Steelers

First Call: James Harrison’s ‘comeback’ post; NFL’s 1st pass-interference challenge

Tim Benz
By Tim Benz
3 Min Read Aug. 2, 2019 | 6 years Ago
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Friday’s “First Call” features James Harrison flirting with a comeback in Denver, the first challenged pass interference call and a potential career change for Jameis Winston.


More Deebo?

James Harrison is coming out of retirement.

Well, that’s what he wants us to think. And he wants us to think he is going to team up with Von Miller as bookend pass-rushers in Denver.

Yeah. I don’t see it happening either. That’s a frightening thought, though, isn’t it?

But how dark does it get in those Broncos meeting rooms? And are the lounge chairs too comfy? Miller may have to nudge Harrison awake a few times before training camp ends.


'Dog days' of August baseball

It looks like the Orioles broadcasts are a lot like the Pirates broadcasts.

Last-place team. Getting killed at home. Thank God it’s pup night!

But this … this is just too much.

Heck, that’s the most interesting thing to happen at a Baltimore-Toronto game since the 2016 Wild Card.

Come to think of it, that game was 1-0. This dog is way more interesting.


A first

And the flood gates just officially opened!

Take a look at the first challenged pass-interference penalty in NFL history. It happened when Atlanta’s Russell Gage drew a flag against Linden Stephens.

You really can’t fault the process here. I get why it was flagged. The defensive back got his hand up to the collar of the receiver as he was adjusting to make a play on the ball.

I get why it was challenged. There was hand fighting both ways, and it was ticky-tack.

And I get why it was upheld. No overwhelming evidence to overturn the call.

I also expect that this will be the only time I write these words of agreement all year long.


Two-sport star

Jameis Winston is still toying with the idea of playing baseball.

He was a very good pitcher at Florida State. So good that the Buccaneers put a “no baseball” clause in his contract.

Jameis had a 1.00 ERA in 33 1/3 innings, finished with an excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio of 31/7 and projected as a potential closer in pro ball.

“It is one of my dreams,” Winston recently told NBCSports.com (via JoeBucsFan.com). “It is something I would definitely look forward to.”

Winston is a free agent after this season and is only 25. So if the Pirates end up trading Felipe Vazquez during this offseason, look for Winston in the Pirates bullpen in Bradenton.

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About the Writers

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

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