First Call: Le’Veon Bell advises Najee Harris; new Kenny Pickett, Big Ben TV spot; Patriots alum dismisses Spygate story
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Thursday’s “First Call” has a response from New England after a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers legends kicked the “Spygate” hornets nest. Kenny Pickett and Ben Roethlisberger are in a commercial together. Le’Veon Bell has a solution for Najee Harris’ problems.
And we have some injury news in Houston as the Steelers get ready to face the Texans on Sunday.
Asante’s assessment
During his most recent “Footbahlin’” podcast, former Steeler Ben Roethlisberger had Super Bowl winning-teammate Jerome Bettis on the show as a guest. During their conversation, they spent some time ripping the Patriots for cheating during the “Spygate” era.
That didn’t go unnoticed by former Patriots defensive back Asante Samuel.
“Steeler Nation, what’s going on with your legends and Hall of Famers Ben Roethlisberger and Jerome Bettis? Nineteen years later, you guys decide to be sore losers and say we cheated the 2004 AFC Championship,” Samuel asked.
The former Pro Bowler then went on to say that the Patriots beat the Steelers because he was better than Deshea Townsend, Tom Brady was better than Big Ben, Corey Dillon was better than The Bus, and Rodney Hampton was better than Troy Polamalu.
Tom Brady was better than Ben Roethlisberger, Rodney Harrison was better than Troy Polamalu, Corey Dillion was better than Jerome Bettis etc…. pic.twitter.com/wArDWVf50H
— Asante Samuel Sr. (@pick_six22) September 27, 2023
Hey! Let’s get a few things straight, Asante. First of all, the Steelers didn’t just start complaining about Spygate this week, as you suggest. It’s kinda been going on for a while now.
So, if you are going to call them “sore losers,” at least give them credit for sticking to it, OK? They aren’t exactly new to this party. They’ve been experts at this for a long time, understand?
Secondly, I didn’t hear any denial of videotaping in that rant. Nor did I hear an explanation of how you got the “tips” in the first place. I just heard some bluster about other ways you won the game that were independent of any illegal filming. That’s a classic diversionary argument everyone in New England has been using for the past few decades.
Just because it’s entirely plausible that your team didn’t need to cheat to win, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Also, I hope that when you said Harrison was better than Polamalu, and Dillon was better than Bettis, you meant in that game, and not in their careers … right?
The other comps you made about yourself and Townsend, and Brady versus Roethlisberger, are right either way. But, please, seek help if you really believe Dillon and Harrison had better careers than Bettis and Polamalu.
And you can put that on tape.
Oops. Wait a minute …
Houston has lots of problems
At least along the offensive line anyway. For example, check out this update from Aaron Wilson at KPRC2 in Houston.
#Texans left tackle Josh Jones is expected to miss the game against #Steelers due to a hand injury, per league sources while Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil remains sidelined with a lingering knee injury and is on track to miss his third consecutive game @KPRC2…
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 27, 2023
“With Laremy, we’ll see where he is as we go throughout the week,” head coach Demeco Ryans said Tuesday.
Veteran offensive tackle Tytus Howard is still on injured reserve with a broken hand. As Wilson wrote Wednesday, Houston’s options include “plugging in Austin Deculus at left tackle where he has practiced, or shifting over (George) Fant to left tackle where he has a considerable amount of experience or possibly elevating Geron Christian from the practice squad and having him play left tackle or right tackle. Currently, it’s Deculus, a second-year pro from LSU, who is preparing to play left tackle.”
That sound you hear is the eyeballs of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith getting bigger and bigger by the second. The Texans allowed a league-high 11 sacks over the first two weeks, but none against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Meanwhile, in the secondary, safety Jalen Pitre returned to practice Wednesday. A bruised lung has sidelined the Texans captain for the past two games. He was limited in practice Wednesday and is expected to play against the Steelers.
More sports
• Running game helps Steelers QB Kenny Pickett find his groove on play-action passes
• Steelers begin practice week for Texans minus 3 starters on offensive line
• Kenny Pickett, Steelers reflect on emergency plane landing, overnight stay in Kansas City
Advice from afar
Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has a suggestion for current running back Najee Harris.
Drop a few pounds.
Appearing on Cameron Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast, Bell said that getting leaner might help Harris.
“Sometimes it’s just the extra step. That’s all you need to take a run from two yards to about nine — just barely squeeze through the hole,” Bell said.
This isn’t the first time Bell has made that suggestion. He said the same thing back in May, referencing how he was 244 pounds as a rookie and dropped 20 pounds before the next season.
Harris is currently listed at 242 pounds on the Steelers.com website. Bell told Heyward that Harris may want to try a similar course of action.
“I think he’s a special runner. I think he can see the holes. I even think he knows how to set up his runs,” Bell said. “Some guys need a hole, and some guys know how to finesse a run and know how to set it up to make something out of nothing, He’s so good at that, and I think he can be even better if he’s a little lighter.”
Harris has only 139 yards over the course of three games to start this season.
Television magic
If you loved Kenny Pickett’s super-natural and totally not-at-all-cheesy furniture commercial, then I’ve got a treat for you.
Pickett and Ben Roethlisberger are now in a car commercial together for No. 1 Cochran. And it is award winning stuff.
Take a look at our latest commercial featuring Kenny Pickett and Ben Roethlisberger. Thanks to #8 and #7 for teaming up with us! pic.twitter.com/HeK8WL26Vs
— #1 Cochran (@number1cochran) September 27, 2023
At least Pickett was right about Big Ben’s big beard back in the day. And Roethlisberger showing off the two Super Bowl rings at the end was a nice touch.