First Call: Ravens ruffled before Steelers game. Le'Veon Bell helps K.C. Vanessa Hudgens with Cole Tucker?

The Ravens look flustered. The Steelers’ “MAC guys” looked happy. And Le’Veon Bell is looking to contribute in Kansas City.

Plus, we’ve got hockey back in Pittsburgh. And a blossoming celebrity romance for a Pittsburgh Pirate.

Maybe.

All that and more in “First Call.”

Ruffling the Ravens

Not only are the Baltimore Ravens slumping heading into their Thanksgiving showdown with the Steelers, but they also look to be wound up awfully tight.

There was a pregame dustup with the Tennessee Titans before their Sunday afternoon game. The Titans ran out to the Ravens midfield logo — as was the case in the playoff win for Tennessee last season — and the Ravens took exception. So there was some pregame bluster at midfield.

After the Titans won 30-24 in overtime, it appeared head coach John Harbaugh didn’t want to shake the hand of Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, something he tried to do in a rainstorm with Bill Belichick after the club’s loss in New England last week. So it didn’t seem like a covid-19-related concern.

Vrabel tried to downplay the incident after the game. Harbaugh did, too. But let’s see if more details emerge between now and when Baltimore comes to Heinz Field Thursday.

Regardless, the Ravens have fallen to 6-4. They’ll be eliminated from AFC North contention if the Steelers beat them Thursday. BetOnline.ag has installed the Steelers as an early three-point favorite.

Sunday MACtion

Steelers players from the Mid-American Conference have been jabbing head coach Mike Tomlin for his MAC-Big Ten comparison heading into their game against the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars.

“We are not a Big Ten team playing a MAC opponent this week,” Tomlin said in advance of the game in Jacksonville.

Here’s the thing. The Steelers have a lot of MAC players on their roster. Important ones, too. Like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (Miami (OH)) and wide receiver Diontae Johnson (Toledo). They hooked up 12 times for 111 yards Sunday.

Not to mention linebackers Robert Spillane (Western Michigan) and Ola Adeniyi (Toledo) and offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (Western Michigan).

So, as you may guess, the MAC alumni on the roster wanted to jab back at their coach for his mildly pejorative dig at their conference. So those guys had their coach pose with them for a photo after the 27-3 victory in Jacksonville.

Ulysees Gilbert III (Akron) and Jayrone Elliott (Toledo) didn’t play. But they are MAC alumni, too. So are former Steelers greats James Harrison (Kent State) and Antonio Brown (Central Michigan).

I didn’t see a photo with any Big Ten players.

Bell finds pay dirt

Le’Veon Bell hasn’t done much since getting to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Just 20 touches for 80 total yards over three games entering Sunday night’s contest against the Las Vegas Raiders.

But he did help the K.C. cause in Vegas. He scored a fourth-quarter touchdown which put the Chiefs up 28-24.

Le’Veon Bell scores his first TD with the Chiefs ?

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/VjpnmgX4ep

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 23, 2020

Vegas would score on the ensuing drive. But the Chiefs would win anyway, 35-31.

Not only was that Bell’s first touchdown since joining the Chiefs, but it was also his first all season. Bell had seven carries for 25 yards Sunday and added one reception for 11 yards.

Cole is a catch

It wasn’t a great year for former Pirates first-round draft choice Cole Tucker.

On the field, he only hit .220 with one home run in 37 games.

Off the field, it’s shaping up a little better. The 23-year-old is being romantically linked to Vanessa Hudgens.

Celebrity gossip and entertainment website Just Jared reports that the 31-year-old singer and actress was seen Saturday “with her arms wrapped around Cole as they waited at the valet stand to get their car after having dinner at the Canyon Country Store.

Over the weekend, Vanessa even confirmed to fans that she’s dating again by sharing a photo of herself holding a flower at dinner. She captioned that photo, ‘Date night.’”

Photos of the date first appeared in the Daily Mail.

Maybe we’ll have celebrity sightings at PNC Park … if there are ever fans in the stands again.

Happy to have hockey

No. There is no NHL yet for 2020-21. But hockey has returned in Pittsburgh.

Specifically, on Neville Island. The Robert Morris men’s hockey team began its season with a sweep of Alabama-Huntsville over the weekend.

The Colonials won their first game 5-2 Saturday night, courtesy of five third-period goals. And they beat the Chargers Sunday afternoon, too. The final in that one was 4-3.

Highly touted freshman Randy Hernandez scored a third-period goal Sunday to cap a comeback for Derek Schooley’s club.

CRASH THE NET pic.twitter.com/3HW4xs9c2L

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 22, 2020

The Colonials host Canisius for two games next weekend to begin Atlantic Hockey action.