First Call: Antonio Brown begs for Patriots reunion; Yankees green light huge cash for Gerrit Cole
Friday’s “First Call” gives us Phil Kessel’s unique headgear, Antonio Brown’s plea for a job, Gerrit Cole’s huge contract on the horizon and a Pitt player emerges from nowhere in the NFL.
Take me back! Please!
Antonio Brown’s online flirtation with the New England Patriots continues.
The outcast wide receiver is now flat out begging for the Pats to bring him back on their roster.
The NFL would likely have to conclude their investigation of the sexual assault allegations against him before New England considered such a move.
But that isn’t going to stop A.B. from making eyes at Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in hopes of currying favor.
With the way the Patriots offense has been struggling lately, Brady may be willing to put up with Brown’s shenanigans to get his talent on the field.
Cole’s cash
It looks like Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is backing up the Brinks truck to get Gerrit Cole.
The former Pirates pitcher is the big prize of the MLB free agency market. And it appears the Yankees want him badly.
Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports that the Yankees have made signing Cole “their clear offseason priority and have ownership-level approval to offer him a record-setting deal.”
The most money ever given to a free agent pitcher was the $217 million given to David Price by the Boston Red Sox in 2016.
Cole’s contract may come close to $300 million.
Fuzzy Phil
Phil Kessel finally found the back of the net.
Twice.
He scored two times Thursday night as the first place Arizona Coyotes won in Philadelphia 3-1. He got goals No. 5 and 6 on the season after scoring just once since Nov. 2.
So maybe he’s heating up just in time for his return to Pittsburgh on Friday.
The Coyotes have a “player of the game” award that they hand out after every game. And it’s an actual coyote pelt.
Guess who got it last night.
Scores goals.
Blocks shots.
Earns the pelt. pic.twitter.com/bZYJBQDY8Z— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 6, 2019
That’s a good look, Phil.
And as you can tell from Kessel’s quote at the end of the video, he has Pittsburgh on the brain already.
Remember him?
J.P. Holtz last played at Pitt in 2015.
Since then he has bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Browns and Redskins.
But the Shaler product may have found a home with the Chicago Bears. He caught his first two NFL passes earlier this year, and he made a big impact in the “Thursday Night Football” game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Big time hustle by @jp_holtz86 to set up the score.#DALvsCHI | #TNF pic.twitter.com/UojpcPh4LH
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 6, 2019
That was a 30-yard reception from Holtz, a career long. He added two more catches and had 56 yards.
Chicago won 31-24.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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