First Call: Artie Burns' future, a rookie wants Le'Veon Bell's number

In “First Call” Wednesday, Kevin Colbert talks about Artie Burns’ future, Benny Snell embraces the role of replacing Le’Veon Bell, Andrew McCutchen pokes fun at himself.

Burns burned out?

Is Artie Burns’ toasted for good?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very blunt that Burns’ tough 2018 shot his confidence. Now the goal is to rebuild it before 2019 starts.

Is that possible?

Here’s what Kevin Colbert said about that topic on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday.

“Artie lost his confidence and wasn’t where we needed him to be and was replaced in the starting lineup,” Colbert said. “He’s had a good offseason … we had good meetings with him. He wants to be back where he was.”

Hmm. “Where he was.” Was that even good enough?

I’m not sure if the Steelers drafting one cornerback (Justin Layne) and signing another (Steven Nelson) is going to help Burns’ confidence. But the team has to be just as ready to replace Burns, as they are hopeful of fixing him.

This will go over big

Wanna win over Steelers fans quickly? This is a way to do it.

New draft choice running back Benny Snell posted a picture on Instagram of himself in a Steelers uniform. Specifically …

View this post on Instagram

IM WHERE I BELONG??? #herewego #snellyeah

A post shared by BENNY SNELL JR. (B) (@iambennysnelljr) on Apr 27, 2019 at 5:03pm PDT

… Le’Veon Bell’s uniform. As in number 26. Brash move. You’ve got to like that. Plus, if a fan has a Bell jersey that they wear on gamedays, now they can just pull that classy move of taping over the nameplate and writing “Snell” over “Bell.”

Heck. Technically, you only have to tape over one letter!

Granted, taking number 26 is a big deal since Bell wore it. But who else is going to get 26? Justin Layne? Another pretty good corner wore 26 in this city, too, right?

Where does Rod Woodson rank?

Check out @Gil_Brandt's greatest NFL cornerbacks of all timehttps://t.co/UlT4gyCov4 pic.twitter.com/WmsQ2oXuow

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 3, 2017

If you can’t laugh at yourself ...

This is a world-class athlete, folks.

Former Pirates MVP Andrew McCutchen is having a laugh at his own expense. He retweeted this video of his own high-five fail.

How u hit water out ur own hand?. That’s like tripping over ur own feet while laying down. Makes no sense? https://t.co/ygsc6LkAjD

— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) April 30, 2019

I can see this becoming some sort of “So, you think you’re having a bad day?” meme very quickly.

Marchand gonna Marchand

This is the quintessential Brad Marchand move. Watch him sneak up on former Penguin Scott Harrington.

Come on, Marchand pic.twitter.com/HOP6mScuLa

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 1, 2019

Marchand is an excellent player. But he does junk like that all the time. Bop someone in the back of the head and skate away.

Well, at least he didn’t lick Harrington.

The Brad Marchand lick in super slo-mo. #PlayoffHockey pic.twitter.com/EEApK6mK4F

— Jason Fielder (@JasonFielderTV) May 5, 2018

Columbus won the game, 2-1. They also lead that playoff series, 2-1.

Too easy

Few things make Penguins fans happier than poking fun at Mike Milbury.

So, thanks to NBC Sports for helping us with that cause. Check out this video they shot of Milbury’s reaction to the pregame cannon fire at Nationwide Arena.

Honesty, I can’t blame Milbury here. I’ve done that, too. I’ve been to that building many times. And it sneaks up on you.

You think you are ready for it. Then you hear it, and just like Milbury, you flinch like a scared child.

Rumor is Milbury then retaliated against the cannon and attacked it with a shoe.