First Call: Watt brothers and Wisniewski brighten spirits, Patriots bring back ex-Steelers QB, NHL money crunch

Monday’s “First Call” features two new Steelers bringing a rare smile to our faces these days. New NFL Draft plans. A former Steeler goes back to the New England Patriots. And the financial woes of the NHL may be worse than we thought after the league-wide shutdown.

Now that’s a bummer

On the surface, what a great week for Pittsburgh Central Catholic grad Stefen Wisniewski.

The former Penn State Nittany Lion signed with his hometown Steelers in free agency on Thursday.

And it was his 30th birthday Sunday. So I’m sure he had a big party to celeb…

Great turnout at my Birthday party this year !!!#QuarantineBday pic.twitter.com/F6862riUfK

— Stefen Wisniewski (@stefenwiz61) March 22, 2020

Oh. Right. Social distancing doesn’t make for a very fun birthday bash.

That’s just too depressing for words!

Well, for Wisniewski.

I mean, I laughed out loud for the first time all weekend when I saw that.

‘Watt’ are you wearing?!

Amid the coronavirus-induced shut-in, new Steelers fullback Derek Watt is taking the time to model his recently acquired black-and-gold merchandise with his family.

Our Family Is Ready! #SteelerNation #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/dQvN1dVaft

— Derek Watt (@DerekWatt34) March 22, 2020

Although maybe it’s not ”recently acquired” at all.

Perhaps Watt is not at his own home. His brother, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, seems to think Derek swiped that gear from his family’s home back in Wisconsin.

You didn’t want to ask before using my sweatshirt in a photo shoot..? https://t.co/amKswnrMhY

— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) March 22, 2020

Derek isn’t denying anything.

??‍♂️ Saw it in the closet and got excited! I must say, it fits me pretty good... #SorryNotSorry https://t.co/NEQPrwVWzt

— Derek Watt (@DerekWatt34) March 22, 2020

Once players are actually allowed to report to their team headquarters, I’m sure Derek will get loaded up with accessories and he can stop raiding his brother’s drawers.

Hoyer back home

Former Steelers quarterback Brian Hoyer is going back to one of his former clubs.

No. Not the Steelers. I’m talking about the New England Patriots.

Hoyer broke into the league with the Pats back in 2009. He backed up Tom Brady there until 2012. That’s when he went to the Steelers for a few weeks in the middle of the season.

Since then, Hoyer bounced to seven teams, including New England once again.

Now that Brady is gone, Hoyer has been brought back to Foxborough for a third time at age 34. He’ll compete with Jarrett Stidham and Cody Kessler for playing time.

Unless the Patriots draft a potential starter at the position as well.

Is there a draft in here?

The NFL Draft will take place.

But inside.

So much for the notion of a big, splashy party on the Las Vegas strip. We all knew that idea was scrapped shortly after the coronavirus scare got thick.

The selection process will take place, though. And on time. That’s April 23-25. According to the Los Angeles Times, “the current plans call for some type of studio setting with cut-ins from the headquarters of the teams making the selection at a given time.”

This sounds bad

Via Darren Dreger at TSN.ca, NHL owners are having a teleconference on Monday to discuss the state of the league’s finances in the wake of the covid-19 shutdown.

Board financial projections and possibilities, including as per CBA and possibilities with the PA will be primary agenda items on Mondays NHL owners call. Everyone is deep in the process of contingency financial planning. https://t.co/7OQoC4Sgzk

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 21, 2020

On Thursday, Dreger said on TSN that “there is a growing concern that losses could mount upwards of $1 billion, certainly around $500 million.”

Yikes.

And that’s just hockey folks. Just hockey. Imagine what the numbers will be when other sports are impacted.