First Call: ‘Pacman’ Jones now suspects Joey Porter in Steelers jersey shipment; big challenge for ‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger
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Friday’s “First Call” features developments on Adam “Pacman” Jones versus Steelers cornerback Joe Haden and a big challenge for “Big Ben” Roethlisberger. Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien has a health scare, and another MLB pitcher gets ejected from the stands for arguing balls and strikes.
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Joe vs. Jones
Thursday’s “First Call” featured Jones, the former Cincinnati Bengals irritant, burning a box full of Steelers jerseys.
Specifically, autographed jerseys signed by Haden.
The jerseys were mailed to Jones’ home. He seems to think that Haden — or someone on Haden’s behalf — sent the jerseys as a prank.
So he ignited them with gasoline and a lighter. Then he went on a profanity-filled rant, posting it all on social media.
Now Haden’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is defending his client.
Statement from Joe Haden’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus: https://t.co/OpIyGUOpJE pic.twitter.com/OmChuPRDjf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 13, 2020
Haden also denied that he had anything to do with the incident. In the middle of an acupuncture treatment, by the way.
TMZ followed up with Jones early Friday morning. The website posted an interview with Jones. In the video, he backs off his accusation of Haden, claiming that the two have talked it out.
But Jones said he is still suspicious that someone associated with the Steelers sent the jerseys and even went so far as to say it may have been former linebacker Joey Porter.
“I do think somebody over there in that ballpark or whatever they doing over there in (expletive)sburgh, that somebody from over there sent them,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t even be surprised if Joey Porter sent them.”
“Pacman” claims he burned about 15 of the jerseys and will burn the rest over the next two days. He had some derogatory things to say about Rosenhaus as well.
• • •
Big Ben. Big task.
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal came up with a list of NFL players who have the most to accomplish while at training camp.
One of them is the 38-year-old Roethlisberger.
Rosenthal’s logic is that the track record for quarterbacks older than 35 coming back from a full year away from football is … um … well … take it away, Gregg.
“The history of quarterbacks over 35 years old missing all (or most) of a season before returning as a starter comes down to Vinny Testaverde and … that’s it.”
I know. I know. No better way to go into the weekend than to have your quarterback compared to Vinny Testaverde.
In 1999, the New York Jets quarterback played just one game because of an Achilles injury. The good news is Testaverde came back at 36 years old in 2000.
He threw for 3,732 yards. That was the second-highest season total of his career. And he completed a career-high 328 passes.
Unfortunately, he also threw 25 interceptions to lead the NFL, and the Jets missed the playoffs at 9-7.
• • •
Julien hospitalized
Canadiens coach Claude Julien likely won’t be back on the bench for the rest of his team’s series against the Philadelphia Flyers after he suffered chest pains Wednesday following the Canadiens’ 2-1 loss in Game 1.
“We immediately consulted our doctors and it was agreed to quickly transfer him to the hospital by ambulance,” general manager Marc Bergevin said Thursday.
Julien’s Canadiens are fresh off a qualifying-round victory over the Penguins. The 60-year-old coach is 13th in NHL history in wins. He led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup in 2011 and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2009.
Associate head coach Kirk Muller will run the team during Julien’s absence.
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Not the first time
Remember when Derek Holland got ejected from the stands for arguing balls and strikes earlier this year?
Well, the Pirates starter has some exclusive company now.
Nationals starter — and World Series MVP — Stephen Strasburg got the same treatment Thursday during a game against the New York Mets.
Stephen Strasburg was ejected, Juan Soto homered and Seth Romero made his major league debut.MASN All Access Xtra recaps the #Nats’ eventful loss to the Mets. https://t.co/gjwUMCpjTS
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) August 13, 2020
You can pick up the ejection from umpire Carlos Torres about two minutes into the video above.
The Nats lost 8-2. Strasburg pitches Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles.