Some interesting details about Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Arians has some questionable quotes about how that signing went down.
Plus, an eye-popping stat about Le’Veon Bell in his first game with the Kansas City Chiefs. Larry Fitzgerald makes some history. And Tyler Glasnow’s late postseason fade.
All that in Monday’s “First Call.”
Is “business boomin’”?
It could be. If Antonio Brown stays on the straight and narrow during his time in Tampa Bay.
The oft-troubled ex-Steelers wide receiver signed a one-year contract with the Buccaneers over the weekend. And some terms of the deal were published on Sunday.
A source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Brown can make up to $2.5 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season.
He is expected to sign the contract Monday. It includes $1 million in base salary and roster bonuses.
There’s more to be earned for Brown if there is team success along with his acquisition. It’s wise to bake that line into the contract.
Furthermore, Mr. Big Chest can earn $750,000 if the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl. And then, on an individual level, there are three $250,000 incentives for receptions, yards and touchdowns.
I know what you are thinking. On the one hand, it’ll keep Brown motivated enough to stay on the roster and not get into any more trouble on or off the field. But then again, we all know Brown loves his stats. And if a big percentage of his payout is due to individual numbers that could prove counterproductive.
That said, Schefter reports that the Buccaneers must also make the playoffs for Brown to get those individual bonuses.
That’s smart.
I still think bringing A.B. on board was an unnecessary risk for the Bucs and the Seattle Seahawks — the other team who was allegedly hot on his tail.
The Baltimore Ravens were said to be in the mix, too. I’d rather keep Brown out of the AFC North just in case things do work out. So, from a Steelers perspective, that’s good
Brown still has to pass covid-19 protocols before he can play for Tampa Bay. He is scheduled to make his Buccaneers debut in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints (Nov. 8). That would be after completing an eight-game suspension for multiple violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
B.A. on A.B.
Back in January 2019, Brown and former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians were taking swipes at one another in the media and on Twitter. In March, the Tampa Bay head coach was swatting away any discussion of Brown coming to Tampa.
Now Arians is explaining why he’s going to try to make it work with Brown a second time, after the volatile history between the two.
Most people — myself included — believe this move was made by Tom Brady. Arians insists it was not.
“I think he’s matured. I believe in second chances,” Arians said of Brown via the Tampa Bay Times. “Everybody says that Tom (Brady) picked him. Tom didn’t have nothing to do with it. This was something (general manager) Jason and I have been talking (about) for a couple of weeks.
“We’ll see. If Antonio does what I think he’s going to do, he’ll be fine.”
Not bad. The idea of adding a talent such as Brown to a passing attack that just popped off for 369 yards en route to a 45-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders is pretty intriguing. But do they need him? Is Arians creating a problem by bringing on yet another mouth for Brady to feed?
A really … BIG … mouth.
“It’s an insurance policy,” Arians said. “You know, when we don’t have Mike (Evans) and we don’t have Chris (Godwin), why not have another Pro Bowl-caliber player that’s available that fits our camp and fits everything else? So why not? We have good players. You can’t have enough of them. … Why not have another one?”
Yeah. An insurance policy. I’m sure “Ronald” will love that designation.
Fantastic Fitz
Speaking of former star Pittsburgh receivers, how about these numbers from ex-Pitt star Larry Fitzgerald?
During the Arizona Cardinals’ 37-34 Sunday night overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks, Larry Fitzgerald eclipsed two career marks.
In the second quarter, he caught his 1,400th career pass. Only Hall of Famer San Francisco 49er Jerry Rice has more. He had 1,549 catches.
Fitzgerald also passed Rice for the most catches by one player in a given stadium. Fitzgerald now has 647 career receptions at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium, passing Rice, who had 646 at Candlestick Park, for the most receptions in a single venue in NFL history.
Larry the Legend joins @JerryRice as the only two players in NFL history with 1,400+ receptions.
— Sunday Night Football (@SNFonNBC) October 26, 2020
Just incredible. #SEAvsAZ pic.twitter.com/AvmCi5qj5l
On the night, Fitzgerald had eight catches for 62 yards.
Ring that Bell
This says a lot.
About the Jets.
As CBS Sports pointed out, former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell had 264 rushes with Jets. Just one went for more than 16 yards.
His first rush with Chiefs Sunday went for … you guessed it … 16 yards.
.@LeVeonBell getting going with the @Chiefs. #ChiefsKingdom
— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2020
?: #KCvsDEN on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/nCwBl54Akc pic.twitter.com/lv77W9pkXX
Bell ended up with six carries for 39 yards. He didn’t have any catches. The Chiefs beat the Broncos 43-16.
Glasnow out of gas
After the Tampa Bay Rays won their first three postseason games started by former Pirate Tyler Glasnow, the last three weren’t so good.
Glasnow lost Game 5 of the World Series 4-2 Sunday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed four earned runs in five innings pitched. Glasnow tallied seven strikeouts. But he yielded six hits and three walks along the way. Joc Pederson and Max Muncy both homered off of him.
WALK IT OUT, JOC. pic.twitter.com/bczBbgqEhC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2020
DROP YOUR BAT ON 'EM, MAX. pic.twitter.com/Lg5OduFayQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2020
That result is on the heels of giving up 10 runs over 10 ⅓ innings in his previous two starts against the Dodgers and Houston Astros.
Los Angeles now leads the World Series 3-2. The Dodgers can clinch with a win in Game 6 Tuesday. Game 7 will be Wednesday if necessary.
