First Call: Video of Antonio Brown's workout with Ravens players; Diontae Johnson discusses what Brown taught him

For “First Call” Thursday, pictures and videos of Antonio Brown’s workout with his Baltimore Ravens buddies. Diontae Johnson also talks about his workouts with Brown. A veteran free agent backup quarterback hits the market. And a tremendous sports April Fool’s joke.

Quoth the Raven?

On Wednesday, you probably saw that former Steeler Antonio Brown was working out with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Antonio’s cousin Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

We Activated pic.twitter.com/MtnGXKcPwv

— Hollywood Brown (@Primetime_jet) April 1, 2020

Not very good social distancing there, boys. Nowhere near the kind of distance Derrick Henry got against the Ravens defense during the playoffs anyway.

Oooooh. Burn!

A few videos of the workout emerged, too. Jackson retweeted one of them.

We running thiz back fam Iswea? @AB84 https://t.co/aGC57P4AL7

— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 1, 2020

Here’s what Lamar Jackson throwing a pass to Antonio Brown during an offseason workout looks like. pic.twitter.com/v6DYhhBn5w

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) April 1, 2020

It looks like A.B. still has that toe drag move in the end zone, doesn’t it? I suppose he didn’t freeze them off in France after all.

Of course, this will drum up speculation that Brown is going to try to join Jackson and his cousin in Baltimore. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since getting cut by the New England Patriots after Week 2 in 2019.

The former All-Pro is being investigated by the NFL under its personal conduct policy alleging he sexually assaulted his former trainer.

The Ravens could use an upgrade at wideout. But they have nine draft choices if they don’t feel like taking a big chance on “Mr. Big Chest.”

Speaking of Antonio Brown’s workout buddies

Current Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson worked out with Antonio Brown this offseason, too.

Speaking to Allison Koehler of Steelers Wire, Johnson says it was former Toledo teammate Ola Adeniyi who made the introduction to Brown.

Brown was somewhere between signing with the Oakland Raiders and freezing his feet when the Steelers drafted Johnson last year.

The news of these two pairing up encouraged — and alarmed — some Steelers fans. Brown’s workouts were legendary. But so was his ego and attitude.

Could Johnson absorb the good stuff and ignore the bad?

“AB and me are real good friends,” Johnson told Koehler. “I work out with him when I’m down [in Florida]. We did some balance drills, core stuff, a lot of ball drills. We make sure we stay in shape. Just trying to focus on the core a lot because you need the core to play receiver. We did a lot of releases with DBs, too.”

Love the workout stuff. Worried about the “real good friends” thing.

Also in the interview, Johnson said he and Ben Roethlisberger have been in contact this offseason, but trying to get together under the social distancing restrictions has been a unique challenge.

Plus, he talks about the upcoming season, his draft day experience and his wide receiver idols growing up.

Kessler cut

If the Steelers are looking for a veteran option at backup quarterback who may be less expensive than Jameis Winston and Cam Newton, one may have emerged.

It’s Cody Kessler.

Hey. I said less expensive. Not more talented.

Kessler was released Wednesday by the New England Patriots.

The Pats signed him in September. Then he was released in October and signed again later that month.

Kessler ended 2019 as the third-string quarterback in Foxborough behind starter Tom Brady and rookie backup Jarrett Stidham.

New England brought Brian Hoyer back to town for a fourth stint on March 22. He made $381,176 last year. Kessler hasn’t thrown a pass in a game since he was in Jacksonville in October 2018 against the Houston Texans.

April Fool’s Day

Well played, Tupelo Daily Journal. Well played.

The Mississippi newspaper had some time on its hands during the quarantine. And you might want to check out the baseball transactions column during this down period.

Some April 1 baseball transactions from the Daily Journal pic.twitter.com/UmCRIm8K2f

— Quarantine Bros (@BaseballBros) April 1, 2020

Any of those look familiar?

No.

Think … movies. “Bull Durham”? “Major League”? “The Natural”?

Ah! Now I’ve got you.

I hear candlesticks make a nice gift.

More news from Ottawa

Four more members of the Ottawa Senators organization who were part of their California road trip in March tested positive for covid-19.

Apparently, though, they have recovered.

Via the Ottawa Senators website, “Four additional members of the Ottawa Senators organization who travelled to California before the NHL season pause tested positive for covid-19.

Members of the team and staff self-isolated on Friday, March 13, and are all doing well. All test results have now been received, and all those who tested positive have recovered.”

The Senators previously said two of their players had tested positive.