In “First Call” Wednesday, the Browns are dealing with some drama of their own. Arizona is still mad about Super Bowl XLIII. And a team broke up a no-hitter with a bunt.

Browns drama

The Steelers have had their share of drama in recent years while attempting to win the AFC North.

Now one of their rivals is touted to emerge atop the division. And they are dealing with some off-field distractions of their own.

Most of the coverage of the Browns’ practice yesterday was about running back Duke Johnson and his trade request.

Given the presence of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb, Johnson requested a trade this offseason. And he stood by it yesterday.

“I’m big on loyalty,” Johnson said. “And that’s even in my personal life, friends, family, the moment the loyalty stops, it stops on both ends. It’s not a one-way street. It stops on my end. Will that stop me from doing my job? Of course not. That’s not going to stop me. Me being upset and me being still wanting to be traded is not going to stop me from coming out here and performing at a high level.”

#Browns RB Duke Johnson says he still wants to be traded because he feels we was put on the block and he deserved more loyalty. pic.twitter.com/Uu4p1r6aiA

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) June 4, 2019

Quarterback Baker Mayfield doesn’t seem happy about it.

“You’re either on this train or you’re not, it’s moving. You can get out of the way or you can join us,” Mayfield said. “He’s got to do his job. He’s a professional and I hope he does his job.”

LIVE: Baker Mayfield at the podium. https://t.co/ruiLr4S2vP

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 4, 2019

Johnson was at the mandatory minicamp. He insists he won’t be a problem or a distraction while he’s still on the Browns.

Head coach Freddie Kitchens hardly seems sympathetic to his running back’s unhappiness.

#Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens minces NO words w/ us on unhappy RB Duke Johnson: “He wants to be traded. I want to win the lottery. It doesn’t matter. He’s under contract. He’s a Cleveland Brown he’s going to be used to the best of his ability in what benefits the team.”

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) June 4, 2019

Win the lottery? Kitchens is the head of the Browns in a season when Cleveland finally may compete again.

Isn’t that kind of like hitting the lottery as it is?

This didn’t go over well

The Double-A Hartford Yard Goats were working on a combined no-hitter against Trenton.

The Rockies’ No. 21 prospect, starter Rico Garcia-Colorado, and a pair of relievers had yet to allow a hit until the Thunder’s Matt Lipka laid down a bunt against closer Ben Bowden to get on base.

Here is the bunt that broke up the @GoYardGoats no-hit bid in the 9th. What does Hartford starter Rico Garcia think of it? https://t.co/JKJTmZDBEb pic.twitter.com/24r6ZHwEj4

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 5, 2019

Bowden got the next two batters out. But the Yard Goats were ticked off that a batter would bunt to break up the no-no. So they exchanged words with the Thunder and the benches cleared after the game.

The final score was 3-0. So the game was by no means out of reach when Lipka came up. But Hartford was ticked off anyway.

Back in 2001, Ben Davis of the Padres bunted for a hit that broke up a perfect-game bid by Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling in the eighth inning.

Still bitter?

The Arizona Cardinals’ Twitter account sent out this tease yesterday.

So we have some news...

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 4, 2019

Eventually, the team announced that Carson Palmer would be the 18th player in the team’s ring of honor.

Carson Palmer will become the 18th member of our Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony on September 29 at State Farm Stadium.

MORE: https://t.co/eeRE4lHyBV pic.twitter.com/gTXCekdcVy

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 4, 2019

Wait. The Cardinals have 17 other players worthy of the ring of honor? Really? Has Larry Fitzgerald already been inducted a few times before retiring or something?

Anyway, one Arizona radio host took a guess at what the news was going to be before the announcement. And it involved a little jab at the Steelers.

The league finally ruled Santonio Holmes was out of bounds after a 10-year review.

— Luke Lapinski (@LukeLapinski) June 4, 2019

Really, Luke? Still pushing that take, huh?

Which of Holmes’ feet did you want to see touch in the endzone a second time? The right or the left?

Did you want to see him get an eleventh toe or a third foot down or something?

I was standing on the field behind the end zone. He was in.

Bowman bows out

Former Penn State star Navorro Bowman is retiring from the NFL.

The former All-Pro sat out all of last year and has decided to call it quits at age 31.

He played linebacker for the 49ers and the Raiders. After suffering an awful knee injury in the 2013 NFC Championship game, Bowman missed the entire next season, played all 16 games in 2015, but then struggled with injuries again after that.

Bowman was an All-Big Ten team member in 2008.

Colonials cash in

A pair of former Robert Morris hockey standouts are now champions on the ECHL level.

Goalie Eric Levine and forward Brady Ferguson won the Kelly Cup with Newfoundland.

Congratulations to @RMUMHockey alums @bradyferguson94 & @knobsave on winning the @ECHL championship with @NLGrowlers pic.twitter.com/LT6UeZ2odZ

— Derek Schooley (@derekschooley) June 5, 2019

The Growlers beat Toledo, 4-3, on Tuesday to claim the title. Ferguson had this goal along the way.

.@bradyferguson94 and the Growlers go for championship glory tonight on Newfoundland ice in @ECHL Kelly Cup Game 6 ...#ColonialPride #BobbyMoToThePros https://t.co/ukUdS7Xh9d

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) June 4, 2019

Ferguson also had two goals in Game 4. Ferguson left RMU as the program’s all-time leader in points (167). Levine had the best save percentage in Colonials history (.925).

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