Tuesday’s “First Call” has some negative fallout for the Browns after their loss to the Steelers Monday night. A stunning turn from Antonio Brown regarding Ben Roethlisberger. And Aaron Rodgers is talking about Pittsburgh again.

Miffed Mayfield

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield wasn’t happy with his team’s offensive approach as the Steelers were beating them 26-14.

In particular, he thought that the scheme failed to help rookie right tackle James Hudson against outside linebacker T.J. Watt. The All-Pro pass rusher had four sacks on the night.

“Obviously, their front’s pretty good. It has been for years,” Mayfield said after the game. “But when you got T.J. Watt over there and not giving our rookie tackle a whole lot of help, that’s not going to be good for him.”

Mayfield didn’t seem thrilled with how the team failed to adjust as the game was going along either.

“Just a matter of looking at the game plan and what we like. Seeing if some of those plays are adjustable to bring a little extra help; chipping him or staying people in protection,” Mayfield said. “So just discussions on the fly. This is the NFL. You have to be able to adapt mid game. And, we didn’t do a good enough job.”

Mayfield wasn’t done.

“When it comes to what we’ve had to deal with all season, there’s been a lot of ups and downs. Do I believe I can play better? Absolutely. Do I believe there’s better that we as an offense could have been put in that are better? Absolutely,” Mayfield continued. “There’s so many critiques throughout the year, if there (weren’t), we wouldn’t be sitting here at 7-9.”

Mayfield also said that he is going to have surgery on his injured left shoulder, and he didn’t rule out the possibility of sitting out next week’s season finale against the Bengals.

Where did that come from?

Of all the people I expected to see post something nice about Ben Roethlisberger’s final game at Heinz Field, Antonio Brown was not on the list.

The ex-Steelers receiver ripped his former quarterback when he forced his way out of Pittsburgh following the 2018 season. But in advance of what was likely Roethlisberger’s final home game at Heinz Field on Monday night against the Browns, Brown gushed about his former teammate during an appearance on Cameo.

“I wouldn’t bet on that yet,” Brown said of Roethlisberger’s much discussed retirement. “Big Ben has a lot of football left, and he didn’t say his career is over. He did not say that it was his last game at Heinz Field, so we can’t speculate upon him not playing any more. So let’s be positive. Let’s cheer him on. Let’s wish for one of his best games tonight. And let’s keep business boomin’. … Let’s keep Ben in our warm prayers tonight.”

That’s a long way from throwing shade at Big Ben on HBO in March 2019. Brown had more on Cameo, suggesting Roethlisberger may not be done yet.

“It’s not over for Ben yet. I know everyone is wondering, is this his last game in Pittsburgh tonight? And would it end like this? But it may not end like this,” Brown said. “I know Ben, he is a competitor. He loves to play football. (He is) one of the greatest quarterbacks (of) all-time, and I just don’t see him hanging it up.”

Perhaps Brown is feeling reflective after burning a bridge with a third organization since leaving the Steelers. First, it was the Raiders. Then, the New England Patriots. And, on Sunday, he walked off the field mid-game during a Tampa Bay Buccaneers contest against the New York Jets.

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said Brown was getting the boot from the organization before the team even left MetLife Stadium.

Status quo

With Roethlisberger’s looming retirement as part of the backdrop for the “Manning Cast” of “Monday Night Football,” it was interesting timing to have Aaron Rodgers on as a guest of Peyton and Eli’s.

Keep in mind, there has been much speculation about the prospect that Rodgers might want out of Green Bay after the season. And there have been multiple reports linking Rodgers to Pittsburgh as a possible destination in 2022.

Rodgers hasn’t backed down from the storyline, openly flirting with the city on multiple occasions.

Rodgers didn’t say anything new with the Mannings on Monday night. But he did throw a few more roses the way of Western Pa. in the same fashion he has before.

“I love Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers said. “He’s been around for a long time. We played him in the Super Bowl. I have a ton of respect for him.”

But it’s not just about his potential future coach.

“I’ve been around Pittsburgh people all my life,” Rodgers said. “From Mike McCarthy, Dom Capers, Alex Van Pelt, Luke Getsy. I’ve learned so many words from the Pittsburghese language man. … People from Pittsburgh are really proud of it. You know that toughness, that blue-collar, that grit that those people have. I’ve been around them for a lot of years, and I enjoy the heck out of them.”

Rodgers even had a few bouquets for Big Ben.

“Love watching him play,” Rodgers said. “Ben did the no-huddle for so many years. Especially, I think about that Arizona Super Bowl when he took the team down for the game-winning score. That’s when he was in his happy place.

“So much respect for what he’s accomplished on the field. He’s a tough dude. … He deserves a lot of credit for his toughness and what he’s brought to that city. Two championships, a ton of winning seasons, and just so much respect for what he’s accomplished.”

Long haul

The Steelers are rooting for the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. If they don’t do that, the Steelers can’t make the playoffs.

The Jags are in the midst of a 2-14 season. And one Jaguar who has had it particularly rough of late is linebacker Myles Jack.

According to the Florida Times-Union, Jack was placed on the team’s reserve/covid-19 list the morning of the game against the New York Jets on Dec. 26. He elected to rent a car and drive back to Jacksonville.

That’s because Jack wasn’t allowed to be on the team plane since he produced a positive test. The team offered to fly Jack to Jacksonville on a private plane, but because of travel difficulties over the holidays, it would have taken two or three days to get a reservation. He elected to drive back instead.

The outlet reports that the drive from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., to TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville is 941 miles. The estimated driving time is 14 hours and 24 minutes.

Jack wasn’t alone — he was accompanied by a team trainer.