In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we relive the Jaromir Jagr draft of 1990. The Pro Bowl has a new home. Will the Madden Curse strike Lamar Jackson? And looking at Tom Brady as a Buccaneer.

On Tuesday, the Penguins celebrated the 30th anniversary of drafting legendary winger Jaromir Jagr.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 16, 2020

How did Jagr last until fifth overall you ask?

Good question. None of the players taken before Jagr were in his class. But how many players truly were? He’s among the top 10-15 all time.

Yet none of those on the list in front of him were busts. Owen Nolan (first overall/QUE) was a five-time All Star. Keith Primeau (third overall/DET) was a two-time selection.

Mike Ricci played 16 years in the league, totaled 1099 games and 605 points. He won a Stanley Cup with 17 points in 22 postseason games as a member of the Avalanche in 1996.

Another one-time Penguin — Petr Nedved — was the second pick (VAN). He potted 310 goals before going back to Europe after 15 NHL seasons.

Other All-Stars from that first-round class include Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur, Keith Tkachuk and noted Sidney Crosby nemesis Derian Hatcher.

Eventual Penguin Darryl Sydor was drafted by Los Angeles two picks after Jagr. Bryan Smolinski was selected by Boston as the last pick in the first round. He’d eventually join the Pens five years later.

Round 2 wasn’t bad either with the likes of Doug Weight (NYR), Felix Potvin (TOR) and Geoff Sanderson (HART) going off the board. And the Washington Capitals stole Peter Bondra in Round 8.

Future Penguins Robert Lang, Chris Tamer, Joe Dziedzic, Jiri Slegr, Sergei Zubov, Drake Berehowsky, John Slaney and Ian Moran also heard their names called along the way.

Just to name a few hockey cards you may have gathered.

Elsewhere in “First Call”…

Curse no more?

Getting the cover of the EA Sports Madden NFL video game used to have a dual outcome.

Both an honor and the reputation of having a curse.

Steelers fans are hoping for the latter this year as reigning MVP Lamar Jackson was given the prize Monday. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback tempted fate in that regard this week by managing to avoid injury after a potentially dangerous collision with a jet ski.

Last year’s cover boy had no problems. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was great and won the Super Bowl MVP.

Prior to him? You remember. Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

He totaled 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns. But his meltdown in Week 17 and the ensuing offseason shenanigans cast a possible continuation of the curse’s reputation.

Tom Brady was 2017-18. The New England Patriots quarterback won the league MVP and got the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl.

The last truly cursed recipient on the field? Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski the year before Brady. The future Hall of Famer suffered injury after injury before getting sidelined in advance of his team’s Super Bowl win.

Brady is a Buc

The “TOMpa Bay Buccaneers” are giving a sneak peak of what Tom Brady is going to look like in his new jersey.

Also former Steeler Byron Leftwich is the offensive coordinator down there.

He says Brady’s biggest adjustment simply may be learning how to do things differently in a new culture and new building after so many years in New England.

Viva Las Pro Bowl

Adios, Orlando.

Hola, Las Vegas.

The 2021 Pro Bowl is leaving the Sunshine State for Sin City.

That may make it more fun for the players to actually show up and participate, breathing new life into the game.

Yahoo.com reports this is a bit of a surprise given that Orlando appeared to be settling in as a destination for the event. With Disney close by, players could take their kids there to have fun. And that was enticing, too.

But this may be a make-good for the draft having to be bagged in Nevada earlier this year. And it could be a shift in strategy for the game.

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