First Call: Carly Zucker wins Twitter; Tom Brady and Chris Kreider updates; XFL ratings

Wednesday’s “First Call” features a Tom Brady update. Where is Chris Kreider going to wind up? Jason Zucker’s wife wins Twitter for a night.

Destination TBA

The Penguins decided to go in a different direction than Chris Kreider. The New York Rangers forward was believed to be a target of the Penguins when they were shopping for help up front.

But they acquired Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild instead.

That’s working out so far. He has three goals in four games since joining the Pens, including one Tuesday during a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tic, tac, toe.

That's another power-play goal. pic.twitter.com/BrdAMzphoC

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 19, 2020

So where is Kreider going? Perhaps nowhere.

TSN’s Frank Seravalli writes that Kreider may sign an extension with New York. But if he’s moved, Colorado and Boston may be potential landing spots.

Well played

Speaking of Zucker, the Penguins sent out this tweet about the blossoming linemate relationship he seems to have with Sidney Crosby.

Find someone who looks at you the way Zucker looks at Crosby. pic.twitter.com/sdKKEApwnD

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 19, 2020

Zucker’s wife, Carly, is a media personality in Minnesota and active on Twitter. She jumped on that opportunity.

Someday... https://t.co/vn1VqUzkAL

— Carly Zucker (@CarlyAplin) February 19, 2020

Something tells me most Penguins fans are starting to look at him the same way.

Reading the ratings

The XFL’s second week of ratings are in, and, as expected, they are down.

Via Touchdown Wire, on Saturday, the league “garnered almost 1.2 million fewer viewers than the first weekend of the second launch of the XFL — 3.3 million in Week 1 versus 2.12 in Week 2. There wasn’t as large of a dip on Sunday where Week 1 had 2.5 million viewers but only averaged 2.39 million viewers on ABC in Week 2. It’s important to point out that Week 1 was on ESPN and Week 2 was on ABC. If Week 2 was on ESPN, we probably would see a similar ratio drop closer to the Saturday numbers.”

So despite an anticipated dip, maybe the drop wasn’t quite as severe as expected for Week 2.

However, I’d argue a week’s worth of negative spin about how poor the quarterback play was this past weekend will hurt the league and we may see more of a dive in Week 3.

Brady update

Here is the latest on Tom Brady’s pending free agency from NBC Boston’s Tom Curran.

He listed four news items of interest about how Brady may be approaching free agency, and how the Patriots may be angling their attempts to keep their legendary quarterback.

1. He anticipates negotiations beginning after the combine ends on March 1.

2. Curran says, “The Patriots aren’t worried about other team’s financial pitches. Their business with Brady revolves around the direction of the 2020 offensive personnel, Brady getting some input on that and Brady’s role in the team’s future.”

3. If Brady hits free agency, he may try to set up meetings at one location instead of doing a public free agency barnstorming tour.

4. The Patriots are willing to exceed a $30 million price tag.

Buffs not getting Bieniemy?

Many have lobbied for Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to get a head coaching job in the NFL.

That hasn’t happened yet.

But his alma mater, the University of Colorado, has reportedly been interested in hiring him to replace Mel Tucker.

Tucker recently jumped ship to join Michigan State. But it appears that Bieniemy is staying put.

My understanding with Eric Bieniemy and CU: there's been no major traction so far and Bieniemy figures to be prominent coaching candidate in 2021 NFL cycle, but perhaps something will change if Buffs could still make late push.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 19, 2020

So, my translation of that? The Buffs needed to knock off Bieniemy’s socks, and they haven’t done so yet.

Either in terms of commitment to the program or commitment to his bank account. Or perhaps both.