Monday’s “First Call” has a report connecting the Pittsburgh Steelers to a veteran free-agent wide receiver. Some NFL macroeconomics may soon influence the Steelers. T.J. McConnell and the Indiana Pacers are onto the Eastern Conference Finals.
And at least one NHL award has plenty of Pittsburgh connections to it.
Something left?
As the pickings are getting extremely thin at wide receiver, the Steelers still need to add a legitimate threat.
According to Zachary Smith of Steelers Now, that could mean Michael Thomas, formerly of the New Orleans Saints. He reports that the team has been in contact with the 31-year-old free agent.
That’s a name who could fill the Steelers’ void… if that void had been open in 2019.
That’s when Thomas was putting up 1,700 yards receiving and pulling in his second All-Pro nomination. Since then, though, Thomas has been healthy for just 20 games over the last four years. He has dealt with ankle, foot and knee injuries during that time.
From the start of 2020 up until now, Thomas has totaled just 141 catches for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns. His five previous seasons all resulted in at least 1,100 receiving yards.
The Steelers certainly need a veteran complement to George Pickens. At this stage of his career, though, if Thomas is that answer, the franchise never should’ve created the question by trading Diontae Johnson.
Trickle down
A significant development on the big business end of NFL ownership could have a ripple effect when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, NFL owners are considering the allowance of “private equity firms or institutional wealth to invest as limited partners.”
That practice has always been forbidden in NFL ownership bylaws. However, costs are getting so high to purchase shares of NFL franchises, that the pool of potential minority ownership dollars is shrinking.
Also, as Rothstein points out, allowing private equity firms to have some skin in the game could free up ownership cash for stadium replacements or renovations across the league without getting into the sticky public-funding debates.
Keep in mind that Acrisure Stadium is about to open its gates for a 24th season. It is at least in need of some upgrades. Three Rivers Stadium only lasted 30 years.
Rothstein says that owners are reportedly going to be discussing — and potentially voting on — the matter this week.
Shipping up to Boston
The Indiana Pacers closed out the New York Knicks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Saturday, 130-109. Chartiers Valley product T.J. McConnell chipped in with 12 points and seven assists. He was 6 of 8 from the floor in 23 minutes of playing time.
The Pacers were a plus-21 with the one-time Duquesne Duke on the court.
T.J. McConnell right to the rack ???? pic.twitter.com/zmhSdwL61m
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 19, 2024
5 points in 5 seconds ????
the no-look pass from Tyrese Haliburton.
the steal by T.J. McConnell.
the and-1 by Aaron Nesmith. pic.twitter.com/pTo70Zriw9— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 19, 2024
In the series, McConnell averaged 11.8 points. He also put up 38 assists and eight steals against 10 turnovers over the seven games.
Up next, the Pacers will face the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. According to BetRivers, the Pacers are plus-620 underdogs to win the series. Whoever wins the best of seven gets either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks out of the West in the NBA Finals.
Second in the Selke
The NHL’s Selke Trophy results were revealed over the weekend. That honor is given annually to “the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game.”
Florida’s Aleksander Barkov won it with 1,817 total points and an overwhelming 165 first-place votes. Former Penguin Jordan Staal had four first-place votes. The Carolina Hurricanes center finished second in the balloting with 539 points. Toronto’s Auston Matthews was third.
There were some other Pittsburgh ties in the final list. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby finished ninth (85 points). Former Coraopolis resident J.T. Miller (28) of the Vancouver Canucks was 15th, and Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck was 16th (26).
Full Selke Trophy voting results. pic.twitter.com/QlTG8TgkKG
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) May 18, 2024
This is Barkov’s second Selke, having also won the trophy in 2021.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
