bubs: Is Mendenhall for real? Even Amos Zeroue had a good game or two ...

Jerry Micco: I've always been a Mendenhall fan, and I think long-term, he's going to be fine. But I'd like to see more than one game and see a game against at team that has a lousy rush defense. But you had to be impressed with the way he ran against the Chargers. He also caught the ball, something he did well at Illinois, and showed he could be a devastating blocker. I think he's the guy the Steelers want to showcase, so time will tell if he can do it week in and week out.

Jacque_Strap: As I'm sure you know, Ed has suggested the nickname of 'Rocket Rashard' for Mendenhall, which is good. But I like mine a little better -- 'The Curator'.

Jerry Micco: You'll have to explain that one to me. I know he's a Renaissance man and a museum fan, but the curator? Rocket Rashard is pretty good, I think. But I'm a big fan of old-time hockey.

Chooch79: How have the subscriptions to PG+ been going Jerry? I have been considering joining....can you help me commit?

Jerry Micco: I think we're cautiously optimistic as far as subscriptions. I think the site is all we expected it to be and more. We've added a Pens blog from Dave Molinari and Shelly Anderson in addition to Ed's blog, Gerry Dulac's chat (Gerry blogs, too) and we'll have a Pirates presence soon. Ron Musselman has some good PSU stuff there and Paul Zeise and Mike White have Pitt and the preps covered. I think it's worth the price of $3.99/month if you want to try it out. It gives you some extras that you can't get on the free site and the paper. But if you use all three, we think you'll have all the knowledge you need of Pittsburgh area sports.

Jacque_Strap: What is up with Penn State's offense? Their receivers are pretty average.

Jerry Micco: Well, they lost probably the three best WRs in their history after last season, so it's going to take a bit of time to rebuild. Though I think Derek Moye is a very good player and has big-play ability. They're going to use tight ends more this season and use a guy like Graham Zug as a possession receiver. I think running for 300-plus yards against Illinois is a sign of a healthy offense. Don't you?

Jacque_Strap: Did you watch Twins-Tigers? What great theater. I was rooting for Leyland. As much as I enjoyed it (except the outcome), I watch all baseball games with the Pirates in mind. The tone of the game basically shows you how far away they are from being relevant.

Jerry Micco: Especially when you factor in the Twins are a very similar team in a very similar market, but they have won five of the last eight division titles. It's all about scouting and developing, and I don't think anyone does it better than Minnesota. And Ron Gardenhire is an underrated manager. They have traded away guys like Torii Hunter and Johann Santana and still win. That's because they draft well and develop even better.

EermanStan: Great coverage of WVU football this year. The blog is awesome. Also the story on the Iraq veteran was very good. But my question is, if WVU can take care of the fumbles, doesn't it look to you like they can score points on anyone?

Jerry Micco: Thanks for the nice words on WVU. Colin Dunlap was put in charge of that beat this year (as well as Duquesne hoops) and has been doing a bang-up job. I think if WVU takes care of the ball, they are one of the three best teams in the Big East, along with Cincinnati and Pitt. I think the conference is headed for a couple excellent late-season showdowns when WVU and Pitt play and then when Pitt closes out the next week against Cincinnati. Noel Devine may be the best player in the Big East next to Tony Pike.

praveen: I dont think Troy's absence alone excuses the defense's performance. Ike Taylor is playing great in the secondary. The others need to pick it up in the 4th Q

Jerry Micco: I think Polamalu's absence trims back what they can do and that affects the overall defense. However, I agree that you can't have a key guy hurt and then go into the tank. I think there are some holes that are being exploited, but I also see the defense getting better. A couple special team gaffes (Logan fumble; Mundy botch of the onside kick) cost them against San Diego. They'll have a chance to get healthy in the next couple weeks against the Lions and Browns.

Chooch79: Any special PG coverage planned for the upcoming Mavs vs Cavs game at the Pete?

Jerry Micco: I'm sure we'll do something, we usually do, when the Cavs play an exhibition game here. But I can't give out specifics.

praveen: Paraphrasing Chris Collinsworth on Sunday Night Football " The Steelers are kicking their stinking butts". Steelers related quote of the year?

Jerry Micco: Absolutely a great quote. I think he nearly slipped and uttered something you might say on HBO but not on network TV, but he was dead on. By the way, I think Collinsworth is doing a very good job in his new role. He and Michaels seem to have a nice chemistry.

peroni: In a league based on parity, this is as competitive a year as I can remember in the NFL, in that there seem to be about 16 very good teams and 16 very bad ones. This is more observation than question.

Jerry Micco: And you'd be close to correct as you can get. And it's just the way the NFL likes it.

EermanStan: Jerry, I hate to say this as a WVU guy, but Pitt's two freshman RB's looked very good against Louisville. I know it was just Louisville, but when you have two freshmen run like that, it could be a sign of things to come.

Jerry Micco: Pitt has two very good runners in Lewis and Graham. It's a nice one-two punch, though you have to watch with freshmen late in the season. Sometimes they hit a wall and fall off a bit. It helps, though, that you can keep them fresh with some alternating. I think if Pitt's O-line holds up its end, and Stull stays hot, Pitt could win the Big East. Cincinnati and WVU may have something to say about that, but I like what I see so far on offense for the Panthers.

praveen: I have been doing some user blog items for PGPlus. I have been critical of Chris Kemoeatu's contract. But looking at my recordings, I notice that he has been our best lineman overall even prior to the SD game.

Jerry Micco: I think he's been up and down a bit, but certainly was terrific against the Chargers. He needs to get more consistent, but that comes with playing time and playing with the same guys. That line is just now starting to really come together and playing a team like the Chargers is a good confidence booster. But you have to do it week over week in the NFL. You don't have to run for 200 yards all the time, but you have to give your team a chance to run if they're going to have a chance to win.

EermanStan: If Tebow misses a game, can he still win the Heisman?

Jerry Micco: He can because he'll still put up the numbers he needs to be a Heisman contender. But it seems like he'll play vs. LSU. I just hope he's OK. I can't imagine the Gators playing him if they were the least bit worried about his medical condition.

Jacque_Strap: Did you watch Monday Night Raw? Those of us who watched it only to see Big Ben haven't been missing anything.

Jerry Micco: I did not watch the show.

Chooch79: Has the Big East proven itself yet to the National media this year, or will it take an undefeated team to accomplish that task?

Jerry Micco: They are getting more respect than they have in the past. Some of that is the ACC's drop and the Big Ten being very mediocre this year. Miami and Va. Tech are flying the ACC's banner as are Ohio State and Iowa in the Big Ten. But the Big East really does benefit by having Cincinnati rated so high and being unbeaten. But it could use another team in the top 25. I look for either Pitt or WVU -- or both -- to be there before long, though.

praveen: Fedotenko remains a bargain. In a league where mediocrities make 2M, I am glad the Pens got him cheap.

Jerry Micco: Of all the offseason stuff the Penguins did, signing Fedotenko, for me, was the highlight. I've been a huge fan of his from day one. I just like his style and he's a winner. If he doesn't break his hand on Colby Armstrong's beak last January, he's a 25-30 goal guy. I think he's great.

Chooch79: How does it feel to be the sports editor of the #1 Sports City. Some of that success obviously has to be attributed to your staff.

Jerry Micco: Well, thanks for the compliment. The staff is very deserving of any kudos that come our way, but that TSN award really is for the teams that we have. I know fans pay attention to that stuff and that's fine, but for us, we want to serve readers whether we're the No. 1 sports town or the No. 30 sports town. But I will say this is a great sports town and always will be because of the fans. And if we at the P-G have a chance to bring that type of news and information to the fans, then we've done our jobs. Again, thanks for the kind words.

Jacque_Strap: That was the gist of it with 'The Curator', I guess he's a big fan of museums. Just trying to come up with something unique. Rashard seems kind of like Troy, they won't miss the game when it's time for them to hang it up.

Jerry Micco: I think everyone misses the camaraderie that comes with the game, but I agree, Mendenhall seems like the kind of guy who has a lot of other interests. And I think that's healthy.

praveen: I would rather see quality over quantity at PGPus. I hope Ed B and Dulac dont feel pressured to spit out twitter like updates just for the sake of updates.

Jerry Micco: I think we're balancing that. Some people want everything every second and wonder why we don't have that. Well, we're trying to let folks know that it takes time to report things. Not the breaking news stuff, like Redman is back on the practice squad, but if you're going to have a take on something, you need to do some research and talk to folks before you put it on any of our 3 platforms: print, pay site, free site. Our credibility with you guys is No. 1 for us. We need to be accurate first.

PirateApologist: Hi Jerry. Do you think if Bonds, Clemens, etc. would have "beaten the story" like Letterman did, things would be different for them for their respective scandals? Or is Bonds too unlikable?

Jerry Micco: We are a very forgiving society. And if those guys had owned up and told it like it was when they started using, I think the outcome is different than it is now. Those guys are almost pariahs for major league baseball. And it's too bad. Bonds was going to the HOF before he started using. He didn't need to do it. Neither did Clemens. But a lot of guys were doing them over several years. And athletes never want to lose that edge.

Chunkles: Hi Jerry, I heard last Sunday one of the talking heads say that Peyton Manning took his young receivers, in the off season, one at a time, for a week, to a stadium and worked with them. Look how well Peyton and his receivers have click. Could you see Big Ben be that dedicated? Maybe thats what Limas Sweed needs, a little one on one? Ben could have at least taken them to the WWE event!

Jerry Micco: If Limas Sweed catches the ball, he doesn't need a week alone with Big Ben to make an impact. Those guys -- Ben and the WRs -- work together quite a bit in organized practices, so I'm not sure they need more work. Sweed is going to be a good receiver, I think. Not great, but he'll be fine. Eventually, they'll work him back in there.

PirateApologist: Garrett Jones next year - 40 homeruns or 10 homeruns?

Jerry Micco: I'm going to say closer to 40, but probably in the 25-30 range. Still, pretty good for a guy who couldn't make it with the Twins. I don't think he's a one-year wonder, but we'll have a full season in 2010 to see if that's true or not.

EermanStan: Saw on DK's blog that he was covering the winter Olympics. Great choice Jerry! No one will outwork that guy.

Jerry Micco: I think he'll do a fine job, just as Shelly Anderson did in Turin and Beijing. The Olympics are a tough assignment. Dejan handled Athens really well and I wanted to give him another shot. He works hard as the main baseball guy, but I'm confident we can deliver a lot of excellent Olympics coverage from Vancouver.

Jacque_Strap: On 'The Drive' recently on ESPN radio, they played a five minute clip of Rashard after the game to count how many times he said "You know what I mean?" It was 37. Lots of people have those nervous devices, and I'm no public speaker, but I have to admit it was kinda funny.

Jerry Micco: I heard that, too, but didn't count up the times he said it. I knew it was a lot. Sometimes, it is a nervous device and helps people get from one thought to the next. You know what I mean?

Jacque_Strap: This morning on 'Mike & Mike', Bud Selig said he wants an International Draft, and a slotting system for rookie salaries. I suppose both could be good news for the Pirates if they happen.

Jerry Micco: I would think so, yes. And I think a slotting system, which many say is there informally now, would work in baseball. But when it comes to changes like that, Baseball is slow to move. A very powerful Players' Association does not allow for much movement on salaries or things like slotting.

praveen: I think SD's poor run defense(even worse without Jamal Williams) explains the quantity of rush yards(Cooper has to be embarrassed that Spaeth made a devastating block on him), but what I liked was Rashad's run QUALITY. The way he did a jumpcut to the right on a seemingly stuffed run, the burst on midrange runs, the block. Really encouraging signs. The rest of the year is up to him and his desire.

Jerry Micco: I remember being at Steelers HQ blogging on draft day (my favorite NFL day, by the way). I couldn't believe Mendenhall was there when they picked. I'm sure they couldn't, either. Then, the guy gets hurt, doesn't hang around after that, seems lost in camp and early this year, then looks like he's supposed to against SD. I think he can be a very good NFL player, but you have to prove that on the field. He's got all the weapons a good back needs, but you have to have heart, too. The latter is proven over time and when things are going badly.

praveen: I part of RAW. I dont care for the show. But I see the outing as a good team outing where Ben and his line can bond.

Jerry Micco: I'm sure they had a lot of fun. That's a total WWE generation of guys, too.

Jacque_Strap: Do you know if Tebow came to Pittsburgh to get any testing done? Aren't the Steelers the ones who have the latest post-concussion technology for analysis of whether someone is able to come back or not?

Jerry Micco: UPMC has done ground-breaking work in that field, but I have no idea if Tim Tebow came here for testing. Something we might check out, though.

praveen: If the NHL can allow for teams to move from hockey hotbeds like MN and Winnipeg in the past, why the stubbornness to let Phoenix relocate? It seems like a petty personal vendetta against Jim B more than a desire to cater to the suffering fans in Phoenix.

Jerry Micco: I guess I never say Winnipeg as a "hotbed" for hockey, but I agree that Phoenix has never been a hotbed for the sport. Some of this is anti-Balsillie sentiment. Some is Phoenix has about 4 million people, so you don't want to give up on that market. Some is that if you move a team to Hamilton, Buffalo may suffer and that puts a pretty good hockey market on the ropes. That's why franchise moves are always tricky and why leagues don't like to do them.

Jacque_Strap: I'm not that big on hockey history, but have you ever seen a top scorer like Malkin be so eager to jump into the fray when there's a fight? Or, for that matter, be one of the main combatants? I like it, but at the same time, I'd hate to see him break his hand or something.

Jerry Micco: Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe could be that way, particularly Hull. People did not want to tangle with Howe because he was powerful and could plant you with one punch. The Broad Street Bully Flyers had some talented guys who could fight, like Bobby Clarke, but he's no Malkin.

praveen: Regarding Strap's curator comment, Robert Smith had a nice little career with the Vikings without sacrificing his other interests. At the same time, he did not cheat out on preparing for the football related stuff. Hopefully Mendenhall can maintain this preparation level from last week.

Jerry Micco: Smith's a good example of what Mendenhall could be, though Mendenhall has more talent, I think. Wasn't Smith a premed major at Ohio State? I thought I recalled that. Either way, he's made a great transition to TV and you can tell he brings a lot to the table in his role.

Jacque_Strap: Steelers Nation can breathe easy, Isaac Redman is back on the practice squad (for now anyway). With my very thick black and gold glasses, I choose to look past the fact that no other team has picked him up.

Jerry Micco: He's a nice practice squad guy and a guy who can be a backup. Nothing wrong with that, but when you have a Mendenhall, a Parker and a Moore, and now a Carey Davis, it's hard for ol' Red Zone to get a shot. He'll be fine where he is and pick up a lot of experience.

Chooch79: What did you think about the Browns dumping Braylon Edwards today?

Jerry Micco: He's another guy that when he was drafted, I thought, "Wow, he's going to be so good for the Brown that the Steelers had better draft a couple shutdown corners to handle him." Of course, he's not been that player in Cleveland, save for one season. I think, though, he can be a very good NFL player and he may thrive in New York. He was lost, and lost his way, in Cleveland. And now he's going to have to deal with the off-field incident from Sunday. But he's always struck me as a bright guy who is articulate and can play football. The Jets may have stolen one here.

praveen: Jerry, you are correct. Robert Smith became a doctor after retirement. And interestingly, he supposedly complained about Ohio State not giving him enough time to study because of the football program.

Jerry Micco: I remember that complaint, but thanks for settling my mind on Robert Smith being a doctor. I've always admired athletes who were more than just athletes. The ones who used their college degrees or life experiences to make a difference and show that they were more than "dumb jocks." I actually hate that phrase because I hear it a lot from non-sports fans who tell me that's who I cover. I disagree. Some of these guys, like people in other walks of life, have many interests. Some don't, just like a lot of other folks.

Chooch79: I overhead a man at the game Sunday refer to Rocket Rashard as Apollo 13.

Jerry Micco: Wasn't that the failed mission to the moon? Great movie, as I recall. Maybe Mendenhall can fire his retro rockets and get the fan base back. He's not getting 165 a game every game, but if he's consistent and runs hard, he's going to get his yards. He's not Adrian Peterson, but he's not a bust, either. Give him some time and then we'll all see.

ajt123: How is the PG+ doing in terms of support so far?

Jerry Micco: I don't have specific numbers, but we're cautiously optimistic so far. It's only been around for a month, but we hope as people have a chance to see it, word will get out that it's good information for the money. Just like our print product.

Jerry Micco: Hey folks I need to get back to some other stuff, so much for my fastest, most fun hour of the week! Thanks for taking the time out of your day to join me. I'll be around next Wednesday at noon for more sports talk. Have a terrific weekend and enjoy the games.

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