First Call: T.J. and Derek Watt receive honor in Wisconsin; Tom Brady won't let the Dolphins rumors die

Friday’s “First Call” has an honor for Steelers star T.J. Watt and his brother Derek. It looks like Tom Brady is still flirting with the Miami Dolphins. Saquon Barkley is stuck in a contract stalemate. And ex-Pirate Jameson Taillon is dealing with an injury issue again.

Numbers up

T.J. and Derek Watt are both getting their numbers retired.

No, not by the Steelers. This ceremony is happening back in their home state of Wisconsin. The two brothers are being honored by their high school alma mater, Pewaukee High.

T.J. and Derek will be joining their older brother, future Hall of Famer, J.J., in the Pewaukee Hall of Fame.

Join us on May 5th to honor PHS alumni, Derek and TJ Watt as we retire both of their high school football jerseys - #20 and #16. Both will be in attendance alongside their families as they join their brother JJ Watt and Chris McIntosh in Pewaukee's Hall of Fame! #PiratePride pic.twitter.com/6pKVVY6IGA

— Pewaukee Schools (@PewaukeeSD) April 20, 2023

After high school, all three brothers attended the University of Wisconsin and eventually went on to the NFL.

J.J. Watt retired from the Arizona Cardinals after the 2022 season. Derek is currently a free agent. T.J. is in the third year of his $122 million contract extension that runs through the 2025 season.

Put it to rest?

Speculation about a second return to football for Tom Brady is ongoing. And the former Tampa Buccaneer/New England Patriot quarterback is doing nothing to quell that conversation.

Via ProFootballTalk.com, Brady made an appearance at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Thursday. He was speaking at the “eMerge America” conference. It is described as “a venture-backed platform focused on transforming Miami into a global tech hub.”

At one point, Brady was asked, “Is there any chance you’re coming out of retirement and playing for the Fins?”

Brady didn’t say “yes.” He also didn’t say “no.”

“I will say now that I’m not affiliated with any team anymore, even though I have strong ties with a couple teams, I do have some friends on the Dolphins that I really like,” Brady said. “So, I wouldn’t say I necessarily root for them all the time, but I root for my friends to do well, and several of them play for Miami.”

This is the second consecutive year when rumors have persisted about Brady retiring from Tampa, then coming back in some sort of owner, player, or owner-player capacity with Miami.

That said, the Dolphins have exercised quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s option for 2024.

Related

• Tim Benz: Pirates' efficiency key to hot start, wins over struggling opponents
• NFL Network analyst gives scouting forecast for Pitt players in advance of draft
• Tim Benz: Reading the tea leaves for what Allen Robinson's arrival means for Steelers' draft strategy

More of the same for J-Mo

Former Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon has had his fair share of injuries and battles with health over the years. During his time in the Pirates organization, Taillon had Tommy John surgery, hernia surgery, flexor tendon surgery and a bout with testicular cancer.

Now a Chicago Cub, the right-hander is being placed on the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain.

At 31, Taillon is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA over his first three starts of 2023. After leaving the New York Yankees in free agency, Taillon signed a four-year, $68 million contract with Chicago. He had been fairly healthy in New York, making 61 starts over two years in pinstripes.

Taillon was scheduled to start Thursday night’s game at Wrigley Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs recalled right-hander Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa to start instead. Chicago ended up losing the game 6-2. Assad only lasted three innings and gave up two runs.

The Cubs have a record of 11-7, a game behind the Pirates for second place in the National League Central Division.

Status quo for Saquon

Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants are still in a holding pattern.

The former Penn State great is currently slated to earn the franchise tag in 2023. That’s if the two-time Pro Bowl running back and the organization can’t work out a long-term deal before July 17. The one-year franchise tag contract for NFL running backs this year is $10.091 million.

And according to general manager Joe Schoen (via NFL.com), no progress has been made toward a multi-year agreement.

Speaking during a pre-draft news conference Thursday, Schoen said that he hasn’t discussed a new deal with the running back.

“Nothing’s changed since we’ve talked at the owners’ meetings. Nothing’s changed,” Schoen said. “There’s nothing new. I haven’t talked to him.”

After two injury-plagued seasons in 2020-21, Barkley exploded last year, rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards on 295 carries. Those numbers led all NFC running backs. He also scored 10 touchdowns.

On display

Despite a loss in their Western Conference playoff series Thursday, the Minnesota Wild got two goals from ex-Penguins (Oskar Sundqvist and Frederick Gaudreau). The same can be said for the Seattle Kraken Thursday.

Seattle dropped a 3-2 decision to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of their first-round series. It is now even at a game apiece. Former Penguins scored both goals for the Kraken. Justin Schultz opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game.

Tolvy's setup for Schultz here is honestly UNREAL.

Going to be watching this one on repeat for a while ???? pic.twitter.com/3jjayLs52Q

— x - Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) April 21, 2023

He was followed by Brandon Tanev shorthanded roughly 11 minutes later.

Brandon Tanev.

The short-handed specialist. ???? pic.twitter.com/8r0TUUE46t

— x - Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) April 21, 2023

But Seattle was shut out from there. Alexandar Georgiev ended up with 27 saves in the win for the Avalanche. Seattle hosts Game 3 on Saturday.