First Call: Warnings about a Steelers RB free agency hunch; Alejandro Villanueva's value; Penguins' division battle

In Monday’s “First Call,” we caution you from getting too excited about a Steelers free agent rumor. We wonder about Alejandro Villanueva’s future. You get an update on the NHL’s Eastern Division. And a thoroughly bizarre goalie box score in Pittsburgh over the weekend that you may have missed.

Packer to Pittsburgh?

ESPN.com came up with a rundown of “big offseason questions” as we approach NFL free agency.

One of them was, “Where will Aaron Jones be playing in 2021?” The Green Back Packers running back tallied 1,459 yards from scrimmage in 2020, sixth best in the NFL. That’s along with 11 total touchdowns.

ESPN.com Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky projects the Steelers as the most likely team to sign Jones.

“There’s much to be settled with Pittsburgh’s offense, including Ben Roethlisberger’s immediate future,” Demovsky writes. “But the addition of a game-changing running back like Jones could steady things. No, the Steelers aren’t traditionally big players in free agency, and yes, they have cap problems — but so does just about every team this year. They can make it work if they want to. The Packers aren’t going to pay guaranteed money to a running back, and it’s hard to imagine Jones’ new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, letting his client play under the tag without the promise of long-term security.”

From the purest standpoint of “Jones is a good running back and the Steelers need a running back,” this idea makes sense.

But a few other things do not. For instance, yes, the Steelers “could make it work if they want to” despite their salary cap constraints. But for a Pro Football Focus projected cost of $11.5 million average annual value against the cap to sign him? I doubt the Steelers “want to” that much.

Then there is the guaranteed money aspect. The Steelers don’t often do that beyond the signing bonus for players who are non-quarterbacks, especially for those coming from other teams. So if that is a nonstarter in Green Bay, it will be in Pittsburgh, too.

Third, when you factor in that Rosenhaus is the agent, he and the Steelers know enough about each other that they will not try to break down each other’s walls on this front.

Jones to the Steelers sounds like a wonderful idea. So does the idea of me buying a private jet and filing “Breakfast With Benz” from a tropical island for the next two months.

I’d bet against both if I was you.

Big money for Big Al?

During the season, many in Pittsburgh believed that if the Steelers decided that they didn’t want to keep Alejandro Villanueva, the tackle would simply retire.

After all, he has lots of other interests. And has often talked about life beyond football. But his name frequently comes up as one other teams in need of offensive line help may target.

The Los Angeles Chargers are an option that seems to be a popular.

And now CBS Sports has Villanueva among their top-4 tackles available in free agency. The only players ahead of him are San Francisco’s Trent Williams, Carolina’s Taylor Moton and Buffalo’s Darryl Williams.

As Jared Dubin posts, Villanueva will “play next season at 33 years old and is no longer at his peak, but for a team that misses out on Trent Williams, Villanueva is a nice fall-back option.”

More cost effective, too. But not entirely cheap. After all, estimates have him going for $20 million guaranteed.

Pump the brakes

Many Pittsburgh football fans would love it if free agent defensive lineman J.J. Watt signs with the Steelers. That way he can play with his brothers T.J. and Derek.

But many other teams are courting him. And Watt is letting everyone know that he may not make a decision at any point in the near future.

I scroll through door dash for like an hour before I pick a restaurant man...

You’re gonna have to give me a second to choose a new team and city. https://t.co/eQXD3eNVFJ

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 22, 2021

The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills are also known to be interested in Watt’s services. He was recently released by the Houston Texans.

East elite

As the Penguins rested on Sunday, they surely kept an eye on the competitive Eastern Division. And they didn’t like what they saw in Washington.

The Capitals came back from a two-goal deficit to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in regulation. T.J. Oshie scored twice. And Alexander Ovechkin had a power-play goal that ended up being the game-winner.

A BEAUTY ? pic.twitter.com/RkKIKC2pY2

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2021

The victory gives the Capitals 21 points, all alone in second place behind the division-leading Boston Bruins. They are up to 24 points after beating the Philadelphia Flyers 7-3 in the Lake Tahoe game Sunday night.

Charlie McAvoy (@CMcAvoy44) coming in clutch for the @NHLBruins. #NHLOutdoors

??: https://t.co/UStk1VaEHc @NHLonNBCSports
??: https://t.co/eWrgc516nj @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/GmMCaV0CNo

— NHL (@NHL) February 22, 2021

The Flyers stay stuck on 19 points in third place, tied with the Penguins and the New York Islanders.

Tale of two goalies

How about these numbers for some goaltending stat lines?

The Robert Morris women’s team (13-5-1) hosted Sacred Heart (1-7) over the weekend for two games. On Saturday night, Pioneers goaltender Frankie Sanchez stopped 72 of 73 shots. But the Colonials still won the game 1-0, behind an ungodly 123 shot attempts.

Meanwhile, RMU senior Molly Singewald pitched a shutout on just 14 saves in her first career start.

Then, on Senior Day Sunday afternoon, Singewald blanked the Pioneers again, stopping all 22 shots she saw. So she had two shutouts in her only two career starts.

For Sanchez, she made 45 more saves Sunday afternoon. But, this time, she allowed eight goals. Four were scored by Michaela Boyle as the Colonials won 8-0.

Make it four goals for @michaelaboyle16! What a day! #RMUnite | ??? pic.twitter.com/PuomRub838

— RMU Women's Hockey (@RMUWHockey) February 21, 2021

RMU has two regular-season games remaining against Syracuse next weekend.