Tuesday’s “First Call” reassesses the Aaron Rodgers situation after a weekend full of speculation yields no results.
Gerrit Cole is still trying to come back to the Bronx. Paul Skenes takes the mound against a frequent Pittsburgh Pirates pest.
And Robert Morris lands an intriguing basketball recruit from overseas.
Nothing new
Aaron Rodgers’ much-ballyhooed visit to Pittsburgh has ended without a contract.
If he was here at all.
That’s according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano via Steelers Depot. He was on “Get Up” on Monday morning.
“Well, nothing it doesn’t seem like,” Graziano said when asked if there was anything new on the Rodgers front. “What we have been told as of (Sunday) night is that no meeting has yet taken place. I haven’t been given any indication that this ends any other way than with Rodgers back with the Steelers, but it’s Rodgers, and you know he likes to keep us guessing.”
And that’s all that seemed to be done last weekend in relation to reports about his arrival and his intent upon visiting Pittsburgh. According to Adam Schefter, if Rodgers was in town, then he wasn’t at the facility during the course of the Steelers’ rookie minicamp.
“Aaron Rodgers was not at the Steelers facility once this weekend..
I don’t think anything has changed and I still think he ends up back with the Steelers” @AdamSchefter#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/q7o1EZIVgg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 11, 2026
The latest stated deadline for Rodgers to sign a new deal with Pittsburgh is May 18 for the start of OTAs. However, Rodgers didn’t sign here until June of 2025.
Eyeing a return
Former Pirate Gerrit Cole is on the verge of rejoining the New York Yankees. The 2023 Cy Young award winner had Tommy John surgery last year and hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since the 2024 World Series.
The 35-year-old right-hander tossed 77 pitches across five innings with Double-A Somerset on Sunday night while striking out eight along the way.
“Really good,” Boone said of Cole’s most recent rehab start. “Ripped his last heater 99 (mph) for another punch. I thought (Sunday) — working on things every time prior, and not that he wasn’t (Sunday), but I think it was a little more of a competitive Gerrit (was) trying to get outs. I thought he threw the ball really well. Stuff was really good. Another good step for him.”
But it doesn’t appear that Cole will be back at Yankee Stadium without a few more minor league stints.
“He, probably stuff-wise, ramped it up maybe even another notch (Sunday). Hopefully, now, as he continues to build his pitch count, he can continue to do that through his next couple.” Boone said via the New York Post.
In five outings to this point, Cole has only walked two batters while striking out 22.
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Rock bottom
The Pirates (22-19) are hosting the Colorado Rockies (16-25) for three games this week at PNC Park. The series opens up Tuesday with Paul Skenes (5-2, 2.36) on the mound against Michael Lorenzen (2-4, 6.92).
It’s been a rough haul for Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer. The Vandergrift native’s team is in last place in the National League West. Only the New York Mets (15-25) have a worse record in the National League.
Colorado has dropped eight of 10, including their last two against Philadelphia by a combined score of 15-3.
As is often the case, the Rockies’ pitching staff is the worst in the National League. It’s sporting an ERA of 4.84. In all of Major League Baseball, only Houston’s is worse at 5.57. The staff has also yielded 59 homers, tied for the most in baseball with Washington. Pittsburgh pitchers have only given up 32, the second-fewest in MLB.
The defense hasn’t helped the pitchers, racking up 22 errors, fourth most in the National League. Offensively, though, the Rocks are at .250. That’s the fourth-best team batting average in the NL.
This will be Skenes’ third start against the Rockies. He’s 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (four earned runs in 12 innings), posting 15 strikeouts and two walks. Colorado hitters are batting .182 against him.
A long-time Cincinnati Red, Lorenzen has 44 appearances against Pittsburgh. He is 7-2 with a 2.67 ERA and a career high 81 innings pitched.
Incoming Colonial
The Robert Morris men’s basketball team has scored an interesting international commitment.
According to RobertMorrisSportsNow.com, Daniil Stolbetskiy has committed to playing college basketball in Moon. The 6-foot-11 Russian confirmed the news on his Instagram account.
6-foot-11 international forward Daniil Stolbetskiy has committed to Robert Morris, he announced via Instagram.
Stolbetskiy has played for Fuenlabrada of the Spanish Primera FEB over the past two seasons and was a part of the U20 Russia National Team.https://t.co/1KInh2YR53pic.twitter.com/uFTVobE1cx
— Adam Borst (@AdamBorstPGH) May 12, 2026
Stolbetskiy was a part of the U20 Russia National Team. Over the past two seasons, he has played with Fuenlabrada of the Spanish Primera FEB. But only averaged 1.5 points per game, shooting 52% from the floor.
Previously, the native of Moscow was on Real Madrid’s U18 squad. Other RMU incoming transfers include Ace Valentine (UMBC), Jalik Dunkley (Nicholls State), Kiwane Garris Jr. (Cal State Fullerton), and KC Ugwuakazi (Merrimack).