Much of the oxygen from the NFL news cycle Tuesday focused on a player who has sucked up much of the attention from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “hot stove” over most of this spring and summer. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has requested a trade.

But while Aiyuk has long been considered the highest-profile wide receiver available — and that’s significant to a Steelers fanbase craving a wideout — another WR with a better overall career résumé has also been often speculated as potentially being on the move.

Don’t buy it, Davante Adams’ agents say.

The representatives for Adams, Kenny Chapman and Frank Bauer, were willing to go on the record and attach their names to ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Adams is not going to be traded by the Las Vegas Raiders.

“This is baseless, unfounded speculation, and Davante is expected to be with the Raiders as there has been absolutely no trade talk — period,” the pair said, as reported by Schefter.

Adams is a three-time first-team All Pro, but what helps get him into headlines more in this context is that the rumors surrounding his trade were connected to the always-in-the-ESPN-talking-heads-mouths New York Jets. Adams’ longtime quarterback during his starring days with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers, is the Jets’ quarterback now.

There has been very little chatter — be it informed speculation or just spitballing discourse — surrounding an Adams trade to the Steelers.

Source on Brandon Aiyuk contract impasse: “Aiyuk wants to be traded or paid. San Francisco doesn’t want to pay him or trade him.”

('pay him' relative to market value)

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 16, 2024

The Steelers, of course, have little in regards to a proven commodity as a starting-caliber wide receiver after George Pickens. They traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in March. Aiyuk has been regularly posited as an acquisition target — but the 49ers have not been eager to trade him.

Aiyuk is widely believed to be seeking a contract in the $30 million per-year range commensurate with what wide receivers have been signing in recent months.

Major deal for Meinerz

Wide receivers aren’t the only position whose salary has been skyrocketing. A much lower-profile group of players is seeing some eye-popping contracts too.

According to ESPN, Quinn Meinerz — a guard — agreed to a four-year, $80 million extension with $45 million in guarantees with the Denver Broncos.

Still only 25 years old and with 39 career starts to his name since being a third-round pick out of Wisconsin-Whitewater (11 picks after the Steelers took guard/center Kendrick Green) in 2021, Meinerz’s guarantee would be the second-most ever given to an interior offensive lineman (all salary-cap info courtesy spotrac.com).

Meinerz, who has never been named to the Pro Bowl or an All Pro team, has agreed to a contract that only three active guards can surpass in regards to overall value. Only Philadelphia’s Landon Dickerson and Atlanta’s Chris Lindstrom are paid more on an average annual value basis.

The market for offensive linemen is something that might not affect the Steelers so much at the moment. But they have drafted four in the top half of a draft the past two years — including a pair of interior linemen projected to start sooner or later in second-round center Zach Frazier and fourth-round guard Mason McCormick in 2024.

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Theme team

The 50th anniversary of the Steelers’ first Super Bowl team, the 1974 version that spawned a dynasty, will come during the weekend associated with their Oct. 20 home game against the Jets.

That will be the annual team Alumni Weekend, the Steelers announced Tuesday as part of their list of game themes for the upcoming season.

The annual Hall of Honor induction is scheduled for Dec. 8 when the Cleveland Browns play at Acrisure Stadium. The Class of 2024 will be revealed later this month.

Livvy-n the dream

Paul Skenes had what will likely be the first of many, many moments in the national spotlight Tuesday in starting the MLB All-Star Game. And as quick and high as he has ascended to stardom in the sports realm, it’s been often posited that his girlfriend is the more prominent overall celebrity.

If the social-media accounts associated with MLB and its broadcast partners are any indication, that bore out Tuesday. Dunne achieved fame largely through an Instagram account that has 5.3 million followers (by comparison, the Pirates official account has less than one-sixth of that). So it might come as no surprise that Dunne was prominently featured on the TV broadcast and on accounts associated with the MLB, Fox and ESPN.

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I wonder what kind of late movement Dunne would get throwing a three-finger two-seamer?

we got @livvydunne showing us pitch grips on the All-Star Red Carpet before GTA 6

(via @PitchingNinja)pic.twitter.com/bN9DE4E4LP

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 16, 2024

Dunne admits she only began getting into baseball over the past year. But she is embracing a role of promoting the game.

"My brain can't even process how hard he throws." ????@livvydunne and Paul Skenes join MLB Network on the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Frutitas! pic.twitter.com/1GpkSwubdE

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 16, 2024

Requisite air time for Dunne during Skenes’ appearance:

Paul Skenes finishes his #AllStarGame inning and Livvy Dunne is loving it! pic.twitter.com/JDF1neLtjD

— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2024

Is Pittsburgh ready for Dunne to be shouting down at Erik Karlsson in disgust to SHOOT IT! during a Penguins power play?

????️ "LET'S GO PAUL!"@livvydunne is in the house to cheer on Paul Skenes ????

????: #AllStarGame on FOX pic.twitter.com/knV1aWygeu

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 17, 2024

She even changed outfits (at least) twice Tuesday, ending up representing the Pirates.

National Champion @LSUgym’s @livvydunne repping the Pirates here tonight at All Star Game. pic.twitter.com/yshebkVMGu

— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 17, 2024

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