First Call: Tyreek Hill is latest star on Chiefs' covid list; Le'Veon Bell's new team; criticism for Steelers rookie

Another Kansas City Chiefs star may be sidelined for the Pittsburgh Steelers game Sunday because of covid-19 issues.

That’s if the game is actually played on time.

Le’Veon Bell has another new team. A Steelers rookie is getting some national criticism. And a former Steeler is making us miss his presence.

All that in a Wednesday edition of “First Call.”

Adding to the list

On Monday, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce found himself on the reserve/covid-19 list. On Tuesday, he was joined by another All-Pro teammate, wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

As of now, the Chiefs have 13 players on the list. And ESPN is reporting that number could grow.

More COVID issues in KC, which is becoming this week’s hot spot.

Chiefs’ WR Tyreek Hill, CB Rashad Fenton and TE Blake Bell are being placed on Reserve/COVID, sources tell @adamteicher and me.

Other players likely coming but as one source said, “it’s a mess.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2021

K.C. kicker Harrison Butker and cornerback Charvarius Ward are also on the list.

If the pinheads in the NFL offices move this game (as they did with multiple contests last week) to accommodate Kansas City’s coronavirus situation, the Steelers should boycott.

Don’t show up. Stay home on Christmas. Rest up for the two divisional games at the end of the season against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. The franchise’s best path to the playoffs is to get the AFC North title anyway. Don’t even make the trip.

The Steelers had to play the pathetic Detroit Lions without their starting quarterback because of covid earlier this year. They tied a game (16-16) that they otherwise would’ve won with Ben Roethlisberger in uniform. That half-game in the standings may well cost them a playoff berth.

It shouldn’t matter that the Steelers play on “Monday Night Football” the next week against Cleveland. The league shouldn’t rearrange the Steelers schedule and shorten their week before facing the Browns just so the television networks can have a standalone window on Monday or Tuesday, and so Patrick Mahomes can play with his two favorite toys after Christmas.

If the Chiefs don’t have Kelce and Hill, tough. Play anyway, as scheduled.

If the NFL is prioritizing, *ahem* (clears throat), “safety” over pragmatism in the name of covid, so be it. Do so. And competitive balance has to take a back seat.

You can’t serve both purposes at once.

Remember, the Steelers got jerked around based on the health of the Ravens and Tennessee Titans last year, too.

But that was different. Different rules. Different protocols. Different time of year. Different understanding of the disease. Pre-vaccine.

There is no reason why this year the Steelers should have to play the patsy again just so the NFL can delay a game in Kansas City that would potentially allow two All-Pros to return in opposing uniforms.

Of course, the Steelers would never boycott.

I don’t even know how serious I am in calling for them to protest. It just feels good to preemptively vent in case such a decision to move the game occurs while I’m off for Christmas.

There. I got that off my chest.

Bell is a Buc

It looks like former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is going to have to put his celebrity boxing career on hold.

There is more football to be played.

After flaming out with the New York Jets, Chiefs and Ravens in his post-Pittsburgh career, Bell is about to make another stop.

It’s with the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing Bell out of desperation at the running back position. Starting running back Leonard Fournette suffered a hamstring injury against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night and is likely going on injured reserve for the rest of the regular season.

Fellow running back Giovani Bernard went on injured reserve Dec. 14 with hip and knee injuries as well.

You know what this means, right? Bell is about to be reunited with former Steelers teammate Antonio Brown in Tampa.

Good luck, Tom Brady. Good luck.

Back down the turnpike?

You know who the Steelers miss really badly right about now?

Javon Hargrave.

The former Steelers nose tackle turned Philadelphia Eagle sure would look great in Black and Gold, given the Steelers’ injuries along the defensive line. But he is performing well in Philly Green and White now.

Hargrave combined with Fletcher Cox for a sack Tuesday night against Washington en route to a 27-17 victory. That gives Hargrave eight sacks on the season.

His previous career high was 6.5 with the Steelers in 2018.

He’s not wrong

Steelers fans don’t like it when the national media piles on the team.

Well, unless the media member in question expresses an opinion that fits a narrative popular among a majority of the fan base.

Then it’s OK. Those are the rules.

One such talking point locally is that rookie center Kendrick Green is getting pushed around far too often. Former NFL offensive lineman and NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger is now giving some credence to that complaint on a national level.

“He’s gotta get stronger,” Baldinger told “The Fan Morning Show” during a Tuesday appearance. “Just at the point of attack. Stronger core. Stronger base. You just can’t get pushed around in the middle. If you do, it looks like everything collapses around it sometimes.”

And it has. Frequently.

Pro Football Focus ranks Green 32nd among 38 NFL centers this season. Kansas City Chiefs rookie Creed Humphrey, who the Steelers could’ve taken in the second round if they wanted to wait on a tight end, is rated No. 1 overall.