First Call: A new way to watch RedZone; multiple Steelers opponents in on DeAndre Hopkins; Shohei Ohtani’s huge night
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Wednesday’s “First Call” explains how football fans can watch the RedZone channel this year. Wherever wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins winds up, it appears he’s likely to face the Steelers. Dalvin Cook has an offer from an AFC playoff team. Shohei Ohtani continues to sparkle.
And a former Duquesne basketball player has a new home.
Watching RedZone
On Tuesday, the NFL announced that it has reached an agreement with DirecTV that will add NFL RedZone across all of the company’s platforms.
Via ProFootballTalk.com, “Since 2005, DirecTV had produced its own version of RedZone, hosted by Andrew Siciliano. Siciliano did great work on DirecTV’s RedZone Channel, and it was the popularity of that version that led NFL Media to launch its own version with Scott Hanson in 2009. But with DirecTV no longer carrying the NFL Sunday Ticket package, the original version hosted by Siciliano has fallen by the wayside.”
DirecTV had been the only provider of out-of-market Sunday afternoon games since the mid-1990s. That’s changing this season. Sunday Ticket is now moving to YouTube TV after the NFL pounded out a deal with Google seven months ago.
However, this news indicates a partnership between the NFL and DirectTV will continue with NFL RedZone as an added bonus for DirectTV users.
Is that good?
Do you think Shohei Ohtani had a decent night for the Los Angeles Angels, or what?
Ohtani hit two home runs and struck out 10 on the mound as the Angels topped the Oakland A’s 4-2.
HAVE A NIGHT #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/gNXjd5isqO
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 28, 2023
Ohtani did so despite suffering a cracked nail on his right middle finger.
Via ESPN.com, Ohtani became the sixth player with 10 strikeouts and two home runs in a game since the mound moved to its current distance in 1893, joining Zack Greinke (2019), Madison Bumgarner (2017), Rick Wise (1971), Pedro Ramos (1963) and Milt Pappas (1961).
Ohtani leads Major League Baseball in OPS (1.039), home runs (28) and RBIs (64). Pitching-wise, he ranks 15th among 65 qualified pitchers in ERA (3.02), has the third-most strikeouts (127) and boasts the lowest batting average against (.180).
In or out?
There are some conflicting reports about whether the Cleveland Browns are still in the mix to acquire free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
On Monday, Albert Breer of SI.com wrote that the Browns are impressed enough with Elijah Moore’s spring that Cleveland “hasn’t dipped its toe into the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes quite yet (and probably won’t, barring some sort of material change).” Meanwhile, on ESPN Radio Tuesday, Sal Paolantonio said that the Browns are still “lurking” on Hopkins. He used that phrase to describe the Carolina Panthers’ level of interest as well.
The former Houston Texan and Arizona Cardinal star receiver is also said to have received interest from the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans. Cleveland, Tennessee and New England all appear on the Steelers schedule this year.
Meanwhile, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports the Dolphins have made an offer to veteran running back Dalvin Cook.
Duke of the Dutch
Duquesne Dukes alum Rodney “RJ” Gunn Jr., has signed to play professionally for Aris Leeuwarden. It’s a Dutch professional basketball club that competes in the BNXT League. The first-tier BNXT League is the highest level of competition in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Gunn averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games with four starts. His scoring average and 37 3-pointers made were both fourth most on the team. The 6-foot-7 forward scored in double digits seven times in Atlantic 10 play. He had a career-high 26 points at Saint Joseph’s.
Fellow Dukes graduate Austin Rotroff also recently signed a pro deal. He is going to play in Luxembourg with BBC Sparta Bartreng, which competes in the Total League.