The first “First Call” of 2020 picks up where 2019 left off—a lot of talk about Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.

Both of the former Steelers were in the headlines on New Year’s Day. So we get caught up on the latest ax to grind for A.B. and the latest trade talk about Bell.

Plus, Duquesne takes its early season success into conference play against the defending Atlantic 10 champions. And Brandon Saad’s name is being thrown around again as a trade target for the Penguins.

Is LeV leaving?

Earlier this week, New York Jets coach Adam Gase told members of the New York media to ask general manager Joe Douglas about the future of Le’Veon Bell instead of him.

So they did. And this is what he offered.

“If teams do call, I’m going to listen,” Douglas said via the New York Post. “How those conversations go I can’t speak to that. That’s hypothetical. But when teams call, I will listen.”

So a trade of Bell isn’t out of the question. And that’s amazing given that his acquisition by New York was one of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason back in 2019.

But the former Steeler struggled in his first year with Gang Green. His rushing yardage totals dipped from 1,291 in 2017 with the Steelers to 789 in New York. He underperformed and Gase underutilized him.

Trade rumors have existed about Bell since, seemingly, the moment he arrived given that Gase never really endorsed the signing.

Yet, Douglas didn’t close the door on Bell staying with the team.

“The goal is for Le’Veon next year to have more production on the field,” he added in the Daily News.

Yes. If he isn’t traded, it appears.

‘Pub’ for A.B.

In a recent social media post, Antonio Brown called his workout with the New Orleans Saints a “publicity stunt.”

AB says the Saints bringing him in for a workout was a “publicity stunt” and Sean Payton knows “the film that being left behind” pic.twitter.com/C3ddwacfv4

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 31, 2019

Publicity stunt? A team that just won the NFC South and is heading into the playoffs needs publicity?

It may have been a publicity stunt. But for who?

Brown is the one who reportedly brought his own entourage when he wasn’t supposed to do so. He is the one who posted video of the team’s locker room and his free agent tryout waiver.

In a wonderful twist, the Saints didn’t end up signing Brown. But they did ink another receiver, Tim White.

Saad situation

With Jake Guentzel injured, Penguins fans and media are scouring rosters to find potential trade targets to fill that void.

New York’s Chris Kreider and Los Angeles’ Tyler Toffoli seem to be two popular names.

But whenever trade talk for a forward comes up in Pittsburgh, Brandon Saad’s name always seems to be linked. It’s almost like Penguins fans want to force a return to Western Pennsylvania for the Pine-Richland product.

This time, it’s no different.

A few different websites have mentioned Saad’s name as potential return in a deal that could cushion the blow of Guentzel’s loss. He’s out four to six months after shoulder surgery.

Like Guentzel, Saad comes with a $6 million cap hit. So far this year in Chicago, he has 11 goals in 36 games. But he hasn’t played since Dec. 19 due to an ankle injury. He was projected to be out “a few weeks.”

Normally Saad is durable, having played at least 78 games in every season since 2014. And the Blackhawks may be willing to deal him since they are in last place in the Central Division with 42 points.

But the Penguins will likely want to see him return from injury first.

New year, new venue

The Duquesne men’s basketball team starts its Atlantic 10 conference schedule tonight. And it will do so against a top-flight opponent in a new building.

The Dukes will play their first of four “home” games at the UPMC Events Center on the campus of Robert Morris University at 7 p.m.

It’s one of three arenas in greater Pittsburgh that will house the Dukes this season as renovations continue on the new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. They’ve also played four home games at LaRoche and one at PPG Paints Arena. Five more are scheduled for PPG Paints this year.

Game 1 of the conference slate Thursday night features defending A-10 champion St. Louis. The Billikens won the conference tournament last year and are off to a 11-2 start this year.

Duquesne won its first 10 games this season before losing its last two against UAB and Marshall.

“I liked our balance,” head coach Keith Dambrot said of the 10-2 pre-conference start. “When we played as a team, we are very difficult. When we lose our way, we have our struggles. We have to continue to improve. We’re still finding our way in certain spots.”

Of late, one of those spots may be defense, as Duquesne has allowed its three highest point totals of the season in its last three games (77 in a win over Austin Peay, 77 to UAB, 83 to Marshall).

“Probably the last three or four games, we haven’t played as well defensively as we did earlier in the year, and we just have to get back that,” Dambrot said this week. “When you step up a level, as the A-10 is, it gets more difficult, so you have to play more consistent basketball.”

Despite the recent defeats, Billikens coach Travis Ford said Duquesne’s hot start has been impressive.

“It’s not a shock they jumped out 10-0,” Ford said. “They are just a well-coached experienced basketball team.”

Ford says continuity has been a big reason why the Dukes have found some early season success.

“Most of (Duquesne’s players) are returners from last year. And they all have improved,” Ford said. “Every single one of them has gotten better. (Dambrot) has done a great job of developing an inside outside game. They have a lot of pieces offensively. And, typical of a Keith Dambrot team, they are just a tough-minded defensive team that can really rebound the ball.”

The two teams split their season series last year, with both clubs defending their home court.

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