Thursday’s “First Call” features Antonio Brown’s latest social media meltdown. Jay Glazer tamps down any quarterback controversy with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, we have updates on Joe Burrow’s health in Cincinnati and Baker Mayfield’s starting status with the Carolina Panthers.
A.B. goes after TB12
Antonio Brown is using social media to rip former teammate Tom Brady.
A.B. apparently doesn’t think it’s right that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are giving Brady a 10-day break in the middle of camp to go home and be with his family. “Tom brady manipulate the game,” Brown tweeted. “gets 14 days [to] go home get his mind [right] lol. Now u see the difference. Put that (expletive) on.”
Brown also took a jab at Alex Guerrero, Brady’s private health guru.
“Alex Guerra [sic] You think i won’t have u smacked at TB12 boy stop playing with me ! Boy getting paid by bucks [sic] n taking players money too,” Brown tweeted.
Brown has had a problem with Guerrero in the past. Brown insists Guerrero didn’t pay back some of the $100K the wideout paid him for his services. The first time Brown went after Guerrero was when Mr. Big Chest accidentally posted his own bank information online.
Brady encouraged the Bucs to sign Brown when he was a free agent in 2020. They went on to win a Super Bowl together before A.B. had a shirtless meltdown in New York and got himself cut late in 2021.
Trubisky’s team
According to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Mitch Trubisky is going to be the starting quarterback for the Steelers, despite the enthusiasm swirling around rookie Kenny Pickett.
That’s from a video he posted Wednesday on Twitter from Saint Vincent College.
Out here at @steelers training camp. My thoughts on this team entering the season and the #Steelers starting QB “battle”. @NFLonFOX #GlazeAcrossAmerica #NFLTrainingCamp pic.twitter.com/yYVzODLhda
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) August 17, 2022
“This is Mitch’s team,” Glazer said. “He’ll be the starting quarterback this year in Pittsburgh. But they’ve got their future this year also in Kenny Pickett.”
Glazer is known to be tight with Mike Tomlin and has gotten some scoops on the Steelers as result.
This one isn’t exactly breaking news, though. Throughout training camp and the offseason, Trubisky has been treated like the No. 1 QB. Now we’ll just have to see how long that lasts after a brutal six-week start to the regular season for the team.
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Baker wins battle
Baker Mayfield appears ready to land on his feet in Carolina.
According to The Athletic, the Panthers are expected to name Mayfield their starting quarterback against Mayfield’s former team — the Cleveland Browns — for Week 1 of the 2022 season.
After being acquired via trade from Cleveland this offseason, Mayfield has been competing with Sam Darnold for the starting spot in Carolina. But coach Matt Rhule is expected to make a QB decision public by the time the Panthers play in New England for a preseason game Friday night.
Mayfield played one series during the Panthers’ first preseason game against the Washington Commanders. It was a 13-play drive that stalled after Mayfield and center Pat Elfein had a botched snap.
Joe Burrow update
Meanwhile Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow seems to think he’ll be OK to start Week 1 against the Steelers.
Speaking to the assembled media for the first time since his appendectomy on July 26, Burrow said his appendix ruptured and he needed surgery as a result.
“You’re in a hospital for however many days and you start to feel like a sick person,” Burrow said via ESPN.com “So you want to get back out with the guys and feel healthy again. … When they cut into you and do all that stuff your core is going to lose some muscle and some strength just getting that back.”
Burrow was slated to take part in team drills Wednesday for the first time since the procedure.
