Daily Links: Ex-Browns Coach Likes ’23 Steelers, Terrible Trolly Heads to Museum

Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans are AFC teams that could surprise people in 2023.

“When you look at the division they’re in, you understand why they’re not being talked about that much,” Mangini said. “You’ve got to deal with Cincinnati and the issues they present. Then you’ve got Cleveland with arguably the best running game in the league and who knows where Deshuan Watson is going to be. Lamar Jackson … it goes on and on. That’s a ridiculous division.

“But this is a team with 18 starters coming back. They finish the season as strong as anybody last year, just barely missed the playoffs, and I like what they’ve done this offseason. They went out and said, ‘We’ve got an issue on our offensive line,’ and they either drafted or they got five total offensive linemen. … You’re a year further along with Kenny Pickett. His development from where he was early in the season to late in the season, significant in almost every category. And the coaching. The coaching contniuity, the system continuity. They, to me, could make a lot more noise anybody believes in a really tough division.”

?  WNYT NewsChannel 13: Owner Antonio Brown hired Terrence C. Foster to be the Albany Empire’s new head coach, according to Rodger Wyland of WYNT. Foster was previously the defensive coordinator of the Iowa Barnstormers. Foster, who has 20 years of coaching experience in the indoor game, will be the Empire’s third head coach this season. The 1-5 Empire sit last in the seven-team league after a five-game losing streak. They have won the league championship in both of their seasons in the league (2021, 2022).

Speaking of AB, he said he’ll make his return to the football field on June 17 when he suits up for the Empire, who will host the Jacksonville Sharks on that day. No word on if Cam Newton will join him.

?  KDKA: The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum has acquired the Terrible Trolley, a trolley that honored the Steelers in the 1980s. The Terrible Trolley went through Downtown Pittsburgh every day until it was retired in 1998.

?  Cam Heyward, along with Ryan Shazier, took some of the rookies to see the new Transformers movie, which opens in theaters on June 9.

? Happy Birthday to former Steelers kick/punt returner Stefan Logan, born on June 2, 1981 in Tampa Bay, Florida. Logan earned a spot on the Steelers’ 53-man roster in 2009 after finishing the preseason with five kickoff returns for 185 yards and nine punt returns for 191 yards and a touchdown. Logan spent only one season in Pittsburgh, but he broke the franchises’ single-season record for return yards in 2009.

? Free-agent inside linebacker Kwon Alexander posted a video of himself working out. “Almost that time!!!” Alexander tweeted. Alexander visited with the Steelers on May 15 but left unsigned. Alexander spent last season with the New York Jets. He appeared in all 17 games (12 starts), playing 49 percent of the defensive snaps. Alexander finished with 69 total tackles with six tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. Alexander, 30, has appeared in 95 career games with 86 starts.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: The Backyard Brawl will be played under the lights at Mountaineer Field, with a 7:30 kickoff in Morgantown.

West Virginia Sports Now: Former WVU and Kennedy Catholic big man Oscar Tshiebwe will stay in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Nittany Sports Now: That’s a diss: Top wrestling recruit tosses Penn State hat aside before committing to Iowa.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: If the Penguins are giving their GM job to Kyle Dubas, they should get on with it, already.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: It took until the final day of May, but the Pirates finally got a series win, topping the Giants 9-4.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: The Riverhounds have been leaning on their defense, but added a set-piece goal to beat Loudon.