First Call: Bud Dupree may return in time for game against Steelers; Aaron Rodgers, LeBron James wear Pittsburgh attire

Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on the health of former Steeler-turned-Tennessee Titan Bud Dupree. LeBron James and Aaron Rodgers both grab our attention with Pittsburgh-themed clothing choices.

And a strange “man-bites-dog” kind of story from the NFL involving a former Steeler.

Will Bud be back?

The Steelers are hosting the Tennessee Titans Sunday. And a former Steelers linebacker now has a chance to play at Heinz Field for his new team.

The Titans designated Bud Dupree for return from injured reserve Wednesday. The move means his 21-day window is open for them to put Dupree back on their active roster.

Dupree was signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent to a six-year, $82.5 million contract during the offseason. But he has just one sack in seven games this year.

Dupree suffered a torn ACL with the Steelers last December. In October, he admitted that he rushed himself back from the injury. Dupree missed three games before returning to the lineup in Buffalo on Oct. 18. He then suffered an abdominal injury on the first series of the game against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 14 and has missed the past three games.

Dupree must be added to the Titans’ 53-man roster before Saturday at 4 p.m. if he is to be eligible to play against the Steelers.

Another former Steelers linebacker, Ola Adeniyi, may pick up some of Dupree’s reps. He got 42% of the defensive snaps last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars and has 2.5 sacks on the season.

LeBron and Lemieux

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is part of the Fenway Sports Group, the new owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

However, former owner and team legend Mario Lemieux will continue to have a stake in the club. James isn’t wasting any time showing everyone where his hockey allegiances now lie.

LeMagnifique pic.twitter.com/UdM0JtdPCj

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 15, 2021

James was spotted wearing the jersey on the way to a Lakers game in Dallas against the Mavericks. FSG is also part-owner of the Boston Red Sox, soccer’s Liverpool FC of the English Premier League and Roush Fenway Racing.

Still at it

Aaron Rodgers is still subtly flirting with the Steelers fan base. This time it’s not with Pittsburgh Dad or Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Now it’s by way of wearing a “Pick ‘em Up and Put ‘em Dahn” t-shirt. That shirt was printed in honor of a Steelers fan who went viral for screaming that phrase — in a comically perfect Pittsburgh accent — at his television during a Diontae Johnson catch and run against the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.

"There has been good conversations between Brian Gutekunst & myself all season.. it's a good feeling coming to work every day & I love playing ball" ~@AaronRodgers12#PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/ixmZLXAwy4

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 14, 2021

Rodgers wore the shirt during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Since McAfee is a native of Plum, Rodgers always likes to dabble in Yinzer back-and-forth with the former WPIAL and West Virginia punter.

But, since Rodgers’ future is up in the air after this year, whenever he mentions Pittsburgh or the Steelers, Twitter explodes. After all, it’s been widely speculated that Rodgers could leave Green Bay after this season. Also, the Steelers need a quarterback. And whenever given a chance, Rodgers seems to sing the praises of Pittsburgh, Tomlin and the Steelers organization.

As a result, Pittsburgh has been identified as a potential landing spot for Rodgers via trade or free agency in 2022.

Ironically, as the clip above reveals, a lot of the conversation this week with McAfee was about how well it’s going for Rodgers and the 10-3 Packers. They lead the NFC North and are tied with the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the best record in the conference.

Rodgers spent most of his comments isolated in that tweet talking about the character and fiber of his teammates and how he and general manager Brian Gutekunst have had productive conversations about the team this year. When Rodgers completed his thought, McAfee asked, “So you love being a Green Bay Packer right now, yeah?”

After a pregnant pause, Rodgers merely replied, “I love playin’ ball.” And he left it at that.

Hmmm. Let’s see what Pittsburgh-themed outfit Rodgers wears next week. Maybe he’ll do the whole interview wearing the Steely McBeam mascot head.

Role reversal

So the kicker got kicked?

Josh Lambo was a Steelers practice squad kicker for nine days last month (Nov. 2-11). Before that, he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

During his time under first-year head coach Urban Meyer, Lambo didn’t have a good experience. The kicker says his coach actually … kicked him.

In a story released by the Tampa Bay Times Wednesday, Lambo says the incident occurred during warmups of a practice leading into the final preseason game.

“I’m in a lunge position. Left leg forward, right leg back,” Lambo said. “… Urban Meyer, while I’m in that stretch position, comes up to me and says, ‘Hey (expletive), make your (expletive) kicks!’ And kicks me in the leg.”

Lambo went on to further characterize the event.

“It certainly wasn’t as hard as he could’ve done it, but it certainly wasn’t a love tap,” Lambo said. “Truthfully, I’d register it as a five (out of 10). Which, in the workplace, I don’t care if it’s football or not, the boss can’t strike an employee. And for a second, I couldn’t believe it actually happened. Pardon my vulgarity, I said, ‘Don’t you ever (expletive) kick me again!’ And his response was, ‘I’m the head ball coach, I’ll kick you whenever the (expletive) I want.’”

In a statement to the Tampa Bay Times, Meyer denied that the incident happened the way Lambo described it.

“Josh’s characterization of me and this incident is completely inaccurate, and there are eyewitnesses to refute his account,” Meyer said. “(General manager) Trent (Baalke) and I met with him on multiple occasions to encourage his performance, and this was never brought up. I was fully supportive of Josh during his time with the team and wish him nothing but the best.”

Lambo missed his first three field goal attempts to start the season, and he was released.

Things were already bad for Meyer as he was going through one controversy after another in his first year as the Jags head coach. Perhaps this story was the cherry on top as the Jaguars announced shortly before 1 a.m. that they were firing Meyer. Darrell Bevell will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.