Tuesday’s “First Call” has a possible destination for Kirk Cousins — if it isn’t Pittsburgh. The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with George Pickens’ contract uncertainty. The Penguins are looking to build off of Monday’s exhilarating win over the New York Islanders.

Some big-name Pittsburgh figures are involved in the NFL’s Flag Football launch. And a Wexford product just signed an NHL contract after a successful career at Penn State.

Not holding back

If the Steelers don’t want Kirk Cousins, there is at least one team that does.

And their head coach isn’t fighting his desire to let that be known.

Many have espoused an opinion that Cousins should be a pivot point for the Steelers if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t re-sign in Pittsburgh. If that doesn’t come to pass, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay told ESPN that he would like to be reunited with Cousins in L.A.

Cousins was the quarterback in Washington when McVay was the offensive coordinator from 2014-16.

Stetson Bennett IV is the only other QB on Los Angeles’ roster behind reigning NFL MVP Matt Stafford.

A Pickens problem?

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is getting no guarantees that wide receiver George Pickens is going to be part of the organization’s offseason program.

“And I haven’t pushed that on him,” Schottenheimer insisted via ESPN.com.

The former Steeler has been franchise-tagged by the Cowboys. Pickens is believed to want a long-term contract. However, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys have not had discussions with Pickens’ representatives regarding such a deal.

“We’re all going through the process. It’s almost April. We’re still a couple of weeks away,” Schottenheimer said from the NFL meetings in Phoenix. “It’s going to play out the way it plays out. Again, it’s all voluntary. We’ll see where it goes.”

Earlier this year, the club placed a $27.3 million tag on Pickens. But it wasn’t the exclusive tag on Pickens. He can still be signed as a free agent by another team. But that new club would have to forfeit two first-round picks, or another deal that the Cowboys could accept.

“GP loves it here. We love GP,” Schottenheimer said. “We have plans for GP to be here for a long time, so we’ll let the business side of this thing play out and see where it goes.”

After three occasionally productive — but often volatile — years in Pittsburgh, Pickens was traded to Dallas after last year’s draft. He posted career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429), first downs (73) and touchdowns (9).

 

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Raise what’s left of the flag for me

Via NFL.com, the league announced on Monday that it is partnering with TMRW Sports to “develop and operate a professional flag football league for women and men.”

Among those in the investment group are Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Tom Brady. Female sports champions Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Alex Morgan and Serena Williams are also involved.

A couple of NFL players with Pittsburgh ties are throwing their weight behind the project too. Pitt alum Larry Fitzgerald and ex-Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson are contributing.

Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. A launch timeline is expected to run up to that event.

On the women’s side, the NCAA recently approved the addition of flag football to the “Emerging Sports for Women” program. The University of Nebraska became the first Power Four Division I program to launch a varsity women’s flag football team.

No time to celebrate

The Penguins don’t have any time to bask in the afterglow of Monday night’s 8-3 beatdown of the New York Islanders.

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They have to turn around and host Detroit on Tuesday. The Red Wings were idle Monday. They visit Pittsburgh with 86 points, two back of Columbus for the Eastern Conference’s last wild card spot. Ottawa and Philadelphia are tied with the Wings.

Meanwhile, the Pens have 90 points, one better than the Isles and good for second place in the Metropolitan Division, eight back of first-place Carolina. The Hurricanes have nine games remaining. The Pens have eight, and the Islanders have seven.

The Red Wings have been struggling lately. They’ve only won three times in their past nine games. Whitehall’s own John Gibson has been the goalie of record the last 11 times out for Detroit. He is 4-6-1 in that stretch, with a .904 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.5.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Islanders visit Buffalo on Tuesday night. The Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning are tied with 98 points atop the Atlantic Division. Columbus and Carolina play each other in Ohio. Philly is at Washington (83 points).

Rocky Mountain high

Wexford’s Matt DiMarsico has signed his first NHL contract. On Monday, the Penn State forward inked a two-year, entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Nittany Lion junior will report to the Colorado Eagles on an AHL contract for the remainder of this season. His entry-level contract will begin with the 2026-27 campaign.

“I love Matt’s story,” PSU coach Guy Gadowsky said through a team release Monday. “He was not given anything other than an opportunity and started at the very bottom. He worked extremely hard on his individual game and paid close attention to team play, and the result was great improvement year after year.”

DiMarsico was named a 2026 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after a 42-point season in State College. He became just the 10th Nittany Lion all-time to reach 100 career points, finishing his career with 42 goals and 58 assists in 111 games.

DiMarsico’s teammate, goalie Kevin Reidler, also signed an ELC on Monday with Ottawa.