Wednesday’s “First Call” recaps a tough day on the legal front for former Steeler Antonio Brown. Another former Steeler is opting out of 2020’s season because of coronavirus concerns. And Austin Meadows makes an impact in his return for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Gavel comes down on Antonio Brown

The myriad of court cases involving Antonio Brown continue to wind their way through the legal system.

One of them may still impact his return to the NFL, even though he has been granted permission to play after Week 8 of the 2020 regular season.

That’s if a team signs him in the first place.

More on that in a minute.

A legal matter Brown hasn’t resolved yet is that accusation he trashed a Florida condo he was renting in April 2018.

Via a Fox News account of the incident, “video shows furniture falling from the sky and into the pool and onto the pool deck … workers and sunbathers (were) running for cover as the furniture began to rain down on them. … The attorney representing the condo told WSVN-TV that the free-agent wide receiver tossed the items from the balcony in a fit of rage after he alleged someone had stolen $80,000 from him.”

Brown countersued. And that’s not going well for him.

The Athletic’s Daniel Wallach reports that Florida Circuit Court judge Beatrice Butchko sanctioned Brown for attempting to deliberately delay civil court proceedings. The court still has yet to determine the financial damages, but the judge also rendered a default judgment against Brown, ruling in favor of the condo owner.

Wallach reports the landlord is seeking over $200,000 in damages based on physical damage to the unit, repair costs and the loss of rental income for four months.

Details of the judge’s opinion are less than flattering toward Mr. Big Chest.

BREAKING: Miami judge sanctions Antonio Brown for "intentional delay tactics" and "willful, deliberate and contumacious" failure to follow court orders; strikes his pleadings and counterclaims in lawsuit alleging he trashed luxury condo, and enters default judgment against him. pic.twitter.com/BG6UBVXXBV

— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) August 4, 2020

According to dictionary.com, “contumacious” means “stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.”

Yup. That’s the A.B. we know and love! Did he wear his blue cleats and specially designed Raiders helmet to the proceedings?

But wait! There’s more.

UPDATE: Judge enters amended order that provides more details on how Antonio Brown "purposely impeded the orderly prosecution of this matter." Among the transgressions: "eating during the deposition" and "using his cell phone during pauses in questions or rulings on objections." pic.twitter.com/UrCc4JYQ8Y

— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) August 4, 2020

I think that’s how most team meetings went in the wide receivers’ room at the Steelers headquarters too, don’t you?

Speaking of A.B.

The Seattle Seahawks are one of the teams rumored to have an interest in Brown.

Head coach Pete Carroll recently admitted that the club is monitoring Brown’s situation now that he may be able to sign with a team after eight weeks.

However, if Seattle rolls the dice on a troubled wide receiver, it may actually be Josh Gordon first.

Gordon was placed on the NFL’s indefinite suspension list in June. Gordon had seven catches for 139 yards in five games with the Seahawks last year before getting his fifth league suspension.

“We are very open to that thought,” Carroll told ESPN. “It’s not in our hands. Josh did a really good job with us last year. He fit in really well. He was part of this team by the way we opened and embraced his coming to us but also by the way he adapted.”

Of Brown, Carroll told ESPN’s Brady Henderson, “(General Manager) John (Schneider) is competing at every turn … He’s all over it. He understands what’s going on right now, as much as you can. It’s a very complex situation. We just need to see where it fits somewhere down the road. That’s all I got for you.”

Let’s see what he’s got for Brown between now and early November.

Tampa twosome

A pair of former Pirates All-Stars now with the Tampa Bay Rays had strong nights against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.

Austin Meadows played in his first game of 2020. He had been sidelined with the coronavirus. Batting leadoff, the left fielder went 2 for 4 in a 5-1 Tampa victory.

The sweet swing of Austin Meadows back on your TL pic.twitter.com/XFsorPgb2c

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 4, 2020

Meanwhile, Charlie Morton was sharp in his third start of the year. The right-hander got the win, completing 5 ⅔ innings. He tallied five strikeouts, walked none and allowed just one earned run.

Two former Pirates — Tyler Glasnow (TB) and Gerrit Cole (NYY) — start against one another when the Rays host the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Opting out

A couple of familiar names are opting out of the NFL season.

Former Steelers tackle Marcus Gilbert says he’d rather not play with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.

My statement on my decision to Opt Out of the 2020 NFL Season: pic.twitter.com/GFmdqS4Yiw

— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) August 4, 2020

Players that opt out in the high-risk category receive a $350,000 stipend that does not have to be paid back or deducted from next year’s salary. The Steelers traded him to the Cardinals after the 2018 season.

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Andrew Billings is also taking the opt-out. He was expecting to bolster the Browns run defense. Billings played his first four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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