First Call: Ex-Steeler calls out Ben Roethlisberger; Brian Flores' Arizona interview; the cash Lamar Jackson rejected

In Monday’s “First Call,” an ex-Steeler is starting up some Twitter beef with Ben Roethlisberger. We are getting some financial details about Lamar Jackson’s contract situation. Steelers assistant Brian Flores has a job interview today.

And the Ravens may be trying to poach an assistant from the Cleveland Browns’ staff.

Mad Mendenhall

Here’s a stirred-up football controversy you probably weren’t expecting this morning.

Former Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is calling out his former quarterback, Ben Roethlisbeger.

If @_BigBen7 is the “leader” you say he is, why hasn’t HE taken credit for the fall? ???? What manager of a company goes to HIDE in the shadows when the results come in? We win it’s him, lose it’s me… or Tomlin huh..

Any Given Sunday: Steamin Willie Beamin https://t.co/QZthSkexRF

— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) January 23, 2023

Mendenhall seemed to get some pushback on Twitter over the weekend after posting some pictures from his playing days.

Earned my stripes. @steelers #SB43 pic.twitter.com/za21etdmk8

— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) January 21, 2023

This ring. #RB34 https://t.co/ccrxPsHyTP pic.twitter.com/NOFSUp849k

— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) January 23, 2023

It’s not clear if “by the fall,” Mendenhall is referring to the loss in Super Bowl XLV to the Green Bay Packers after his fumble. Or if he is talking about the Steelers’ recent playoff-win drought which is now at six seasons — including the last five of Roethlisberger’s career.

If he’s talking about the game, this isn’t the first time Mendenhall has tried to massage history when it comes to that fumble. And if he is going after Roethlisberger for the demise of the Steelers in recent years, it’s not the first time he has gone down that path either. Mendenhall called Roethlisberger racist in the wake of the Antonio Brown fallout.

Best foot forward

Brian Flores is getting his interview with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. That’s according to “Monday Morning Quarterback’s” Albert Breer.

Sources: The Cardinals will interview Steelers senior defensive ass't Brian Flores for their head coaching job tomorrow. Flores and new Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort came up together in New England's scouting department.

Flores also did real well interviewing for the AZ job in '18.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 23, 2023

It’s unclear if the Steelers will fill that position if Flores leaves. It was created specifically for him after he was fired as the Miami Dolphins head coach a season ago.

The Cardinals had a head coaching interview lined up with DeMeco Ryans. In fact, Ryans had four interviews lined up Saturday. But according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator “made it through his interviews with the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, but then canceled the two remaining with the Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts so he could spend time with his team preparing for the game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.”

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn did have an interview with Arizona. He, Flores and Ryans are believed to have joined at least five other candidates who are on the list for that job.

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Keeping it close

Speaking of job interviews, the Baltimore Ravens may be looking at grabbing an assistant coach from within the division to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy.

According to Cleveland.com, Cleveland Browns wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea is in the running for that gig.

The #Ravens have requested permission to interview #Browns WR coach Chad O'Shea for their offensive coordinator vacancy, league source tells clevelanddotcom https://t.co/T75NvA2ND9

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 21, 2023

An eye for receiving talent sure would be nice for Baltimore. The Ravens have been sorely lacking in that regard in recent years.

O’Shea has worked in the NFL since 2003. He got his start with the Kansas City Chiefs before working with the New England Patriots from 2009-18, where he was a part of the team’s Super Bowl LI win over the Atlanta Falcons.

On Friday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Baltimore has put in a request to interview Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson.

How much?

Over the weekend, ESPN’s Ryan Clark said that Lamar Jackson rejected $133 million guaranteed dollars from the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson is about to become a free agent or will perhaps get a franchise tag from the Ravens.

We went back and forth on @FirstTake yesterday about @Lj_era8’s guaranteed money.

Based on a source with knowledge of the negotiations Lamar was initially offered $113 million in guarantees and eventually raised to $133 million.

That was the most Lamar was offered.

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 21, 2023

That’s in line with a report Chris Mortensen put out in September.

As that story went, “The extension years in the Ravens’ proposal would have paid Jackson a higher average salary than the deals signed this summer by Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and also included more money guaranteed at signing, according to sources. But sources told ESPN that the Ravens also balked at Jackson’s wish for a deal that was fully guaranteed at signing, similar to Deshaun Watson’s $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed at signing.”