First Call: Zach Banner needles 'Rat Bird' Al Villanueva; former Steeler Mike Logan on Troy Polamalu's Hall of Fame praise

Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us Mike Logan’s reaction to Troy Polamalu’s Hall of Fame speech.

A volley from Pittsburgh Steeler offensive lineman Zach Banner towards an old friend in a new uniform. Bruce Arians is popping off at his players.

And ex-Pirate Jameson Taillon is in good form for the Yankees.

Loving Logan

During his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech, Steelers legend Troy Polamalu worked in a little love for former teammate Mike Logan.

“Mike Logan, the starting safety my rookie year, shared his full knowledge of the game, wholeheartedly showing a level of humility that helped shape my career, ” Polamalu said. “Like many other teammates, his selflessness paved a greater opportunity for others at his own expense. It is unnatural in the most competitive environment to train your replacement, yet this is our culture. Steeler culture.”

Logan — a McKeesport native — appeared on 93.7 The Fan Monday to describe what it meant to him to be remembered in such a way by Polamalu.

“I never thought that just a teammate — a friend, a brother — just speaking my name would move me to emotions.” said Logan. “However, it did. It made me reflect. I just thought about the moments that I was able to spend with Troy while playing. It was a very special moment I’ll never forget.

“My son was sitting there with me and I was kind of explaining to him, because he heard my name, and he said, ‘Did he say Logan?’ and I said, ‘Yes, he did’ and he said, ‘Is that your friend?’ and I said, ‘No son, that’s my brother.’”

Despite Polamalu’s rapid ascent after being drafted in 2003, Logan stayed with his hometown team through 2006, playing in 12 games in 2005 en route to earning a Super Bowl ring.

Vivid description

Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner grabbed a chance to stir up an AFC North rivalry on Monday. At least when he was given an opportunity to jab his former Steelers teammate, offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva.

The Baltimore Ravens signed Villanueva to their roster this offseason to offset the trade of Orlando Brown Jr. He’ll have to play against the Steelers twice this year.

Banner says the Steelers will be ready to face him.

“He’s a brother,” Banner said of Villanueva. “We talked a couple times during camp, him and I, via text and one phone call, but when he lines up, he’s a ‘Rat Bird.’”

Even if Banner gave that soundbite with tongue planted firmly in his cheek, “Rat Bird” is a glorious description of the Ravens and should be used upon first reference every day during the week leading up to both games.

Angry Arians

Former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is still basking in the afterglow of a Super Bowl championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But that doesn’t mean he’s going soft.

Via ProFootballTalk.com, the Bucs’ head coach is ripping his offensive players for how they are practicing in training camp after they are given off days.

“After a day off, our offense just stinks,” Arians told reporters on Monday. “They’ve got to break that habit. Defensively, they answered the bell. They came out and dominated the entire practice. It was good to see.”

Why exactly is that happening, B.A.?

“Ask them,” Arians replied. “You can’t be warned more than every week. Dropped passes, missed assignment on basic plays — it’s just a lack of concentration.”

Arians was asked how to fix the problem.

“Back in the day, we’d be out here running the (expletive) out of them, but that don’t work anymore,” Arians said. “You go to jail for that stuff now. They’ve just got to grow up and man up. It’s been identified so they’ve got to fix it. I’m not going to fix it, you’ve got to fix it.”

Jail may be a bit extreme. But Arians isn’t too far off.

And his complaints have merit.

Jazzy Jameson

Former Pirates starter Jameson Taillon twirled a gem for the New York Yankees on Monday night.

He spun six innings in Kansas City against the Royals, allowing just one unearned run. Taillon also had four strikeouts while only walking two and yielding four hits.

That drops Taillon’s ERA to 3.82. It was 5.43 at the end of June. Taillon didn’t get a decision as the Bronx Bombers won 8-6 in 11 innings. The Yankees got some help along the way from first baseman Luke Voigt.

Welcome back to Missouri, Luke. pic.twitter.com/HfGXP9bgav

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 10, 2021

The Yankees eventually turned to another ex-Pirate, Clay Holmes, who gave up a lead in the bottom of the 10th, allowing the Royals to tie it after the Yankees scored in the top half of the inning.

But Holmes’ ended up getting the win. This was his seventh outing for New York. He has now allowed two earned runs in 8⅓ innings pitched. The Yanks are six games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East and two behind the Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox for a wild card spot.