First Call: Pitt's Darrelle Revis reveals presenter for Hall of Fame induction; an ex-Steelers player's special job in Detroit

Thursday’s “First Call” has a big reveal for former Pitt star Darrelle Revis regarding his Hall of Fame induction. An ex-Steeler is taking on some off-field responsibilities with his new franchise.

We have gambling odds on the Calder Trophy, a preview of Thursdays’ Pirates-Dodgers pitching matchup, and an interesting prediction about T.J. Watt.

Every mother’s son…

Former Pitt Panthers great Darrelle Revis is getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. Now we know who will be presenting him.

Via the Hall of Fame’s website, Revis has announced that his mother, Diana Askew, will do the honors.

“Through all the successes and hardships, her support continues wholeheartedly every day,” Revis said through the website.

In 11 seasons with four teams, the Aliquippa product was first-team All-Pro four times. He also racked up seven Pro Bowl invitations and a selection to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s. Revis also won a ring at Super Bowl XLIX with the New England Patriots.

The Class of 2023 will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Important job

Antwaan Randle El is now the receivers coach for the Detroit Lions. He’s been given a vital task.

The former Steelers Super Bowl winner is being entrusted with mentoring one of the players in his meeting room, former first-round pick Jameson Williams. That’s according to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News.

The Alabama wideout played in only six games last season as he was coming off a torn ACL. Now he is going to miss the first six games of this season while serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

“He loves the game and wants to be better and works at it,” Randle El told Bianchi. “But the encouragement part. Just, ‘Hey, keep doing what you’re doing; stay at it, in terms of working hard. This is just another stumbling block that, again, you’ll come out stronger on the other side.’”

Randle El insists Williams is absorbing the message.

“He gets it; he understands it; and it will be (good) for him once we do get back and get going, as it relates into the season and the preseason,” Randle El said.

After Detroit traded up to select Williams at No. 12 overall in 2022, he finished his rookie season with only one catch for a 41-yard touchdown, playing 78 offensive snaps and one on special teams.

More sports

• Tim Benz: With No. 1 MLB draft pick, Pirates are in unique position — if they allow it to be
• Mark Madden: Kyle Dubas improved Penguins' bottom 6, but work remains to rebuild roster
• Former Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist retires at age 36

Touting T.J.

On Wednesday, NFL.com came up with a list of one non-quarterback MVP candidate per team in the AFC.

That may be an even more difficult exercise than it sounds. After all, the past 10 league MVPs (and seven runners-up in that span) have all been quarterbacks.

The Steelers nominee isn’t a stunner. It’s linebacker T.J. Watt.

“With Watt in the lineup, Pittsburgh went 8-2, allowing 20 or fewer points in nine of those 10 games. Without Watt from Week 2 to Week 8, the Steelers were 1-6, got rolled by the Bills and Eagles and allowed 29 points to the Jacoby Brissett-led Browns,” wrote Eric Edholm. “There aren’t many more impactful defenders in the league than Watt, who has six interceptions, 77.5 sacks and an absurd 23 forced fumbles in 87 career games. The Steelers should be improved offensively, but the path to success this season almost certainly includes collecting their share of narrow wins. Watt always seems to make his presence felt multiple times per game, especially in close contests.”

That’s not exactly a reach since Watt was Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. However, if Minkah Fitzpatrick can get the turnover totals back toward what we saw from him when he first came to Pittsburgh in 2019, he’d deserve some consideration too.

And, if he can stay healthy, I’d think about Najee Harris as well, given all the roster moves and lip service being paid to how the Steelers are going to allegedly create a more open offensive by pounding the ball on first down.

Run don’t walk

Now that the NHL Draft is done, BetOnline.Ag has its odds out for who will win the Calder Trophy.

Chicago’s Connor Bedard is the overwhelming choice at minus-300 (or 1/3). That means you’d need to bet $300 just to win $100. And Bedard is such a high-profile prospect, I’m stunned the odds are even that narrow. Place that bet as fast as you can.

Columbus Blue Jackets draftee Adam Fantilli is next at +400 (or 4/1). That’s betting $100 to win $400. Given Bedard likely just has to stay healthy to win this award, I would’ve thought a payout in favor of the Michigan product would yield more than that.

As for Penguins first-round choice Brayden Yager, he is at 33/1. You’d be better off tying your money to a brick and throwing it in the Ohio River than expecting a Calder Trophy bet on Yager to come through. He’s probably about two to three years from making a year-long impact on the NHL roster.

You know Urias

The Pirates wrap up their four-game series in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Julio Urias pitches for the Dodgers. He’s 5-5 with a 4.95 earned run average this season in L.A.

During his career against the Pirates, Urias has been average at best, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.17 ERA that encompasses eight appearances and five starts. His strikeout to walk ratio is 35:9.

The Bucs touched up Urias for six earned runs on seven hits during a victory over L.A. earlier this season at PNC Park.

Johan Oviedo pitches for the Pirates at 3-9 with a 4.61 ERA. Earlier this year, he emerged with a no decision during an 8-7 Dodgers win over the Pirates. Oviedo gave up four earned runs in 5 ⅓ innings.