First Call: Unflattering review of Leonard Fournette, former WPIAL star getting NFL trade interest, Gronk trade impacts gambling

In Wednesday’s “First Call,” a less than stellar review of Leonard Fournette. A former Western Pa. football star may be on the move. And the Rob Gronkowski trade is shifting gambling lines.

No fan of Fournette

Former Pittsburgh sportswriter Vito Stellino is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has been covering the Jacksonville Jaguars since the inception of the franchise.

And he didn’t exactly give a glowing review of Leonard Fournette on 93.7 The Fan Tuesday, calling him “an average back.”

Fournette is reportedly on the trade block. Some have wondered if the Steelers could be a destination.

The former LSU running back has two seasons over 1,000 yards during his first three in the NFL. But Stellino called him a “disappointment” for being a fourth overall choice, in front of the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson and Christian McCaffrey.

“He’s a straight-ahead power runner. Doesn’t have a lot of wiggle. Needs good blocking. Needs holes. And there were issues off the field,” Stellino said.

“He’s certainly not in their long-term plans.”

Stellino said that the Jaguars have also soured on Fournette because of his attitude. He’s had a reputation for falling asleep in meetings, blowing off the team photo and suggesting the team should sign Cam Newton, which was viewed as undermining Gardner Minshew.

Aside from that, he’s a prince.

Fournette is going to be a free agent at the end of the year. The Jaguars aren’t planning on picking up his fifth-year option. According to Stellino, teams aren’t knocking down the door with good offers.

Stellino was speculating “the floor” may even be a fourth- or fifth-round draft choice.

The Gronk effect

The impact of Rob Gronkowski going to Tampa Bay Tuesday was immediately felt in the gambling world.

After making a trade with the New England Patriots to acquire the future Hall of Fame tight end, the money came in hot and heavy on the Buccaneers.

Check out some of these results over at FanDuel.

By adding Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay's odds to win a Super Bowl go from 16/1 to 12/1 Per @FDSportsbook and others

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) April 21, 2020

Only teams with better odds to win the Super Bowl than the Buccaneers at @FDSportsbook (12/1): Chiefs (+650), Ravens (7/1), 49ers (9/1)

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 21, 2020

And here are the individual numbers projected for Gronkowski.

Rob Gronkowski's 2020-21 regular season totals

• Receiving Yards: O/U 599.5
• Receiving TDs: O/U 5.5

Which sides do you like?

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) April 21, 2020

I’ll go under on both. Too many other options. I don’t buy that Gronk is going to be ready to go at NFL speed after a year off and a watered-down offseason. Plus, let’s see if Tom Brady is still truly Tom Brady.

Oh, and as far as the Super Bowl odds? I’ll take the Chiefs, 49ers and Ravens any day. And maybe a few others, too.

Outta Luck

Former West Virginia University athletic director Oliver Luck is suing WWE magnate Vince McMahon.

Luck had been the commissioner of McMahon’s XFL before it folded.

According to Darren Rovell of The Action Network, Luck filed a suit in Connecticut last Thursday. He claims he was wrongfully terminated and that he was guaranteed a contract when he signed on to become the commissioner in May 2018.

That contract was allegedly worth $20 million - $25 million according to Rovell. He claims Luck is seeking the money because he was never listed as a bankruptcy creditor. The report claims McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment company filed to reject executive contracts at the same time as filing for bankruptcy.

The new XFL only lasted 20 games before it was shut down during the coronavirus outbreak.

Charged up

When the Indianapolis Colts tweaked their uniform design, I barely noticed the changes.

The logo additions were, meh, whatever.

The new New England Patriots uniforms left me lukewarm. Many on the internet agreed.

Are you kidding me ? these look like something my kids colored in on a place mat at the Ground Round https://t.co/RXvUbfEsWp

— Murph (@TMurph207) April 20, 2020

so they are the Texans? https://t.co/gGdbN0Asf8

— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) April 20, 2020

No wonder Tom left https://t.co/SxlZeJMv5A

— Paul L. Picken, Jr (@Phinatic_Pick) April 20, 2020

IMO, they should’ve gone back to their old red ones. pic.twitter.com/Kngcn4iw7A

— Gage M. (@Yeen125) April 20, 2020

But the new Chargers uniforms? Yeah. I’m in. I like ‘em.

The Chargers win the uniform redesign game. Wow.#boltup pic.twitter.com/HSQhHRVyQO

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) April 21, 2020

There’s sort of a Pirates of the 70s vibe going on there, right? All the interchangeable looks give a ton of potential.

Personally, I’d give those dark tops with the yellow pants a try.

WPIAL star on the move?

Speaking of the Colts, there is speculation that they may be interested in dealing a former WPIAL standout.

According to Stephen Holder of The Athletic, teams are inquiring about the availability of New Castle product Malik Hooker.

The initial word I’m getting on Malik Hooker is that teams have called the Colts to inquire about him, NOT the other way around. Take everything w a grain of salt this time of year, but I believe this is very plausible.

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 21, 2020

To the surprise of no one who saw him play in high school, Hooker has shown great athleticism at times. However, his decision making has been criticized occasionally, though.

Bleacher Report pointed to this comment from Colts general manager Chris Ballard back in January to tell the story on Hooker.

“Malik was solid,” Ballard said in January. “Wouldn’t say he was great. He was solid. He had some moments of being really good, and I thought he tailed off a little bit there at the end.” Indianapolis drafted the safety out of Ohio State in 2017. The franchise has yet to make a decision on picking up his fifth-year option. They aren’t planning on doing so until after the draft.