First Call: Le'Veon Bell ‘likes’ criticism of Jets; Big Ben erased from Browns record books; Pitt, WPIAL QB promoted in Dallas

Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell disses his coach on Twitter. Ben Roethlisberger is finally erased from the Cleveland Browns record books. The Dallas Cowboys may turn to a Pittsburgh product at quarterback if Andy Dalton gets hurt. “Ground Chuck” is still in playoff form.

All that and more in Tuesday’s “First Call.”

Le’Veon ‘likes’ criticism of his role

It appears the relationship between New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell and head coach Adam Gase is getting worse.

Well, it’s always been in question.

But now the conversation is hard to ignore. The former Steelers All-Pro “liked” some tweets which were critical of Gase’s offense. Bell was only targeted once in the passing game as New York lost on Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals, 30-10.

Let's check on the latest likes on @LeVeonBell account. pic.twitter.com/pIsFN6Lt58

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 11, 2020

Gase seemed less than pleased with Bell’s actions.

“I get it,” Gase said Monday via CBS Sports. “Players get frustrated when they feel they should either be targeted more or get more touches. I think there’s a lot of guys feeling that way. Just got to go back to work and figure out a way to get out guys involved.

“I hate that’s the route we go with all this instead of just talking to me about it, but (it) seems this is the way guys want to do it nowadays.”

The Jets are 0-5. Bell has only played in two games. That’s because of a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1. He has only totaled 113 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches thus far in 2020.

During his time in Pittsburgh, Bell was frequently used by Ben Roethlisberger as a receiving option.

Dallas may need DiNucci

Now that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has had ankle surgery for the compound fracture he suffered Sunday, depth at the position is being tested.

Andy Dalton is the starter for the time being. He helped pilot a 37-34 victory over the New York Giants Sunday after Prescott’s gruesome injury.

That means former Pitt Panther Ben DiNucci is being elevated to the backup job.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on QB Ben DiNucci, a rookie seventh-round pick: "He's got to be that backup to Andy that Andy was to Dak."

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 12, 2020

There is a Pittsburgh connection between DiNucci and Cowboy’s coach Mike McCarthy. DiNucci attended Pine-Richland. McCarthy is from Greenfield.

DiNucci left Pitt after his sophomore season, transferring to James Madison. As a senior, DiNucci started all 16 games, passing for 3,441 yards and 29 touchdowns. He completed nearly 71% of his throws and had 122 carries for 569 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

The Cowboys selected him in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. NBC Sports Washington is speculating that the Cowboys may look to acquire Dwayne Haskins. Tyrod Taylor of the Los Angeles Chargers and free agent Colin Kaepernick were also mentioned.

McCarthy confirmed Monday that Prescott had successful surgery. He was released from the hospital, and he is now at home recovering.

Baker bests Big Ben

One of the most ignominious stats in football history is that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held the record for most victories at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

What does that say about your franchise when a visiting QB has more wins under center in your own building than anyone on your own team?

Especially since the stadium opened in 1999. Roethlisberger became a rookie in 2004 and has 11 wins there.

But Baker Mayfield can now finally lay claim to that mark. So the record is in Cleveland’s own hands now. Mayfield got his 12th home victory of his career leading the Browns to defeat the Colts Sunday, 32-23.

Derek Anderson had the previous high-water mark for home-team QBs with 10. The Steelers don’t play their game in Cleveland this year until the last week of the season, Jan. 3.

As for Mayfield’s injured ribs, the team seems optimistic that he’ll be able to play against the Steelers this week at Heinz Field.

Spin cycle

The Tennessee Titans are trying to soften the news coming out of Nashville as it relates to the focus on their covid-19 protocol compliance.

Alleged lapses are at the center of questions as to why that team had a breakout that has caused the rescheduling of multiple games an bye weeks.

Along with some unsanctioned practices, Tennessee is taking heat for allegedly not wearing masks 100% of the time. General manager Jon Robinson is admitting that his players have been less than totally compliant when it comes to wearing them in designated places.

But he’s trying to insist the Titans aren’t alone in that regard.

#Titans GM Jon Robinson on his team wearing masks - "Fairly compliant. To say that we're 100% would be a false statement." Said GMs have reached out to him to check in and they said they've had trouble with mask compliance, too.

— Emily Proud (@emily_proud) October 12, 2020

For the first time since Sept. 27, the Titans are scheduled to play Tuesday night against the Buffalo Bills.

At the time of this post, anyway.

Chuck chugs along

Former Pirate Charlie Morton wasn’t overpowering, but he was good enough to help the Tampa Bay Rays win Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. They beat the Houston Astros 4-2. The Rays now have a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven.

Morton got the win, finishing five innings while yielding five hits and no runs. He threw 95 pitches, but he only walked one and had five strikeouts. Morton won Game 3 of the American League Division Series over the New York Yankees as well.

He also got this unreal defensive play from Manuel Margot in right field.

Manuel Marg-omg pic.twitter.com/iT28cDhZ5g

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 12, 2020

Shortstop Willy Adames sparkled, too.

Defense
Defense
Defense pic.twitter.com/c7y0gtg1LS

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 12, 2020

Margot helped on offense as well, with a three-run homer in the first inning.

Manny Margot LOVES Petco Park pic.twitter.com/Cu6e2ePR54

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 12, 2020

Game 3 is Tuesday night. Another former Pirate, Tyler Glasnow, pitches for Tampa in Game 4 on Wednesday.