First Call: Another award nomination for T.J. Watt; Baker Mayfield on prospect of reconciliation in Cleveland

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is up for an ESPY. NFL.com has constructed its perfect team. Baker Mayfield isn’t willing to look back in Cleveland. And Andrew McCutchen is heating up for the Milwaukee Brewers.

All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”

One for Watt?

The ESPYs award ceremony is easily dismissed as nothing but a cheesy, self-aggrandizing, vomitous promotional event for ESPN.

Unless a Steeler is nominated for one. Then, of course, it matters.

As it turns out, the 2022 show will include T.J. Watt as a finalist for NFL Player of the Year. The other three finalists are Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp.

The four ESPY Nominees for the NFL Player of the Year:

* Rams WR Cooper Kupp
* Steelers OLB T.J. Watt
* Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
* Colts RB Jonathan Taylorhttps://t.co/POHEfq5aL6

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 28, 2022

Steelers Depot noted that no Steeler has ever won the award.

My guess is Kupp wins it. Yes, Rodgers was the MVP. And Watt was the Defensive Player of the Year, tying the single season sacks record at 22.5.

But Kupp was the Super Bowl MVP after winning the receiving titles for touchdowns (16), yards (1,947) and catches (145).

He’s become quite the NFL baby face, and the Rams are the NFL’s flavor of the month. Plus, those numbers are irrefutably awesome.

So I look for Kupp to win the hardware and for Stiller Nation to act grievously offended and to pretend as if this is some sort of media conspiracy against the franchise.

The ESPYs broadcast is at 8 p.m. July 20.

Gone ‘Sooner’ rather than later?

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson’s potential discipline in Cleveland, current Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t expecting to stay with the team.

Mayfield was extremely bent out of shape after the Browns made a trade to acquire Watson during the offseason. Since then, Mayfield has been quite open about his desire to leave the Cleveland franchise.

Speaking at his youth camp in Norman, Okla., the former Oklahoma Sooner said he’s not anticipating a reconciliation between the franchise and himself.

Baker Mayfield answered the question everyone wants to know: If DeShaun Watson is suspended, could he return to Cleveland in 2022? Here's his answer from his youth camp Tuesday in Norman. (via @CareyAMurdock, @Eddie_Rado) pic.twitter.com/ASNY5b8kdO

— SoonerScoop.com(@SoonerScoop) June 28, 2022

“It’s been pretty obvious the mutual decision on both sides is to move on,” Mayfield said. “I think for that to happen there would have to be some reaching out. But we’re ready to move on, I think, on both sides.”

Seattle and Carolina have been rumored trade partners for Mayfield.

If he is dealt and Watson is suspended for a long period of time, the Browns will likely have to turn to Jacoby Brissett or former Steeler Josh Dobbs at QB.

Odd fit

NFL.com constructed what it deems to be its “best team money can buy” — under the constraints of the 2022 salary cap.

The only Steeler on the squad is outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. He was the fifth of six edge rushers on the squad.

It appears Highsmith was placed there because of his potential and the fact that his cap number for 2022 is just $1,169,073.

Why no T.J. Watt? Well, the other four edge rushers in front of Highsmith are Myles Garrett, Khalil Mack, Maxx Crosby and Von Miller. All of those guys are making between $5.1-12.9 million. Right now, Watt’s cap number is $31.1 million.

According to OverTheCap.com, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s number is $8.1 million. All four of the players at safety (Kevin Byard, Tyrann Mathieu, Jeremy Chinn, Jordan Fuller) have lower cap hits than that.

Cam Heyward’s cap number is $17.4 million. Meanwhile, ex-Pitt star Aaron Donald is on the list with his $24 million paycheck. But unlike Heyward, everybody after him as an interior lineman is making under $5 million.

Since Bengals kicker Evan McPherson is on an entry level contract, he made the team. If not him, Chris Boswell should’ve been considered.

Baz not bad

Former Pirates first-round draft choice Shane Baz continues to be pretty decent for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Not great. But OK.

The 23-year-old right-hander pitched against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday. He allowed just one earned run in 5 ⅔ innings. He had six strikeouts and two walks, allowing three hits.

After 95 pitches, Baz was lifted for Matt Wisler, with two outs and one man on in the sixth. Baz struck out the last two men he faced.

But the first man Wisler faced was Andrew McCutchen. And that is when things went south for Tampa.

He's red hot!@TheCUTCH22 | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/x7ZX1ndDdd

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 29, 2022

That was McCutchen’s seventh home run of the season. Wisler allowed another two-run homer to Luis Urias two batters later, and Milwaukee took control of the game.

Wisler got the loss as Milwaukee went on to win 5-3. So Baz ended up with a no-decision. He is still 0-1 this season. His ERA dropped from 4.15 to 3.38 during the start.

Meanwhile, Cutch is on a six-game hitting streak for the Brewers. He has three homers during that span as well.