MPM: Is there any sense of what Dan Rooney will do if his brothers decide to sell to Stanley Druckenmiller? The article in today?s paper suggests that if Mr. Druckenmiller is successful, he wants Mr. Rooney to continue to run the team. However, I?ve not read anything about how Mr. Rooney would feel about this type of arrangement.

Jerry Micco: Dan has not commented on that possibility, saying he's solely working to buy the club from his four brothers. And I have no doubt of Stan Druckenmiller's sincerity when he says that Dan will run the team, but I have a hard time believing that if you plunk down a billion dollars that you don't run the team. If nothing else, that's implied.

James_Taipei: How do you see the sell of the Steelers ownership turing out?

Jerry Micco: I'm really not sure. I think the NFL would like to see Dan keep the team and work out an agreement with his brothers, but from the other side, the brothers have their interests that they need to look out for. I think it really is 50-50.

James_Taipei: Do you think the Steelers will try to get a defensive lineman in the first or second round next year? It seems like they need to strengthen that area for the future?

Jerry Micco: I think they will, James, if the right guy is available. In the draft, you have to look at all of your needs and then see who is the best person available. You don't necessarily draft for a starter in year one. If you have a top 5 or 10 pick, you might be able to do that, but further down, you draft need even if it's a couple years out. I have a whole riff on drafting the best player available or the best at their position, even if you don't need them. But I won't bore anyone with it.

YeOldeBuccoFan: Any idea who the three guys are that Doug M. said were the only guys still playing hard for the Pirates? Don't the other guys realize that they are playing for their baseball lives? What excuse can some of these young guys have for not running out a ball?

Jerry Micco: I'd not want to guess who those three are, but my guess is Doug thinks he's one of them. And you have to remember, Mientkiewicz sets the bar pretty high. He probably thinks everyone should share his passion in an outwardly way. Some folks have the same passion, but don't show it that way, so maybe he just wants more emotion. Even at the top with John Russell, the team is not very outwardly emotional. And if you're a young guy they just traded for, what stake do you have to play really well? They are probably tired from a long season and my guess is guys like Moss and Andy LaRoche feel they'll probably be starters next season anyway. Who is going to challenge them?

jimmy_g: It seems to me that the Iowa game will tell us whether Pitt is moving forward or not. What are you thoughts as to the outcome?

Jerry Micco: Close game, but I think with the game at home, Pitt should squeeze out a 3-point win. Iowa is tough and big, so I look for Pitt to use quickness and maybe some ball-control to keep Iowa off the field. That's why you have guys like LeSean McCoy. To run the ball and control the clock. Should be a good game.

YeOldeBuccoFan: I didn't see a lot of D being played this past Monday night. Do you think the Steeler's D should be the difference this week against the Eagles?

Jerry Micco: It could be, but the Eagles can score on anyone. The one advantage the Steelers have is that the Eagles played on Monday night. It's hard to come off a big divisional game and be sharp in the next one. It will be very close Sunday, but it's in Philly and you probably have to give them a slight edge.

jimmy_g: The Pirate's season has gone from bad to worse. Is there any reason for optimism?

Jerry Micco: Not in the immediate future, no. The only things you look for next season are more consistent starting pitching, which they now absolutely have to have to even be competitive, and how guys like LaRoche and Moss work out. The core of McLouth, Doumit and Adam LaRoche, if the latter is kept, is a pretty good hitting trio once LaRoche gets going. But if the other guys are bad, then it'll be a brutal season.

Billy_BAroo: Was Hines Ward lined up incorrectly on the 4th down and 1 play causing Tomlin to call timeout to avert a penalty?

Jerry Micco: I have no idea. And I missed the game from Jeff Reed's FG on due to a power failure.

Fish: At what point do you think the Pirates will stop drawing fans and finally make a comitment to winning or be sold?

Jerry Micco: I think they think the commitment has started with restocking the minors and getting a new baseball academy in the Dominican. And you have to use the guys you got and hope they come through. They'll pick up the occasional free agent if he fits what they want (cheap and has an upside), but that's going to be it. And it may be a different team next year if they decide to deal Wilson and LaRoche. If the fans stop coming, and I don't think that'll happen, then maybe they will notice something. But if attendance is down, so is revenue. So it's a Catch 22.

Billy_BAroo: I agree it takes too long for chats to be posted. Where is Ed B's chat from yesterday?

Jerry Micco: I will check on that.

praveen: I think Hochuli should have called a ticky tacky but legit penalty on Denver(maybe holding) to make it tougher for Denver to score.

Jerry Micco: So one bad call begats another? I don't think so.

Billy_Baroo: Timmons -- haven't heard his number announced much --- is he contributing? Any word on how he is grading out?

Jerry Micco: I think his major contribution is special teams, where he seems to do very well. And he's getting some reps on the defense. I don't think you'll see him really playing well until later this season. Remember, he lost most of last year to injuries.

praveen: I think taking Mendenall in the first round was a mistake even if he ends up being a very good RB. Unless you are an Adrian Peterson talent, Steelers can always get good RBs in the 2nd or later rounds. I think this year's rookie crop of RBs is proof of that.

Jerry Micco: That's true, but many scouts had him second on their list of RBs. And when a No. 2 guy at a position where you want a bigger guy falls to you, then you grab him. I know a lot of folks said draft an offensive lineman. I believe the top 7 OLs had already been drafted before the Steelers picked. So the 8th best OL is better than a No. 2 back who is big and has some speed? I don't think so.

jimmy_g: Big Ben's answers to Andrea Mitchell's questions after the game Sunday night were right up there with some of Bill Bellichek's.

Jerry Micco: Agreed. It's Andrea Kramer. Andrea Mitchell is a very accomplished reporter for NBC who covers national politics. But even if she'd asked Big Ben those questions, she would have received the same answers.

YeOldeBuccoFan: How long until Jim Tressel makes Terrelle Pryor his primary QB?

Jerry Micco: Probably when he realizes that as much as you like a Todd Boeckman, he's a statue back there in an era of college football where mobility is necessary.

praveen: I feel DeSean's blunder in throwing the ball away in celebration before he crossed the line was much worse than Leon Lett's showboating in a game that was already decided in Dallas's favor. Even worse than Plaxico's spiking the ball on a first down for the Steelers.

Jerry Micco: None of them are good, but when a rookie blows a big play like that, it's amplified.

OperationShutdown: Jerry, please handicap Saturday's Pitt/Iowa tussle.

Jerry Micco: As I said earlier, should be a tight game, but I like Pitt at home by a field goal. Iowa is bigger up front, but if Pitt can control the ball and keep Iowa's running game off the field, then they can win. It should be a very good game and if Pitt can win it, that's the kind of victory that can do wonders for them. And they are coming from a week off, so they should be rested a bit, too.

jimmy_g: Follow-up on the Pirates: Thank goodness the Penguins will be playing meaningful games shortly.

Jerry Micco: Well, the region is already starting to gear up for hockey. The Penguins should be very good this season, but they've got a lot of new faces, too. Camp opens today so we'll see how they look.

OperationShutdown: Jerry, is this the worst Bucco September you can remember? THey all seem like a blur at this point.

Jerry Micco: I've been here for five Septembers and what strikes me about this one is just how uninteresting they are to watch. They get down so quickly to good teams that you lose interest.

jimmy_g: OK, it is generally agreed that Ohio State is the class of the Big Ten but they looked pretty bad against USC. Is it possible that the Big Ten just doesn't measure up to USC and the entire SEC conference?

Jerry Micco: The Big Ten is OK this year. Not great, but OK. The SEC is always a top conference because they have schools that traditionally recruit well and quite frankly, love to play football. College football is a culture down there. But aside from USC, who else do you like in the Pac-10? Arizona State? Not a bad team. UCLA? BYU crushed them. Oregon? Well, maybe they are good. I think Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State could play with the likes of those three. Not with USC, though. I think Oklahoma and whoever comes out of the SEC will be USC's mate in the national title game.

praveen: Nothing wrong with a makeup call as long as it is a legal call

Jerry Micco: Well, sure. But if it's holding on play 115, then why on on play 5? If you start to get into that, you just sink deeper.

OperationShutdown: Jerry, I was at the game last night. It seems like the Bucs are not even trying. Andy LaRoche pulled the old "Ole" on a grounder he would have got to with any effort. Called Third Strikes. Walks....Why would Neal Huntington say that jobs would not be won or lost in September? He has made playing out the string meaningless, except to those of us putting down our cash on tickets (way in advance) to watch this disaster.

Jerry Micco: It's a good point and a good thing to question Huntington about. I think these guys they got in the trades are going to play. You don't make very unpopular trades -- even for the good of the organization -- and then bench the guys you traded for. I'm sure part of Mient.'s disappointment is he's not playing much anymore. Why? Because why get LaRoche and Moss if you aren't going to see what they bring? You know what Mient., Michaels and Gomez bring. They are nice parts on veteran teams. And I think fans have the right to spend their money however they want. If you don't want to spend it at PNC, I'd not do it.

YeOldeBuccoFan: I agree that San Diego got hosed by that non-fumble call. But if they stop the 4th and 4, they win. And if they stop the 2-point try, they win.

Jerry Micco: It never comes down to just one call or just one play. It's always several things.

PirateApologist: What do you think about the Ned Yost firing? I think it was ironic that the team went in the can after he started complaining about the C.C. no hitter/1 hitter.

Jerry Micco: I think Ned Yost was a guy who was wound very tight and I think that doesn't help when your team starts to fade. If you fire a guy like that in the middle of a wild-card race, then you weren't all that enamored with him in the first place. I agree on the timing in your question. He seemed to melt down that day. I can see him saying it should have been a no-hitter, but he just went off about it. Right then it looked like he was losing it.

praveen: Why couldn't the Pens match the salary Conklin got from the Red Wings. Even if it meant making Sabourin's backup salary a luxury, 750K is not that much even for a third netminder

Jerry Micco: You never carry three goalies. And Sabourin is much younger, so you go with youth.

OperationShutdown: Jerry, please handicap the NL playoff race. Who will be in, and who will be out?

Jerry Micco: Well, the Cubs in for sure. I don't think Arizona can catch LA. I think the Mets will win that division, but the Phils will be the wild card. I think the Brewers miss out again.

yzguy431: good afternoon, Jerry. what's relevant in pittsburgh sports news this day?

Jerry Micco: Well, the Penguins are on skates for the first time since June. The Steelers continue to prepare for a very big game in Philly. Nothing huge, but a lot of stuff going on.

praveen: Why did PG do away with the bonus Steelers coverage pay service a couple of years ago? Some of us Steelers fans are willing to pony up for extra coverage.

Jerry Micco: We understood that, but not enough folks were doing it. And pay sites, by and large, don't drive enough traffic or make enough revenue. As newspapers try to find ways to monetize the Web, we'll be looking at different models and ideas. Who knows what it will be like a couple of years from now.

yzguy431: is this shoulder thing with 7 healable, or is it just going to be an issue all season

Jerry Micco: I think it'll be sore for some time and might be the entire season. The bye week will help him and I think he's in for some light practices. the problem comes if he's slammed on that shoulder by a defender. It may make it a full separation.

praveen: I think there is needless hand-wringing on instant replay. I like the way NHL does it. You got a central command looking at plays without even waiting for a challenge. And if the call is easy to spot on the replay, there is an immediate overrule once there is a play stoppage. No need to wait for the ref to go to a monitor to start the process.

Jerry Micco: My only contention with the NHL is they should stop play immediately to determine goals. It could affect how a team approaches things even if it's only for a minute or two.

Charleston_Charlies: Thoughts on the WVU game tom night?

Jerry Micco: I think WVU needs to get back on the horse again, and Colorado may provide that opportunity. This is not a great Colorado team and WVU needs to get its offense going. Maybe the long stretch off after ECU helped them. I think they can go out there and win. Now, if they lose and lose badly, then there are going to be some major issues in Morgantown.

jimmy_g: McNabb and the rest of the Eagle's offense looked pretty good on Monday night. How do you see them against the Steeler's defense?

Jerry Micco: I think the Steelers defense is better than Dallas' defense. That said, the Eagles offense is very good. I look for a close game, but it's an Eagles home game and I think that gives them a slight edge. Very slight coming off a Monday night game.

Jaggin_: If Stanley Drunkenmiller buys the Steelers, would be willing to hire Praveen to run the club? After all, shouldn't the blind be led by one of their own?

Jerry Micco: Folks, the guy's name is Druckenmiller. Not Drunkenmiller.

yzguy431: if Pitt loses to iowa, what's it mean?

Jerry Micco: Probably a 7-5 season at best and some soul-searching in the athletic department. The Big East is really down this year and Pitt, on paper, should be good enough to win that conference. Particularly if WVU is a bad as they've looked so far.

praveen: With all the generous salaries the Steelers have doled out to the Offensive Line, it is amazing Steelers were able to sign Aaron Smith twice to good but bargain contracts. he and Hines Ward have been some of our best big money deals.

Jerry Micco: I don't disagree. Offensive linemen, for some reason, have shot up in salary around the league in the past few years. It could be, teams really do recognize that the O-line is where the job gets done. Teams that have good, healthy O-lines and one good backup, can generally get very far in the NFL.

praveen: Hey, I consider that a compliment. If Mr. Druckenmiller is blind, then you can call me blind too.

Jerry Micco: And you wouldn't mind having his portfolio, would you?

praveen: It's amazing MN didn't even look at Leftwich as a backup in free agency or even try to draft someone like Dixon for the future. They got an amazing team except at QB.

Jerry Micco: I think you are right and that's going to haunt them all season long. The Vikings have a great running game and a phenomenal defense. They could be Super Bowl contenders in the NFC, but with Jackson at QB, they likely won't win their division.

OperationShutdown: Jerry, I purchased my tickets to last night's game in mid-July. I wish I could have predicted this, or I would not have made the purchase. Believe me, I will NEVER make this mistake again.

Jerry Micco: This is the sentiment you will hear from many fans. Does it affect the team, yes, to a point. But for those wishing a sale of the team, I'd not hold my breath. Bob Nutting is going to hang on as an owner and try to do it his way. And like that or not, he has that right, just as fans have the right to not show up to watch bad baseball.

steve_o: Do you believe that all of the Pirate coaches will be back next season, namely pitching coach, Jeff Andrews?

Jerry Micco: You wonder about Andrews because the pitching has been so bad, but you can't keep changing coaches and expect any continuity. Maybe a guy or two will go, but I don't think Andrews will be one of them.

OperationShutdown: How big is the loss of BK on the DL for the Steelers?

Jerry Micco: A pretty tough one, because he's very solid out there. Kirschke is not a bad backup, but he's a backup. You'll see some rotation there I'm sure. And I'm surprised at how improved Nick Eason is over the past year. He could see some time there.

jimmy_g: Regarding Andy LaRoche and Jose Bautista, I know that crusty old Bob Smizik was just stirring the pot the other day is his column, but the dumping of Bautista does make you wonder.

Jerry Micco: I don't think Bob was stirring the pot, he thinks that and Torres were salary dumps pure and simple. And when you look at third base, it does make you wonder. Alvarez is not signed and who knows what that outcome will be. Even if he stays, he's a year or so away. Neil Walker had so-so numbers at Indy, so he'll likely stay there. Who plays third next year if not Andy LaRoche? Why not keep Bautista around as a super utility guy?

steve_o: Is there any more word on where and/or when ole Double M, Mark Madden will show up over the radio waves?

Jerry Micco: Nothing brewing that we've heard, except a possible deal at 105.9 the X. But apparently that hasn't happened yet.

Jerry Micco: I need to get back to my other stuff now folks. Thanks for all the good questions and for taking the time to chat with me today. Should be a good NFL game on Sunday between the cross-state rivals. I'll be watching. See you next week at noon.