Badbilly: Congrats to the Steelers on their win over Cincy , I hope I'm wrong but this should be the end of the run. What do you think?

Jerry Micco: Well, Billy, I think it's tough sledding trying to win at Indy. The Colts are the No. 1 seed in the tougher AFC, so it's not going to be an easy time for the Steelers. I think it'll be much closer and more competitive. The Steelers are playing better and Roethlisberger is healthier than when they played earlier this season. And the offensive line is playing much, much better. Having said that, Indy's still a heavy favorite. But that's why they play, because anything can happen. Can the Steelers win? Sure. Will they? I think it's a longshot.

Mike: If the Steelers lose this weekend, do you consider the season a disappointment?

Jerry Micco: I don't think it's a disappointment. They've won 12 games and I think in a season where the QB was out for a few games and injuries hit the offensive line, winning that many games in a tough conference is very good. Folks here want a Super Bowl and the team does too, so in that sense, I guess it is a disappointment should they fall this week. But this is a very good team and it's been a very good season. Off a 15-1 season, maybe one wouldn't think so, but with a tougher schedule it's not bad at all.

Mike: I think we can all agree, the Pens will not e in the playoffs. What do you see the Pens doing with some of the high priced, older Vets? What kind of value would these guys bring in a trade?

Jerry Micco: Depends on what the Pens will offer and what other teams have as far as money and talent. Teams know the Pens will try to dump some salary come the spring, so they may not be willing to part with much, sort of what has happened to the Pirates in the past. Also, some teams may not have much cap room and can't absorb a bit hit in a trade. I think they'll try to trade off some of the higher priced vets, but I wouldn't look for a whole lot in return. I think the savings the club will realize by unloading these guys will be the windfall for them.

steelerbill: Jerry, is the NFL going to be watching for the Colts to make sure there is no extra noise being pumped into the Stadium on Sunday? If they are, and catch them doing it, is there anything in place to penalize them for doing it right then and there?

Jerry Micco: The only penalty is to make them stop doing it immediately. The league sent out notices a while back telling teams that there will be heavy fines for doing so. Remember, there's never been any proof the Colts or any other team have done this. If the NFL had the Colts dead to rights after the Monday night Steelers game, there would have been a fine. I just think it's a loud enough place and tough to play in. Noise will be a factor, but I think the Steelers will have a better handle on it this time.

pittpanther: Hi Jerry....Is the PG aware that Pitt's mens basketball team is now ranked 12? I can't seem to find anything about that on your site - and I would think that would be exciting news considering they weren't even ranked at the beginning of the season. GO PITT!!!!

Jerry Micco: We're aware of it, but we generally don't do stories on college basketball polls because they are meaningless. Unlike football, where the polls (USA Today/Coaches) matter, the AP college hoops poll means nothing when it comes to the post season. So, we run the polls but generally don't do stories. We did a short brief when Pitt made the top 25. We would likely run a blurb for top 10 and do more for top 5, or if it made it to No. 1, just because of the symbolism of that. But this time of season, the polls are erratic. Should Pitt lose a game or two, they may fall 10 spots. Or, like UConn, get whacked by Marquette at home and only drop 2 places. We just don't put that much stock in college hoops polls aside from running them in the section. And it doesn't take away from our coverage of the team or their accomplishments. We fully realize they are in the midst of a very nice run in a terrific conference.

tampa_matt: Jerry, with Pitt's recent success, is it possible that ESPN could retool its schedule so they are on nationally a little bit more?

Jerry Micco: Matt, they might do that if they can adjust things. Pitt's success has been a bit of a surprise, but now the big season starts: conference play. I think Pitt is a nice TV team with some fun players to watch and a good overall squad. If ESPN can do it, I think they'd like to show some big Pitt matchups. It's good for us and the city when Pitt does well and gets that national attention. It'll be an interesting run for them over the next several games. Louisville on Sunday will be a great one.

Pickman: Do you see any upsets this weekend among the road teams in the NFL?

Jerry Micco: I like Carolina at Chicago. The Steelers are going to play much better at Indy and wouldn't shock me if they won, but I think that's going to be very tough to do. I think the other two home teams, Seattle and Denver, will hold serve.

tampa_matt: Were you satisfied with the performance of the running game on Sunday?

Jerry Micco: What I liked about Sunday, Matt, was that they stuck with the running game and were able to use it late to close things out. I think Cincy tried to shut down the run and did so most of the first half, but the Steelers threw it better than they did in the playoffs last year and that opened things up a bit. They are going to have to continue to mix it up and open up the game so teams don't stack 8 or 9 guys at the line.

Mike: What are your feeling on the hit Kemo put on Palmer?

Jerry Micco: Felt really bad for Carson Palmer because he's a great player and Cincinnati isn't the same without him. I didn't think the hit was a cheap shot because the folks to know and talk to Kemo, Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac from my staff, tell me he's just not that kind of guy. And his reaction afterward didn't say "good, I got the dude." It's part of life in the NFL and it's a tough part of life. I hope Palmer has a full recovery. The rivalry with the Bengals and the rivalry between Palmer and Roethlisberger will be one of the best around for the next several years.

RubyRunsTheCity: Do you think the Steeler fans will represent better at Indy then they did at Cincy?

Jerry Micco: Depends if they can get their hands on tickets. No one travels better than Steeler Nation, but if there are no ducats, it's tough to get into the games. If they can get their hands on tickets, you'll see some Terrible Towel action inside the dome. But Colts fans are being urged to hold on to their tickets. They don't want too much black and gold at Indy.

Pickman: With the Pirates getting their mini camp underway in Pirate City, do you think Colborn can return either or both Perez or Wells to form by the end of spring training?

Jerry Micco: I think Jim Colborn is a good pitching coach, and I've heard Jim Tracy discuss how much he respects Colborn and his work with Dodger pitchers when they were together there. I think Perez and Wells need some work on the mental side more than the mechanical side and by all accounts, Colborn can do that. Remember, he's the guy who suggested, then worked with, Eric Gagne be a closer. I'd say that's a pretty good decision. I think Wells is the guy to watch. If Colborn can get him turned around mentally, and get him to trust his stuff, he can win 16 games. I think he's capable of being that good.

Mike: I didn't get to see the Bill Cowher press conference, was he asked about Marvin Lewis's comments about Roethlisberger being a crybaby?

Jerry Micco: He was asked and he responded a bit tersely that he could do an entire press conference out of the comments Bengals players make. I think he was miffed that Lewis, who is a class act and a really good guy, said the stuff he did about Roethlisberger. There's an unwritten rule that you don't diss the other guy's players. I think that's what got Cowher's ire up.

Major_K9: Who are the free agents the Steelers will have after the season is over, and will any of them get the franchise tag?

Jerry Micco: Ed Bouchette wrote some of this a while back, but I guess the biggest FA they'll have at the end of the season is Jeff Hartings. I believe Randle El is a free agent, too. but I can't speak for the entire team, that's off the top of my head. I know once the season's over, Ed will be reporting more on that side of things.

Mike: You like Denver over New England?

Jerry Micco: Yes I do, Mike. Just a gut reaction, but I think because Denver has a shutdown corner in Champ Bailey and an excellent running game, they can beat New England. They have quick linebackers and will be able to use that speed against the Patriots. I still think Tom Brady is the best playoff QB in the NFL, but something tells me that Denver will win that game. Just a feeling...

slr: What do you think of Andy Roddick calling for an ATP players union to have some control over the length of the tennis season?

Jerry Micco: Good call on Roddick's part, because the baseball players have some control over their season (no scheduled doubleheaders) and other players' associations do, too. Tennis is such an individual sport, like golf, that it's tough to get everyone on the same page when you're a player. But if anything will bring them together, besides tournament money, it's scheduling and length of season.

RubyRunsTheCity: What are Lynn Swann's chances at Gov. of PA?

Jerry Micco: He's always played well in big games. He should snag Bradshaw as a running mate, or John Stallworth. I don't comment on politics here, though. Sorry.

tampa_matt: Any truth to the rumors that Mark Recchi is heading back to Philly?

Jerry Micco: I'll have to talk to Dave Molinari about that one. If it's a rumor grounded in fact, Dave will have that for PG readers. I've not heard much about that one, so I don't know how solid it is.

tampa_matt: To your point about Colborn, is there anyone in on the pitching staff that could make a move from starter or long relief to the bullpen and have some (not all, because not all guys can be like Eric Gagne) success?

Jerry Micco: I'm not sure guys who are their core starters: Wells, Perez, Duke and Maholm, are guys who could do that. IMO, Ian Snell is a guy they should look at as far as being a set-up guy or closer. Great fastball and great stuff, but I think he tends to struggle as a starter, at least at this level.

JerrysFavoriteQuestionAskerEver: What's your prediction as to how Pitt will fare in their upcoming schedule with 4 games in 9 days?

Jerry Micco: It's a tough stretch, that's for sure. Louisville will be a tough, tough game. I think that Rutgers, at their home court, is a tough game. I think St. John's is a very beatable team even at their place. Syracuse here will be a great game, but one Pitt needs to win so they can keep rolling in the conference. Those home conference games are must-wins in my book, then they need to steal one on the road. That's not out of the question if they continue to play well. This stretch will tell us a lot about the team. And they could be 3-1 (I'm not counting DePaul in this, but I think that's a very winnable game) after this trip.

tampa_matt: Do you like the new PGA "chase" system, and do you think it will bring more people out to the courses?

Jerry Micco: I think it's a good idea to make anything after the PGA Championship in mid-August mean something. Golf, for the most part, ends after the final major. By doing this mini-playoff of four tournaments the PGA extends the season a bit longer. It will make for some excitement because the top players now have a reason to show up and really compete in those late season tounaments and not just the Tour Championship, which I believe will now be a part of this 4-tournament deal.

tampa_matt: What do you think about Rex Grossman? Is he just another Florida quarterback, or can he lead the bears deep into the playoffs?

Jerry Micco: I'm not sure about Grossman and that makes me unsure about the Bears chances of winning against the Panthers. I think we need more time to see Grossman. It'd be nice if he could stay healthy for an entire season. I think he's a good QB, but not on the levels of Roethlisberger, Palmer, etc. But if they can keep their defense rolling and keep a running game as the main part of their offense, Grossman will fit nicely if he develops as expected. He's not a franchise QB, but could be a guy who is enough to make some plays when needed. He just needs to stay healthy for a change.

hatch: I see that Jocelyn Thibault is going in for season ending surgery and that Dany Sabourin was recalled. Do you think this means the Pens will keep Fleury up for the rest of the season or will they send him down to avoid paying him the bonus and bring Caron up?

Jerry Micco: Fleury is the guy and will stay the entire season. The Pens will accept paying him his money and chalk it up to his getting the experience he needs. He can't get much better as a Baby Penguin, so he might as well be here. And he's been playing so well, it'd be hard to send him down at this point. It'd be a nightmare publicitywise for them, too. I think Sabourin is a backup and that's it. It'll be nice to see how he does and who knows, the Pens might have two terrific young (Sabourin's 25) goalies.

tampa_matt: Don't you think Herm Edwards is a little overrated?

Jerry Micco: I think Herm Edwards is a good coach and from what I've read, a good leader of a football team, but I didn't think he was worth the money the Chiefs shelled out for him. I mean, what's he done? He has more talent now in KC, so we'll see, but I don't rank him in the top coaches in the league. He did a very good job last year with that Jets team, but this year, and injuries killed them, they were plain bad. I think a lot of folks will watch to see how he does in KC.

RubyRunsTheCity: I just read an article on ESPN.com about Phil Knight and his influence on the University of Oregon. Does Pitt have any donors of that caliber?

Jerry Micco: I couldn't tell you that, Ruby, but I can run it by guys like Ray Fittipaldo and Paul Zeise, who cover Panther basketball and football respectively, to see what they know. That might make for a very good story.

badbilly: How big of a Nascar fan are you. I read little about it in your paper, even if it's the fastest growing sport. Only a month till Daytona !

Jerry Micco: Well, as far as a fan, I don't watch motorsports much on TV, but I know it's a huge sport. Since I've been at the PG (March 2004) we have pretty much run every Nextel/Winston Cup race on the sports front page every Monday. We have a weekly motorsports page, which has a column on the local scene on it. If there's auto racing news, particularly Nextel Cup, we run it. We do what we can with the space we have, but with no major track in our area, we don't have a full-blown beat reporter. Whether or not I'm a fan of something doesn't figure in my decisions on what to run in sports. I try to gauge interest in readers and give them what I think they'll read. And that's a variety of stuff, with the Steelers as a centerpiece. And we'll have plenty on Speed Weeks at Daytona. We know how big that one is!

rico: do you think Pitt will end the season ranked as high as they are now?

Jerry Micco: Well, that might be tough coming through the Big East. I think they can go 9-7 in the conference, maybe 8-8, but the key is can they get quality wins or not. That will give the NCAA Tournament committee what it needs to seed them in the tournament. And if they go, say 9-7 and win 19 overall, they could do well to win at least one Big East tournament game to get a higher seeding. As I said earlier, the polls really mean nothing to the tournament selection committee. What counts is the RPI and quality victories. I think Pitt go as high as a No. 6 or No. 5 seed, but coming out of a tough conference, they may go a spot lower. Either way, they'll do better than one-and-out should they reach the NCAAs. At least that's my thinking now.

tampa_matt: Has Wannstedt tried bringing in some old panthers to motivate the team, like Charlie Weis did?

Jerry Micco: I'm not sure, Matt. There would be plenty of guys to do that (Marino, Dorsett, Grimm) but I don't know if he's done that. I'll talk to Paul Zeise about it to see. It certainly couldn't hurt for those guys to see the living history of that program. It's got a great history and if for some reason the modern players don't understand it, then those big-time Pitt football alums certainly can make that point.

Jerry Micco: Hey folks, got to get back to work. Thanks for the great questions and for taking the time to spend it with me talking sports. I'll be back same time, same day next week. Tell your friends. Thanks!