First Call: ESPN projections for Steelers WRs; Antonio Brown insists he’ll play again; Tom Brady insists he’s retired
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In Friday’s “First Call” we have some surprisingly low projections for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens and some better ones for Diontae Johnson.
Antonio Brown is insisting that he is coming back to play. Tom Brady is insisting he won’t.
And we have some gambling odds for the Stanley Cup Final.
Pickens’ projections
George Pickens raised some eyebrows recently, saying that he felt “snubbed” by not being in the Pro Bowl last year. While that assertion seemed a bit extreme, a suggestion that he could blossom into a Pro Bowl receiver in 2023 isn’t crazy at all. After 52 catches and 801 yards last year, Pickens flashed some real potential in his rookie season of 2022.
However, ESPN’s projections for 2023 (updated Thursday) don’t have him taking a massive leap. In fact, the network’s forecasting model has Pickens totaling nearly identical numbers to last year — 62 catches, 797 yards and four touchdowns.
That strikes me as low. For as much as we are expecting offensive coordinator Matt Canada to open up the playbook in 2023 for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett, many of those increased targets downfield are going to have to be intended for Pickens. After all, he is, by far, their most explosive option at wide receiver.
However, ESPN’s models — churned out by fantasy football and gambling writer Mike Clay — have Diontae Johnson leading the way for the Steelers at the receiver position with 960 yards on 78 catches and four touchdowns.
After no touchdowns a year ago, four for Johnson would feel like a tidal wave.
Now it’s for real?
Antonio Brown is going to play for the National Arena League team he owns.
No. Seriously. He means it this time. Allegedly.
After saying he would play for the Albany Empire during a game last Saturday, the former All-Pro wide receiver failed to do so, citing a delay in his league medical clearance. Now, though, the ex-Steelers Pro Bowler is insisting he’ll suit up June 17 in Albany against the Jacksonville Sharks. Brown confirmed Thursday that during an interview with WNYT in Albany.
“We’re trying to bring a celebration and celebrate the Black community. So I’m definitely going to play June 17, and we’re going to have a big celebration (in recognition of) Juneteenth and all the Black communities here locally,” Brown said.
File this under, “Believe it when you see it.”
If A.B. can begin the game by getting on the field without an altercation with one of his own security guards or end the game without running off the field shirtless, I’d consider it a win for the Empire.
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While we’re at it
Meanwhile, Tom Brady is insisting he’s not coming back.
And I don’t entirely believe this one either.
Brady conducted an interview with Robin Lundberg of SINow. Lundberg asked, “What is your message to those constantly concocting a way for you to come back?”
Brady responded: “I’m certain I’m not playing again. I’ve tried to make that clear. I hate to continue to profess that because I’ve already told people that lots of times. I’m looking forward to my broadcasting job at Fox next year. I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders.”
Tom Brady is not coming back, from Tom Brady pic.twitter.com/1DrYsyfAkl
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) June 1, 2023
Well, that’s not all entirely true, since the last time Brady spoke about a potential comeback was when he was in Miami, and he didn’t give a direct “no” answer like that when he was asked if he’d ever consider coming back to play with the Dolphins.
“I will say now that I’m not affiliated with any team anymore, even though I have strong ties with a couple teams, I do have some friends on the Dolphins that I really like,” Brady said in April at eMerge Americas. “So, I wouldn’t say I necessarily root for them all the time, but I root for my friends to do well, and several of them play for Miami.”
Now it sounds like he is being more direct. And that Raiders piece may be a big part of his newfound candor. Brady wants to be a minority owner with Las Vegas. As ProFootballTalk points out, he needs 24 votes for approval. And there may be some owners unwilling to back him if they feel he is still flirting with a return.
Stanley Cup odds
For those who are having trouble getting engaged in a Vegas Golden Knights versus Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final, there’s one way to fix that.
Gamble on it. Here are some odds.
BetRivers.com has the Panthers as +110 underdogs (betting $100 to win $110) and the Golden Knights as -130 favorites (betting $130 to win $100). At plus money, with the way they churned through the Eastern Conference, in a virtual toss-up series like this, I’ll take the Panthers.
Sergei Bobrovsky is the Conn Smythe favorite at +215 . But with another game-winning goal in the Final and few more points here and there, I can see Matthew Tkachuk getting it. He is my choice at +375. Jack Eichel is the top Vegas player on the board at +375 as well.
BetOnline.ag has some advanced series bets, like for instance the over-under goal total for both teams in the series is 33.5. The top exact series result bet is Vegas in seven games at +400. The Knights in six or the Panthers in six are next at +450.
They have Tkachuk as the favorite to score the most goals in the series at +400. I love the bet that at least one game will go to at least double overtime. That’s at +700.
And there is a bet that a player will tally a hat trick in the Final. If you bet “yes,” you get +350 back. A “no” bet lays out at minus -600. The last hat trick in the NHL Finals was in 1996 by Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche.