Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting critique of Mike Tomlin from a former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker. Charlie Batch is sticking by his story as to what is going on with Aaron Rodgers.

An ex-Steelers safety is heading to a division rival. We examine a busy night in the NHL’s Eastern Conference playoff push. And we get to know the Pirates’ opponent for their first series at PNC Park in 2026.

Specific choice of words

Former Steeler Stevenson Sylvester had a very specific criticism of his time under Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. The retired linebacker claimed that Tomlin “created dysfunction,” starting in the 2012 season.

A University of Utah alum, Sylvester was speaking on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

“When I was with the Steelers, we were 12-4 my first two seasons,” Sylvester told Scott Garrard at the 24:20 mark of the interview. “My third year, we took a dip (8-8 in 2012). We let go of some veterans (James Farrior, Hines Ward and Aaron Smith). … It wasn’t as good as the years before.”

As mined at SteelersDepot.com, Sylvester said the biggest problem was that Tomlin tried to take on too much responsibility.

“The difference was Mike Tomlin would try to do everybody else’s job. He would try to do the defensive coordinator’s (Dick LeBeau) job, the linebacker coach’s (Keith Butler) job, and it wouldn’t leave time for those guys to do their job,” Sylvester said. “That created dysfunction. Let everybody do their job. They are hired for a certain reason.”

Sylvester’s words lend some credence from inside the locker room to a popular narrative — that Tomlin had his fingerprints all over that Steelers defense as it began to slide following the Super Bowl XLV loss to Green Bay.

The 2013 season ended up being Sylvester’s final season in Pittsburgh before playing one more in Buffalo.

Not wavering

A week ago, Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch insisted that the delay in Aaron Rodgers signing his contract in Pittsburgh was — at least partially — a financially related matter.

“This decision is coming down to money,” Batch said on the March 25 edition of his “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.”

On Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter disputed that report, and Batch pushed back.

During his latest podcast with Essex, Batch reiterated his stance.

“Regardless of (what) even Adam Schefter is saying, ‘It’s not a contractual situation.’ Yes, it is,” Batch said on Thursday’s “Snap Count” podcast. “I will stand on this, 10 toes down. He deserves a pay raise. He’s not going to play on the number he had last year ($14.1 million). For people to say, ‘He made a bunch of money. It’s not about the money.’ … Stop counting other people’s pockets. This is about his services for this season.”

Batch doesn’t have to convince me twice. I don’t know if the delay in signing Rodgers is all about cash in 2026. But I wouldn’t be stunned at all to learn that money was playing a role.

After Rodgers played last year for just $14.1 million, I always assumed that his contract in 2026 would be larger if he returned for another reason.

But $30 million as Batch is suggesting? I can certainly see why the Steelers would be pushing back if that’s what Rodgers is demanding.

Dugger’s new digs

Ex-Steeler Kyle Dugger has a new home. And it is still in the AFC North.

The safety signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday. That’s according to Schefter.

Dugger came to Pittsburgh with a seventh-round pick from New England via trade for a sixth-rounder Oct. 30. Dugger spent the rest of 2025 in Pittsburgh.

The 30-year-old spent nine games in black and gold, registering 42 tackles, a safety, a sack, two interceptions and five passes defended. One of those interceptions was a pick-six versus Cincinnati.

Dugger joins a safety room that also includes Jordan Battle, Bryan Cook and P.J. Jules.

Mixed bag

The Penguins failed in their attempt to beat a third straight Eastern Conference playoff contender. After defeating the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders earlier in the week, the Pens fell 6-3 in Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

Anthony Cirelli had a hat trick for the Lightning.

As far as other teams in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, Ottawa picked up two points by beating Buffalo, 4-1. The Bruins dropped a 2-1 decision at Florida. The Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers, 3-2. Detroit was a 4-2 winner in Philadelphia. Columbus lost 5-1 at Carolina. And Washington got thumped 7-3 in New Jersey.

So that means the Hurricanes (102 points) extended their Metropolitan Division lead to 10 points over the second-place Penguins (92) and 13 points over the third-place New York Islanders, who were idle Thursday.

In the Atlantic, Buffalo and the Lightning are tied at 100 points apiece atop the division. The Canadiens are two back with 98, holding the division’s third automatic qualifying slot.

Boston is the top wild-card team with 94 points. Ottawa, Detroit and Columbus all have 88 points. The Senators currently own the final wild-card spot via tiebreaker (with 33 regulation wins).

Philadelphia is two back of that pack with 86 points, alone in 11th place. Washington is 12th with 85.

 

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• Cup of Joe: Konnor Griffin promotion continues Pirates’ sudden fit of competence
 

Mirror, mirror

For Friday’s home opener at PNC Park, all eyes will be on recently promoted prospect Konnor Griffin and the hometown Pirates.

As a whole, the Bucs themselves come in 3-3 after an 8-3 win Thursday in Cincinnati. The team’s opponent, the Baltimore Orioles, is in a similar spot after the first week of the season.

The O’s are also 3-3, having just won 8-3 over Texas on Thursday. That game ended on the first-ever “walk-off” ABS challenge.

The Pirates have scored 29 runs so far, ninth-most in Major League Baseball and three more than Baltimore. The Pirates have 10 home runs, tied for the National League lead with Atlanta. The Orioles have committed five errors already. Only six teams have more.

Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch against right-hander Kyle Bradish (0-1, 3.86) in the opener Friday. Keller tossed six scoreless innings in his 2026 debut against the New York Mets last week.

Saturday’s game features Carmen Mlodzinski on the mound for the Pirates. He got a no-decision in his outing in New York, allowing two earned runs and six hits while throwing into the fifth inning. He’ll be opposed by former Pirates prospect Shane Baz. The 2017 first-round pick yielded four earned runs in 5⅓ innings against Minnesota on March 29.

On Sunday, Braxton Ashcraft (3.00) squares off against Baltimore’s Chris Bassitt (8.01). They are both 0-1 to open 2026.

Listen: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski talk Steelers during this week’s offseason podcast

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