First Call: NFL player says Ben Roethlisberger tanked 2019, RMU coach explodes on refs
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Monday’s “First Call” features an NFL player suggesting Ben Roethlisberger tanked last season. Robert Morris got robbed on the basketball court Saturday. And a major twist in the NFL CBA that could impact the Steelers.
Hot Take Thomas
Last year, Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Thomas Davis led his team in tackles.
Now he’s putting a hit on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Davis went on the NFL Network and suggested that Ben Roethlisberger could’ve stayed off of injured reserve, but instead elected to have elbow surgery only because he thought the Steelers would have a bad season even if he stayed active.
Ben Roethlisberger had season ending elbow surgery last september. He still hasn't been cleared to throw a football. But @ThomasDavisSDTM thinks Big Ben quit on the Steelers in 2019 and he really could have come back. This is whack pic.twitter.com/wcEB8DgVar
— #24 was my GOAT (@ViewsFromThe50) February 16, 2020
So, to be clear, Davis is stating that Roethlisberger consciously gave up on a team many picked to win the AFC North last year six quarters into the season because, at that point, he suddenly realized the team wasn’t worth the effort.
Not that Roethlisberger’s elbow blew up.
Good one, Thomas. Tell me another.
Not happy!
Robert Morris basketball coach Andy Toole was infuriated with the officiating after his team lost 72-71 to Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday.
FDU’s Kaleb Bishop barreled through RMU’s Josh Williams while Williams was setting a screen. The officials didn’t call a foul. And, as a result, a half-court heave went awry to end the game.
This seems like it should be…….. something pic.twitter.com/sjVHsBhDFH
— Chris Cappella (@C_Cappella) February 15, 2020
After the game, Toole tore into the officials.
I asked @AndyToole about the final inbound play where Josh Williams got ran over. Refs missed the call. Andy wasn’t happy. You’ll want to hear this pic.twitter.com/BeMVi7sL8b
— Chris Mueller (@bychrismueller) February 15, 2020
The Colonials fall to 11-3 in NEC play as a result. That’s one game behind Merrimack for first place. The Knights improve to 6-7 in conference play.
Mad Matt
Former Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin is in the XFL now.
And Saturday’s game did not go well.
His New York Guardians lost to the DC Defenders 27-0. McGloin finished 8-of-19 with no touchdowns and two interceptions, throwing for all of 44 yards.
It was so bad, he said during a halftime interview, that the entire offensive game plan needed to be scrapped.
Matt McGloin is…not happy
@ABCNetwork
https://t.co/P39leRxPZY pic.twitter.com/nsON8nPoJK— XFL (@xfl2020) February 15, 2020
McGloin was benched in the fourth quarter for Marquise Williams.
His head coach and offensive coordinator is former Steelers offensive coordinator and fan favorite Kevin Gilbride.
Shuffle off from Buffalo
The Penguins have two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs up next.
It’s a home-and-home, starting in Pittsburgh Tuesday with the return game in Toronto Thursday.
The Leafs will arrive off a loss to Buffalo Sunday. The Sabres won 5-2, thanks in part to Jack Eichel on the power play.
"Jack Eichel, you are a FREAKING MONSTER!"#Sabres50 | @JackEichel15 pic.twitter.com/VkH6eAgj76
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 17, 2020
Eichel told some of the Maple Leafs fans in attendance to take a seat after his goal.
Jack says "SIT" pic.twitter.com/KCEr8WVcuV
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 17, 2020
That was Eichel’s 33rd of the year, tied for the fourth most goals in hockey with Leon Draisaitl. Former Penguin Conor Sheary also scored.
The Leafs currently hold the Atlantic Division’s final automatic playoff spot with 70 points.
CBA tidbit
Here’s a nugget from the NFL collective bargaining agreement talks that I find interesting.
Via ProFootballTalk.com, “the proposed CBA would give first-round picks an escape hatch from the fifth-year option as currently calculated. If a first-round pick makes it to the Pro Bowl twice in his first three seasons, the amount of the fifth-year option would spike to the franchise tag for his position.”
In other words, if this plan goes through, and the Steelers put the fifth-year option on T.J. Watt after the 2020 season when his contract comes up, his price would balloon to whatever the franchise designation is for linebackers.
After all, he has made the Pro Bowl twice. This year, that number was $15.4 million.
So all the more incentive for the Steelers to work out a long-term deal with Watt.