First call: Jets QB Sam Darnold already 'loves' Le'Veon Bell

In today’s “First Call,” Sam Darnold can’t wait to get Le’Veon Bell in the huddle in New York. Mad money for Stephen A. Smith at ESPN. The nightmare fallout for AAF players.

Lovin’ Le’V

Sam Darnold is already in love with Le’Veon Bell.

The Jets quarterback can’t wait to start playing with his new running back.

“I mean, what’s not to love about it?” Darnold told Newsday. “Le’Veon is a great player. He’s very instinctual, too. He’s very quarterback friendly, which I’ve noticed watching his tape a little bit. Whenever Big Ben was back there … as a quarterback, you sense when time runs out. You start looking for guys and Le’Veon is always really friendly and he’s always right there in your vision.”

When Bell’s on the field, Darnold is right. What’s not to love? Bell is wonderful.

When he is off the field, though? How about his social media activity, his marijuana suspensions, his injury history and his second career as a rapper?

This is so bad

There have been some ugly ramifications to the AAF folding.

ProFootballTalk compiled this list of players getting kicked out of their lodgings with no notice after the league ceased operations. Now they have nowhere to live. Players have taken to going on social media to let teammates know they have extra space to help each other get along.

The story also noted that players who suffered season-ending injuries are getting ready to file workers’ compensation claims.

Then there is the gambling angle. According to ESPN, the Westgate in Las Vegas is refunding all futures bets made on the league. And FanDuel is actually paying them out as winners in a feel-good publicity move.

The daily fantasy sports outlet says the payouts will cost them about $10,000.

Fireworks in Cole’s start

Based on how things are going for Gerrit Cole to start this year, he must feel like he never left Pittsburgh.

Over two starts, Cole now has a 19-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, yet he’s 0-2. The Astros lost to Texas, 4-0. Cole allowed three earned runs in six innings despite striking out nine Rangers.

Meanwhile, umpire Ron Kulpa ejected Houston hitting coach Alex Cintron and manager A.J. Hinch on consecutive pitches in the second inning.

A.J. Hinch was not tossed when he walked out of the dugout.

He was tossed moments later from the bench.

He was also ejected one pitch into a spring training game last month.pic.twitter.com/5znUuEuE79

— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) April 4, 2019

Houston bench coach Joe Espada took over as the acting manager.

$tephen A. $mith

Remember when Tony Romo was asking CBS for $10 million per year to continue being an NFL analyst?

Well, apparently, that became the magic number for ESPN and Stephen A. Smith, as well.

Stephen A. Smith is close to signing a $10 Million Per Year contract with ESPN, making him the highest paid person in ESPN History, per @nypost.

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 3, 2019

I just can’t see how the math works out here. I get the whole “you are worth what they will pay you” argument. But I can’t imagine the differential between what Smith does vs. anyone else on ESPN’s squawk shows adds up to $10 million of value for keeping Smith on board.

Plus, it’s ESPN. Aren’t they bidding against themselves here? Who else is going to pay Smith that much?