First Call: T.J. Watt mocks himself with pool mishap video; Pens assistant up for head coaching gig

Friday’s “First Call” features Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt escaping a household injury in an amusing video. Plus, a former Steeler could land in a new city, and a Penguins assistant coach may be trying to move up.

And Major League Baseball is getting the best out of its top talent.

Stick to your day job

Hopefully, the $112 million contract extension T.J. Watt signed in 2021 with the Steelers is enough money that the outside linebacker doesn’t feel the need to find a side hustle.

Like … pool cleaning.

Watt tweeted this video of himself falling into his pool while trying to clean it. Thankfully, it appears the former All-Pro was uninjured in the process.

Warning.. The activity in this video may be dangerous… don’t try at home.. (I am completely ok ) pic.twitter.com/IiXt5xQmsh

— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) May 18, 2023

Watt’s brother, future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt, couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a shot at his baby bro.

This is the most “TJ” video I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

(at least this explains why you were late to clean mine today) https://t.co/ix79nbo3is

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 18, 2023

My favorite part of that video is the dog. I can’t tell if Fido is genuinely concerned or if he is being incredibly critical of his owner’s malfunction. Either way, it is the chef’s kiss of this clip.

For the future

Two former Steelers running backs are doing what they can to help find answers for football players of tomorrow.

Jerome Bettis and Merril Hoge announced Thursday that their brains will go to the National Brain Bank at the University of Pittsburgh upon their death. The hope is to help study the brains of those who played contact sports so as to learn more about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (or CTE).

Via SteelersNow.com, “the National Sports Brain Bank will have ties to the NFL. Seed money came from the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Research, a group launched in 2016 partly with a donation from the Steelers.”

Bettis said he “wants future generations of athletes to benefit from the research.” And from a social perspective, he said he “wants society to have answers to the causes of neurodegenerative diseases.”

As for Hoge, he co-authored the book “Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football.” It’s his contention that bias exists with the CTE Center’s research on concussions because “many cases of CTE are found in people who never played contact sports.”

More sports

• Steelers add again to O-line room, sign OT Dylan Cook
• Bullpen remains source of strength for Pirates during slump
• Tim Benz: Steelers rookies hope to prove they're as versatile as scouting suggests

Catching on?

Ex-Steeler Carlos Davis may have a shot at latching on with a new team.

The Texans worked out the former Pittsburgh defensive lineman this week. That’s according to a tweet from Aaron Wilson from KPRC2 in Houston.

Source: #Texans worked out former #Steelers defensive lineman Carlos Davis. Davis worked out for #Jaguars at their rookie minicamp last week. Davis is a 6-foot-2, 320-pound former #Steelers seventh-round pick from @HuskerFBNation Has 12 career tackles, three for losses, one sack

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 18, 2023

Davis was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 draft out of Nebraska by the Steelers. He saw action in 12 games as a Steeler, seven times as a rookie. He has totaled 12 tackles and one sack in his career. That sack came last year in a 35-13 loss against the Eagles.

So far, the Steelers have made many moves this offseason to bolster their defensive line. Davis, while previously showing flashes of being a potential rotational piece to the puzzle, was phased out for others who are perceived to have more upside.

However, Davis appears to be a player who could still be a viable component on the roster of some other team in the NFL, and maybe Houston is where he can land.

Quack attack

Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Mike Vellucci is a candidate for the head coaching job with the Anaheim Ducks.

That’s according to the Daily Faceoff. Vellucci is 56 years old. He coached the OHL Plymouth Whalers for 13 seasons before leading the AHL Charlotte Checkers to a Calder Cup victory in 2018-19. He spent the 2019-20 campaign as general manager/head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 2022-23 season was his second full year with the Penguins.

According to the Daily Faceoff, other candidates for the Anaheim gig include New Jersey Devils associate coach Andrew Brunette and Spencer Carbery. Carbery is an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Stars stay hot

There is nothing a pro sports league likes more than when its star players shine. That’s what’s going on right now in Major League Baseball with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.

The two sluggers both homered again Thursday. Ohtani hit his 10th at Camden Yards as his Los Angeles Angels edged the Baltimore Orioles 6-5.

good morning from Shohei Ohtani #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/CNfjSaqh7n

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 18, 2023

That was Ohtani’s 10th home run of the year. He also had 30 RBIs. Fellow Angels star Mike Trout hit his 10th of the year as well.

Easy power for @MikeTrout! pic.twitter.com/U9KEBW6zY6

— MLB (@MLB) May 18, 2023

As for Judge, he homered in Toronto.

Aye aye, Cap'n. pic.twitter.com/aS9GUrKblw

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 18, 2023

That was Judge’s 12th round-tripper of the season and sixth in six games. New York went on to win 4-2. They took three of four against the Blue Jays in the series.