First call Bully Mathieu says he got a call from

First call: Bully Mathieu says he got a call from Mike Tomlin; Several theories about Bruce Arian’s last ‘retirement’

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A well-known free agent reveals he’s been in touch with the Steelers. We discuss the reasons behind Bruce Arians’ recent resignation. Lamar Jackson gets irritated in Baltimore. Alex Goligoski just keeps playing. And the New York Rangers just keep winning.

All of this in Thursday’s “First Call”.

Tomlin and Tyrant

According to free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu, he received a call from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

He did not reveal the scope or details of the conversation. But during an appearance on “The Jordy Culotta Show,” Mathieu referenced a conversation he had with the Steelers coach.

Mathieu explained that he’s not sweating over the fact he’s still unsigned, but admits it still gives him a spark when NFL coaches have reached out.

“Just being able to spend that time with family is cool,” Mathieu said. “But I’m still trying to enjoy the process. It’s still cool to talk to all the trainers, the different trainers. Because some of these guys that I’m a fan of. Mike Tomlin calls your phone. He says, ‘Hey, this is Mike T.’ Just being able to talk to these guys is a blessing.”

The Steelers have a need for one of their security positions. Terrell Edmunds has not been kept as a strong safety alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick, although he could be a cheaper option to return if the Steelers decide not to bring Mathieu on board.

Mathieu comes off a three-year, $42 million deal he signed with Kansas City in March 2019. At the outset of free agency, Spotrac’s market value calculations projected that the “Honey Badger” would sign a contract in the $14.8 million annually range.

Lamar lets go

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson doesn’t like hints that he’s at odds with his franchise or that he’s sick of his time in Baltimore.

Well, Jackson’s apparent unwillingness to sign a contract extension doesn’t help. Also, this week’s quotes from owner Steve Bisciotti, who states that general manager Eric DeCosta “can’t keep calling him and saying, ‘Hey Lamar, you really need to come in here and do this thing.’ That’s not a GM’s job.”

However, Bisciotti added: “We pay [Jackson] when he’s ready.” He continued, “The kid is so obsessed with winning a Super Bowl that I think deep down he doesn’t think he’s worthy. I think he wants that First Call: Tyrann Mathieu says he got a call from Mike Tomlin; multiple theories on Bruce Arians’ latest ‘retirement’ to say, “Now I deserve to be on top.” People can speculate all they want. I don’t think money turns him on that much and he knows it comes one way or another.”

So whatever scare Jackson gets may not come directly from Bisciotti’s comments. But they’ve certainly advanced the conversation Jackson is hearing.

That sounds familiar

Bruce Arians retires. Anew.

Unlike when he retired as offensive coordinator with the Steelers, Arians makes it sound like he made the decision to retire this time. That’s in contrast to eventually shooting down those Steelers talking points after the 2011 season.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach announced Wednesday that he is stepping down so that defense coordinator Todd Bowles could succeed him. Arians, through Football Morning in America’s Peter King, hinted that he would likely retire from coaching after the 2022 season ended anyway, and that he would take on the role of senior consultant to remain in the franchise.

Since then, however, many others have theorized that the Bucs made a choice between Arians and Tom Brady. That Brady would quit – which he eventually did – if Arians left because a rift had developed between him and the manager.

Rick Stroud from the Tampa Bay Times tweeted that Brady “was learned that Bruce Arians was planning his retirement and that Todd Bowles would succeed him as head coach either on the same day or a day after the QB announced that he was ending his retirement… The team insists this has nothing to do with.” Brady’s decision.”

Arian continues to deny this. “No,” Arians said in King’s post. “No. Tom was very supportive of what I do. I mean I’ve had conflicts with every player I’ve coached because I cursed them all, including him. Great relationship off the field.”

And Brady went as far as saying in a lengthy Instagram post: “Thank you BA for everything you’ve done for me and our team. You are an incredible man and coach and it was a privilege to play for you. You are a true NFL legend and a pioneer for all the work you have done to make the league more diverse and inclusive.”

So believe what you will, but the timing of everything in Tampa this offseason has been weird.

Imagine that

On Sunday, the Penguins rocked the Detroit Red Wings 11-2. On Tuesday, the New York Rangers defeated the Penguins 3-2. So one would assume the Rangers would also be racing across Detroit on Wednesday night.

Not so fast, Detroit was 4-3 over New York with less than five minutes to go when Chris Kreider scored his 46th goal for Rangers.

So the game was a draw. Andrew Copp won for New York in extra time.

Rangers now have 93 points. That’s three points better than the third-place Penguins and three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes, who lead the Metropolitan Division.

Go Go goes on

When Penguins defense attorney Alex Goligoski was traded to Dallas in the James-Neal transaction in 2011, many in Pittsburgh assumed he would flop around for a few years and then be forgotten.

After all, his four years with the Pens were marginal, never exceeding nine goals or scoring 30 points.

Now in his 15th NHL season, currently with the Minnesota Wild, he just signed a two-year, $4 million contract extension.

Goligoski, 36, has two goals, 26 assists and a team-leading plus-34 rating in 58 games. The Wild hosts the Penguins on Thursday.

It’s not yet known if another former Penguin, Marc-Andre Fleury, will be in the net or if it will be Cam Talbot.

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.