Hot Button: Bruins go all in, acquire Orlov, Hathaway from Capitals ... New Netflix docu-series 'Quarterback' chronicled Mahomes, two others in 2022 ... Titans cut Lewan, three others in cap move

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Hot Button is a 'round-the-clock feature that covers anything across the scope of sports. We're here to bring you everything hot: News items, highlights, takes — everything but hot meals — whether local, national or international. Better yet, it’s interactive. Share your thoughts in comments, and even post your own links to interesting, safe-for-work sports stories.

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BRUINS MAKE BIG MOVE 
IN TRADE WITH CAPS 

Thursday, February 23: The National Hockey League’s best team made a statement Thursday that it’s Stanley Cup or bust as the Bruins acquire defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Capitals for forward Craig Smith, a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 third-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. Both Orlov and Hathaway are on expiring contracts and will be free agents after the season. Washington retained half of Orlov's salary and The Wild were involved in the deal, too, assuming 25 percent of Orlov's salary and getting a 2023 fifth-round pick from Boston in exchange the signing rights to Russian forward Andrei Svetlakov. Svetlakov, 26, was a sixth-round pick by Minnesota in 2017 but has never played in North America, playing the his entire career in Russia, mainly the KHL for CSKA Moscow.

The Bruins, with an NHL-leading 91 points (43-8-5) made the move to add depth to their lineup — neither player is needed, per se, but Orlov's offense will slot in nicely on the top four and Hathaway is a nice bottom-six winger who kills penalties. Orlov has 3 goals and 16 assists in 43 games, averaging almost 23 minutes TOI, and Hathaway has 9 goals and 6 assists in 59 games. Smith has played predominantly fourth-line minutes for Boston, netting 4 goals and 6 assists in 42 games.

The Capitals are struggling, having lost six in a row and currently out of the playoff picture at 28-26-6 (62 points) — 12th in the Eastern Conference.

My take: The best got better. Neither Orlov or Hathaway are “the piece” but they are excellent role players with playoff experience and Boston clearly sniffs the Cup already. This is a bit of a punt for Washington, which just got Alexander Ovechkin back from bereavement leave, but things are not headed in the right direction and the draft picks will help, plus they jettison two rental contracts. Win-win. — Bob

NETFLIX SERIES TO GIVE 
INSIDE LOOK ON QBS

Wednesday, February 22: Netflix announced an original project “Quarterback,” a docu-series that will look at the quarterback position behind the scenes and on the field over a full season. The project, a partnership with NFL Films, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and Patrick Mahomes’ 2 PM Productions, recorded Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota throughout the 2022 season and playoffs and will release the first series over the summer. The National Football League permitted all three quarterbacks to be mic’d up exclusively for the 2022 season, and Netflix promises to give viewers behind-the-scenes and on-field footage, including inside the huddle.

No participating quarterbacks have been announced for the 2023 season.

My take: I’m expecting an entertaining look at life as an NFL quarterback. Manning doesn’t mess around and his participation in production, along with the unparalleled access NFL Films has, should make for a good series. Looking forward to the furnished product. It will be essential to get QBs to agree to do it moving forward. — Bob

PRO BOWL TACKLE LEWAN
CUT IN CAP MOVE

Wednesday, February 22: The Titans cut $37.74 million in salary Wednesday three time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan as part of dramatic cuts to get under the salary cap. Entering the day the team was $23.3 million over the cap.

Lewan, 31, was the 11th overall pick by Tennessee in 2014, and has spent his entire nine-season career with the franchise. Once a model of reliability, Lewan has struggled with injuries the last three seasons, playing just 20 of 50 games since 2019. Lewan’s release saves the Titans $14.84 million in 2023. 

Tennessee also released receiver Robert Woods ($12 million) inside linebacker Zach Cunningham ($8.9 million) and kicker Ryan Bullock ($2 million).

My take: Lewan’s coming off a torn ACL, suffered in Week 2 last season. If healthy, he will not be unemployed long, though it could come on a discounted, one-year “prove it” deal, making him an affordable option for several teams. Cunningham is also coming off injury — limited to six games last season — but should be in demand after leading the AFC in total tackles (164) and solo tackles (101) in 2020 with the Texans. — Bob

RAVENS HIRE COLLEGE COACH 
TAGGART FOR BACKS

Wednesday, February 22: Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and head coach John Harbaugh are filling out the offensive coaching staff, hiring former Florida Atlantic University head coach Willie Taggart to coach the running backs, replacing Craig Ver Steeg who is being retained but in a different capacity.

Taggart, 46, has coached exclusively in the college ranks since 1999. He coached running backs for Stanford from 2007-09, but has been a head coach each year since, making stops in Western Kentucky, South Florida, Oregon, Florida State and Florida Atlantic, where he hired Hines Ward to be receivers coach in 2021.

My take: I’d expect Monken to load up his staff with people he knows and trusts. Taggart walks into a pretty established room with JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Kenyan Drake all expected to return in 2023. There’s nothing wrong with that group or Baltimore’s running game. Unless Monken can teach Lamar Jackson how to throw from the pocket, not much is going to change. — Bob

WATT GETS DRUG
TESTING NOTICE

Tuesday, February 21: JJ Watt officially retired from the National Football League, but apparently the information hasn’t gone to all the league’s partners.

My take: Kind of funny, though I’m wondering if there is a procedure that needs followed in case a newly retired player changes his mind, a la Tom Brady. — Bob

BROWN DEMANDS TRADE
IF HURTS NOT PAID

Tuesday, February 21: Eagles receiver AJ Brown has no interest in playing without quarterback Jalen Hurts. Appearing on the “Raw Room” podcast Monday night, Brown said he has spoken with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and expressed that he expects the organization to extend Hurts or he wants traded.

“If you do not pay this man, just ship me off wherever he finna go,” Brown said. “So you talk about pressure? Howie, get it done.”

Hurts is entering the final year of his rookie deal. As a second-round pick, he would need an extension or be eligible for free agency or a franchise tag after the season. The franchise tag this year is $45 million for quarterbacks and will increase next season if the Ravens strike a deal with Lamar Jackson. Joe Burrow is eligible for an extension too, though as a first-round pick the Bengals can pick up his fifth-year option and deal with it next offseason.

Hurts made his first Pro Bowl in 2022-23, going 14-1 in the regular season before leading Philadelphia to the Super Bowl, where he had a record-setting day, becoming the first quarterback to rush for multiple touchdowns — three — and throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown in the 38-35 loss to the Chiefs.

Brown also made the Pro Bowl — his first season with the Eagles after three with the Titans — and connected with Hurts for the majority of his 88 catches for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns.

My take: Most players can get outright cut, but the ones who can’t, or wouldn’t be, really have a lot of power. There is pressure on Roseman to get a deal done for Hurts, who really shined in his “prove it” year to become a franchise quarterback. So he’ll deserve a $50 million per year deal, mostly guaranteed. If not, I believe Brown would force a trade when Hurts left. — Bob

COLLEGE FOOTBALL LOOKING
TO CHANGE CLOCK RULES

Monday, February 20: College football executives are looking to make four potential clock-rules changes which would speed up games, as the average length has grown to three hours and 22 minutes.

Two of the changes have unanimous consent: The elimination of the untimed down on a defensive penalty to end the first and third quarters, and the elimination of calling consecutive timeouts.

Two other changes would have a more direct impact on the length of games:

• Eliminating the rule that stops the clock on first downs until the ball is placed, except inside two minutes of each half. There is majority support for this and it is growing, according to a Sports Illustrated report.

• A controversial rule is being considered, which would start the clock after incomplete passes once the ball is placed.

The last two rule proposals, if implemented, are estimated to eliminate 25-plus plays per game. 

The rules proposals have just come out of committee and require two levels of approval to be implemented. Those votes will come over the spring and approved rules could be in place by the 2023 season.

My take: Yes to the first three, for sure. The clock stopping on first downs throughout the game is antiquated and unnecessary and still allowing it in the final two minutes does allow for the dramatic late-game comebacks. The first two proposed changes are common sense. I’m not sold on the incomplete pass proposal, but could get on board if they allowed the traditional clock stoppage during the last 6 to 8 minutes of each half. — Bob

WARD, WOODSON LOSE CLOSE XFL
GAMES, NEW RULES FACTOR

Monday, February 20: Hines Ward and Rod Woodson lost their XFL coaching debuts this weekend.

Ward’s San Antonio’s Brahmas suffered a heartbreaker in an 18-15 loss to the St, Louis Battlehawks. The Brahmas kicked a field goal with just over three minutes left in the game to take a 15-3 lead. The Battlehawks drove down the field and scored a touchdown on a pass from former Alabama star AJ McCarron to Hakeem Butler with 1:25 remaining. Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht then decided to go for the new three–point conversion play, which is one play from the opponent’s 10 yard line, and McCarron hit Austin Proehl, son of BattleHawks coach and former Rams standout Ricky Proehl. With the score 15-12, no timeouts and 1:17 remaining, Becht had another decision to make — kick a traditional onside kick (can be done at any point in the game) or go for a 4th-and-15 play from his own 25, an option only available in the fourth quarter. Brecht sent McCarron out for the 4th-down play and McCarron converted, escaping the pocket and hitting Proehl for 22 yards to retain possession. McCarron later hit Proehl for the winning touchdown from 14 yards out with 16 seconds remaining, to set the final score. The Brahmas surrendered 15 points in the final 2:47 without ever touching the ball. 

Some former Steelers played the game. Kalen Ballage led the Brahmas in rushing with 84 yards on 24 carries, and the BattleHawks have Mataeo Durant, the former Duke star who was an undrafted free agent with PIttsburgh this past training camp. He had six total touches for six yards.

Woodson’s debut with the Vegas Vipers was also close, a 22-20 loss to the Arlington Renegades, squandering a 14-3 halftime lead. Former Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant had 4 catches on 9 targets for Woodson, covering 28 yards. Former Steelers practice squad receiver Tyler Vaughns had 4 catches for 38 yards to lead the Renegades.

• Former Steelers receiver Eli Rogers had a productive day for the Orlando Guardians in a 33-12 loss to the Houston Roughnecks. Rogers, who has bounced around the last iteration of the XFL, the CFL and the USFL since being released by the Steelers in 2019, had 4 catches for 40 yards from former Steelers backup Paxton Lynch, and he had five kickoff returns and two punt returns for 63 yards. However, he did lose a critical fumble on a kick return. Former Steelers outside linebacker Tegray Scales led the Guardians with 5 tackles. 

• The only other former Steeler to make the stat sheet over the XFL’s kickoff weekend was outside linebacker Tuzar Skipper, who registered 1.5 tackles for the D.C Defenders in a 22-18 home win over the Seattle Sea Dragons.

My take: The XFL is testing for the NFL the three-point extra point and the 4th-and-15 option instead of the onside kick. It was kind of fun to see those used and work. Otherwise, it was a disappointing offensive showing for a league tilted to offense, but the teams have only been together for a month. We’ll see if they improve as the season progresses. One thing is certain — it’s waaay better than the USFL’s product, with the XFL drawing actual crowds. — Bob

TOEWS TAKES LEAVE,
STRUGGLING WITH HEALTH

Sunday, February 19: Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has taken a leave from the team to deal with medical issues.

Toews, 34, announced he continues to struggle with long-COVID and chronic immune response syndrome, releasing a statement thanking fans for their support before adding, "It has been really challenging to play through these symptoms. In the last few weeks, it has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy. I am thankful for the patience and support of my teammates, the coaching staff, and the entire Blackhawks organization."

Toews, 34, originally contracted COVID in October 2021, and has been open about his struggles to fully recover from its effects. He was expected to be one of the key trade targets as the NHL approaches the deadline, but now is unlikely to be dealt.

General manager Kyle Davidson said, "We miss him being around … and we want to get him back around the team and on the ice. But in the meantime, we’re going to work with him and support him in whatever he needs to make sure he’s feeling good and feeling strong and in a spot where he can come back on the ice. … He wants to compete. He wants his body to respond effectively and the way he wishes it would. … he’s in good spirits but frustrated.”

Toews, 34, last played on January 28 at Edmonton. The three-time Stanley Cup winner has 14 goals and 14 assists in 46 games this season for bottom-feeding Chicago (17-32-5). 

My take: Best wishes to Toews on a complete recovery — some have still not recovered from long-COVID after years. The league is better with him in it. Here's hoping he's back soon. — Bob

MLB WORKS WITH TEAMS,
CLARIFIES NEW RULES

Sunday, February 19: Major League Baseball communicated with its teams last week about the new rules for 2023: The pitch clock, the defensive shift limits, and the pickoff-attempt limits.

• The pitch clock will be 15 seconds between pitches with bases empty; 20 seconds with runners on base, with the pitcher beginning his motion before the clock expires. A “pitchers motion” is defined as the leg taking a step back from the rubber, or a step to the side. In the stretch, the pitcher must have two feet set, then the front leg moving up or toward the plate before the clock expires. Any failure of the above is an automatic ball and a balk with runners on base. 

• Though known at the time the rules were announced, the pitcher gets two pickoff attempts during each plate appearance. A third can be attempted but a failure to throw the runner out results in a balk, with all runners advancing. It was reinforced that any step off the rubber is considered a pickoff attempt for the rule, so if a pitcher steps off the rubber twice in a plate appearance, he effectively used his allotted pickoff attempts. Stepping off a third time would be a balk.

• Catchers and coaches get 5 mound visits. Visits for potential injury do not count.

• Batters have a role too with the pitch clock: Between batters the man on deck must be in the box and “alert” inside 30 seconds, and that has been clarified as the batter having two feet in the box and looking at the pitcher. He does not need to be set to hit, but must be able to reach a hitting position as the pitcher’s motion begins. The alert rule also holds in between pitches. Failure to be alert results in a called strike. Batters get one time out per plate appearance.

• The new shift rule — two defenders on either side of second base with both feet on the infield dirt — has been modified to uphold the spirit of the rule: One, defenders cannot move to the opposite side of the bag as the pitch is thrown, e.g. a shortstop can’t run to the second-base side of the bag as the pitch is delivered; two, defenders cannot switch positions, e.g. the shortstop cannot switch with the second baseman at any time, eliminating the opportunity to put the better defender on the pull side; three, the middle infielders cannot be over or behind the seconds base bag but nust be left and right of the second base corners. Violations of the shift rule are a ball to the batter, but it is not a dead-ball situation so the batter’s team can accept the result of the play if it’s to their benefit. 

• As far as the infield dirt rule is concerned, Major League Baseball examined all 30 stadium fields to ensure the dirt infields are exact ot MLB rule specifications — a 95 foot radius from the pitcher’s rubber. MLB will measure the fields before each game to ensure team’s are not expanding the infield dirt beyond that limit.

• Outfielders can shift and one can be used as a fifth infielder on either side of second base. Once on the infield, the shift rules apply to the outfielder.

My take: The pitch-clock rules worked to speed up games in the minor leagues (I witnessed it first hand here in Rochester), but I’m most excited to see MLB playoff games under four hours — that will really help the sport. — Bob

KINGS GOALIE EJECTED,
MCDAVID REACHES 100 PTS

Saturday, February 18: There was a bit of action in the late slate of National Hockey League games Friday night. 

First was the rarest of things: A goalie ejection. Kings netminder Pheonix Copley got into a fight in his crease with Ducks forward Frank Vatrano late in the second period. Trouble was, he threw punches with his blocker, an automatic match penalty:

Jonathan Quick came on to finish out the game, a 6-3 Kings win. 

Something more conventional but also rare happened in Edmonton, when Connor McDavid assisted on a first-period goal by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to give McDavid 100 points this season in just 56 games — 42 goals, 58 assists — until adding another assist later — a pace of 62 goals and 86 assists for an 82-game season. McDavid is 20 points clear of second place, held by linemate Leon Draisaitl.

My take: Another remarkable season by McDavid. Too bad it looks like another early exit in the playoffs. They should comfortably get a Wild Card in the haves-and-have-nots Western Conference, but they're hardly impressive. Not too often one sees the goalie-blocker punch. Copley is technically suspended indefinitely because it was a match penalty and not a game misconduct, but I’d suspect nothing beyond the larger allowable fine. — Bob