Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting angle on the Aaron Rodgers watch from a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. A high-profile receiving target at Ohio State floats a theory about Will Howard.
We preview the Penguins’ game in Canada on Thursday night. And Robert Morris’ top scorer is entering the transfer portal.
Money matters
At least one notable voice is saying that the delay in retaining Aaron Rodgers may be about money.
Rodgers made $14.1 million last year in Pittsburgh. Most have been assuming that if Rodgers returns, he’ll play for roughly that amount again this year. Perhaps slightly more.
But former Steelers QB — and current Steelers Radio Network postgame show host Charlie Batch — says otherwise.
“This decision is coming down to money,” Batch said on “The Snap Count” podcast with ex-Steeler Trai Essex. “The Steelers would like him to come back, yes. But it’s not going to be at the ($14 million) number. I’m sure Aaron, at some point — and I have not spoken to him, but — I’m sure his representatives are wanting something closer to $30 (million). And you hope that, somewhere, you meet in the middle.”
Batch suggested that this may be about making up for last year’s bargain basement price for a future Hall of Fame talent.
“This is a guy who outplayed his contract,” Batch added. “I will stand by this, and there aren’t many people out there, I may be the only one, saying this at this particular point.”
Batch is right in the sense that not a lot of people have been seizing on the financial aspect of the wait for Rodgers. Largely, that’s because he held off from signing until June last year, and the deal came in at just $14.1 million. That’s peanuts for a starting QB in the NFL. In fact, 21 quarterbacks made more than him.
Although the Steelers finished 22nd in the NFL in passing offense. So it’s hard to argue that Rodgers outperformed his contract to the point that it should be more than doubled.
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Change of plans
Despite reported plans to be in attendance at Ohio State’s Pro Day, Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike McCarthy were not there Wednesday. That’s via Steelersnow.com.
However, the website reports that assistant general manager Andy Weidl and area scout Jim Ward were in attendance. So was outside linebacker and OSU alum Jack Sawyer. Former GM Kevin Colbert was on hand too.
The Buckeyes have four of the top 11 picks in the draft, according to ESPN.com. One of them is wide receiver Carnell Tate. Many draft analysts feel that he is the best pass catcher in the draft.
Tate was asked after the pro day activities if former teammate Will Howard was giving him any advice in the pre-draft process. Tate replied that the Steelers quarterback was intentionally avoiding doing so because he wants to see him fall to the Steelers’ pick at No. 21 overall.
“Will ain’t give me no tips,” Tate said on the “Eleven Warriors” YouTube channel (at the 4:28 mark). “He’s going to root for me to fall to Pittsburgh.”
That’s an unlikely drop for Tate. During a three-year career in Columbus, he posted 121 catches for 1,872 yards. Fourteen of those receptions went for touchdowns.
Tate didn’t get timed in the 40-yard dash Wednesday. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.
Eyes on Ottawa
The Penguins are trying to snap out of their recent funk against Ottawa. Dan Muse’s club has dropped three of four and has fallen into third place in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points, one back of second-place Columbus.
The Senators are up to 85 points, good enough to be in the second wild card slot. The Sens have won four in a row and nine of their last 11 games. During that stretch of hot play, Ottawa has yielded just 2.09 goals against per game.
Meanwhile, the club is clipping along at 3.32 goals-per-game for the season. That’s ninth-best in the NHL. Pittsburgh is seventh at 3.39. Tim Stutzle leads Ottawa in scoring. The German Olympian has 73 points and 32 goals.
Tim Stutzle – Ottawa Senators (32)
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/hvzNY4SP4G— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) March 22, 2026
One area where Ottawa struggles, though, is on the penalty kill. The Senators are only operating at a 75% success rate in that area. That’s 30th in the NHL.
Perhaps that’ll help a struggling Penguins power play. Despite being seventh in the NHL, the Pens’ man-up unit is scoreless in the last three games, going 0 for 8 in that time. It has also allowed a pair of shorthanded goals over the last four games.
Prather packing up
Another Robert Morris Colonial is hitting the transfer portal. This time it’s Ryan Prather.
TRUST IN GODS PLAN???????? pic.twitter.com/19hgM3NGHF
— Ryan Prather jr (@RyanPratherJr) March 25, 2026
The junior guard led RMU in scoring last year at 15.7 points per game. He was the lone holdover from a 2025 squad that went to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Horizon League.
Prather transferred to RMU after starting his career in Akron. He ended up playing 70 games for the Colonials, starting 45.
Also departing from this year’s team are Horizon League Player of the Year DeSean Goode and 6-foot-9 forward Nikolaos Chitikoudis.