Steelers Daily Links: Flores Cardinals Favorite; No Comp Pick in ’23

Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach Brian Flores appears to be closing in on the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job and the Steelers are not getting a compensatory pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

🏈 ESPN: Brian Flores eportedly interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals head coach position on Monday, and he appears to the favorite. HE has +135 odds to be named the next coach, according to BetOnline, ahead of Sean Payton (5/1), Vance Joseph (5/1) and DeMarco Ryans (9/1). Flores has also interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings for defensive coordinator positions.

🏈 Over The Cap: The Steelers will not receive a compensatory pick in 2023 for free agent losses. They also won’t get one if Flores is hired away by Arizona, because he spent only one year in Pittsburgh.

🏈 AP: Marcus Randle El, the brother of ex-Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, was convicted Tuesday of two counts of first degree homicide and other charges in the February 2020 shooting deaths of two women.

🏈 Audacy: Former Steelers outside linebacker Arthur Moats thinks Kenny Pickett is not far away from being in the same tier as Joe Burrow. “Can Kenny Pickett make every throw Joe Burrow can make? Absolutely. Including that spinning throw Burrow made in the snow pregame in Buffalo…I don’t think he’s far off [from Burrow],” Moats said on 93.7 The Fan. 

🏈 Pro Football Focus: Jaylen Warren was a “secret superstar” for the Steelers this season. “Pittsburgh’s offense wasn’t dynamic this season, but Warren brought some juice to the unit,” Marcus Mosher of PFF wrote. “He saw just 77 carries in the run game but averaged 4.9 yards per rush and 7.6 yards per reception on 28 catches. The most impressive stat about Warren is that 24.5% of his runs went for 15 or more yards. He’s an incredibly dynamic running back who should see a lot more work in 2023.”

🏈 PFN: Former Steelers seventh-round pick Carlos Davis had a workout with the New York Giants on Tuesday.

🏈 Stathead: The last 20 AFC Championship Games have been hosted by just five organizations — Chiefs, Patriots, Broncos, Colts and Steelers.

According to Scott Kacsmar, only 12 out of 104 (11.5%) Conference Championship Games have had a spread under 3. Ten of those 12 games were decided by 10+ points. The only close ones were 1997 DEN at PIT (W 24-21) and 2011 NYG at SF (W 20-17 OT). The Bengals (-1.5) and Eagles (-2.5) are both favorites for this weekends conference title games.

There are 34 teams who lost a Conference Championship Game at home. Bill Cowher (4) and Andy Reid (4) account for 8/34 losses. No other coach has more than two such losses.

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STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

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AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Defensive tackle Devin Danielson in returning to Pitt for more helmet smashing, and his sixth-year senior season.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Kris Letang return from his injury absence and scored two goals, including the OT game-winner in a bonkers 7-6 Penguins win over the Florida Panthers..

West Virginia Sports Now: Neal Brown had lots of praise for new West Virginia tight ends coach and former Steelers assistant Blaine Stewart, who he said did not just get hired because of his famous last name.

Nittany Sports Now: The 3-pointer wouldn’t fall and Penn State basketball got roughed up by Rutgers, 65-45, delivering a blow to the Lions’ Big Dance dreams.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: It’s time for the Pirates to decide their non-roster invites to spring training. Here’s who could be available.