First Call: Wyatt Teller tamps down complaints about Steelers fans; plans for Bryan Reynolds at 1B

Tuesday’s “First Call” follows up on those complaints about Steelers fans from one of the Cleveland Browns’ wives. We know the full broadcast plans for the Christmas Day game on Netflix between the Steelers and Chiefs.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton has an update on Bryan Reynolds’ future position.

Also, the Colorado Avalanche’s new goalie won’t make his debut in Pittsburgh. We’ll tell you why.

Part of the game

On Sunday, the wife of Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Wyatt Teller complained about how she was treated in the Acrisure Stadium stands by Steelers fans.

After her husband’s team lost 27-14, she posted this message on social media.

The fans in Pittsburgh today were so blatantly disrespectful to me and the Browns girls. I’ve never felt so attacked by people who I literally did nothing to. Very sad/embarrassing behavior.

— Carly Teller (@carlyteller) December 8, 2024

Teller didn’t specify how the fans were “disrespectful” or why she “felt so attacked.” But whatever happened in the stands didn’t seem to alarm her husband.

“So long as they don’t put their hands on a woman or crazy expose themselves or spit on my wife, you can say whatever you want,” Wyatt Teller said via a post by Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “You’ve got to understand when you’re in a hostile environment like that what you’re going to get.”

While he prefers decorum, Teller said that he doesn’t believe wives and girlfriends should get special treatment from other fans in the stands.

“This rivalry goes back way too long to be like, ‘Oh! You’re just a wi…It doesn’t matter I hate you!’ I pray that our fans are a little better. But I know the Dawg Pound can get a little rowdy,” Teller continued. “So I’m not naive to the fact that this rivalry goes so far back that … it’s hostile out there.”

#Browns Wyatt Teller on his wife Carly posting on X that #Steelers fans were “blatantly disrespectful” to her and other #Browns wives and GFs: pic.twitter.com/Gspk5cMvdr

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 9, 2024

Defensive lineman Myles Garrett also seemed less than thrilled with Acrisure Stadium fans chanting “Cleveland (stinks)” during the game.

That seems like a pretty low threshold to even make any comment at all.

Christmas plans

We knew some of the plans for the Christmas Day Steelers-Chiefs Netflix broadcast a few months ago. Back in October “The Athletic” reported that a CBS crew of Ian Eagle, Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt will call the game, with CBS’ Melanie Collins and Stacey Dales of NFL Network on the sideline.

Now we know pregame coverage will originate from Acrisure Stadium and the NFL Network studios in Los Angeles. The streaming platform announced Monday that the L.A. crew will be former players Drew Brees, Robert Griffin III, Manti Te’o and Mina Kimes with Kay Adams running point.

The Pittsburgh crew will be a mix of ESPN’s Laura Rutledge and the McCourty twins — Devin and Jason. Also, in a twist, comedian Bert Kreischer will be “a tailgate correspondent,” and fellow comedian Nate Bargatze will be featured as well.

The other Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans will be called by Noah Eagle, Steve Wyche, Greg Olsen and Jamie Erdahl. Beyonce will perform the halftime show there.

KDKA will simulcast the Steelers game.

First thought on first base

There was some chatter about the prospect of Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds moving to first base this offseason. At Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, manager Derek Shelton did little to tamp down that conversation.

”The idea is we’re going to see what it’s like at first base. To say that he’s going to play there full time, I wouldn’t say that,” Shelton said via a social media clip posted by SportsNet Pittsburgh. “He’s a good athlete. He likes taking ground balls. The initial work that he did at the end of the season into the offseason was very positive. We’ll kind of see how it goes and then see how the rest of the club plays out.”

"We're gonna see what it's like at first base... he's a good athlete, he likes taking ground balls."

Derek Shelton on potentially getting Bryan Reynolds some time at first base ???? pic.twitter.com/cy2j8KXINy

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) December 9, 2024

Shelton has asked Reynolds to rest a little longer before starting his offseason work. The All-Star played 156 games in 2024. But when his offseason program begins, he’ll have a focus on first base.

Bench coach and former infielder Don Kelly will put the program in place for Reynolds. He and Shelton are planning to visit Reynolds in Nashville at some point this offseason to work with him in person.

Not just yet

The Colorado Avalanche traded for a new goalie Monday. But he won’t be heading out to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins with his new franchise Tuesday.

Colorado made a deal with San Jose to acquire Mackenzie Blackwood. However, via The Hockey News, the trade was consummated while Blackwood was sick. So he is going to head directly to Denver and join the Avs when they return home to face Utah on Thursday instead of coming to PPG Paints Arena.

In exchange for Blackwood, Colorado is sending goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to the Sharks. He’ll be joined by forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. In exchange, the Avs also get Givani Smith and a 2027 fifth-round pick along with Blackwood.

On Dec. 1, Colorado also acquired another goaltender — Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators. In exchange, they gave up goalie Justus Annunen.

At 3.55 per game, Colorado is 29th in the league in goals allowed.

Wedgewood is expected to start against the Pens. He’s got a 3-3-1 record with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. The 32-year-old just pitched a 25-save shutout against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. Minor leaguer Trent Miner has been called up in reserve.

Blackwood is 28 years old. He is 6-9-3 with a 3.00 GAA and a .910 save percentage this season.