In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we see which Pittsburgh Steelers running backs are on the short list for the NFL’s top 100 All-Time Team. Tyler Boyd is grumbling in Cincinnati. And we have video of that NHL spitting incident involving a former Penguin.
Franco and the Bus
The NFL is revealing its 100 greatest players (and 10 greatest coaches) in league history on the NFL Network.
Every Friday night through Dec. 27, the network will announce the latest members of the All-Time Team during a one-hour show.
There will be 12 running backs on the All-Time Team. The list at that position will be revealed Friday at 8 p.m. Two Steelers have made the 24-finalist cut: Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis.
I give Franco a decent shot. I don’t think the Bus gets on the final team.
Sorry, Le’Veon Bell, you didn’t make the cut. Strange not to see Tony Brooks-James on the list. My bet is he was probably the 25th finalist.
Tyler is talking
Former Pitt Panther Tyler Boyd is expressing some frustration in Cincinnati.
His Bengals host the Steelers on Sunday afternoon. The Clairton product wants the ball more often.
Via ESPN.com:
“I feel like I’m the go-to guy with A.J. [Green] down,” Boyd said Monday. “I felt like [my] targets were not where they should have been. I feel that I’m a game-changer and I could have utilized my talents in any way to move the chains, and nothing was coming my way.
“The way I’m playing, the level that I bring, I believe I get open in any one-on-one coverage across the board against anyone. All you gotta do is just read the defense. If (quarterback Ryan Finley) sees he has me, just gotta put it there, and I’m going to make a play for him.”
Boyd had one catch for zero yards on three targets Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. But Boyd insists he isn’t going to complain to the coaches.
“I’m not the type of player that’s going to go and tell them to throw me the ball, force me the ball and get it done, regardless if that’s what’s going in my mind,” Boyd said.
Right. Why complain to the coaches when you can just do it through reporters?
For the season, Boyd has 58 catches for 598 yards and one touchdown. Boyd had three catches for 33 yards against the Steelers back in Week 4.
Magic loogie
We gave you the story of how Washington’s Garnet Hathaway was accused of spitting at former Penguin Erik Gudbranson during a scrap between the Capitals and Ducks.
Now we’ll show you the video.
Oops, sorry. Wrong clip.
All hell breaks loose between the Ducks and Caps, and Garnet Hathaway gets a game misconduct as he spits On Erik Gudbranson pic.twitter.com/MzWfPHJ9rv
— Hockey Central (@HockeyCentraI) November 19, 2019
If only there was slow motion… after the spit pauses in midair, mind you… before the magic loogie hits Gudbranson.
Place your bets!
Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson is now the gambling favorite to win NFL MVP.
He is 7-5 at Caesars Sportsbook. He had been 50-1 to start the year according to ESPN.com.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is the second favorite at 2-1. He is followed by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (9-1) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (10-1).
Mahomes was the preseason favorite.
The highest non quarterback listed is Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffery at 20-1.
For some reason, Tony Brooks-James also missed this list.
Must be a conspiracy.
Shout out
A local youth hockey team got a shout out during the NHL Hall of Fame inductions.
Boston College coach Jerry York dropped an Arctic Foxes reference during his acceptance speech.
Good speech by the all time best @NCAAIceHockey coach. Mentioned @ArcticFoxesPGH in the start of Hall of Fame Speech. https://t.co/3iqhAYwl55
— Derek Schooley (@derekschooley) November 19, 2019
You can see it at the 4:39 mark here on TSN.
Apparently, York’s grandson plays with Jim Rutherford’s son on the team. The Penguins general manager was also inducted Monday night.
