First Call: Rob Gronkowski may want to play with Joe Burrow; T.J. Watt could sail to NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Wednesday’s “First Call” has some alarming news for Pittsburgh Steelers fans regarding what Rob Gronkowski is thinking. T.J. Watt should have smooth sailing toward NFL Defensive Player of the Year. An ex-Steeler gets an NFL head coaching contract extension. And the Penguins got a little help from their upcoming opponent.

That sounds bad

If Rob Gronkowski wants to keep playing even if Tom Brady is retired, it doesn’t have to be in Tampa Bay.

The future Hall of Fame tight end is a free agent in March. And, boy, is he talking up Joe Burrow. In fact, if Gronk isn’t playing with Brady, it sounds like he’d like to play with Burrow in Cincinnati as the man throwing him the ball.

“I kinda like this young buck quarterback. He’s in the Super Bowl now: It’s (Bengals quarterback) Joe Burrow, man,” Gronkowski told Masslive.com. “I watched him in college. I just love the way he presents himself out on the football field. In the pocket, he’s just so calm, and he just slings it out on the field.

“I just love his swag, too. If I had to pick a quarterback it’d be the young buck Joe Burrow. He’s killing it right now in the game.”

In seven games against the Steelers, Gronkowski has totaled 41 catches for 685 yards. His 97.9 yards per game is the best average over his career against any opponent he has faced more than twice. His eight touchdown catches are most he’s had against any opponent outside of the AFC East following his nine years with the New England Patriots.

Sticking around for a while

Mike Vrabel is going to continue on as head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

The former Steelers defensive lineman signed a contract extension with the team Tuesday. So did general manager Jon Robinson. Both men were previously under contract through 2022. The lengths of the new deals were not disclosed.

Vrabel was hired in 2018. His team made the AFC Championship game in 2019. The Titans won the AFC South each of the past two seasons but lost their first playoff game. His squads have lost to the Steelers in each of the last two seasons as well.

Related:

• Bruins' Brad Marchand attacks Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, faces suspension
• Steelers move on from WR coach Ike Hilliard, hire Frisman Jackson from Panthers

Easy win

If this indication is right, T.J. Watt should roll to victory in the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year balloting. The Steelers linebacker got 20 of 29 votes in a straw poll of NFL.com analysts.

The awards ceremony is Thursday night.

Former Pitt Panther and Penn Hills alum Aaron Donald finished second with seven votes. Dallas Cowboys rookie Micah Parsons got one vote. The Penn State product was a unanimous winner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Also, Aaron Rodgers won MVP. Vrabel was tabbed as Coach of the Year. You can read the rest of the results here.

Where did that come from?

After enjoying a 4-2 win in Boston to open play after the All-Star break, the Penguins will head up to Ottawa to face the Senators.

On Tuesday, Ottawa pulled off a surprising 4-3 victory over the Metro Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes. The Senators have just 36 points. That’s third from the bottom in the Eastern Conference. Only the Buffalo Sabres (35 points) and Montreal Canadiens (23 points) have fewer.

The Sens have now won three of their last four games. Brady Tkachuk scored two goals for Ottawa.

Brady cleaning up out front#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/itlPC9fWZ8

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 9, 2022

Officially: Brady gets credit #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/sLu4YA2h16

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 9, 2022

Former Penguins goalie Matt Murray wasn’t in net. Anton Forsberg was. He stopped 42 of 45 shots.

The loss by Carolina means the Penguins are now tied with the New York Rangers with 64 points, just one back of the Hurricanes for the Metro Division lead.