MLB

First Call: Steelers’ Bud Dupree a good fit for Eagles?; Charlie Morton sizzles; Baker Mayfield vs. Rex Ryan

Tim Benz
Slide 1
AP
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree celebrates making a defensive play against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Pittsburgh.

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In “First Call” Thursday, trade talk surrounds a Pittsburgh Steeler. Baker Mayfield responds to Rex Ryan. And Charlie Morton shines again.


City of Brotherly Bud?

The Steelers have been busy trading for players in recent weeks.

Now there’s one suggestion that Pennsylvania’s other team should try to snag a current Steeler off the roster.

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com says Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman should consider working a trade for Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree.

Here is his rationale:

“Dupree is exactly the kind of guy Roseman tends to target — a relatively big name on a lowly team with some untapped potential and, best of all, an expiring contract. The $9.2M cap hit is pricey, but Dupree is still just 26, he’s got lots of experience, and even if he balls out, the Eagles would be in line for a compensatory-pick reward. Demetri George, of the DeVoted Steelers Podcast, notes that Dupree is capable of playing with his hand in the dirt, so (defensive coordinator) Jim Schwartz would conceivably be able to get creative. Like (Jets DE Brandon) Copeland, he’s no surefire difference-maker, but he’s definitely on the next tier of emergency pass rush options.”

The suggested compensation in the story was either wide receiver Nelson Agholor or a 2020 fourth-round pick.

Hey, look, Dupree may not have lived up to his first-round-pick billing. But he’s a starting outside linebacker in the NFL. And if a team wants him, they should part with something more than a fourth-round pick. At least a third.

Plus, it appears some following the Eagles have wanted Dupree since the 2015 draft.

And Agholor? The flaming baby wide receiver?

No thanks! Don’t the Steelers already have a guy with the dropsies in Donte Moncrief?

And wouldn’t it be strange if the Steelers started trading guys away after they just gave up draft picks to acquire players in an attempt to salvage the season?


Nostalgia won’t get you far

The Steelers traded for Seattle Seahawks tight end Nick Vannett.

He was given No. 88. Former Steelers receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey used to wear that number. And he seemed saddened about the news.

If No. 88 means so much to Heyward-Bey, why is his Twitter handle still @theDHB85?


Mad Mayfield

Former NFL coach Rex Ryan is now an analyst on ESPN.

He recently called Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield “overrated as hell.”

Mayfield was asked for a reaction.

Not bad. Not as good as Mike Tomlin’s “I was a Hollywood Henderson fan” retort to Terry Bradshaw.

But not bad.

Maybe he could have worked a foot-fetish joke in there or something?


Cheers for Chuck

Former pitcher Charlie Morton was filthy Wednesday for the Tampa Bay Rays.

He shut down the New York Yankees in an important game with playoff implications.

“Ground Chuck” twirled six shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and walked three, striking out nine along the way. Morton improved to 16-6 and his ERA dropped to 3.05.

The Rays won 4-0. They currently hold the second wild-card slot 0.5 games behind the Oakland A’s and 1.5 games in front of the Cleveland Indians.


Bangin’ Brewers

Well, congrats to the Milwaukee Brewers.

They somehow managed to make the playoffs despite losing reigning MVP Christian Yelich to a leg injury.

Milwaukee clinched at least the National League’s second wild-card spot with a 9-2 win in Cincinnati.

But they can still win the Central division. The Brewers are only 1.5 games back of the St. Louis Cardinals for first place.

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