First Call: Kevin Colbert may be scouting QB prospect; ex-Steeler signs with Bengals; Dan Marino’s milestone

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The Steelers may already be scouting a quarterback for next year’s draft. The Bengals have signed a former Steelers free agent. The Raiders Maxx Crosby raised eyebrows with his performance Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

And we celebrate a Pitt football legend’s birthday. All of this in today’s First Call.

Tar Heel town

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert was at North Carolina’s football practice Tuesday.

We know that because Tar Heels coach Mack Brown tweeted out this photo with Colbert.

It’s not certain who Colbert was looking at, but it’s safe to assume that the Steelers were at least checking out Sam Howell.

He is perceived by some to be the best quarterback prospect in the NFL Draft next spring. But Howell has struggled a bit this season. He has been sacked eight times and thrown three interceptions over the first two games.

In just over two seasons at Chapel Hill, Howell has thrown 72 touchdowns and 17 picks while completing 64.3% of his passes.

With Ben Roethlisberger’s status up in the air and no clear-cut starter established for the long term after he leaves, many are wondering whether the Steelers will make a splash in the draft or in free agency this spring.

Back with Bengals?

The Cincinnati Bengals signed a former Steeler in advance of a Week 3 showdown between the AFC North rivals.

Safety Sean Davis’ first stint with Pittsburgh lasted from 2016-19. He was picked up by Washington in March 2020 but was let go in September. Then he re-signed with the Steelers and played out last year in Pittsburgh before signing with the Indianapolis Colts this spring.

He was released Aug. 31, then latched onto the team’s practice squad before becoming a free agent again Sept. 14. That’s when the Bengals decided to scoop him up.

Davis, a sixth-year player out of Maryland, has played in 65 career games and has 244 tackles, 2½ sacks, 21 passes defensed, five interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Cincinnati shifted safety Ricardo Allen to injured reserve because of hand and hamstring injuries suffered during the Week 1 win over Minnesota.

Raider rewards

The first AFC Defensive Player of the Week for 2021 wasn’t T.J. Watt or Cameron Heyward.

That’s despite a stellar performance by both Steelers in a win against the Buffalo Bills.

Instead, the honor went to Las Vegas Raider Maxx Crosby. The defensive end had six tackles and two sacks along with numerous other snaps that led to hurries and pressures of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

He dusted former Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva on numerous occasions.

But the Raiders also got some bad news. Fellow defensive lineman Gerald McCoy was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Damion Square is replacing him on the roster.

Big b-day for Dan

Legendary Pitt quarterback Dan Marino celebrated a birthday Wednesday — his 60th.

Wait, that’s impossible. If Marino is 60, then that makes me … old enough to have remarkable moments like this one where time is evaporating before my very eyes.

And that would make this highlight practically ancient.

But it still looks good, doesn’t it?

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.



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