{"id":31988,"date":"2022-06-01T12:36:15","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T12:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/first-call-ex-steelers-rb-looking-for-work-red-hot-starling-mars-part-of-viral-video-moment\/"},"modified":"2022-06-01T12:36:15","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T12:36:15","slug":"first-call-ex-steelers-rb-looking-for-work-red-hot-starling-mars-part-of-viral-video-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/first-call-ex-steelers-rb-looking-for-work-red-hot-starling-mars-part-of-viral-video-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"First Call: Ex-Steelers RB looking for work; red-hot Starling Mars part of viral video moment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wednesday’s \u201cFirst Call\u201d checks in on an ex-Steeler who needs a new place to play. A former Pitt Panther has his eyes on the NBA. Starling Marte is on fire with the New York Mets. And a free agent some Steelers fans wanted is heading down south.<\/p>\n\n

On the open market<\/span><\/p>\n

Former Steelers running back Jaylen Samuels is looking for a new job.<\/p>\n

He has been released by the Arizona Cardinals. The franchise needed to make that move after signing former Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams. The Cardinals are looking for a running back to pair with James Conner following Chase Edmonds’ departure to Miami when he signed with the Dolphins this offseason.<\/p>\n

Samuels last played with the Steelers in 2020. He appeared in three games with the Houston Texans in 2021.<\/p>\n

Samuels’ best moment with the Steelers came at Heinz Field when he rushed 19 times for 142 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards in a 17\u201310 win over the New England Patriots in 2018.<\/p>\n

The Steelers are looking for a backup running back. But I wouldn’t bet on Samuels being signed to fill that role.<\/p>\n\n

So much for that<\/span><\/p>\n

A popular name among Steelers fans scouring the free-agent wire of late has been Akeem Hicks.<\/p>\n

The former Chicago Bear could’ve added something to the Steelers defensive line. But he is going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers instead.<\/p>\n

Hicks got a one-year deal worth up to $ 10 million, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.<\/p>\n

That’s slightly higher than the $ 9 million Ndamukong Suh earned with the Buccaneers in 2021.<\/p>\n

Due to injuries, Hicks played in just nine games last year, finishing with 3.5 sacks and 25 tackles. In 2017, Hicks recorded 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss for Chicago.<\/p>\n\n

Decision day for Trey<\/span><\/p>\n

Former Pitt Panther Trey McGowens is sticking with his NBA plans.<\/p>\n

Street CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein<\/a>McGowens won’t return to Nebraska and will keep his name in the NBA Draft process. <\/p>\n

Omaha.com reports McGowens worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers this week. McGowens averaged 9.2 points, four rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals in two seasons with the Cornhuskers.<\/p>\n

McGowens was an 11-point-per-game scorer during both of his two years in Oakland before transferring to Lincoln.<\/p>\n\n

At it again<\/span><\/p>\n

As we mentioned in Tuesday’s \u201cFirst Call,\u201d New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte homered against the Washington Nationals as part of a four-RBI day.<\/p>\n

Well, the former Pirate did it again Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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DEEP! @Starlingmart<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1QiTaDbVmS<\/a><\/p>\n

– New York Mets (@Mets) May 31, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That opened the floodgates for the Mets. They rolled to a 10-0 win.<\/p>\n

At the end of that call, you heard the reference to how hot Mars has been. He started the month of May at .225 with two homers. He closed it at .286 with six homers, getting a hit in 12 of his last 13 games.<\/p>\n

By the way, did you see that fan celebrating at the end of the video while holding the baby? He caught Marte’s home run on a ricochet while holding his kid in a video that went viral.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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