First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster stokes free agency talk via video game, Aaron Donald's emotional response to loss

Monday’s “First Call” starts with Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and his “virtual” flirtation with free agency.

Cleveland suffered a bad break during the Browns playoff loss in Kansas City. Los Angeles’ Aaron Donald had an emotional reaction to his Rams losing in Green Bay Saturday.

And the “Killer B’s” weren’t so killer in their new cities on Sunday.

Is this what they mean by “virtual reality”?

Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster opened some eyes while playing video games Friday night.

During a four-hour Fortnite session on Twitch, Smith-Schuster acknowledged his pending free agency. He made his avatar in the game wear a No. 19 jersey of various NFL teams such as the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.

Free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is currently streaming on Twitch with the title "Free Agent! Where Should I GO?" while his Fortnite character wears a Packers jersey.

Wouldn't be the worst fit in Green Bay. pic.twitter.com/TjqvNcJqpY

— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein_) January 16, 2021

To be fair, JuJu’s figure was decked out in a Steelers jersey during the video, too.

Smith-Schuster finished 2020 with 97 receptions and a career-high nine receiving touchdowns. But with only 831 yards, that gave him a career-low 8.6 yards per catch.

Is that tampering? I don’t think that’s tampering. Can you tamper with yourself? If it’s virtual reality, is it just “virtual tampering”?

Maybe I’ve given this too much thought already.

Donald is done

Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald took the loss to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs especially hard.

He was seen crying on the sidelines toward the end of the game.

Aaron Donald is emotional on the sidelines. pic.twitter.com/lgrMRLtQZ9

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 17, 2021

No doubt that’s because Donald was frustrated over how little he could contribute to the team given his rib injury.

While Donald did play Saturday, he was only on the field for 39 of L.A.’s 72 defensive snaps. And he wasn’t himself when he was on the field.

As a result, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t sacked at all. He was hit just once. And he breezed to a 108.1 passer rating as the Packers won 32-18 with 484 yards in total offense.

During the regular season, Donald had 13.5 sacks and a league-leading 98 pressures. He played 84 percent of the Rams’ snaps on defense. He was the biggest reason why that unit was the best in the NFL when it came to passing yards allowed, points allowed and yards allowed and was second in sacks.

Browns is the Browns?

The Cleveland Browns put up a good fight in Kansas City during their playoff game Sunday afternoon. But the Chiefs held on to win 22-17 thanks, in part, to one “Browns is the Browns” moment.

There. You happy, JuJu?

The Browns could’ve been in better shape had it not been for this play in the second quarter, a fumble through the end zone from Rashard Higgins as he stretched for the pylon. Dan Sorensen jarred the ball free.

Dirty Dan loves making plays in the playoffs ?

?: https://t.co/F3ZHh8BQRq pic.twitter.com/Xmf1LfBlft

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 17, 2021

Yeah. The Xavier Grimble play. Remember that one, Steelers fans?

So instead of a touchdown which could’ve pulled the Browns within 16-10, it stayed 16-3. And the Chiefs took that possession and kicked a field goal to go up 19-3.

That play spawned quite a debate at halftime on CBS. The crew all seemed to agree that a fumble through the end zone being ruled a touchback with possession going over to the defense is too punitive.

But they also wanted to see a flag thrown on Sorensen for leading with the helmet on the hit.

"It should be a reviewable play especially with us making an emphasis on keeping players healthy. You should be able to look at that play again and then throw a flag afterwards." - @nateburleson on Daniel Sorensen hit pic.twitter.com/jxDoVOxOB3

— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 17, 2021

I agree with half of what the CBS crew was saying. It stinks that the fumble-through-the-end-zone rule exists the way it does. I’ve said that for years.

But, c’mon. Spare me the “we need to review use of helmet” garbage. Don’t we have enough replay as it is? You want targeting replays in the NFL, as they have in college?

I don’t.

A check on the Killer B’s

It wasn’t a good day for the Killer B’s, former Steelers Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

Brown had only one catch for 10 yards as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 30-20. He appeared to be dealing with a leg injury late in the second quarter, though. That limited his playing time.

As for Bell, he was a ghost for the Chiefs. The running back had only two carries for six yards. And he didn’t catch a pass — with just two targets.

But they will both be playing in conference championship games next Sunday, with Super Bowl berths on the line.