First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster comments on Antonio Brown; Tom Brady's mystery tweet

In Friday’s “First Call” JuJu Smith-Schuster speaks about Antonio Brown, Tom Brady sets the internet ablaze with a mysterious photo and there is potential for a local weekend sweep in college basketball.

Taking the high road

A frequent target of scorn for Antonio Brown in recent months has been former Steelers teammate Juju Smith-Schuster.

But as Brown’s descent into madness has continued, Smith-Schuster remains politically correct in his public comments. In fact, he went so far as to say he is “concerned” about Brown.

“It’s different, for sure,” Smith-Schuster told ProFootballTalk.com. “I’m concerned, like you guys. It’s a tough situation for a guy if you take away his job and his passion. Being a guy looking from the outside to the inside, he’s definitely a different dude than who he was on the field.”

Brown was recently released from jail after allegedly throwing rocks at a moving van. Previously, he had ripped Smith-Schuster for not showing him respect after Brown left for Oakland and for fumbling against the New Orleans Saints last year.

Recently, A.B. referred to Smith-Schuster as “Boo Boo Shoester.”

What are you saying, Tom?

Tom Brady sent out this cryptic tweet Thursday.

pic.twitter.com/P3mmWBb76V

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 30, 2020

Twitter seemed to interpret that one of two ways. Either Brady is leaving the Patriots to play with another NFL team.

Or he is going into a career in music.

I bought this CD at Starbucks the other day.

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) January 31, 2020

name tom brady’s album pic.twitter.com/JhBAe0IvqD

— harry (@harrylylesjr) January 30, 2020

Either Tom Brady is leaving New England or he's recording an alternative rock album that will appeal to adults who grew up in the early 90's. pic.twitter.com/OXJg3pbBsP

— Brandon Kravitz (@BrandonKravitz) January 31, 2020

Others seem to think it was a tribute to Kobe Bryant.

I think Tom Brady’s picture at Gillette is a Kobe Bryant tribute#Patriots #TomBrady pic.twitter.com/VivMzdgXQV

— Josh (@___Joshua_____) January 31, 2020

There also were rumors that Brady and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, were looking at schools in Nashville, Tenn. So the NHL’s Nashville Predators are jumping in on the idea of Brady becoming a Tennessee Titan.

We can already see it. #Preds | @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/15fNQvd6EH

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) January 31, 2020

But those reports were shot down.

Despite speculation, Tom Brady was not in Nashville on Thursday: https://t.co/KTh07PD4n0 pic.twitter.com/aRWt7ImnNb

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) January 30, 2020

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is ruining the speculation fun.

Am told that this tweet is not related to Tom Brady’s football future. Repeat, not related to his football future. But the speculation sure is fun. https://t.co/DmUcn5vCvK

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2020

Others think Brady is teasing a Super Bowl commercial.

Some Ad Agency is celebrating today that everyone is going crazy for this teaser to Tom Brady’s Super Bowl commercial https://t.co/gs7Elq4iWJ

— Michael McNamara (@ScarletAdMan) January 31, 2020

Regardless of what he meant, Brady got some feedback on Twitter via Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” segment on ABC.

Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw was roasted in that segment, too, by the way.

Someone is going to be out there

Sean Payton has made it clear, all three of his quarterbacks won’t be back next season.

On the NFL Network’s “Super Bowl Live,” the New Orleans Saints coach applauded the work of Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill. But he said “to have all three of those guys back is probably very unlikely.

“You really appreciate the season you had when you had all three of them.”

A lot of Steelers fans are hoping that that the team signs a veteran backup quarterback as insurance for Ben Roethlisberger.

Bridgewater would be a good one. He’d also be an expensive one. He also may try to find a place to start.

College basketball bounce backs?

This weekend, Pitt and Duquesne are looking to rebound from losses to top-10 teams.

And they both get struggling opponents at home.

The Panthers fell to Duke on Tuesday. They’ll welcome Miami to Petersen Events Center at noon Sunday. The Hurricanes are 3-7 in ACC play. Wake Forest is the only team with a worse conference record.

Although, they did just snap a four-game losing streak against Virginia Tech.

As for the Dukes, they get LaSalle at PPG Paints Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Explorers are 1-7 in the Atlantic 10, and they have a six-game losing streak.

As for Robert Morris, the Colonials host Central Connecticut State at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Blue Devils are 1-9 in the NEC. RMU is 7-2 and in second place after a 64-54 win over Bryant on Thursday.