Fox’s Jay Glazer doesn’t hold back when talking about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A new Steelers coach gets some bad news from the Hall of Fame.

A former Steeler speaks his mind when it comes to ex-New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. And we outline a busy weekend of local college basketball.

All that and more in Friday’s “First Call.”

Not alone

The late L.C. Greenwood isn’t the only person with Steelers ties who came up short in a Hall of Fame bid. So did Jahri Evans.

Evans was recently hired as the Steelers’ new assistant offensive line coach. He was also a finalist to get into Canton. But the former New Orleans Saints All-Pro didn’t get the necessary votes to merit induction. That was despite an impassioned pitch from Saints general manager Mickey Loomis on Evans’ behalf last week.

Evans’ teammate Drew Brees did make the cut, as did Pitt product Larry Fitzgerald, kicker Adam Vinatieri, linebacker Luke Kuechly and running back Roger Craig.

Evans was a four-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler in New Orleans. He helped win Super Bowl XLIV for the franchise and was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2010s.

Prior to joining Mike McCarthy’s first staff in Pittsburgh, Evans had been coaching offensive linemen in New Orleans since 2022.

Letting it be known

Former Steeler Robert Spillane is ripping an all-time NFL great.

The current Patriots linebacker panned New England legend Tom Brady for claiming that he “didn’t have a dog in the fight” when it came to Sunday’s Super Bowl between his former team and the Seattle Seahawks.

Spillane didn’t like that and felt as if Brady was forcing ambivalence because of his current ownership role with the Las Vegas Raiders.

“Personally, it makes me sick,” Spillane said on Thursday. “He has a dog in the fight. For him to say that, it is what it is. But at the end of the day, he’s a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders now. So he has to do what’s best for him.”

“I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one,” Brady told Jim Gray on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “May the best team win. In terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England, and I’m glad everyone’s embraced the Mike Vrabel regime, all the amazing players that have worked so hard to get their club to this position. We did it for 20 years. There was a little bit of a hiatus in there, but the Patriots are back, and it’s a very exciting time for everyone in New England.”

It’s a quizzical comment from Brady, given that Vrabel was his former teammate, he won six Super Bowls with the Patriots, and one of them was over Seattle at the end of the 2015 season.

Not pulling punches

Fox’s NFL insider Jay Glazer made some news with his takes on Mike Tomlin’s resignation during a few stops on Super Bowl Radio Row this week.

But he also had some pointed things to say about Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Glazer’s remarks were related to Rodgers’ potential interest in returning to Pittsburgh for a second year under McCarthy.

“He and Mike McCarthy, they’ve talked. I think he has more of an appreciation for Mike now than he had — by a lot. Kind of absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Glazer said. “I trained with Aaron in the offseason. I still can’t tell you how he’ll be on a Monday or Tuesday. I never know. I thought we were real good friends and all that stuff. I think he called me back once this whole offseason. So … screw him.”

McCarthy and Rodgers won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay, but their relationship hasn’t always been great. That said, to Glazer’s point, Rodgers has had glowing things to say about McCarthy as time has passed since McCarthy left the Packers after the 2018 season.

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McCarthy endorsed the notion of potentially coaching Rodgers again at his first Steelers press conference following his appointment to replace Mike Tomlin.

Rodgers has yet to publicly comment. The 42-year-old is a free agent after leading the Steelers to 10 victories and an AFC North crown in 2025.

Dear George (Part II)

After winning at George Mason on Wednesday, the Duquesne men’s basketball team is looking for a third straight victory in Atlantic 10 play.

The Dukes host George Washington at 2 p.m. Saturday. Both clubs are 13-10 overall. Duquesne is in sixth place in the A-10 at 5-5, GW is ninth at 4-6.

The Revolutionaries have lost three in a row, two of which have been by a single possession. The Dukes have won three of their past four games. That victory against George Mason came without injured starters Tarence Guinyard and Jakub Necas. Their status for Saturday’s contest is unknown.

George Washington features transfer guard Tre Dinkins on their roster. He is averaging 10.3 points per game. Last year, he was the Dukes’ leading scorer at 12.9 points per game.

Meanwhile, Pitt also plays at 2 p.m. Saturday at home. The Panthers (9-14, 2-8 ACC) welcome SMU (15-7, 4-5 ACC). Jeff Capel’s team has dropped five of its past six in conference play. The Mustangs are coming off losses to Louisville and N.C. State.

As for Robert Morris (15-10, 7-7 Horizon), the Colonials are at Youngstown State (12-10, 5-8 Horizon) for a 4:30 tip. RMU beat the Penguins in the Horizon League Championship game last season.

In women’s play, Pitt lost to Stanford, 86-65, on Thursday night. The Panthers host Cal at 1 p.m. Sunday. Duquesne is at St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m. Saturday. Robert Morris fell to Green Bay, 61-58, on Thursday. The Colonials are at home at 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Milwaukee.