DJ_Doug: Hi Jerry, what's with all the naysayers about OT in the NFL? Those are the rules and everyone knows them (unless you're Donovan McNabb). There is this misconception that you win the coin toss you win the game and that is bogus. If you lose the toss, stop them on defense and get the ball back. And if you are losing in regulation and need a FG to tie, then you make the decision to play by the OT rules if you decide to kick the FG rather than going for a TD in regulation. If you score a TD to try and tie in regulation, then go for two and the win if you are concerned about the OT rules. Bottom line, the current OT rules should be a deterant for wanting to go into OT and not trying to win in regulation.

Jerry Micco: I really don't see a reason for changing the OT rules in the NFL. I don't know that there's a really fair way to do it, but bottom line is if you can't stop the other team, you likely aren't going to win. But as you point out, and Gene Collier did that in his column today in the P-G, only about 50 percent of teams who win the toss also win in OT. I'd say there's no need to fix it.

Bob Nutting: If I sell the Pirates to someone with deep pockets can you envision a day when they'll build a statue of me outside PNC Park?

Jerry Micco: I don't think there are any statues for any owners in Major League Baseball. The game is not about them, but the players. I think it's great they are doing this for Maz, but in my mind, he's not in the same category of Wagner, Clemente or Stargell. I'm a huge fan and no one will ever forget 1960 and Game 7, but Maz made the HOF on his glove and on the vote of the veterans committee. If you're doing Maz, do you do Ralph Kiner, too? How about Billy Virdon? Danny Murtaugh? Anyway, you can vote for a Kiner statue on our quick poll today.

Emperor Chaz: Does Polamalu still adhere to those Marv Marinovich workouts in the offseason in California? They didn't seem to help last year.

Jerry Micco: I don't know that any workout can save you when people fall on your knee during a scramble for a ball and bend it the wrong way. Same if the other knee is hit and it bends the way it shouldn't. Now if he were constantly pulling muscles I might say to him to train here, but I've never heard questions about the condition he's in. I'll admit he's banged up a lot, but I just think he plays too hard for his body. He's a 100 percent guy but he's really only 5-9 and 205.

Stan: Most useless event, Pro Bowl, Slam Dunk contest or Home Run Derby?

Jerry Micco: Oh, slam dunk, no question, though the other two are pretty close. Slam Dunk used to be the best of the bunch, but now a bunch of nobodies compete so who cares?

ch3: Jerry, I know there is talk of the Steelers drafting an O-lineman early in the draft, but I just don't see it happening. They just signed Starks and Kemo to nice contracts, so I don't see them taking a LT or LG early. They just drafted Urbick last year to play RG and Colon is a RFA who is a pretty good RT. I think their biggest weakness on the OL is at C and RG. What are your thoughts on the OL?

Jerry Micco: I'd say they are solid on the left side. Could use work at right guard. I'm not as sold on Colon as you are mostly because I think he has a problem pass blocking, and they need a pretty large upgrade at center. Picking 18th, they need to look secondary, linebacker and maybe even D-line. I think, though, you also have to see if a great tackle is there at 18 and maybe you get him. But when you draft that high, the player has to have some impact. And they need more impact guys on defense, so I look for them to go that direction.

Miko: Jerry, as a Duquesne alum, it seems to me the AD make a big decision and then ran and hid. That goes against PR 101. Terrible.

Jerry Micco: We in the media certainly want to hear more, but they are not required to trot someone out there for us. Do they owe that to the student athletes of all sports and to their families, yes, I'd say they do. My question is what is the purpose of trimming that money and repurposing the rest of the budget? I'd like to hear the philosophy the university has and what it considers core sports. Are they going bigger in 1-AA? Is basketball ready to make a big pitch to coaches and recruiting so more money is needed? I don't know and until I hear from someone there, I guess that will remain a mystery.

Jocko: Jerry, what would you think Pittsburgh would support more, a Major League Soccer team or an NBA team? I say Soccer, if you incorporate tailgating into the event

Jerry Micco: Please. An NBA team would draw very well here. You can tailgate at Pitt and Steelers games.

praveen: Statue for Mazeroski? Is this the Pirates way of distracting fans from their current pitiful state?

Jerry Micco: Funny, that crossed my mind for a second when I heard about it, but if you're going to do a statue for Maz, then why not on the 50th anniversary season of his momentous blast? Look, until this team gets turned around, the past and the unforseen future is all it has. The present has not been good. Love to see them turn it around, but it's going to take yet more time.

ch3: Jerry, the Pens PP seems to FINALLY be clicking. It seems the PP has more movement, and moving Geno to where he is comfortable doesn't hurt either.

Jerry Micco: The power play is doing better, but still has a ways to go. I think moving Malkin was the smart thing to do because he isn't as adept as someone like Crosby who can adjust to just about anything. But when Malkin feels comfortable, he's going to score and distribute as well as anyone in the league. I found out that the Pens power play was 20th last season, so it's not like they have a track record over the past couple years of being strong. Still may be passing it too much, but overall, it's better than it has been all season.

praveen: Hey Jerry, how about just adding a 5 yard or 10 yard extra distance for FG attempts in OT? More simplistic than the other suggestions to make a team "earn" the victory in OT.

Jerry Micco: Only in hockey do the rules change for OT. I don't understand that, either. So I'd not want to change it for the NFL. The rules are the rules, and should be enforced at all times, even OT. Again, if the numbers were so lopsided that it skewed the games, then maybe you look at OT. But when the coin toss gives you a 50/50 chance, then you are right back where you started.

Barry Bonds: Jerry, have you checked the record book, I have the most HR's in HISTORY and I won some MVP's as a Bucco, where's my statue???

Jerry Micco: You know, you were beloved by Giants fans, but I don't think there's a rush for you to join Willie Mays and Willie McCovey outside their ballpark, let alone PNC Park.

praveen: I am sure Bourque Jr should have no hard feelings of getting cut by the Pens. Three minor leaguers Conner, Caputi, and Nick Johnson have each outscored him despite collectively getting less combined playing time.

Jerry Micco: He might have been as bad a player as I've seen in a Pens uniform in some time. I can remember watching games and saying, "what do they see in this guy?" Obviously, they didn't see enough. And I like Nick Johnson a lot. He's tough and he's a pretty heads up player who I think can score a bit. He seemed to fit right in with Malkin's line.

Chunkles: Jerry, who is going to have more hits at PNC Park this year? The Dave Matthews Band or the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Jerry Micco: The question is, whose hits will be more timely? I think the Pirates, if they can stay healthy, might score a bit this year. Especially if Alvarez is as advertised and he gets here in May or June. Still a lot of ifs (Garrett Jones, Lastings Milledge, Ryan Doumit's health) but if they all improve, they'll score some runs.

praveen: Why do refs act like pass interference or no call are their only options on uncatchable passes? Why not just call holding or illegal contact?

Jerry Micco: I think the league needs to review all of those penalties and figure out a way to make the calls more consistent. You can call illegal contact and defensive holding on just about any play. But at some point, you have to let them play. And when a WR can put hands all over a defender, why not allow the defender to do the same? I know the league wants scoring, but this is ridiculous. I'd love to see the chuck rule get tossed. If the ball's not in the air, you can bang on a guy. I remember great games in the 70s with that rule in effect.

praveen: I hope they do not trade Talbot. He doesn't put up enough numbers to get anything great in return but his intangibles with the Pens and his low salary are very valuable to the Pens.

Jerry Micco: I hope they don't either because truth be told, they really don't need 20 goals out of him. He's not that player. But he's probably the most popular guy on the team and he's a gamer -- when he's healthy. I'm sure some teams might not mind having him, but I think Ray Shero wants to keep him because of his influence on and off the ice. I think you are more likely to see a D go to get a forward.

praveen: Seth has a nice article up on Mike Emrick on the Empty Netters blog which includes an anecdote on Cope. I go to Plus for the Steelers news, but the Empty Netters on the free site keeps me informed enough.

Jerry Micco: Seth does a good job with Netters and has since we started doing the blog. I'm glad you enjoy it. I'm also happy that you are Plus customer. Thanks! But keep giving Dave and Shelly's Pens' Plus a go. Seth has other duties and isn't with the team, while Dave and Shelly are daily. They are two different, and distinct blogs, but I feel between both we cover the waterfront. Mike Emrick is such a class act. Met him briefly at the Cup Finals last year and he's a great off camera as he is on. Wonderful guy.

praveen: People focused on the Favre INT at the end. I think the worst part of the sequence was the 5 yard too many men penalty DESPITE MN taking a timeout right before that. Childress should take the blame.

Jerry Micco: There is no question that when 12 guys are in the huddle, the coaching staff gets the blame. They know the substitutions and if they see a guy going out who doesn't belong, they need to get on that. However, to me that was Brett Favre in a nutshell. Throwing a big pick in a big game has been part of his game forever. And while he's a deserving candidate when you talk about best QBs of all time, the one thing that holds him back in my opinion, are all the big picks. His career is littered with them.

praveen: Adrian Peterson's fumbles make me feel a lot better about Rashad's occasional problem with fumbles. I am surprised Peterson regressed in that aspect this year.

Jerry Micco: As great as Peterson is, or should be, that's going to hold him back and make him a marked player every year. Tiki Barber struggled with this most of his career before figuring it out. But Peterson, because he's such a terrific back, needs to get it resolved or the Vikings are always going to take a deep breath and hold it every time he touches the ball. And to put it on the ground 3 times in such a huge game? Not good. Mendenhall can improve in this area, too, but he's not nearly as complete a back as Peterson, so he's got work to do in several areas.

ch3: Jerry, who do you think the Pens will be interested in at the trade deadline? Will it be a winger or perhaps even a defensemen?

Jerry Micco: I'm going to guess a scoring winger, not a Hossa type because of salary, but a solid scorer. The other area would be bigger defensive presence in the zone. Not a Hal Gill, but a guy who can move a bit more and get the puck up ice. Someone to help Orpik be physical. My choice would be a D, but you have to give something up to get it.

PhillyMarty: I think there are better things to debate than a statute for Maz. He did hit the only WS winning Game 7 walk-off HR, and for a huge underdog at that. But what about starting 1B for the Buccos? Put Jones there since that is his natural position and let him to continue to develop. Jerking him back and fourth from RF can not be helping him. The acquisition of Clement given his knee history was just foolish. We don't need a DH and if he can hit as advertised, he belongs in the AL. Instead of being strong at 1B, we have destabilized two spots.

Jerry Micco: I'll watch the Clement experiment closely, Marty, because like you unless this kid can hit 25-30 HRs, I'm not sure his liability in the field is overcome. And he's not proven himself at the big league level either. I think Jones is a solid first baseman and you did bring in a couple guys to play right, not to mention Brandon Moss, who they should not give up on. Jones can play right, I don't think he's going to be a liability out there, but I like him better at first.

Joey T: What do you think about the new NY Times web site subscription model?

Jerry Micco: I hope it works and they get a boatload of people to buy into it. I think at some point, all newspapers will have to do some type of monetization of the Web. It's still our work and it needs to be paid for somehow, some way. But it's a tough process in a tough economy. I wish the Times the best.

praveen: Two dome teams playing outdoors in Miami(come to think of it, Indy's last SB win was at Miami). Perfect justice. I am biased towards NO. But I hope their offense can make the transition better than Indy's. Or Indy would be considered the second best team of the decade, not the Steelers.

Jerry Micco: Well, I think Indy wins this one by a TD or more. I think their offense is just as good or better than New Orleans and their defense is much better. Manning's a tough guy to beat if he figures out the defense. The only thing that would ruin what I think will be an entertaining game, will be if it rains. The Colts beat the Bears in the rain, but as I recall, Manning didn't tear it up as he usually does.

Joey T: Does this Super Bowl matchup have any local ties that you will have stories on next week? I can't think of any.

Jerry Micco: I would think that we'd do something on Pat McAfee, who kicks and punts for the Colts. He's from Plum and WVU. Clint Session, the Colts LB, is a Pitt guy. Pierre Garcon is from Mt. Union, right over the line in Alliance, Ohio. There are a few guys.

ch3: Jerry, so do you think the NFL screwed up royally with moving the Pro Bowl? It was a joke already, now it is a laughing stock. When VInce Young and David Garrard are 2 of the QBs, perhaps it is time to pack it in. Jamarcus Russell is only 1 or 2 guys away.

Jerry Micco: I don't think the Pro Bowl can win either way. Now if guys like Big Ben played, and he didn't because of injury, or Tom Brady, also hurt, then you get some marquee guys and the game's a good idea. But I don't mind moving it to before the SB. The goal is to get guys to play in the game, which they didn't do when it was the last game of the season, either. I just think with all the big contracts and how banged up the skill guys get, once they're out of the playoffs, they just want to rest. And teams don't want them being injured in an exhibition game.

praveen: Do you think it's too late in the college season to schedule one of their major bowls in the week prior to the SB?

Jerry Micco: Oh, I think it's much too late. In my world, the college season would end on New Year's day or a day or 2 after. Not on Jan. 7.

PhillyMarty: The DK interview of Nutting interview has received much discussion. How do you see him?

Jerry Micco: How do I see Bob Nutting? Probably in not as bad a light as most people. I think he wants to win, but knows he has to do it on a budget. And you can do that if you personnel people are excellent. We'll see how Huntington and Coonelly are as we enter year 3. At some point, there has to be improvement and there's no better time than when you win 62 games and lose 99. They need to be 10-12 games better this year to say they've "improved." We'll see, but I don't think Nutting is a bad guy who wants to constantly lose. No one, if they have a competitive bone in their bodies, wants to lose.

Jerry Micco: Thanks for coming out today everyone. I appreciate you taking the time to do the chat with me. Note: I will be on vacation next week, so my next chat will be at noon on Feb. 10. Enjoy the Super Bowl!

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