State linebacker signed his rookie contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He was the 12th overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.

The Cowboys are experimenting with Parsons as a pass rusher as well as using him in his usual linebacker role.

Wild reunion

Former Penguins player Bill Guerin is bringing a familiar face to help him in his new job. The Minnesota Wild general manager is bringing Ray Shero on board as a special advisor.

The #mnwild today named Ray Shero Senior Advisor to the General Manager. pic.twitter.com/DyhEoMPWAl

— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) June 9, 2021

Shero was the general manager in Pittsburgh, overseeing the construction of the Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup roster. He held that job from 2006 through 2014.

He then was the GM of the New Jersey Devils from May 2015 through January 2020.

Guerin was a player development coach under Shero in Pittsburgh before being promoted to an assistant GM under Jim Rutherford. He has been the GM in Minnesota since 2019.

Oh, and since we referenced that 2009 team, did you know what Wednesday marked? It was the 12th anniversary of the Penguins’ Game 6 win (2-1) over the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final.

Tyler Kennedy and Jordan Staal had goals to even that series at 3-3 after the Pens were blitzed 5-0 in Game 5.

OH, BUY SAM A DRINK AND GET HIS DOG ONE TOO!

The Penguins take the 1-0 lead in Game 6 thanks to Jordan Staal. Assists are awarded to Tyler Kennedy and Rob Scuderi.

That is Staal’s fourth goal of the playoffs and his second goal in his last three games. pic.twitter.com/XYrHNcUmdF

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 6, 2020

And I think we all know what happened in Game 7.