First Call: Ben Roethlisberger was almost traded in 2009? Antonio Brown flirts with Ravens; Vegas interviews Brandon Hunt

Thursday’s “First Call” features a story about a 12-year-old vetoed trade that apparently involved Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Las Vegas Raiders may raid the Steelers front office. Antonio Brown is lobbying to play in Baltimore. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is done with social media.

And another ex-Robert Morris Colonial is heading to the Olympics.

San ‘Ben’cisco?

The Steelers almost traded Ben Roethlisberger to the San Francisco 49ers.

Oh. Did that get your attention?

According to a story by Dan Pompei in The Athletic, the 49ers almost acquired Roethlisberger in a trade prior to the 2009 season.

Big Ben was just a few months removed from his second Super Bowl victory with the Steelers. On July 17, 2009, a civil suit was filed against Roethlisberger accusing the QB of sexual assault resulting from an alleged incident in Lake Tahoe, Nev.

According to Pompei, those factors came into play to quell a deal that was allegedly in place between the Steelers and Niners. One that was reportedly vetoed by newly hired coach Mike Singletary.

“Quarterback Alex Smith was in his fifth season in Singletary’s first full year as head coach. The former first pick of the draft had been a massive disappointment, and moving on would have been best for all. But Singletary liked Smith, saw his potential, and knew he had worked with four coordinators in his first four years. He wanted to give him a chance, and he told him he would.

Then, 49ers owner John York, CEO Jed York, director of player personnel Trent Baalke and other executives called Singletary to a meeting. They had a trade in place with the Steelers for Ben Roethlisberger, who had recently been accused of sexual assault. Singletary vetoed the deal.

He felt an obligation to Smith, and he also believed he needed to stand for what he had been preaching.

‘I had been telling the team I wanted a team of character,” he says. “I felt I had to be true to that. But if I could do it again, I’d do it differently.’”

Gee. Ya think?

Note, the story doesn’t clarify what the Steelers would’ve gotten in return. Presumably, Smith would’ve been part of the deal.

Nor was there any confirmation or denial from Pittsburgh.

The phrase “trade in place” is used rather loosely, too. Did that mean an offer from the Niners? Or an actual agreement from both parties?

The Rams, Raiders and Bills were all rumored candidates to acquire Roethlisberger before the 2010 draft. That was after the second allegation against Roethlisberger in Georgia.

Hunting for Hunt

If Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert really does retire after the upcoming 2022 draft, then many think that Brandon Hunt has a good shot to replace him.

Hunt is the Steelers pro scouting director. He has been in that role since 2010. It’s entirely possible that — should Colbert walk away in April — Hunt could get promoted to general manager. Omar Khan could get a financial and title promotion from his post as president of football and business administration, too.

And you may see Hunt and Khan essentially split the GM job.

Meanwhile, both men are interviewing for other jobs. Khan interviewed for the Chicago Bears general manager job. He didn’t get it. Chiefs executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles did.

Now Hunt is interviewing for the Las Vegas Raiders’ open GM gig, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

The #Raiders interviewed #Steelers pro scouting coordinator Brandon Hunt for their GM job Tuesday, per source. Hunt is also expected to be one of the internal candidates to succeed Kevin Colbert in Pittsburgh.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 26, 2022

Former Titans GM Ruston Webster interviewed for the job as well, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Related:

• U mad, bro?: Steelers fans do not like the idea of Aaron Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh at all
• A closer look at the Penguins' winning ways

Not all on board

It looks like Antonio Brown found himself a shirt to wear.

At least a digital one anyway.

The former Steelers, Buccaneers, Raiders and Patriots wide receiver recently posted a picture of himself flexing in a mocked-up Baltimore Ravens jersey.

At least one Ravens player appeared less than thrilled with the idea of the organization acquiring their former AFC North rival.

After teammate Marlon Humphrey responded with the emoji eyes at Brown’s tweet, safety Tony Jefferson II replied with a disapproving GIF.

https://t.co/svARDMwfXi

— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) January 25, 2022

A.B. is looking for a new sucker … uh, I mean … franchise to hire him after his release from the Bucs following his Week 17 shirtless temper tantrum and exit during a game against the New York Jets.

Buh-bye Baker

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield says he is taking a break from social media for the foreseeable future.

#Browns Baker Mayfield on IG. pic.twitter.com/Kgv308UrNh

— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) January 26, 2022

On Sunday, he tweeted his congratulations to all four teams moving on in the NFL playoffs. Then he followed up with a tweet calling social media “toxic.”

Nevertheless… social media is toxic. Always kept my circle tight. Time to get back to that. Family and loved ones only.

— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 24, 2022

I’m guessing even Steelers fans could agree with Mayfield on that statement.

The quarterback recently got into it on Twitter with the Cleveland media. Mayfield’s wife, Emily, has been called out for her activities on social media over the past year or so as well. She posted — then deleted — criticisms of Mayfield’s teammates in an effort to support her husband, who struggled during the season with injuries.

Near the end of the season, Mayfield also discussed receiving death threats on social media, something he said his wife also encounters.

Make it three

A third former Robert Morris women’s hockey player is heading to the 2022 Olympics.

Anna Fairman has made the Chinese National Team for the upcoming games. The blueliner was a member of the Colonials for two seasons from 2019-21. She spent the 2021-22 season playing professionally for the KRS Vanke Rays of the Zhenskaya Hockey League in Guangdong, China.

Fairman was part of the Colonials CHA Tournament Championship squad during her sophomore season in 2020-21.

Meeri Räisänen is a goalie who will be on team Finland. Forward Aneta Ledlova is on the Czech team.