Wednesday’s “First Call” fuels conversation about a former Pro Bowl cornerback who may be linked to the Steelers.
A few local players came on the scorer list in NHL playoff action.
And there are some questions about the extent of Tom Brady’s deal with Fox.
Money for Bradberry?
On Tuesday, I mentioned the firing of New York Giants cornerback James Bradberry and how I thought he was worth a call from the Steelers considering the corner depth chart lacks star power.
Bradberry is 6-foot-1, 212 pounds. His performance has slipped a bit over the past year, but that’s compared to a Pro Bowl campaign in 2020.
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan appears to be on the same page. He lists the Steelers as a “potential landing spot” for Bradberry.
“Although trading interest in Bradberry has been lukewarm, expect a stronger market now that teams have the freedom to negotiate a deal from scratch without parting with draft picks. The Eagles, Chiefs, Raiders, Bengals and Steelers are among the potential landing spots,” Duggan said.
Bradberry was scheduled to enter the final season of a three-year, $45 million contract in 2022. By eliminating him, the Giants will save at least $10 million in cap space this year.
Just before landing
Their playoff series in the first round of the Eastern Conference looked like a no-brainer. Then it got difficult. But Metropolitan Division champions Carolina Hurricanes now have the Boston Bruins on the brink of elimination.
That’s because they won Game 5 5-1 on home ice on Tuesday night. Goalie Antti Raanta stopped 33 of the Bruins’ 34 shots and Seth Jarvis scored twice.
It’s Jarvy’s world, we just live in it pic.twitter.com/hoIYMQVP5o
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 11, 2022
Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck had an empty net and two assists. Carolina leads 3-2 in this 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 on the road to the Bruins before winning on Tuesday.
Wild blues singing
The St. Louis Blues are also just one win away from entering Round 2. That’s because they overcame Marc-Andre Fleury and the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Tuesday.
Fleury was only able to make 27 saves in 31 attempts. Three of the shots that went into the net came from Vladimir Tarasenko, all in the third period. That was good for a hat trick. Another goal was from Gibsonia’s Brandon Saad.
Not at all Saad about it. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/cNxHUQ900H
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 11, 2022
That means the Blues can advance into Round 2 on Thursday as well.
Done dollars?
Tuesday’s news circle spotlighted Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and his alleged 10-year, $375 million broadcast deal with Fox.
That’s apparently what Brady will be earning after retirement once he joins the network.
But now Fox disputes the length and duration of the deal, as originally reported by the New York Post.
Speaking of The Post’s Andrew Marchand, Fox corporate spokesman Brian Nick said, “What was reported is not an accurate description of the deal and we have not released any details beyond what was released on our quarterly conference call.”
However, Nick declined to say which was inaccurate. Marchand’s sources then reiterated that Fox’s spending on Brady is 10 years and $375 million.
Tim Benz is a contributor to the Tribune Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.