Homey: Where do you see the NFL going over the next several years in terms of salary cap and financial issues? Do you see it getting more like baseball, where there will be more divide between "haves" and "have nots"?

Jerry Micco: I think the NFL is going to have to make some tough decisions on the cap in the next few years. With the economy being what it is, the TV networks may not be willing to pony up the money they have in years past, which may keep cap increases down. The owners probably don't mind that, but the players' association will. I think the league, though, will continue to be fairly even as far as parity.

Homey: Is Cincinnati the clear favorite now to win the Big East? Seems like all they really have to do is beat Pitt at home and they'll nearly be a lock, whereas Pitt has 3 tough ones left.

Jerry Micco: I think Pitt does have a tough road, but I was at the Louisville game and I think when they are on, Pitt is the best team in the Big East. Cincinnati will be a tough game because the Bearcats are also a very good team. But no one has a LeSean McCoy. He's a terrific player. If Pitt's defense, especially the secondary, plays well, they can win the conference.

James_Taipei: Do you see Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers both getting into the playoffs this year?

Jerry Micco: I see the Titans and Steelers as the sure winners of their divisions. The Jets or Pats will win the East, and in the West, who knows? Probably Denver. So the wild card race, in my opinion, will be between either the Jets or Pats (whoever loses out in the East), Colts and Ravens. And Buffalo, if it gets its act together, might factor in, too.

YeOldeBuccoFan: Going back to Jordan Staal (since he is quite prominent in the news today, justifiably), I say they have to find a way to fit him into their long-term plans. Whenever you invest a number 2 pick on a guy, who has shown flashes of brilliance like last night, don't you think that you can't just lose him on a salary dump? If they let him go too soon, I think it would be far worse than Rene Robert, Markus Naslund...or any other young guy that the Penguins got rid of too early.

Jerry Micco: Well, you have to look long-term at the cap. If he, as I've read, wants to start the negotiation at $5 million/year as a base, that's going to be a problem. The Penguins can't sink that much money into one position -- center -- and expect to put good players around those guys. Either Staal is going to have to settle for less and understand that there are 2 centers on the team better than him, or Ray Shero has a very tough decision come March.

beerman0303: Do you think the Pens win last night was any more significant than just another two points in the standings?

Jerry Micco: I think they proved to themselves they can battle back even against the league's elite and win a game. I think they showed they can trust one another to do their jobs. Is it the same type of victory as the Thanksgiving Day win last year at Ottawa? I don't think so. Last year, they were foundering. This year, they weren't playing all that badly. A very good win for the team, but I don't know if it's a season changer.

beerman0303: Will any PSU fans finally admit that the team was overated and didn't deserve to play in the BCS Championship game anyway?

Jerry Micco: I think if you ask fans that question, the answer is no. But if any team runs the table in a BCS conference, then they should have a shot at the national title game. If Alabama loses, let's say, to Auburn, will their fans admit they weren't good and didn't deserve a shot? How about Texas Tech fans if they lose to Oklahoma? Same deal? I think if you're a PSU fan, you're disappointed. But, if someone had told me PSU could go 11-1 and play in the Rose Bowl in August, I'd have had a good laugh on them. I had them at 9-3.

James_Taipei: Do you think the Steelers can regroup and make a long playoff run or do you see this year's Steelers team probably as a one and done in the playoffs?

Jerry Micco: I think with their defense, they can make a run. But they have to get the QB situation straightened out. And more importantly, they need to get the running game going again. Having a healthy Willie Parker is just as important as having a healthy Big Ben. But with the defense, they can make a run.

beerman0303: At the begining of the season no on picked the Steelers to do better than 10-6. So now at 6-3 after an all out attack by the injury bug, why so much panic & unrest from most fans?

Jerry Micco: Because expectations rise when the team does well. Just like Penn State. If people think they'll be 9-3, maybe a longshot 10-2, and they are unbeaten at 9-0 and playing at Iowa, they think there's an undefeated season possible. If the Steelers do go 10-6, which I think is what they'll be when it's all said and done, they met expectations. But when you are 6-2, you figure 12 wins isn't out of the question. Then you have a game like you did against the Colts.

Chunkles: Jerry, I was going to cry the blues about Little Ben and Max Stunks but why? There is bigger news in the Burgh. The Pens played one of the best games I have seen in a long time. Shame on those who missed their coming out party against the Red Wings. Jordan Staal played like a Staal brother should and their win in overtime told me two things: #1 Hossa who? and #2 If Pens meet in the finals with the Wings, their statement that they made last night, was bring it on!

Jerry Micco: You could say that, certainly chunkles. But, the Red Wings are still one of the best teams, if not the best in the league. How you play in November isn't how you play in late May or early June. It's a totally different style. And the Wings still may be better prepared to play that style than the Pens. But the Penguins at least said last night that they'll never give up. But I think the Wings knew that from the finals last year.

PirateApologist: Hey Jerry, Jordan Staal must have been listening to every one talking about how he could be used as trade bait for a scoring winger for Crosby. What got in to him last night?

Jerry Micco: I think he is starting to play like the coaches expect him to play. Get into scrums around the net, use your defense and skating skills to strip pucks. Play more aggressively. He's young. He's 20. He needs time to continue to develop. I can remember a couple years back when people (me included) said he should have a year in the AHL so he's 19 when he starts. Well, he didn't have that, instead cutting his teeth in the NHL.

99PITT: Type here Is the Big East Champ garrantied BCS BOWL BID?

Jerry Micco: I've got to look this up because there is a complicated formula for this. I think they have to be in the top 17 to be guaranteed a bit, but that's only if some small conference teams are unbeaten and in the top 12. Ray Fittipaldo is the expert on this and blogs it pretty regularly on our site in Redshirt Diaries. As that time gets closer, we'll probably examine that situation in print, too.

jimmy_g: If Big Ben's injuries are affecting his play, as it appears they may be, perhaps it is time to rest him and start Byron Leftwich.

Jerry Micco: That's been the debate for a couple weeks, jimmy. But the argument is if Ben's healthy, he should play. I think he's not healthy. I thought he had a strange, short-arm throwing motion against the Colts. Steve Ziants, who handles our Sunday sports section and is a former high school and college pitcher, says it look similar to a pitcher with a sore shoulder or arm. They can't crank way back and fire. I think Mike Tomlin has a tough decision on his hands. We'll know more as the week moves on.

jimmy_g: I guess there are two ways of looking at Penn State's loss to Iowa: It put an end to a potentially glorious season...or it saved the Nittany Lions from an embarrasing lose (alla Ohio State) in a national championship game.

Jerry Micco: Well, the question is would you rather have the shot and get pounded or never get the shot? I always want the shot. I'm sure Joe Paterno and the team did, too. And you know, I can remember '86 when everyone, and I mean everyone, thought Miami would kill PSU. Didn't happen. Sometimes those things don't work out like you think. OSU had a couple tough games. Those happen.

Maddog_Russo: For the record, Miami will be a wild card in the AFC. 5 wins and a cakewalk scedule the rest of the way. Parcells builds a winner everywhere he goes.

Jerry Micco: You might be right Maddog, but even with that cake schedule, can they do it the entire year? Sometimes teams that aren't that good, at least on paper, show it in some game they should win. But for the sake of argument, I'll put them in the list for the card.

James_Taipei: Do you think the Penguins can make any moves to get over the top this year or will they just have to do the best with what they have?

Jerry Micco: It's going to be tough because the one place where they have depth -- defense -- they are now somewhat depleted. I don't know Scuderi's condition, but that was a wicked shot he took off his ankle/foot last night. So if he's out for a while, you've got Gonchar (out until probably March), Whitney (probably early January) and Scuderi all down. Doesn't mean once everyone's healthy they can't deal a D to get more scoring, but with guys banged up, you really can't afford to trade anyone. I doubt you'll see a Hossa-type deal this season.

PirateApologist: Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about college football. Question: Is there any possible scenario in which Pitt and Penn State could face each other in a bowl game this year?

Jerry Micco: Yes, but it's extremely remote. I think it involves USC going to the national title game, which means the Rose Bowl can go outside the Big Ten and Pac 10 for their matchup. But I highly doubt a bowl would want Pitt-PSU. For us, that's a great rivalry matchup we'd all like to see. But if you're in Pasadena or Miami or New Orleans or Tempe, do you want to see that?

Jack_Bauer: Was that Lemieux wearing the #11 jersey last night?

Jerry Micco: Let's not go crazy now.

jimmy_g: It may be that the Pitt football team is peaking just at the right time. On the other hand, they have crash landed so many times in the past including this year (Rutgers) that we could all be disappointed again. How do you see it?

Jerry Micco: I think Cincinnati will be very tough. I think WVU, coming off last year's embarrassing loss Pitt laid on them, will be gunning for Pitt big time this season. Especially if they think beating Pitt hoses them out of a BCS bid. And UConn on the road is no picnic, either, but I don't think it's as tough as UC and WVU. That said, I still think Pitt's the best team in the league when they crank on all cylinders.

James_Taipei: Will we all be dead before we see the Pirates make a trade to bring in an All-Star like Matt Holiday or a move like the Braves are trying to make to get Jake Peavy?

Jerry Micco: Probably.

Maddog_Russo: Big Ben < Joe Flacco.

Jerry Micco: Let's not go crazy, now.

Jack_Bauer: If ben didn't practice all week why did he play? I'm all for the "if he's healthy he should play" argument, but if he couldn't practice he wasn't healthy, right?

Jerry Micco: That's likley. But Tomlin has flip-flopped on this some. He didn't practice Ben much last week but said as a veteran, he didn't need all the practice time. Then this week, he says we'll see if he practices. Sounds like Tomlin is taking a hard look at the shoulder problem and weighing it against the team performance. Ben and the team will have to be honest with each other. If Tomlin thinks Ben can't practice and thus might have some timing or other issues, he is in my mind obligated to sit him out. But we'll know more later.

Maddog_Russo: The MAC should probably get a BCS bid over the Big Least. That's a sorry brand of football they play.

Jerry Micco: It is not a good football league. But then again, the ACC doesn't light it up, and the Big Ten, while better than both, isn't a world beater either. The only two conferences with any type of dominant depth are the Big 12 and SEC this year. The Pac 10 is probably worse than the Big Ten. I think it's a great year for a couple conferences in college football. For everyone else, pretty mediocre.

Maddog_Russo: Is anybody ALIVE out there?!?!

Jerry Micco: Called out by the Maddog, folks.

jimmy_g: Didn't Pitt make it to a BCS game a few years ago at 8-4 only to get killed by Utah and Urban Meyer?

Jerry Micco: They did, but I thought they were ranked like 15th or 16th (at 8-3 before the bowl game). And Utah, with eventual NFL No. 1 pick Alex Smith at QB, destroyed them. That was the game that left Pitt fans, and non-Pitt fans, asking: "When are you going to figure out that they like to run the shovel pass?"

Jack_Bauer: Do you think the economy will have an effect on free agency signings in baseball? At least it will give the Pirates an excuse for their inactivity, right?

Jerry Micco: It will some, sure. But that effect will come from fans staying home, not sponsorships or TV. The TV contract is for several years. The naming rights for stadiums, as well as most signage, are usually multi-year contracts. Now some wealthy owners may have seen their portfolios slimmed down quite a bit by the down market, but they will have money coming in. And I would not count the Bucs out for some sort of nice free agent. Not Matt Holiday, but maybe a mid-level guy.

RichP: Jerry, Why the nine hundred articles on the Duquesne Hoops squad and very few on the Panthers.

Jerry Micco: Because one is ranked No. 5 in the country and one is predicted to finish 12th in a 14-team A-10 conference.

jimmy_g: Speaking of the BCS championship game, My prediction is that two 11-1 teams will play in it. Texas Tech has to play Oklahoma in Norman and I don't think Alabama can go undefeated in the SEC. That said, it could be Florida and Oklahoma in the game.

Jerry Micco: My original pick was Oklahoma-USC. There is a slim chance USC could still make it. I think Florida is everyone's favorite team, despite a bad home loss to Ole Miss. People always seem to forgive Florida for bad losses, but not, say, Texas, which beat Oklahoma and lost to Texas Tech, a much better team than Ole Miss. Problem for Texas and Oklahoma is they may not play in the Big 12 title game. That's going to knock one out of an at-large bid.

YeOldeBuccoFan: You've now seen Pitt live and in the flesh. With McCoy almost a non-factor, what impressed you most about the team?

Jerry Micco: The quickness of the front 7 on defense and how good their receivers are. Scary good. Jonathan Baldwin is incredible. And Bill Stull is a very capable QB.

bart: jerry, how do you rate the Paulsen, Logan, Crowe radio show? I'm looking forward to Smizik's radio review column regarding the same....

Jerry Micco: I'm sure at some point Bob will comment on that program. I rarely hear talk radio because I'm not in the car until around 6:45, so it's hard for me to judge shows.

jimmy_g: Speaking of Joe Flacco, it's got to be a feel good story. Here's a kid who knew he was stuck behind Tyler Palko at Pitt, transferred to Delaware, and is now starting in the NFL while Palko is languishing on the bench.

Jerry Micco: Just because a guy is great in college it sometimes has very little translation to the pros. Matt Ryan was a very good QB at Boston College, but did you think he'd be a great NFL QB as a rookie? Some guys are system guys, some guys are just good players. For instance, we know all the Heisman guys: Graham Harrell at T. Tech; Colt McCoy at Texas; Tim Tebow at Florida; Chase Daniels at Mizzou. Who do I think the best NFL QB will be? I think it'll be Georgia's Matt Stafford.

RichP: Is there any word on what whether the Bucs offer Adam Laroche the Arbitration.

Jerry Micco: Not yet, but they may soon. As much as folks think they need to deal him, he's put up nice numbers for 2 years. Problem is, he puts them up when it's late in the season and they are out of it. But there's no one who can put up similar numbers in the system, so they should keep him.

James_Taipei: I am alive and enjoy my weekly dose of sports while living arount 10,000 miles from Pittsburgh. You have to love the internet.

Jerry Micco: Should we thank Al Gore for that?

Maddog_Russo: Ron Everhart > Jamie Dixon

Jerry Micco: Everhart has done a nice job at Duquesne. He has them competitive, but they are so young this year it'll be tough for them. Dixon, year in year out, get his teams to win Big East tournaments and into the NCAAs. But they will need to get past the Sweet 16 before he's considered an elite coach.

Maddog_Russo: Is it worth it to cover the Mike Tomlin pc? He spews cliche after cliche without really saying anything intelligent or newsworthy.

Jerry Micco: Well, we get thousands of hits on our edited video of that PC and it's carried live on TV. Everyone around town talks about it. You make decisions based on reader interest. And it is the official word from him, cliches and all. So which coach doesn't do this?

Maddog_Russo: Best Metallica album? Master of Puppets or the "Black" album?

Jerry Micco: I'll leave that to the room.

yzguy431: Jerry, what's significant in pittsburgh sports today

Jerry Micco: Still the QB situation, I think, and looking ahead at how the Pens will do coming off this big win. They have the Flyers tomorrow night at home.

Maddog_Russo: Is there a worse play by play guy than Jim Nantz? With Lanny retired that guy takes the trophy.

Jerry Micco: I don't really listen too much to announcers on TV because I can generally follow the play myself.

yzguy431: Jerry, is louisville that bad, or is it just pitt being pitt

Jerry Micco: Louisville is not the Louisville of old. They had guys open deep early in the day, but missed them. And Pitt did play a very good game.

yzguy431: isshady mccoy a first round pick? should he stay in school one more year?

Jerry Micco: He is a first-round pick. I always think three years of college is better than two because it prepares you to play more in the NFL. But of course, if you get hurt, then maybe not so good.

Jack_Bauer: Obama is in favor of a college football playoff. I think if he passed legislation for one he'd win reelection in a landslide. I find it hard to believe that the college presidents wouldn't make even more money from a playoff than they do from the current bowl system, but I guess they feel that way since money dictates everything in sports.

Jerry Micco: This is a huge debate. But at some point, they are going to have to look at some sort of playoff, even a 4-team playoff. The money would be great because TV would pony up. The bowls could be used as part of it, too. And the argument about missing school is bogus. The lower classifications have done this for years.

Jack_Bauer: Jim Rome > Maddog Russo

Jerry Micco: Sorry maddog, I'm a Clone. I love Romey.

PhillyMarty Phil Sims said on Sunday's telecast that in watching practice on Friday, Ben did not make any lengthy throws. Add his injury issue to the effects of little practice time and you get 2 brutal interceptions and an inability to throw the deep ball, which if nothing else spreads the defense. I put the Indy loss squarely on Tomlin. Your thoughts?

Jerry Micco: Indy takes away deep stuff, so the plan was to throw short. That said, when he tried to go deep, he really couldn't. I mean unless you think 40 yards is his max throw, which we know it isn't. And eventually, all the losses could be put at Tomlin's feet. But Ben had a big part in it. Should he have pulled him? I don't know. He was 30 for 42 on the day for more than 200 yards. And 2 really bad picks.

Jack_Bauer: As sweet as that Pens win was last night, the icing on the cake was not having to listen to Steigy call the winning goal. I'm glad we didn't have to endure some lame nickname for Staal or the comeback.

Jerry Micco: I find it amazing that many Pens fans out there have a problem with the TV crew. Again, watch the game for the game, not the announcers.

James_Taipei: Jerry at the looks of my spelling maybe we should thank Dan Quayle instead! I will have to say that the recent time change will make it hard for me to attend too many of these chats. P.S. Most Asian countries don't use daylight savings time.

Jerry Micco: Well, we always have them available on transcripts at post-gazette.com. And we appreciate you being a regular, James.

Jerry Micco: Folks, I need to run. Great chat today, even with that crazy Maddog in the room. He certainly livens it up a bit. Thanks to all of you and especially to my regulars who make this my most enjoyable hour each week. We'll see you next Wednesday at noon.