Wednesday’s “First Call” stokes the conversation about a former Pro Bowl cornerback perhaps connecting with the Steelers.
Some local players got on the scoresheet in NHL playoff action.
And there is some question about the extent of Tom Brady’s deal with Fox.
Bucks for Bradberry?
On Tuesday, I mentioned the release of New York Giants cornerback James Bradberry, and how I thought he’d be worthy of a phone call from the Steelers, given how the corner depth chart lacks star power.
Bradberry is 6-foot-1, 212 pounds. His performance did dip some last year, but that’s compared to a Pro Bowl campaign in 2020.
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan seems to be on the same wavelength. He lists the Steelers as a “potential landing spot” for Bradberry.
“Though trade interest in Bradberry was tepid, expect a stronger market to materialize now that teams have the freedom to negotiate a deal from scratch without needing to part with any draft picks. The Eagles, Chiefs, Raiders, Bengals and Steelers are among the potential landing spots,” Duggan said.
Bradberry was set to enter the final season of a three-year, $45-million deal in 2022. By cutting him, the Giants will save at least $10 million in cap space this year.
About to make landfall
Their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series looked like a cakewalk. Then it got difficult. But the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes now have the Boston Bruins on the brink of elimination.
That’s because they won Game 5 on home ice 5-1 on Tuesday night. Goalie Antti Raanta stopped 33 of 34 Bruins shots, and Seth Jarvis had two goals.
It’s Jarvy’s world, we’re just living in it pic.twitter.com/hoIYMQVP5o
– Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 11, 2022
Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck had an empty-netter and two assists. Carolina is up 3-2 in that best-of-seven. The winner of that series plays the winner of the Penguins-Rangers matchup in the second round.
Game 6 is Thursday in Boston. The Hurricanes won the first two, then lost a pair to the Bruins on the road before winning Tuesday.
Wild Singing the Blues
The St. Louis Blues are also a win away from moving on to Round 2. That’s because they outlasted Marc-Andre Fleury and the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Tuesday.
Fleury could only manage 27 saves on 31 attempts. Three of the shots that found the net were from Vladimir Tarasenko, all in the third period. That was good for a hat trick. Another goal was from Gibsonia’s Brandon Saad.
Not Saad about this at all. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/cNxHUQ900H
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 11, 2022
That means the Blues can advance to Round 2 on Thursday as well.
Donate dollars?
Tuesday’s news circle shined the spotlight on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and his reported $375 million, 10-year broadcasting deal with Fox.
That’s apparently what Brady will make upon his retirement once he joins the network.
But now Fox is disputing the length and term of the deal, originally reported by the New York Post.
Via the Post’s Andrew Marchand, Fox corporate spokesman Brian Nick said, “What has been reported isn’t an accurate description of the deal and we have not released details beyond what was disclosed on our quarterly earnings call.”
Yet, Nick declined to say what was inaccurate. Marchand’s sources then reiterated that the outlay for Brady from Fox is 10 years and $375 million.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise specified.