Tuesday’s “First Call” features a look at this week’s Cowboys quarterback situation as the Steelers prepare for a trip to Dallas.
The Ravens made history during their loss to the Steelers Sunday. John Harbaugh is defending his team’s coronavirus practices.
And Antonio Brown’s legal team is working overtime in advance of his Tampa Bay Buccaneers debut.
Dalton or DiNucci?
The Steelers are getting ready for Sunday’s game in Dallas. And the Cowboys aren’t sure who their quarterback will be yet.
Former Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci was under center when the team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. He was starting in place of Andy Dalton who had been concussed by former Steelers linebacker Jon Bostic two weeks ago in Washington.
And, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota, Dalton hasn’t cleared the concussion protocol yet.
Mike McCarthy said there are no major injuries to announce coming out of last night’s game.
He said Andy Dalton hasn’t officially cleared concussion protocol. The Cowboys are hopeful that will happen soon and Dalton will start Sunday
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 2, 2020
DiNucci was 21 of 40 for 180 yards. He was sacked four times, and he didn’t throw any touchdowns. The ex-Pitt Panther didn’t throw any interceptions, either. But he did fumble twice en route to a 23-9 loss.
History-making defeat
Even though the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 Sunday, the Ravens made some history.
With Mark Ingram out, Ravens had an historically balanced rushing attack with Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins & Gus Edwards.
Baltimore became 1st team to have 3 players with 15-plus rush attempts in a game since 1981 Bears (Walter Payton, Matt Suhey & Willie McClendon), per Elias.
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) November 2, 2020
And according to CBS, on Sunday, the Ravens became the first team since at least 1950 to both outrush an opponent by 200-plus yards and outpass them and lose.
So maybe, better said, the Steelers made history by offsetting the Ravens history.
Stall ball
Former Steeler Antonio Brown is trying to drag out the civil lawsuit he is facing.
Why? Because, believe it or not, it’s good for his career.
Delay in trial date would ensure no resolution of case until after the NFL season concludes. Without a continuance, harmful trial testimony (including any admissions under oath) could jeopardize his playing status (and job) with the Bucs.
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) November 3, 2020
As ProFootballTalk.com points out, “it’s clear that he wants the trial date to be delayed. Although the request may arise exclusively from the intersection of the pandemic and the legal system, any delay past the end of the NFL season benefits Brown.”
For now, Brown is tracking to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. And word is he reported to Tampa Bay in excellent shape.
That’s no surprise. Brown’s dedication to fitness is never a problem. His dedication to team, league, and municipal rules is usually the problem.
His Bucs may need the help. They barely beat the struggling New York Giants 25-23 on “Monday Night Football.”
Harbaugh on Humphrey
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh is defending cornerback Marlon Humphrey — and the rest of his players — in the wake of Humphrey’s coronavirus diagnosis.
He insists that his team wasn’t lax in protocol enforcement in advance of their loss to the Steelers. And that Humphrey tested positive for covid-19 before the Steelers game simply because, well, it’s a pandemic and he tested positive.
Not because he blew off the rules.
"Our guys have done a great job of that. If we had guys acting irresponsibly, we would be all over that." pic.twitter.com/Kq9BZzuf9L
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 2, 2020
OK. I buy that. I do.
What I question is how a guy shows up sick, gets sent home on Wednesday. Then, presumably, tests negative Thursday and Friday and plays Sunday … without testing positive until the results came back Monday.
What I question isn’t how Humphrey got sick. It’s how the doctors let that happen, or how the testing didn’t catch it sooner.
