First Call: Ex-Steeler calls out George Pickens; Davante Adams update; Sidney Crosby 'not an option' to leave Pittsburgh

Tuesday’s “First Call” has a stern message for George Pickens from a former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion.

We also have an update on the chaos swirling around the Raiders as they prepare to host the Steelers on Sunday. Sidney Crosby discusses his long-term future in Pittsburgh.

And some highlight reel performances at Duquesne and Robert Morris are getting conference-wide recognition.

‘Status quo’

As the Steelers prepare to play the Las Vegas Raiders, they are unsure about who the opposing quarterback is going to be, and which uniform Davante Adams is going to be wearing.

Or if he’ll be in uniform at all.

Adams, the disgruntled Raiders wideout, has asked for a trade. The Steelers are among many alleged suitors. However, on Monday, Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce had no update to provide on his star receiver’s status — not only in terms of trade talks, but also his health. Adams has missed the past two games because of a reported hamstring injury.

Via ProFootballTalk.com, “Pierce said (Adams’ situation) was ‘status quo’ and that reporters should ask Adams why he’s looking for a new place to play.”

However, “status quo” is a hazy response when the status itself is at the very heart of the question.

“I don’t know. I think you gotta ask Davante that,” Pierce said when asked why Adams wants out of Las Vegas.

Pierce is also still unsure about who his starting quarterback will be between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell.

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce told reporters that he’s still evaluating who will be the team’s starting QB, Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell. For now, the team is treating it like a competion before deciding who will start vs. the Steelers.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2024

The Steelers won in Las Vegas last year, but they lost to Minshew when he was the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts.

Let’s see if Mike Tomlin is more transparent in his own QB decision between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields during his weekly Tuesday press conference.

Coming right out to say it

Former Steeler Max Starks panned wide receiver George Pickens on the team’s own postgame show Sunday following the franchise’s 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Appearing on the Steelers Audio Network, the retired offensive lineman turned sideline reporter ripped Pickens for wearing eye-black that read “Open (expletive) always.” The third-year pass-catcher was also seen pouting on the sideline during the game, rounding off routes and grabbing the facemask of a Dallas player after the final whistle.

“Some guys need to grow up faster than they are,” Starks said. “If you wanna be a No. 1 receiver, act like a No. 1 receiver. Don’t act like a No. 3 receiver in those moments. Don’t shrink in the moment you want the ball.”

Pickens had just three catches for 26 yards on seven targets during the defeat on “Sunday Night Football” at Acrisure Stadium.

“You say you’re always open. Show me what you get when you are open,” Starks said. “Do something about it. Don’t sit there and pout about it.Go block somebody downfield and maybe you get to play-action on the next one. Those are the things that take away from a team when you’re not a part of the team when it’s more ‘me’ than ‘we’ in the process. … He needs to grow up and he needs to show me on the field.”

Pickens also played a season-low 59% of the offensive snaps.

Sid is staying

Prior to the start of training camp, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby signed a contract extension that’ll keep him in Pittsburgh through the rest of his 30s. He is assured of being here until the end of the 2027 season.

Appearing on 105.9 The X Wednesday, Crosby says he doesn’t envision himself ever playing for another franchise besides the Penguins.

“I don’t see that,” Crosby told Mark Madden. “I definitely don’t look at that as really something that would even be an option at this point. I don’t look at it that way at all.”

In terms of his health, Madden asked Crosby if he feels 37 years old heading into his 20th season. Crosby begins 2024-25 just eight goals shy of 600, and four points shy of 1,600.

“Sometimes. It depends on the day. But, for the most part, I still feel pretty good,” Crosby said. “As far as my body and physically, I feel really good. Mentally, I think the energy and the passion to play and compete, that’s still very much there.”

The New York Rangers visit PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday to play the Pens. It’ll be the season-opener for both organizations.

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Props for Perrantes

Darius Perrantes is the Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The Duquesne senior quarterback picked up that award for Week 6 after posting a career day in a 47-21 homecoming win over Long Island University on Saturday.

The senior out of Los Angeles finished 15 for 23 with 212 yards passing. He tied a Rooney Field record with a career-high five passing touchdowns, plus one more rushing. Being a part of six TDs in one game ties a single-game program record.

John Erby‼️ First touchdown as a Duke.

5⃣th TD pass of the day for Darius Perrantes.@IamErb_3 | @dmperrantespic.twitter.com/ZHHgqgYaJM

— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) October 5, 2024

Perrantes actually scored a seventh touchdown, but the ball popped loose as he was crossing the goal line. Tight end Daniel Tarabrella recovered it for the score.

Redshirt junior running back JaMario Clements was also named an NEC Prime Performer. He carried the ball a career-high 20 times and totaled 147 yards rushing.

The Dukes (3-2, 1-0 NEC) face Saint Francis (2-3, 0-1 NEC) on the road Saturday at noon. It’ll be the 50th all-time meeting between the schools. This is the fourth week in a row that the Dukes have received votes in the FCS Stats Perform media poll (25 points)and the AFCA Coaches Poll (24 points).

Efforts noticed

Robert Morris women’s hockey defenseman Thalia D’Elia and goaltender Maggie Hatch were given Atlantic Hockey America awards for their efforts in the Colonials’ series sweep against Bemidji State over the weekend.

Hatch was named AHA Goaltender of the Week for notching her second career shutout in the first game of the series. She made 46 saves, four shy of a career-high, en route to the 2-0 victory Friday. Hatch also won Game 2 on Saturday, recording a 1.48 goals-against average (GAA) and a .961 save percentage with 73 total saves across the two games.

D’Elia was named Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. In the series opener, she recorded an assist, and in the finale, she scored her second career overtime winner to secure the sweep.

The Colonials are off to a 3-1-0 start and will travel to Potsdam, N.Y., for a two-game series against Clarkson this weekend. The men have a preseason exhibition series in Michigan that also involves a Canadian school (Simon Fraser), Bowling Green and the U.S. National Development Team.