Thursday’s “First Call” takes a closer look at the trade rumors connecting Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Specifics surrounding Cam Heyward’s surgery are revealed. Some former Steelers are popping up on various coaching staffs. The Penguins look to shake their out of their losing funk against another struggling NHL foe.

The Duquesne women’s basketball team continues its winning ways. And we celebrate the most beloved anniversary in American sports history.

Finding out more about Fields

Speculation continues that Justin Fields could be traded from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ESPN’s Field Yates and Courtney Cronin came up with three trades Chicago could make involving Fields should the franchise decide to move on from him at QB so it can draft USC’s Caleb Williams in April.

One of the draft models had Fields winding up in Pittsburgh. In the hypothetical return, the Steelers would ship a 2024 second-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick back to Chicago.

Personally, I’d try to split the years and offer a higher pick next year instead, but that compensation is reasonable to me. The price for Fields has never scared me off of trade talk. It’s actually committing to him as a QB that leaves me shaky. I feel only slightly better about his potential than I do Kenny Pickett’s.

As for Fields himself, he went on a podcast with teammate Equanimeous St. Brown and his brother, Amon-Ra (Detroit Lions). Fields called Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium one of the top three venues he has played in so far (along with Minnesota and Detroit).

Fields recently unfollowed the Bears on Instagram amid the trade rumors, but he insists he did that just because he wanted to get away from football as he’s about to go on vacation during the offseason.

He also told the St. Brown brothers that he would prefer to stay in Chicago, saying, “I can’t see myself playing in another place.” But he also added, “I just want it to be over. Let me know if I’m being traded. Let me know if I’m staying.”

Steelers nuggets

“Breakfast With Benz” is off for a few days, bridging over this weekend. So, let’s bang out a few Steelers notes before we go.

• As expected, the surgery Cam Heyward acknowledged on social media this week was indeed to address a troublesome groin/core muscle injury he suffered earlier this season. That was confirmed by NFL.com Wednesday.

• A previously reported story that Steelers alum Deshea Townsend is joining the Detroit Lions coaching staff as a defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator coach has been confirmed by the team.

• Two ex-Steelers are jumping on coaching staffs of the UFL. Former Steelers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is joining the St. Louis Battlehawks, coached by West Virginia alum Anthony Becht. The Seton-La Salle product is going to be the offensive coordinator there.

Meanwhile, former All-Pro Carnell Lake is going to be the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Memphis Showboats.

Related:

• U mad, bro?: Readers get 'biblical' as they sound off about Steelers' QBs, Russell Wilson, Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher • Tim Benz: The Penguins' nostalgia buzz can only last so long • Tim Benz: Steelers' QB situation gets national media to wonder if the franchise 'has become unserious'

Happy Eruziversary

Thursday marks the 44th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. That’s when the American men’s hockey team upset the heavily favored Russians 4-3 in the medal round of the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.

Mike Eruzione scored the game-winning goal.

Future Penguin Mark Johnson scored twice as well. Team USA would go on to win the gold by virtue of a 4-2 victory over Finland two days later.

Penguins ties on that team besides Johnson include head coach Herb Brooks. He served as a scout, head of player development, and head coach of the Pens between 1995-2003. Assistant coach Craig Patrick became the Penguins’ general manager and won two Stanley Cups in that role. Defenseman Mike Ramsey played in Pittsburgh as well (1993-94). William “Buzz” Schneider was drafted 98th overall by the Penguins in 1974.

Ralph Cox was memorably portrayed as the last cut from the team in the movie “Miracle.” In reality, he and Jack Hughes were both cut at the same time to close out the roster. Cox played in the minors and overseas before eventually scouting alongside Brooks with the Pens throughout the 1990s.

Must win vs. Montreal

The Penguins are desperate to snap out of their latest slide. If they are to do so in their next game, it’ll have to happen against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.

The Pens (56 points) have dropped five of six and stand eight points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have just 52 points and have also dropped five of six.

Their latest defeat was a 3-2 loss to Buffalo Wednesday night. Alex Tuch scored the game-winner for Buffalo shorthanded late in the second period.

Alex Tuch goes all the way for the shorthanded goal. ???? pic.twitter.com/K93l4pJQ23

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 22, 2024

Speaking of special teams, if the loathsome Penguins power play is ever going to get its head on straight, Thursday night would be a good time. The Canadiens’ penalty kill is tracking at 74%. Only the New York Islanders, at 71.3%, are worse.

Then again, the Pens’ power play is so bad it just went 0 for 3 against the Islanders and allowed a goal to Mathew Barzal as soon as he came out of the box on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh’s man-up unit is 30th in the NHL at a ghastly 13.5%.

Early effort

The Duquesne women’s basketball team continued its streak with an early afternoon win over George Washington Wednesday. The Dukes were victorious 79-69 in front of an “Education Day” crowd of 3,023. That was a record for women’s basketball at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Five Dukes finished in double figures. Chartiers Valley product Megan McConnell led the way with 18.

.@megg_mcconnell4 off the glass and the foul!!????#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/btfYs5qfD8

— Duquesne Women's Basketball (@DuqWBB) February 21, 2024

McConnell added eight rebounds and four assists.

The victory extends the Dukes’ win streak to six. Dan Burt’s club is now 18-9 and 13-3 in the Atlantic 10. That’s good for third place in the conference.

Richmond leads the A-10 at 14-1, with their only loss occurring against the Dukes back on Jan. 24. The Dukes don’t play again until a rematch against the Spiders next Wednesday.

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