First Call: Browns’ Baker Mayfield barks at fans; Bengals RB takes out ref; Blue Jackets' John Tortorella epic rant
In Monday’s “First Call,” another epic postgame rant from John Tortorella. Another Saquon Barkley highlight. More comedy from the Bengals. And more yapping from Baker Mayfield.
‘Torts-ing’ it up one more time in 2019
Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella went on one of his classic postgame tirades after a 3-2 shootout loss against the Chicago Blackhawks.
John Tortorella rips into the refs and the NHL review process before walking out of his press conference pic.twitter.com/1USZBloGv6
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 30, 2019
You get all that? Maybe you didn’t because, well, John didn’t “take any (expletive deleted) questions.”
Here’s what made Tortorella rage.
Late in overtime, Columbus’ Zach Werenski appeared to score a goal which would’ve won the game 3-2. Upon video review, though, it was ruled that time had expired before the puck crossed the line.
It was Tortorella’s contention that more time should’ve been left because, before the goal was scored, the Blackhawks were called for too many men on the ice with 18.1 seconds remaining in overtime. He believed more time should have remained because the whistle was actually blown a few moments before the clock was stopped.
The shootout occurred. The Blue Jackets lost. And their goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, was hurt in the first round.
So you can see why Tortorella was so…. touchy.
Tough talk
We won’t have Freddie Kitchens to kick around anymore.
But we will have Baker Mayfield.
After one dreadfully disappointing season as the Cleveland Browns head coach, Kitchens was fired. The Browns went 6-10.
So someone else will have to manage Mayfield’s ego and emotions. That appears to be some work.
The Cleveland quarterback has gotten into it with reporters and some opposing coaches in the past. Now he’s yapping at fans.
Bruh... ??♂️
— Will Blackmon (@WillBlackmon) December 29, 2019
That was filmed before the Browns’ season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.
Mayfield threw three interceptions and was sacked six times en route to a 33-23 loss.
They’ll learn. Maybe
That was just the second win of the season for the Bengals. So hopefully you can excuse the team for not knowing how to celebrate.
As the clock expired against the Browns, running back Joe Mixon tried to bowl with his helmet in celebration.
In his attempt to do so, he took out an official.
The Bengals can’t even celebrate right pic.twitter.com/vEKIk9T1xE
— Someone's An Idiot (@SomeonesAnIdiot) December 29, 2019
Mixon later apologized. There’s a reason why Mixon was so fired up — he had just rushed for 162 yards. That was a season high. He ended the year with three 100-yard rushing days in four tries.
But he doesn’t bowl as well as Le’Veon Bell, it appears.
I like the purple ones
We’ve seen some strange delays in NFL games before.
The turf burned in St. Louis. The medical cart stalled at Heinz Field. A black cat ran wild in New Jersey.
Sunday night in Seattle, the field crew needed to clean up the turf for a few moments after Marshawn Lynch scored a touchdown in his return game for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers.
It was littered with Skittles.
Skittles SZN back in Seattle ?
(via @Seahawks)pic.twitter.com/3lRAiqkvt6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 30, 2019
In his previous stint with the Seahawks, Lynch was famously known for loving the candy. So it appears some fans wanted to make him feel welcome upon his return, and they threw some on the field.
The running back had just 34 yards on 12 carries and the Seahawks ended up losing 26-21.
Maybe it’s time for a new kind of candy.
San Francisco is now the top seed in the NFC. They get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Seattle visits Philadelphia Sunday in the first round.
Out with a bang
New York Giants star Saquon Barkley went out with a bang.
The Penn State product popped off for 92 yards rushing, including this eye-catching 68-yard touchdown sprint.
Don't get in his way #GiantsPride | #PHIvsNYG pic.twitter.com/iiLFdBPe1A
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 29, 2019
Barkley also had 25 yards receiving. So he went over 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his final three games, totaling 539.
But Giants lost their finale to Philadelphia 34-17.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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