Homey: Can you explain how the new online subscription thing will work? Yesterday was the first I'd heard of it. Is it just for Steelers' content, or for all the sports?

Jerry Micco: It's for a variety of things as well as sports. Right now, we're offering blogs by Ed Bouchette on the Steelers and Ron Musselman on Penn State. A 5-day-a-week video (about 2 minutes each) from Mike White on preps and Paul Zeise on Pitt football. Gene Collier does a once-a-week 2-minute video with a humorous thread on sports. We'll do more down the road, but this is what we came out of the gate with.

James_Taiwan: How much of a chance do you think Neil Walker will get in September?

Jerry Micco: Some looks, I'm sure. I don't know that he'll supplant Andy LaRoche at third, but if you've got him here, you might as well play him some. He'll likely pinch hit, too. I think you may seem him start a handful of games.

Homey: If you were in the Steelers front office, would you give a big contract extension to Hampton, who will be 33 next year? I worry a bit about the super-large guys holding up late in their careers, and maybe the front office does too.

Jerry Micco: I would not extend him. I think he's lost quite a bit over the last couple of years. That's not to say he's a poor nose tackle, but from what I've seen, you're going to have to go a different direction in that position in the coming years.

James_Taiwan: Do you think that the Pirates will have an intriguing outfield next year with Garrett Jones, Lastings Milledge, and McCuthcen?

Jerry Micco: That's been the outfield for most of the last month and they've certainly shown they can hit the ball. Milledge is just now starting to hit, but he has a ways to go in my opinion. Jones has shown the good power, but has a problem with men on base. And year 2 can be tougher than your rookie year. But he's earned a chance. McCutchen is the real deal, no question about it. It's not a bad threesome, but there's room for improvement, too.

James_Taiwan: Except for whoever ends up playing 1B or right field(with Garrett Jones playing the other position depending who wins the battle for the other one), do you think the Pirates 2010 starting lineup will virtually be what we have been seeing(3B LaRoche, SS Cedeno, 2B Young, C-Doumit, LF Milledge, CF McCutchen, Jones)?

Jerry Micco: I think so. The only difference might be Pedro Alvarez, but I think he starts the year in AAA. And I'm not sure if Jones is the right kind of outfielder for them. He's a natural at first, but if you figure at some point to put Alvarez there, then leave Jones in right. That leaves 3rd to LaRoche and Walker.

Jacque_Strap: Hi Jerry. Glad to see Leftwich get the job in Tampa. I couldn't believe it last year when no one seemed to want him, I thought he was a real luxury for us.

Jerry Micco: A tremendous luxury and he certainly accounted for himself when he was here. He's still a pretty good NFL QB and those are hard to find.

Jacque_Strap: What do you think the Pirates will do with ticket prices next year? You would think they'd have to at least stay the same. Do you know if they were raised at the beginning of this season?

Jerry Micco: I'd think they'd keep them the same. Just a guess, though.

17andcounting: I am dumb founded by Huntington's quote that it would be "hard" to find at bats for Walker. What a disgrace. How about third base? His acquisition of Andy LaRoche smells like month old limberger cheese. He of the .240 batting average and .350 slugging percentage. Don't want to interrupt that triple crown season do we?

Jerry Micco: I think he's couching his bets as far as Walker goes. As I said earlier, I think Walker will play some, but not supplant LaRoche at third. I think they like LaRoche's glove work and while his bat is not a power bat, he's driven in some runs for them. Do I think Walker can be a better player? Yes, but throughout the minors, Walker has not lit it up and has been hurt a bit. So the jury's still out on him.

Katmandu: Hi Jerry. I admire your work and would like to participate in your chat! Who do you see among the Steeler rookies NOT making the 53 man squad? If it were me, I'd keep them all and let the rookie RBs go. I think that Foster will be a solid lineman and the two rookie corners have a bright future.

Jerry Micco: I think that Frank Summers is on the bubble, but the corners likely will stick. Foster seems to be a guy they like. A.Q. Shipley likely will get bumped to the practice squad, but if they want to keep one of those corners but can't do a roster spot for him, then Shipley may just be cut.

Katmandu: Jerry, do you think this is Hampton's final year with the Steelers? I don't think so. I think he'll have a good year, and since when did solid 3-4 NTs start growing on trees?

Jerry Micco: You may be right, but I think this is his final year. You are correct that nost tackles are not plentiful, but you can find them. And Chris Hoke could certainly fill in for a year or two.

Jacque_Strap: Do you read Gregg Easterbrook's 'Tuesday Morning Quarterback' on ESPN? He stated that 'Federal regulations classify shooting and electrocution -- what Vick did to his dogs -- as humane methods of cattle slaughter'. I realize that there is a much greater emotional connection between humans and domesticated animals, than there is between humans and animals that are being raised for the purposes of our own consumption, but this strikes me as a bit hypocritical.

Jerry Micco: I don't read Easterbrook's column very often. And sometimes laws are hypocritical because they are created out of the necessities of society. We have a right to free speech, but we can't yell fire in a crowded theatre because folks may be trampled and die. So while free speech is necessary in a republic, so is protecting the safety of it's citizens.

Katmandu: Jerry, your biggest disappointment on the Steelers this preseason would be.....whom? Mine is Bruce Davis. He really hasn't shown much of anything at a position that is there for the taking. I don't think he makes it.

Jerry Micco: Well, Davis has been everyone's disappointment for 2 years now. A No. 3 pick who just hasn't cut it. But I think a couple guys have disappointed me. Max Starks has not shown me a lot at RT. And, this was a surprise to me, Timmons looks pretty ordinary as an every-down inside 'backer.

Katmandu: Get your 'Joysticks' out everyone. I think Stefan Logan is going to burst on the NFL scene as a kick returner. What do you think Jerry?

Jerry Micco: I think it'll be interesting to see how he does when he's going against top-flight special teams guys in real games. I think he can be a very nice element for the Steelers, but I always reserve judgment on a rookie who has a nice preseason. The real games are so much different.

Jacque_Strap: A consistent complaint of Steeler fans seems to be that major outlets like ESPN don't talk about them enough. I have often shared this sentiment. But Fran Tarkenton made a good point this morning (on Mike & Mike), when they were discussing Brandon Marshall. He said that, even though Big Ben has a very public legal situation, things around the Steelers are quiet, due to the stability of the organization. In that sense, I'm glad they stay out of the news, since a lot of reporting does revolve around negative situations.

Jerry Micco: The stability for years around the Steelers always allows them to fly under the national radar. Minnesota is there because of Favre. Denver because of Marshall. The Bears because of Cutler. The Jets because of Mark Sanchez. But the Steelers tend to business and just win.

Jacque_Strap: Do you think Rich Rod wishes he was still in Morgantown?

Jerry Micco: I think Michigan wishes he was still in Morgantown.

Chooch79: I have really enjoyed Colin Dunlap's the new "Eers to the Ground" blog. It's nice to see the PG showing some love to our friends below the Mason Dixon line.

Jerry Micco: We're doing what we can there. We have a WVU readership. It's not what Pitt and Penn State deliver, but there is a readership. So we're trying some different things to see if we can satiate the appetites of WVU fans.

Chooch79: Jerry, can you provide any early insight regarding the PG's upcoming coverage of NFL kickoff next week?

Jerry Micco: Well, we'll have several pages of live Steelers coverage in the Sept. 11 paper. We'll publish our Steelers/NFL special section on Sept. 9, so we'll be doing quite a bit.

ajt123: Will the new pay feature in any way take away from what is being offered now? Dont like this idea....

Jerry Micco: The items you get on the free area of post-gazette.com will still be there. Those will not be switched into a pay site.

Chunkles: Jerry, I guess a lot of people deserve credit for how well the Steelers operate but you really have to tip your hat to Kevin Colbert. He knows when to hold em [Keisel] and when to fold em [Marvel Smith] Casey Hampton should be thinking about a new city, next year, he is done and Colbert knows it. Hampton has not been in shape, oh lets see, NEVER! It takes him a half season to be able to run with the big boys.

Jerry Micco: And I think Colbert has a reputation, well-earned, as having a keen eye for talent and also a keen sense of when to let a guy go. That's not an easy job, but he seems just the right guy to do it for the Steelers.

ajt123: Whats your take on Perry Hill not wanting to come back here, typical to a free agent not wanting to come back here?

Jerry Micco: We've probably reported this somewhere, but I haven't seen it. Maybe he just wants to move on or he feels his work here is done.

praveen: Marvel Smith retiring which means physically he couldn't take it with his back. Kendall Simmons can't get even a backup job. No wonder our OL didn't look any better even before the injuries last year.

Jerry Micco: Sometimes, the big guys start to break down and it comes all of a sudden. It's a lot of wear and tear on a body.

Chooch79: Did you get a chance to see any of this year's Little League World Series? MOre importantly, how can a bunch of 12 year olds know how to run the bases better than our professional team?

Jerry Micco: I watched bits and pieces of it. It used to be fun to watch, but now they are like little major leaguers. Batting gloves, I swear I saw a kid with an elbow pad; pitchers throwing curves and sliders. To me, it's too big-time for 11 and 12 year old kids. But I'm old-fashioned that way. I should know that this is very competitive for those kids and parents and they see major league money (maybe) down the road. But congrats to Chula Vista on the victory.

jack_da_hydroplane: With the NFL set up for parity more than any other league, with the salary cap, the scheduling, and the draft, could you say that the personnel guys are really the most valuable members of any team?

Jerry Micco: No question, because they are so limited. Not just by roster spots and the things you mention above, but while they want to sign all their good players, they know they simply can't. And it makes every decision you make critical. If you make a critical error, you could cost your team for years to come.

praveen: I am happy Hampton wasnt signed to an extension. Hampton should be motivated to play at the highest level he can this year.

Jerry Micco: We'll see how that goes. When he's able, he's a terrific player. But it just seems he's slowed down so much the last couple of years and is not the player he was a few years back. Again, wear and tear on a big guy, who rarely is in great shape, can take its toll.

praveen: Is there any plan to have the Pens show up at an early Steelers home game or vice versa to do a City of Champions type honor?

Jerry Micco: Not that I've heard.

praveen: Which team is better - the 79 Pirates or the 09 Pirates? Oh, and I mean at this point of time even with Stargell gone.

Jerry Micco: There is not one player, save for McCutchen, who would start for the '79 team.

jack_da_hydroplane: Have you heard how any of these former Steelers or Pitt players are doing with their new teams in camp: Nate Washington, Bryant McFadden, Larod Stephens-Howling, or Scott McKillop?

Jerry Micco: I think Stephens-Howling was injured. I don't keep up with a lot of the other camps. I try to get all I can on the Steelers, which is where my concentration tends to go.

praveen: Suggestion: Maybe instead of endless articles on the Pirates player moves, how about some space to what the Pirates are doing to actually improving their scouting? I want to know if they hired any prominent scouts from other teams instead of trying to lure a quality player at this level of their development.

Jerry Micco: We've done stories, usually in the offseason, about how they've rearranged their front office including scouting. But I'll mention your idea to Dejan Kovacevic.

praveen: Looks like we may have to actually count on Sweed in redeeming last year's draft? Who knew? Mendenhall, even if improved, still looks like the type of RB the Steelers used to get via trade or draft with a 3rd round or lower pick. Davis is a bust. Sweed, if he can get be more consistent and keeps improving, may actually be kind of worthy of a 2nd round pick.

Jerry Micco: Again, it takes WRs 3 years sometimes to get to where they need to be. Mendenhall should already be there. I'm not ready to give up on him, though. He came off a pretty tough injury last year so he's just now getting some game experience. I'm not ready to write him off as a bust. Let's give him some time.

praveen: Regarding Max Starks, I just think he is the kind of guy who doesn't have the intensity during a preseason game. That could explain his benching in prior years by the Tomlin staff. I think he will be better in the regular season, even if he won't be pro bowl level.

Jerry Micco: Big guys who can play both tackle spots are hard to find. Starks does not look good this preseason, but he's the best they have at LT. And if he plays up to capability, then they'll be fine. You're right, he's not a Pro Bowl type, but all he needs to do is protect Ben's blind side and keep guys away. If he can do that, he'll be just what the Steelers need.

WVUfan: First I wanted to say that I love the new WVU football blog. It shows you are serious about WVU coverage. I wanted to ask what you think of Rich Fraudriguez's latest stunt at Michigan?

Jerry Micco: Glad you enjoy Colin Dunlap's blog. We're doing what we can to improve WVU coverage, can Colin is new to the beat, so he's getting into the fray a bit late. As for the Michigan stuff, that's still being investigated, so there's no way to know if the allegations are true. But it seems that Rodriguez is always in the middle of something ever since he arrived in Ann Arbor. You have to wonder if Michigan will get tired of that fact very soon.

praveen: I live in Atlanta, so this does not affect me. But will newspaper subscribers get free access to PG+? Would seem like a good incentive.

Jerry Micco: At this time, they will not. Since it is all new content, we're asking folks to pay for that part of the site. I think all newspapers will have some type of pay-for-Web model in a year or so. Frankly, we gave away our work for free on the Web (and still do). But now it's time to get the revenue stream we need to do our jobs properly. Still, when you couple .75/day for a newspaper and a free site with a lot of info, it's a pretty good bargain. At least we hope people think that.

ajt123: Do you think the Pirates fan base has become apathetic and most have lost interest?

Jerry Micco: I think there is still interest out there, but at some point, the trades have to stop and the winning has to start. Bob Nutting says they could do more if more people showed up and they had more money. Well, make the product good and people will show up. Milwaukee gets 3 million a year because they have players like Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. The Pirates have no one like that, save McCutchen. But they have to keep a core of guys and add guys like Alvarez, Walker, Lincoln and Tabata. Young, exciting players who can compete.

praveen: If Kemo and Colon can play half as well as the level their coaches claim they can play at(Arians claiming Colon one of the best RTs in the game?), the Steelers will be easy favorites as they are improved or the same in every other aspect this year.

Jerry Micco: The Steelers are favorites, I think, to win the AFC. And this is with the 2 guys you mentioned, who I think are OK, but not great at their positions. But the season hasn't started yet so let's see if the improvement is there. If those guys are the same as last season, they may be in for a tougher time. But still, they won a SB with those guys. Why not do it again?

Chooch79: Since Marvel Smith decided to retire, does he get to keep the signing bonus that SF gave him? If so, I'm surprised that more vets wouldn't take the money and quit?

Jerry Micco: I believe Ed Bouchette said he has to return the bonus.

jack_da_hydroplane: How can Casey Hampton say that he's an unselfish team player, and then show up to camp like a blimp last year?

Jerry Micco: That's a good point, and I'm glad someone pointed that out. I think Hampton feels the pressure to have a great season and earn a couple more years somewhere, if not here. And maybe he's thinking that aside from the fact he was horribly out of shape last year, he's a team guy overall. But part of his job is to get into shape. And he still doesn't look that way to me.

ajt123: Do you think the Pirates can ever win with Nutting as the owner?

Jerry Micco: Well, yes, if they develop well from within and people keep the pressure on him to produce. If you hate the product, don't come to the games. If you like it, support it with all you've got. It's really all owners understand -- the bottom line. I don't think Bob Nutting says, "hey, let's put a loser out there as long as I make money." No, he has more pride and professionalism than that. But at some point, you have to draw a line in the sand and start getting better.

WVUfan: Read the Appalachian St. story today. What do you think we will see first, another upset like that in football or a 16 seed win a first round NCAA basketball game?

Jerry Micco: Oh, no question, another upset on the football field. The No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament are really THE best teams in the country.

jack_da_hydroplane: Since Ziggy Hood has been tearing it up against 2nd and 3rd team players, do you think they should give him some game action against the 1st-teamers?

Jerry Micco: He'll get his chances, but it will be a series here and a series there. He needs to get some experience and he's earned a right to some playing time. But he's not going to replace either guy at defensive end. At least not this year.

praveen: With the Olympics coming up , do you think there was a need to have a hockey world championships this year? Seems like way too much hockey for the players.

Jerry Micco: Two different tournaments, and one won't move over for the other. Is it too much? I'd say so.

praveen: The thing that disappointed me about Hampton was the way he refuses to take the blame for the bad shape he was in. Even now, he acts like Tomlin overreacted and he is just being a good soldier by going along with whatever punishment he got.

Jerry Micco: I'm not sure what the front office thinks of Hampton, but it might be saying a lot that he was not extended and Keisel was. I wonder if they are tired of dealing with him or if the guy was playing like he did in 2005, if they'd not really care. After all, it's all about winning and putting up Lombardi trophies. That's what everyone, from the top down, gets paid to do.

PhillyMarty: Based on strength of schedule, 20 returning starters, healthy punter, likely improvement in return game, and likelihood O-line is better (still amazed that O-line won a SB), I have the STEELERS at 14-2, likely repeating. Experience of 2006 also helps. Aside from injuries, what is most likely to lead to a repeat of 2006?

Jerry Micco: I have them winning 11 or 12 games, but also winning the AFC. All the factors you cite are good ones, Marty. The only thing that will stand in their way are injuries, so I don't know if anything else gets in the way. Obviously, if there are major breakdowns in one area, then that might lead to a so-so season, but I don't see it.

PhillyMarty: Batting 2nd, Walker starts his career with a swinging K!

Jerry Micco: Actually, he hit a hot groundout as a PH last night. Should have been a hit. Brandon Phillips robbed him. I figured he'd get a start today. I wonder if guys like LaRoche and Young, who have never played a full season or even close to one, are hitting the wall.

PhillyMarty: If the STEELERS and PENS were not coming off such good years, do you think you would still be launching P-G Plus?

Jerry Micco: I think we would. We don't have a Pens element -- yet -- on Plus. All newspaper companies, I should say media companies, are going to start some type of pay model. Many have before us and many will follow us. We have to grow new revenue streams to try to make up for the loss in advertising and classified advertising. It will not be the only strategy newspapers will have to develop new streams, but it will be a part of that strategy.

PhillyMarty: Let me re-phrase? What aspect of the STEELERS are we over-rating that could lead to their undoing?

Jerry Micco: Over-rating? Maybe the WRs, where if Holmes doesn't come out with big plays and Sweed tanks for some reason, you only have Hines and that's not enough. Other than that, I just don't see that many potential weaknesses.

jack_da_hydroplane: Here's a scoop: Garrett Jones just hit the 10,000th homer in Pirate history.

Jerry Micco: Well there you go. The most likely guy this year is Jones. Good for him. He's had a great year and it's still going. It's a nice story, too.