First Call: Mike Tomlin's odds to win NFL Coach of the Year. Antonio Brown's first Tampa practice and interview clips. - TribLIVE

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Thursday’s “First Call” goes to Tampa Bay for Antonio Brown’s first practice and first interview as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

One Watt seems unhappy, while another is getting praised for his play.

And Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is your new favorite for NFL Coach of the Year.

Antonio Brown practices

And speaks.

New wide receiver Antonio Brown had his first practice (video can be seen here) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wednesday. It was his first time on a field in an organized fashion in over a year.

Head coach Bruce Arians was glowing about what he saw.

“He was going full speed,” Arians said via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “Everyone else was walking. He was going full speed, and that’s him anyway. It was good.”

Brown told Stroud he’s been spending a lot of time with life coach Tony Robbins. That was courtesy of a hook up from his friend and new quarterback Tom Brady.

The goal of those interactions was to mellow out Brown’s off-field behavior.

“I spent a lot of time sitting with him, developing some positive things within, changing my outlook on a couple of things,” Brown said to Stroud. “Battling to keep away from anger — you know, just being able to be positive and see the positive in things, not letting my emotion or frustration ruin my outlook of what’s in front of me.

“I just feel like I’m a better person. I’m not a different person, but I’m a better person.”

We’ll find out if he’s still a good receiver Sunday night when the Bucs play the New Orleans Saints.

Brown sported one of Brady’s “TB12” hats during his first Zoom interview.

️ @AB84 pic.twitter.com/zBPF4st5KC

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 4, 2020

If that’s what it takes to get Mr. Big Chest more targets, I’m sure he’ll gladly do it.

Money on Mike?

Mike Tomlin is now the gambling favorite to be the NFL Coach of the Year.

After a 7-0 start — following an 8-8 season a year ago — BetOnline.ag lists the Steelers head coach as a 5/2 favorite to win the award.

Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores is next at 5/1. Andy Reid (Kansas City) and Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona) round out the top four at 9/1.

Some of the injection of talent to help Tomlin’s cause has come from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s return under center and rookie receiver Chase Claypool.

Roethlisberger is sixth in the NFL among favorites to win the NFL MVP trophy at 20/1. Claypool is also sixth for Rookie of the Year balloting at 33/1.

Not a bad list

NFL.com came up with a list of the 10 most disruptive defenders in the National Football League.

Three of them are Steelers. A fourth is Pitt legend Aaron Donald. And a fifth player of interest is …

Well, let’s come back to that.

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt is seventh, thanks to 30 disruptions, a 15.6% disruption rate (192 pass rushes), 27 QB pressures, and a 14.1% QB pressure rate.

Bud Dupree is fifth with 35 disruptions, a 16.7% disruption rate (209 pass rushes), 29 QB pressures, a 13.9% QB pressure rate, and 3 TOs caused on QB pressures.

And T.J. Watt is second with 45 disruptions, a 22.6% disruption rate (199 pass rushes), 38 QB pressures, and a 19.1% QB pressure rate.

That’s one spot in front of Donald and one spot behind — ick — Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

I checked. Garrett did not get extra points for playing the whole season thus far without ripping a helmet off the head of any opponents.

Another Watt may want out?

Meanwhile, Watt’s older brother J.J. isn’t complaining about still being a Houston Texan after the trade deadline.

But he doesn’t exactly sound thrilled either.

The former Defensive Player of the Year was asked if he is going to play the rest of his career in Houston.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that I don’t have 10 years left in this league,” Watt said via ESPN.com. “I personally believe that I do have a few more great ones left in me. But you also can’t … I’m not looking to rebuild. I’m looking to go after a championship, and that’s what I want to do. So, whatever is in the best interest of the Houston Texans, that’s in the best interest of myself.”

Yeah. That sounds really enthusiastic. Houston is 1-6 and has already fired its head coach, Bill O’Brien. This is Watt’s 10th year in the NFL. He is sitting on 99 career sacks. Watt has one more season on the contract extension he signed in 2014, but none of the $17.5 million he is owed in 2021 is guaranteed.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz