First Call: Ben Roethlisberger is the worst QB in the AFC North? Buy Terry Bradshaw's condo.

Ben Roethlisberger is the worst starting quarterback in the AFC North. That’s according to one former NFL executive.

Another one tells us why Earl Thomas got cut in Baltimore. We tell you about how to buy Terry Bradshaw’s condo. And some injury issues in Cleveland.

Plus the debate over fans at NFL games is picking up steam.

All of that fills your football fix in Tuesday’s “First Call.”

This Tannenbaum ain’t not so royal

I’m not one who assumes Ben Roethlisberger is going to come back and fix everything for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

I’m predicting he’ll help them get back to the playoffs at roughly 10-6. But I won’t even guarantee that.

Guarded though my optimism may be, I’ve still got more faith in Big Ben’s return than ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum.

The former Jets general manager thinks that Roethlisberger may be the fourth-best quarterback in the AFC North.

.@RealTannenbaum believes Pittsburgh may have the fourth-best quarterback in their division this year, behind both Burrow and Mayfield pic.twitter.com/OcHj6TQmqW

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August
24, 2020

Not better than reigning Baltimore Ravens MVP Lamar Jackson? OK. I get it.

But ranking him behind Cincinnati Bengals rookie Joe Burrow and still unproven Baker Mayfield in Cleveland? C’mon! That’s just flapping your gums for the sake of filling airtime.

“I’ve been around quarterbacks,” Tannenbaum said. “Ben Roethlisberger at 38, who’s played two games in two years. I’ll take my chances with Burrow and Mayfield. And Pittsburgh may have the fourth-best quarterback this year in the AFC North.”

You know what, Mike? I don’t think that take isn’t hot enough. Call him the fifth-best quarterback in the division. Rank him behind Robert Griffin III.

Go big or go home!

Mad McDermott

For quite some time we’ve known that the NFL was going to allow individual stadiums to be filled based on regional regulations.

With the way things are going, hope for fans at Heinz Field seems bleak.

That said, Kansas City is allowing some fans. It appears Miami is as well.

Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is unhappy about that. He thinks a decision should be in place across the league one way or the other.

“I think it’s honestly ridiculous,” McDermott said. “On the surface, this would appear to be a playing field that’s like that… inconsistent across the league with the different away stadiums… but it is what it is. We control what we can control. That’s got to be our mindset and that’s how we attack it.”

It strikes me that the NFL implemented this approach in late June thinking that most stadiums would be in a position to host fans and perhaps only a few would not be. Thus, they did not want to shut down that revenue stream for the majority of teams if only a few were still in hotspot municipalities.

Based on the way most places are trending, though, only a minority of cities seem willing to open up stadiums.

So maybe the plan is backfiring.

Primary concern in secondary

The Browns lost three members of their secondary due to injuries during Monday’s practice. One of them was rookie safety Grant Delpit. He was carted off with what some fear is an Achilles injury.

Cornerback Greedy Williams and newly acquired M.J. Stewart couldn’t finish the session. Via Browns Wire, Stewart left with an ice wrap on his leg. Williams left under his own power but needed help into the trainers’ room.

The team is already without Kevin Johnson. The slot corner lacerated his liver during a red-zone drill over the weekend. Johnson is considered week to week. Stewart was subbing for Johnson.

Cornerback Terrance Mitchell also wasn’t practicing, for reasons unknown.

Don’t let the door hit you?

You know how everyone likes to trash a guy going out the door, right?

Ask Penguins defenseman, Justin Schultz. He’ll tell you.

Well, former Ravens safety Earl Thomas is getting that treatment, too. He was recently cut by the team for fighting with teammate Chuck Clark.

And many other reasons, according to former NFL executive Vinny Cerrato. He was on “93.7 The Fan” in Pittsburgh Monday, tearing Thomas to shreds.

More Cerrato on Thomas: "To be totally honest, I watched every game, I didn't think he played that well. Hall of Famer middle of the field guy, right? Why do the Ravens have him blitzing all the time? He can't cover the middle. I don't think they'll miss him at all."

— The Fan Morning Show (@FanMorningShow) August 24, 2020

Despite his baggage, the NFL Network is reporting that the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers all have interest in signing Thomas.

Bradshaw’s barn

Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is selling his condo in Hawaii.

It’s on the big island. A $1.3 million, 2,111 square foot pad in Waimea. It’s a 3-bed, 3-bath unit with a sweet view. TMZ has the pictures.

There is an infinity pool, outdoor grill, spa, game room and tennis court. It is also adjacent to the Hapuna Golf Course, designed in part by another Western Pa. sports legend — Arnold Palmer.

I’m also told you can go manta ray night diving nearby. That sounds like something fun to do when you aren’t sitting around telling your neighbors, “Yinz know I bought ‘dis here haus from Terry Bradshaw n’at!”

Do you think Terry might accidentally leave his gold jacket behind in the guest room closet or something? If so, I’d totally sell it on eBa …

Uh, I mean, give it to the realtor to make sure it got back to him as fast as possible.