Spring ahead, fall back, refreshing sports notes always! We’re going to win this one, take the country by storm!

• The Steelers were reportedly talking to Jacksonville about a trade for wideout Christian Kirk, but Kirk broke his collarbone. So, the Steelers almost got Kirk, almost got Brandon Aiyuk and almost got Davante Adams. Can’t wait to see who else the Steelers almost get at Tuesday’s trade deadline. If the Steelers think they can win playoff games, they should have long since been more aggressive in making a move. Lurking in the shadows hoping to get a bargain is going to keep Van Jefferson too high up the depth chart.

• GM Omar Khan needs to get a deal done for a receiver. If not, maybe he should go back to bean counting and hand the football decisions over to assistant GM Andy Weidl. This is make or break. And ditching Diontae Johnson without a nailed-on Plan B at No. 2 receiver remains unforgivable.

• The Steelers’ next two games will tell a tale. A visit to 7-2 Washington is first. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is a legit sensation. The Commanders’ offense ranks third in yards, fourth in scoring. Then the Steelers host Baltimore, a bit inconsistent but an absolute juggernaut on a good day. Like this past Sunday when they blistered a seemingly rising Denver team 41-10. It’s difficult to imagine the Steelers losing twice, dropping to 6-4, momentum broken and back in the mushy middle. But not impossible.

• If the Steelers’ defense is “elite” — that word is in quotation marks for a reason — it should have no trouble decimating a rookie quarterback. If, indeed, that defense is “elite.”

• Mike Tomlin’s wasted timeout vs. the New York Giants because he blanked on the rules of replay challenges reinforces that the Steelers need a better process. The Penguins win nearly all their challenges because the video coach, Madison Nikkel, is in charge of reviews, has final say, and has it down to a science. Tomlin decides off the cuff by way of being in charge. It’s madness. Less ego, more efficiency.

• Left tackle Dan Moore Jr. is having a very good season in a contract year. There’s no debate about the Steelers keeping him. He’s gone. He’s going to cost too much.

• Pitt’s loss at SMU erases some unrealistic hopes, but 7-1 is much better than expected. It would be so very Pitt to let excrement roll downhill and lose at home to 4-4 Virginia. But if the Panthers can avoid that, the following week’s home game against Clemson will light up Pittsburgh. QB Eli Holstein and Pitt’s defense have to bounce back. The worry is that both might be showing what they really are.

• Does Pitt have a quarterback controversy? Holstein has had three less-than-stellar games in a row. Junior backup Nate Yarnell was 9 for 10 for 99 yards and two touchdowns during garbage time at SMU. Holstein is just a freshman. He should start vs. Virginia, but Yarnell should stay warm. On the bright side, perhaps Holstein’s dip in performance will mean Pitt won’t get outbid for his services next season.

• For Penn State, it was now or never. They chose never. Fans are mad because James Franklin is 1-10 vs. Ohio State, exemplary of his failure against top-tier programs. The reality is that Penn State isn’t a top-tier program. It is a level below. Good enough to make the expanded 12-team playoff, but not good enough to beat the very best. That’s not totally on Franklin. Not sure who could do better. That’s water finding a level. Penn State fans think Pitt is beneath them, and they’re right. But Penn State is beneath Ohio State.

• Sidney Crosby is going to score just enough goals to make sure the Penguins don’t make the NHL draft lottery. If he can somehow drag a rotten roster to a playoff berth, it will be one of Crosby’s greatest triumphs. But he won’t. Don’t overreact to two narrow home wins against foes that are at the same level.

• Crosby skating on the same line as Evgeni Malkin is working. It shouldn’t be immediately abandoned when usual Crosby linemate Bryan Rust returns from injury. Crosby and Malkin have a verve to their game that had been lacking, especially with Crosby. Each has more space. If third wheel Rickard Rakell keeps finding seams and scoring, perhaps he can be swapped at the trade deadline for future assets.

• When the expansion Vegas Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final in their first season, it was said they had four second lines. With Crosby and Malkin playing together, the Penguins have three fourth lines.

• Defensemen Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves played a couple of decent games recently. Who’d have thought?

• I don’t have much problem with ex-NFL meathead Jason Kelce destroying a heckler’s phone, though the smart thing would be to walk away. But Kelce answering a homophobic slur with several of his own is disturbing, and makes you think that word is a regular part of his vocabulary. Also disturbing is that a lot of the reporting about the incident edited video to exclude Kelce’s offensive language, seemingly in an attempt to make him a hero. Bro culture is taking over.

• Kelce works for ESPN. This incident won’t get him any censure from the Worldwide Leader. Heck, it might get him a raise and more air time. ESPN is a cesspool.

• Congrats to Pirates infielder Jared Triolo for winning the Gold Glove at the utility position. But forgive me if I don’t get how somebody who isn’t good enough to start gets honored as one of the game’s top fielders. Is there a Gold Glove for best bullpen catcher?

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