First Call: George Kittle anxious to show pass blocking skills vs. Steelers’ T.J. Watt; Antonio Brown still a problem in Albany
Share this post:
Our first “First Call” of the week starts with what sounds like a challenge for Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt.
We also get into the success of the Maulers, the Pirates promoting prospects and Antonio Brown is still causing problems with the Albany Empire.
Fun to watch
A San Francisco 49er is already setting up an interesting sidebar for the NFL season opener against the Steelers.
Appearing on Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” podcast, tight end George Kittle was boasting about his pass blocking abilities. He was asked who is the best pass-blocking tight end in the NFL.
“Me,” Kittle responded. “When it comes to blocking, I’ll toot my own horn. I practice that stuff my entire offseason. I take all the reps in season. I’m very prideful when it comes to that stuff.”
Kittle went on to say he wants to put his talents to the test against a pass rusher of Watt’s caliber.
“When it’s second down and (the coaches) are like, ‘Hey, it’s pass-15 weak. You’re one-on-one versus Cam Jordan. You’re one on one versus T.J. Watt. Go for it.’ I’m like, hey, he gets paid millions of dollars to rush the passer. But I looked at that as an opportunity for me to be like, ‘You’re not going to be able to get past me.’ I’m very excited about that.”
Watt played against Kittle and the 49ers once. He didn’t have a sack. But he had one interception, two passes defended, seven tackles, two QB hits and one fumble recovery.
Mauler moment
The USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers don’t really play in Pittsburgh. They play in Canton, Ohio.
But they are playing well enough to have reached the USFL’s championship game. That was by virtue of beating the Michigan Panthers 31-27 during the semifinals Saturday.
A former Pitt Panther played a huge role. Kicker Chris Blewitt nailed a field goal from 59 yards out in the fourth quarter.
FROM 59-YARDS OUT
Chris Blewitt gives the @USFLMaulers the lead and makes the longest FG of the season
: @nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/ju6pmorppl
— USFL (@USFL) June 25, 2023
Pittsburgh went on to win the game in overtime. The Maulers are coached by former Steelers assistant Ray Horton. Up next, they play the defending league champion Birmingham Stallions for the USFL title at 8 p.m. Saturday in Canton. The game is on Peacock.
More sports
• Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has worthy case for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
• Pirates add righty reliever Andre Jackson in trade with Dodgers, DFA infielder Mark Mathias
• Steelers 2-a-days: Dez Fitzpatrick added to WR room; Minkah Fitzpatrick on a Hall of Fame track
Who is next?
When it comes to the Pirates, all we seem to do these days is keep an eye on how the prospects are doing.
Now that Henry Davis and Nick Gonzales are up with the big club, the talent pool has thinned out in the minors. However, there are still a few names to monitor. One of them is former first-round draft choice Quinn Priester. The right-handed pitcher threw Saturday night as the triple-A Indianapolis Indians defeated the Columbus Clippers 3-1.
The 22-year-old struck out 11 batters over 6 scoreless innings. Priester allowed just three hits, walked two and threw 61 of 96 pitches for strikes.
Lots of swings, lots of misses for @QuinnPriester this evening. pic.twitter.com/6E6TGjonj8
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) June 25, 2023
The victory moved Priester to 7-3 with 4.36 earned run average on the season.
Meanwhile, catching prospect Endy Rodriguez homered Sunday as the Indians fell to Columbus 7-6.
Yep, Endy crushed this one. pic.twitter.com/dKQAQTuUb6
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) June 25, 2023
That was his fifth of the year. Rodriguez doubled as well, getting his average up to .248.
True to form
To the surprise of no one, former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown got his Albany Empire team kicked out of the National Arena League for nonpayment issues when it came to franchise dues and fines.
Now word is, from News 10 in Albany, that he didn’t even pay the players for their last game. Via the news outlet’s website, “Former Empire interim head coach Moe Leggett said that the entire Empire staff had their final game check pulled out of their bank accounts.
“Leggett says the players and coaches that had their payroll accounts set up were originally paid for the team’s final game against Orlando last week. Leggett woke up Thursday morning to a screenshot from a player, showing the game check had been reversed back, and out of his bank account. Leggett then checked his bank account, and noticed the money was gone.”
All of this is on-brand for Mr. Big Chest and his business track record. He also didn’t pay Albany players in a timely fashion earlier in the year.