First Call: Gronk to WWE?; NFL overtime may change; Penguins get help; Duquesne basketball snubs

Wednesday’s “First Call” features a new gig for Gronk. Is NFL overtime changing again? Gerrit Cole basks in Yankees stardom. The Penguins get some help in the Metro Division.

Gronk to wrestling?

The Steelers need a tight end.

Well, there is a pretty good one from Woodland Hills that’s getting back in the sports entertainment game.

But it’s not in the NFL.

Former New England Patriots Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski is apparently getting involved with pro wrestling.

Ryan Satin of WWE Backstage reports, “Gronkowski is close to finalizing a deal of some sort with WWE. While the capacity in which he’d be used is unclear at this time, sources say Gronk could be making an appearance in WWE as early as March 20th on Friday Night SmackDown in New Orleans.”

What’s Gronk’s finishing move going to be? “The Power Spike”?

Here we go again

There’s more talk about the NFL changing overtime.

This time, the discussion is about extending the length of the extra session to 15 minutes in the regular season. It had been rolled back to 10 minutes three years ago. Player safety was cited as the reason why.

Going back to 15 minutes could give both teams a better chance of having two possessions, if need be.

Or at least one full, long possession each.

That feels better

The Penguins got a win Tuesday, just their third in 11 tries. They beat the New Jersey Devils.

It was also nice to see the Philadelphia Flyers finally lose after a nine-game win streak. They fell to the Boston Bruins 2-0.

It's all in the wrist.

PB37 | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/SB8MtSJt0L

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 11, 2020

That brings the Penguins (86) to within three points of the Flyers (89) for second place in the Metro Division.

The New York Islanders also lost in Vancouver. The Canucks won 5-4. That’s a seventh straight loss for New York. So they are stuck with 80 points, as the last team out of the wild-card race.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets currently hold the two wild-card spots with 81 points each. Carolina grabbed a 5-2 win in Detroit Tuesday. Columbus hosts the Penguins Thursday.

Where’s the eye-roll emoji?

Former Pirate Gerrit Cole is diving into the New York Yankees media machine.

Check out this fake commercial he and some of the other pitchers on the staff filmed for the team’s social media accounts.

Introducing: Whiff's Garage. In a jam? We're here to get you out of it! pic.twitter.com/Uv3t5YJztq

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 10, 2020

Does it bother you — as it does me — that the Yankees probably spent more filming that commercial than the Pirates will spend for their entire roster this year?

That seems wrong

The Duquesne basketball team is enjoying its best season since 2009. But that didn’t translate to much when it came to individual awards.

Forward Marcus Weathers was the only Duke to get any postseason Atlantic 10 acknowledgement. He was named second-team All-Conference.

Michael Hughes should’ve had a shot at Defensive Player of the Year, if not at least the All-Defensive team. He was second in the conference with 2.7 blocks per game. He was also ninth in steals with 44. That’s a lot for a center.

That award went to Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard, who led the league with 99 steals.

I also thought Weathers may get Most Improved Player consideration, and I thought guard Sincere Carry would’ve been on, at least, the third-team All-Conference.

Dayton’s Obi Toppin was named Player of the Year. Anthony Grant was Coach of the Year. The Flyers finished 18-0 in conference play and went 29-2 overall.

Duquesne will play either Fordham or George Washington in the first round of the A-10 tournament Thursday.