First Call: Antonio Brown gets $5 million settlement from Patriots. Look how he celebrated for his birthday.
Former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown fell into some money and celebrates in style.
That’s how we kick off Monday’s “First Call.” Also, ESPN gives a little love to two Steelers stars. And Yasiel Puig is getting some interest.
Guess what. It’s not from the Pirates.
I know. You’re shocked, right?
The gift that keeps on giving
Antonio Brown turned 32 on Friday. And he celebrated in a very on-brand A.B. way.
For the pastry chef who created that cake, I think it’s safe to say that “business is boomin’”!
Now I know what you are thinking, “Does Mr. Big Chest really have that much money left, seeing as how he hasn’t been on a roster since Week 2 of 2019?”
Well, perhaps ol’ “Ronald” knew what news was coming down the pike.
Specifically, the Massachusetts Turnpike. Because according to ESPN, the New England Patriots settled their $9 million grievance with the wide receiver. He was released before Week 3 after his only game in a Patriots jersey because he was accused of sending threatening texts to a woman. Brown was also accused in a civil case for rape.
Instead of receiving the full $9 million, Brown will get $5 million. Via Mike Reiss of ESPN, “In addition to that $4 million credit on the Patriots’ cap, the club received a $2.55 million credit after settling a long-running compensation grievance with the late (Aaron) Hernandez, per sources…Earlier this week, prior to restructuring the contract of running back Rex Burkhead, the Patriots were down to less than $500,000 in space. The club now has $7.79 million in room under the salary cap.”
Maybe that’s enough space to bring back Brown on a new, restructured deal to play in New England with his buddy Cam Newton?
Ha! Who am I kidding?
I feel compelled to use the compensatory “but stranger things have happened” line here.
Although I’m not 100% sure that would actually be true in this case.
Two days before the settlement, Brown posted this photo of himself in his Patriots jersey, plus an “alarm” emoji.
So either he was angling for a New England comeback or giving us a subtle heads up that $5 million of Robert Kraft’s money was heading his way.
Knowing how Brown operates, I could believe both.
Easily.
Signs of Steelers
ESPN has been going position by position with its top-10 lists of NFL players at each spot.
The Steelers were shut out of all the skill position categories. Even Ben Roethlisberger came up short at quarterback. He just got an honorable mention.
However, two players from Pittsburgh got on the top-10 list of interior offensive linemen. Guard David DeCastro was rated fourth. Center Maurkice Pouncey was ranked 10th.
Indianapolis guard Quenton Nelson got the top spot. You can read the rest of the list here.
Bud is not alone
Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree is not the only pass rusher filing a grievance against the NFL.
So is Tampa Bay’s Shaq Barrett.
Both are upset with the terms of their franchise tags. They are being labeled as outside linebackers, not defensive ends
Players who accept the franchise tag get the average salary of the top five highest-paid players at their position. Via Over The Cap, franchise-tagged defensive ends are expected to make $17.8 million this season. Linebackers will get $15.8 million.
Barrett plays both roles for the Buccaneers. Dupree is strictly a 3-4 outside linebacker for the Steelers. But that position essentially acts as being a pass rushing specialist in the same way a 4-3 end does.
So, they have a point. I have no idea why the collective bargaining agreement waits this deep into the calendar to figure that out though. Shouldn’t that be something that is determined much earlier in this process?
In Houston, Jadeveon Clowney had the same issue last year. He ended up playing out 2019 as a linebacker, even though he saw more snaps as a defensive end in 2018.
Orioles interested in Puig?
Many in Pittsburgh have wondered if the Pirates may show interest in former Cincinnati Reds rival Yasiel Puig.
Remember when he tried to fight the entire Pirates team?
Well, Puig finished up last year with the Cleveland Indians. The Buccos could use another outfield bat. But little fire has been attached to that smoke. And now one team seems to be particularly interested in Puig’s services.
That’s the Baltimore Orioles, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
The Orioles are interested in signing Yasiel Puig and have made at least one offer, according to a source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 11, 2020
Last year, Puig slashed .267/.327/.458 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs.
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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