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Jerry Micco's sports chat transcript: 3.17.2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Poll Question: Should the NHL institute a rule against hits to the head before this year's playoffs?
Answer #1: No -- 13%
Answer #2: Yes -- 87%
ch3: Jerry, what draft prospects have the Steelers brought in for visits so far? Any idea on others they are going to bring in?
Jerry Micco: I'm not sure who they've brought in, but Gerry Dulac talked about a few guys they were interested in when he covered the NFL Combine in February. I'm just now starting to get into draft mode, but it looks like after free agency, maybe LB and Safety are taken care of as far as early picks. I still think corner, D-line and O-line are needs. Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac will have updates as the team brings guys in, however, so watch for those.
Mr_Xiaoqi: Do you have a sense as to how much Ben Roethlisberger's personality has changed since he was first drafted by the Steelers?
Jerry Micco: I'm not around him that much, and never have been around him personally, so I can't really say. I think at times he's pretty tough to read. On the one hand, he's very involved in things like giving police dogs to departments all over the region, and at times will willingly have photos taken with fans. I also understand he can be very generous. Then you hear stories about very boorish behavior, being a drama queen, etc. I don't know which person he is, maybe he's all of those. But since I rarely see him I have no idea who the real Ben Roethlisberger is.
ch3: Jerry, is it just me or is Jordan Staal becoming a monster before our eyes? He seems to so much more dominant now. I'm guessing because he is maturing, not only as a player but physically. He is what, only 21?
Jerry Micco: I believe you have his age right, and he's been playing much better since Michel Therrien was fired. It seemed to lift a lot off his shoulders. I was one of those folks who thought they were foolish to spend the money they did on Staal considering other guys I'd have like to seen them sign. But I was wrong. They see Staal as a great 2-way player who seems to be getting better offensively every year. His power and strength are tough to handle. I just wonder how long he'll be at center and if they'll make him a winger down the road.
Tyrone: Why would we re-sign Larry Foote? Isn't he permanently ruined, having played for the Lions??
Jerry Micco: Well, playing for the Lions is penalty in and of itself, so while I don't think he's ruined, he's probably damaged. Just kidding. I think Foote was a nice signing, considering they need depth at LB and this gives them some options. Timmons can go outside if someone's hurt. Foote can play for Farrior if Farrior has slowed down as much as he looked to do late last season. And Timmons isn't always the most healthy guy around. He always seems to be injured. While there are a couple nice ILBs in the draft (McClain and Weatherspoon), they may now pass on one if he's available because of Foote's signing.
Mr_Xiaoqi: In covering this situation with Ben.....Has the PG made any attempts to contact him or the Rooney's for any comments? How touchy is this situation from a newspaper standpoint for you?
Jerry Micco: We have asked and continue to ask to talk to both the Rooneys and Ben. The Rooneys put out a statement the day after the allegations were filed. And we'd love a chance to talk to Ben, but I have the feeling Ed Garland is telling his client to lay low and say nothing. SOP for an investigation that's still pending. As far as touchy, it's not touchy at all. We have a job to do and this is a huge story. We do what we need to do to get accurate information to our readers. It's what we do.
ch3: Jerry, are the Steelers trying to form the oldest team in the NFL? I really hope they draft well this year. They need some young blood on defense badly.
Jerry Micco: I like the additions of Randle El and Foote. These are solid guys who are backups and will make them a bit deeper. Plus, there were locker room issues last season, from everything I've heard, and these guys have a good locker room presence. You cannot discount that. But more importantly, they will lend nice depth to the team. As for the draft, they are still going to draft for defense early, I think. As I said, D-Line or CB seem places they can look. O-Line, too, but I'd think defense first.
Guest: Hi Jerry; give a prediction for the Final Four, and when Pitt gets bounced, assuming you don't see them winning it all.
Jerry Micco: Geez, I've not even filled in the bracket yet. But I like Kansas, for sure. I'm not sure about the other 3. But I think Pitt's in the right bracket to make a move. I don't think Syracuse will get to the final 4, but a lot of people are down on Kansas State. I'm not. I think they can get there. I think Kentucky makes it, too, but that's a tough region. Don't be surprised to see Baylor make it out of the South. I think the Big 12 and Big East were the top 2 conferences this year, so I like those teams a lot. As for Pitt, they will get to at least the Sweet 16. I think if they play Kansas State, that could be a tough game for them to win.
KS Steeler: Big Ben has to go, sooner or later; time to start planning now. No one person is worth bringing down a franchises reputation.
Jerry Micco: Certainly, the Steelers have taken a hit from the antics of Ben. But, he's not been convicted (or even charged) in the criminal case, nor has the civil suit been adjudicated. Nonetheless, there's no question poor judgment was at work in both cases. And the Steelers should be prepared to at least think of life without Ben. Remember, the NFL doesn't need a conviction to mete out a suspension. I'd not be surprised to see the Steelers at least look at a veteran QB at some point. But I do not see them drafting one this year.
Chunkles: Jerry, do you think we will ever see a statue of Terry Bradshaw over at Heinz Field? Fans seem to embrace him and the 70's Steelers all the time. Ben has won two Super Bowls which is great and he could win two more but he and the fans don't seem to click. He seems to come off as being un-approachable and he really has set himself up as a poor role model. Two problems with the law and carelessly riding around town like Evel Knievel on a motorcycle. Whats wrong with this guy?
Jerry Micco: I think the Steelers are happy with the one statue of the Chief. I don't think you'll see anymore. There would be several they could do including Bradshaw. How about Harris, Ham, Swann, Stallworth, Green, Blount, Greenwood, Webster, et al. The pigeons would have a lot of places to roost, so to speak. As for Ben, I do not question people who think he has poor judgment. But legally, he's not done anything wrong. Both cases are still pending.
*Take These Shots: What is the status of Sepulveda? Seems like they tendered him a little low for someone they took that high in the draft.
Jerry Micco: My thought on that was not many people would give up a 4th-round pick for a punter, so you tender him low and take the risk. Usually, you find a veteran who you can pick up for the minimum or a free agent you can get for free. Unless folks think Sepulveda, who has lost one full season to injury, can do great things, they won't waste a pick on him. The Steelers probably took a good chance. And I think Sepulveda will reward them for that.
ch3: Jerry, your prediction on the Pirates this year? The streak ends...continues...lose 100 games...make the wildcard?
Jerry Micco: Let's not get crazy here. Wild card indeed. I think if they can get some starting pitching, and the patchwork bullpen actually works, they can win 70-73 games. I don't think they'll hit enough consistently to approach 81 wins. And there are a lot of ifs on the team. That said, I think they'll be more competitive and seem deeper, both on the big league team and in the minors. There's not much left to trade, unless Huntington starts to unload starting pitching for prospects, which he's not been inclined to do.
King Moonracer: Any plans to add the ability to post comments to articles rather than just the blogs? I get bored reading the internet trolls bashing just on Smizik and i'd like to see them bash on some others like Cook for a change.
Jerry Micco: You obviously don't see Ron Cook's email. He gets plenty of criticism -- and praise for his work. I know we're looking into allowing straight comments on stories, but we aren't there yet. We have not ruled it out, but it's a pretty big step and not all newspapers have taken that route. But we continue to study it.
Mr_Xiaoqi: In the various PG sports blogs (ala PBC, Smizik, etc.) is it the writer that makes decisions on how it is run or monitored?....and/or do you have any input being editor?
Jerry Micco: The writers handle the blogs and they have the ability to accept or deny comments. We leave that in their hands because they have to deal with it daily. We don't post every comment and we don't delete every comment. We pick and choose because it's not a fan message board, it's a P-G blog. It's like anything else we do, we monitor it and make a decision on whether or not to publish.
ch3: Jerry, are you going to watch Tiger at the Masters? I really could care less about watching golf, but a lot of people seem to be planning on watching.
Jerry Micco: I'm sure record numbers will watch and you'd better believe CBS is praying he makes the cut. That said, I always watch the majors in golf. The US Open is one of my favorite events of the sports calendar, and while I've not been the biggest fan of the Masters, I do watch it every year. I guess over the years I've gotten a better appreciation for the tournament and it's traditions. But it has always seemed a bit stuffy to me, and I like the challenge of tough Open courses. Augusta has made the course tougher, but I always look at it as golfers playing the same course year in, year out. Still, all eyes will be on Augusta for round 1.
Mr_Xiaoqi: If you had to take a guess at this point in time....Do you think Ben will be charged in Georgia?
Jerry Micco: Goodness, I have not idea nor would I venture a guess. I don't even know the evidence they've gathered thus far. And I think they are far from finished investigating.
ch3: Jerry, what were the Steelers "locker room problems" you mentioned above? Were players not getting along? Rifts between offense and defense? etc.
Jerry Micco: I think when they started the long losing streak, there was some finger-pointing. Certainly when Hines Ward called out Ben on national TV that was a clear sign something was amiss in the locker room. And losing amplifies that. I mean, who would have thought a guy like Ryan Clark would ever call area fans and media "turds." Sometimes, you see people's true nature when they are having bad things happen to them. And I think unless you have very strong leadership, you get folks saying and doing things out of character.
Homey: Is this about how you expected the uncapped NFL offseason to go, in terms of teams pretty much doing business as they always have? We haven't seen any seismic changes just yet, it seems.
Jerry Micco: I think all teams are a bit cautious because if the labor issues get settled, you're going back under a cap. So if you spend extravagantly, you'll have to pare that down maybe in a year or so. I think most owners want their dollars spent to equal championships. And the owners still have things like transition and franchise tags to keep guys they really want for an extra year or two. I don't know that the uncapped year will cause seismic changes. So far, as you say, it hasn't.
ch3: Jerry, what are your thoughts on the new Pens Leopold and Ponikarovsky?
Jerry Micco: I think both are still adjusting to the team. I like Ponikarovsky and think he'll do some damage scoring-wise for the team. I'm a bit disappointed in Leopold, who I thought might add more physical play and be better at moving the puck. Not that's he's terrible, but I don't think he's added much so far. That said, I think the final few games and the playoffs, when they are both assimmiliated more into the team, both will have a positive impact.
clark: jerry....sorry if this has been covered but people are talking about steeler locker room issues last yr...can you expound?
Jerry Micco: I did answer that one before. I guess from what I've read and heard, there were some issues. Everyone remembers what Hines said on national TV about Ben sitting out the Baltimore game. I think when things are hunky-dory, and I don't know that any locker room is always hunky-dory, you don't have guys saying that in public. Then Ryan Clark's outburst. I don't know, I just thought there was a leadership issue that was magnified by the long losing streak.
Jerry Micco: OK folks I need to get back to some other stuff. Thanks for taking the time to join me this week. You are the ones who make this chat work each week. I'll see you next Wednesday at noon. Enjoy the NCAA games the next four days. It's one of the great sporting events every year. See you next week.
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First published on March 17, 2010 at 1:25 pm