James_Taiwan: Do you see the Steelers picking up another veteran back to back up Rashard Mendenhall?

Jerry Micco: No, I don't. I think they are fine with Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore for this year. Once Parker leaves, which may or may not happen, then they may pick up another back.

James_Taiwan: Do you think that over the second half of the season and the next season with Mendenhall as the number one back that the Steelers will have the best offense in team history?

Jerry Micco: I think if Mendenhall continues to improve and with Roethlisberger in his prime, that this will be one of the best offenses in the NFL. Best ever? I always have a hard time with that phrase, but I will say it will be one of the best.

James_Taiwan: If Alvarez arrives in Pittsburgh around the All-Star break do you think that LaRoche will get a chance to compete with Iwamura for the second base job?

Jerry Micco: I think the Pirates would like to keep LaRoche if he continues to hit as he did in September. I think because he's younger and has more power, he may be the preferred player to Iwamura.

James_Taiwan: Assuming McCutchen, Garrett Jones, and Millidge will hold down three of the four starting positions to start the 2010 season who will be playing the remaining position outfield/ 1B if the Pirates do not sign someone to fill that hole?

Jerry Micco: Jeff Clement, the guy they got in the Wilson trade, will be in the mix. I think Jones is ticketed for first base, but if Clement can't cut it, then you'll see Brandon Moss in the mix, but also the Bucs may be in the market for a corner outfielder in a trade or free agency. Another year to bridge to Jose Tabata.

Homey: If Ohio State goes to the Rose Bowl, and Penn State and Iowa both finish 10-2, do you think a BCS bowl will pick Penn State (with a bigger name but no great wins) or Iowa (with a smaller name but a win at PSU)?

Jerry Micco: Penn State would win that debate because they'd bring people and have a national reputation.

shouldBworking: I can't be live but was wondering your opinion on Bettis, with a writer, authoring articles on SI? I am not slamming Bettis, as I know I have to be careful here questioning a Steeler. But, as someone who went to school to become a professional, does it jab at you when stuff like this happens?

Jerry Micco: You know, I'm not an SI reader anymore, so I'm assuming they are saying he's doing this with a writer. Athletes have gotten into television since the 70s, keeping a lot of TV journalism majors out of work. But, they do bring something those journalists can't bring to the party: experience and been-there. And in our society, athletes are often given chances others are not because of the star power they deliver.

theWellHungarian: First off hats off to all the Veterans & active duty service men & women out there on this Veteran's Day ... Jerry, I have a really weird feeling about this game on Saturday. I think Pitt should win, but something tells me Jimmy Claussen is going to have a big game. I also think Notre Dame's loss to Navy was the worst thing that could happen to Pitt. The players are basically playing for Coach Weiss's job... What say you?

Jerry Micco: Well said statement on our Veterans. They pay the ultimate sacrifice for our country and on this day, and every day, our thoughts should be with them. On the game, I think Pitt can with this one by a TD. I think Claussen may have a big day, but I think Pitt's offense will move the ball on Notre Dame and run it very well. I look for a high-scoring game, but Pitt is a better team.

theWellHungarian: I ain't gonna lie to you, I'm a little disappointed in Sid Crosby's play the past 5 games. The past 2 years when he went down, Geno stepped his game up. I don't want to hear the "Gonchar's out excuse," because Geno did it without Gonch in the lineup ... I think Geno's injury has proven he is the class of the NHL and the player the Penguins can least afford to lose for an extended period of time ...

Jerry Micco: I think everyone here knows my thoughts on Geno Malkin -- he's the best all-around player on that team. Doesn't mean Sid isn't as great, but for me, Malkin is the guy they can least afford to have out. The Pens are in trouble now because of injury and I think Sid may be trying too hard. He doesn't have a lot of weapons around him, either. It's going to be a tough sled until Malkin, LeTang and Kennedy return.

theWellHungarian: Per capita, has any other high school in America produced more football talent than Aliquippa? The play of Ty Law on MNF had me thinking of this question....

Jerry Micco: I'm not sure if that's the case, but the Quips are very well represented. Our Mike White can probably answer that question better than me, however.

theWellHungarian: Do you think Terrelle Pryor ever looks at what's going on with the Pitt program and wishes he had been throwing balls to J. Baldwin, handing off to Dion Lewis, and playing for his hometown Panthers?

Jerry Micco: I think Pryor is happy with his decision and with the way OSU recruits, he'll have some better offensive players around him soon. I don't think he is upset that he didn't go to Pitt.

Jacque_Strap: Watching the results of Mitch Berger?s punts on Monday night, I couldn?t help but think ?Is he still on Pittsburgh?s payroll??

Jerry Micco: Not a bad line, Jacque.

Jacque_Strap: I thought the defense was supposed to get tired in the second half, especially after Denver had the ball so much in the first half. Talk about an inspired effort.

Jerry Micco: The Steelers never fail to deliver, even when you think they just can't do it anymore. Certainly an amazing team and you can talk about Indy, New Orleans and New England all you want, but you really don't want to draw the Steelers come playoff time. They somehow just get better as the season goes on.

Jacque_Strap: Gotta love Tomlin prodding the defense all week with the fact that the Broncos were the #1 defense. He doesn't have to scream and yell to motivate (but he could if he had to), he is a great button-pusher.

Jerry Micco: And he has guys like Ward, Farrior and Townsend on the team which makes Tomlin's job a bit easier. Those guys provide excellent leadership.

Jacque_Strap: One of my favorite images from Monday night was seeing how happy Ryan Clark was for his teammates, Carter in particular (great column by Cook). Would love to see them re-sign him this summer.

Jerry Micco: I think Ryan Clark may be their No. 1 priority of guys they can sign. Probably more than the kicker.

Jacque_Strap: Very smart also of them to test Clark out before the game, in light of January possibilities.

Jerry Micco: The Steelers never miss a trick. It was smart and obviously they took every precaution.

Jacque_Strap: What do you think about Larry Johnson? I'm torn -- he really seems like a jerk, but I think he would 'fly right' if Pittsburgh signed him. God forbid if Mendenhall went down, the RB situation would all of the sudden look kind of bleak. Don't know how much Parker has left, and I like Moore but not as a full-time guy.

Jerry Micco: I don't think Larry Johnson fits the mold of this team. Maybe with some veteran leadership he grows up some, but the fact that at his core this has been a problem for some time -- his childishness -- that problem usually doesn't go away with a change in venue. Maybe for a while, but not permanently. And that's not the type of guy the Steelers generally go after.

Jacque_Strap: Would you be in favor of expanded replay in MLB? I would be, for fair/safe calls at the bases, and for fair/foul down the lines. I've never cared about the argument that it slows the game down, I'd rather see the calls be corrected.

Jerry Micco: I think it's a slippery slope. Then do you do ball/strike? I think the poor job umpires did in the playoffs this year may bring about some expanded replay, but for years, umpires have blown calls. What you don't see is that 99 percent of them are right. That's part of baseball. Sometimes a call is blown.

dj_doug: Do you see anyway that both an 11-1 Pitt and Cincy team both make BCS games? It's ctazy to think that either one could get dumped to the bowl in Charlotte?

Jerry Micco: I don't think either will be an at-large team. We had a story today quoting a BCS expert saying Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl last year produced their worst ratings ever. Pitt, to me, would be a far better attraction. But Pitt can control that by winning the Big East, which they could very well do. That's why I hate the tie-ins these minor bowls have. If Pitt went 11-1 and didn't get a BCS at-large (assuming they didn't win the BE), why can't they go to the Cotton Bowl? Or Gator Bowl? How about one of the NY Day games in Florida? Seems a shame the BE has such lousy bowl tie-ins.

dj_doug: Do you see Boston College ever coming back to the Big East? That would solve the much needed 9th team and we could drop one of the basketball only schools like DePaul.

Jerry Micco: I don't think BC is going to move back to the Big East. I think they like both big sports in the ACC.

Jacque_Strap: I love the strike zone box that they use on TV, to show if a pitch was a strike or a ball. But I wonder if they are gauging it based on where the ball crossed the plate (which I believe is the correct way), or where the catcher caught it. Also, I doubt they adjust it for each batter's height/stance. It's imperfect but I like it anyway. I'm sure the umps hate it.

Jerry Micco: Umps probably do hate it, but I'm not sure how they work it technically.

dj_doug: In the latest BCS standings for Pitt, what are the computers seeing that the human polls aren't or vice versa?

Jerry Micco: I've got to think that loss to NC State hurts them, plus, Pitt's signature win this season is against who? Before all the Pitt people attack, Rutgers, UConn, USF and Navy aren't murderers' row, even though Navy knocked off ND, which helps Pitt some. Pitt will get their jump in the next 3 games. Win them, they will be top 8 in the BCS. All three games are ways for Pitt to jump up in the poll. But to me the think holding Pitt back is the loss to NC State.

dj_doug: Wannstedt recently said there may be throwback uniforms for the Pitt/WVU game. Any new news on that?

Jerry Micco: I've heard that isn't going to happen. I believe Paul Zeise reported this.

midas1212: Hello Jerry. It appears to me that the Steelers offense has a new added dimension. They gashed the Broncos for 175 yards on the ground. Do you feel that this gives opposing defenses a lot more for which to prepare?

Jerry Micco: Certainly when they watch film they know the Steelers have a running back that's starting to figure it out. The Steelers running the ball is no secret. They always want to run it. Everyone does. But you combine a better rushing attack with a franchise QB, you have a very potent offense.

theWellHungarian: I'm gonna blow off the day today and was thinking a college football game this afternoon would be really nice. Not necessarily Florida v. 'Bama, but a MAC game would be pretty nice, don't you think? What do you think about petitioning the NCAA to make this happen in 2010??

Jerry Micco: Are you talking a game on Veterans Day? I don't follow the question.

Jacque_Strap: Congrats to Dave Molinari, certainly a well-deserved honor. Even his Q&A answers are thoughtful, today's was almost the length of an article.

Jerry Micco: Dave is one of the great hockey writers in North America and now has the hardware (or sport coat) to prove it. I had the honor of attending the luncheon in Toronto on Monday and it was just great. Pens' VP of Communications Tom McMillan did a wonderful introduction, and Dave gave a great speech. Just a great time all around and Dave is a very deserving person. He loves his job and he loves hockey and it shows up every day either in print or on the Web.

Jacque_Strap: I would guess that Percy Harvin is probably the front runner for rookie of the year, especially when you add in his return skills, but if Mike Wallace continues to improve and contribute, at least he's in the conversation.

Jerry Micco: No question.

PSU_is_not_local: Jerry, Geography obviously not your strong point. How else do you explain giving a non local PSU greater coverage than the Pitt game last Sunday? Why not assign a beat writer to the Browns? Cleveland is 2 hours away, State College over 3 hours.

Jerry Micco: You know, I answered your letter when you sent the exact same one to me via email. But if you want me to answer to all, here goes: PSU-OSU was a game with a lot on the line besides being 2 top 15 teams. There are local players on each team, one being the most highly recruited player out of high school 2 years ago playing his first game in Pennsylvania. And for some reason, some Pitt folks seem to think it's a new phenomenon that this newspaper covers Penn State football. Folks, it was covering PSU in the 50s and 60s. And sometimes, when you get a great national matchup involving a university that has a large alumni base here as well as 4 branch campuses in our circulation zone, they're going to be covered. Pitt-Syracuse, nice win for Pitt, but Syracuse is terrible. I think when Penn State played them, it was inside our paper. We didn't exactly bury the Pitt game. It was at the top of the Sports section. That work for ya?

ajt123: If you were the GM of the Pirates, what would you do right now with this current team?

Jerry Micco: Trade it for the Yankees? Seriously, continue to develop the pitching; develop guys in the minors who can hit for power and average; find out if Milledge and LaRoche are the real deal and keep working with them. Build the bullpen behind power arms. They are not going to be good next year, but they will be better. If the starting pitching all comes around, they will be much improved. Not contenders, but much improved.

ajt123: The Penguins injuries are becoming a concern, play GM, do you make a trade or two now to shore some of this up?

Jerry Micco: No, you try to scratch out some wins or OT losses to pick up points where you can. Malkin should be back in a week; LeTang in 2 weeks; Kennedy may be back soon. Those guys will make a difference. And a big October will give you a bit of a cushion through this tough stretch.

KS_Steeler: Hi Jerry - if you don't mind; lets speculate; IF the Steelers win on Sunday, go to 7-2, don't you think a 13-3 or 12-4 record is likely; and also, a 1st rd bye (the other going to Indy) Assuming things fall into place, aren't we on a collision course to be in Indy for the AFC Championship?

Jerry Micco: I think they'll be favored in 7 of their last 8 games, with the game in Baltimore being the exception. Even then, they may be only a slight underdog. I think they are probably going to go 12-4 because they may stumble in that game and at Miami to close out the season. Even then, that scenario is a reach. I think they will probably be the No. 2 seed in the AFC. And if they go to Indy for the title game, it has the chance to be one of the great games. Indy may lose a game or two, but will likely be the No. 1 seed.

robbiesdad: Anybody beside me think that Bill Guerin has looked every day of his 39 years during the last 2 weeks or so? Hope Ray Shero doesn't end up regretting signing him, even if it was for only one year.

Jerry Micco: I think Guerin is certainly not the player he was early in his career, but he's been fine since he's arrived here. But I will give you that this season he's struggling to finish, which comes with being a bit older and a big slower. But I think he's a guy you want to have around for a lot of reasons. And I'll be Shero does not regret his signing.

Homey: Do you think the Steelers will continue to give Logan a roster spot when he hasn't really made big plays in the return game?

Jerry Micco: Yes, because he's the best option for them in that area.

Wes_Mantooth: When is hockey going to outlaw hits to the head? When someone dies? The one the guy on the Flyers delivered was tough to watch.

Jerry Micco: It's an issue and one the league needs to look at. I don't know how you completely stop them because the game is more wide open and guys are bigger and faster, but something needs to give. Maybe when they strike head first -- and use replay on this -- it's a 5-minute major and a match penalty with a 3-game suspension. I don't know.

PhillyMarty: Let's wait one more week, see if we extract payback from the Bungals, before we declare the STEELERS as the team to beat (I am prone to that thought as well). I think we all want to overlook the Bungals because they are the Bungals. But to be fare only a flukey tipped pass in the final minute vs. Denver keeps them from being 7-1. They had a hiccup vs Houston, but they have now twice thrashed Baltimore in the trenches. Not an easy thing to do.

Jerry Micco: I go back to an August chat where I said the Bengals could surprise people this season. Palmer's healthy. Cedric Benson looked good late last year. The defense was better. I think the Steelers can win this week, but it will be close. Coming off a short week, the Bengals are no picnic.

ajt123: When does baseball free agency start and do you really expect the Pirates to be heavy players in the "B" tier as N.Huntington has suggested?

Jerry Micco: I think they will have their eye on a few players they think can help them at the right price. I don't look for them to go crazy, but a player or two would not surprise me. They have some money to play, but I hope they won't throw good money after bad. This management team seems pretty good, though, about not doing that.

Wes_Mantooth: Did you happen to catch the Jimmy the Greek special on ESPN last night?

Jerry Micco: No, I did not.

theWellHungarian: i agree with what you're saying about Larry Johnson, a leopard doesn't change it's spots (Pacman Jones), but also a larva metamorphases into a butterfly (Randy Moss) .... I say give the guy a shot if we can get him on the cheap. How much of his salary would K.C. be on the hook for and how much would we (or any team that picks him up) be on the hook for?

Jerry Micco: But are the Steelers going to use him? And at what price, the development of Mendenhall. Does no good to sign LJ and deactivate him. If Parker has some fuel left, and I think over the long haul, you'll see more of him in spots, whey take Johnson?

theWellHungarian: Why can't the Big East tell Notre Dame that if they're gonna play hoops in the Big East, they're gonna need to play with the pigskin in the Big East, as well. In my opnion, Notre Dame needs Big East hoops much more than Big East hoops needs Notre Dame

Jerry Micco: You are right in your last statement. However, when you have your own TV contract, you can do whatever you want in football. And while the Big East doesn't need ND basketball, it certainly doesn't hurt the conference to have them in it.

PhillyMarty: I think this year is a classic case of what is wrong with college football. The scholarship limits seemed to have really hurt the big programs and there is a dearth of clubs at a level just below the top. For example not sure anyone in the Little Eleven merits a BCS bid. TCU and Boise deserve a shot on the big stage. I am really hoping that somehow either FLA loses to FSU or ALA loses to Auburn, and then this one loss team wins the SEC championship. It will really put the onus on the BCS to do the right thing regarding who plays Texas.

Jerry Micco: But my guess is the SEC champion, with one loss, will play Texas based on strength of schedule, etc. Boise has won a couple BCS games. TCU's not had a shot. Remember Hawaii a few years back? Everyone's undefeated darling was crushed by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Terrible game. But I'm an advocate for at least a 4-team playoff. And in that format, a Boise might make some noise. Like you, I'm not a big fan of the BCS and how this is done.

Wes_Mantooth: How much longer can Paterno keep his offensive play callers? Saturday was just awful.

Jerry Micco: Well, considering one is his son, my guess is he'll keep them as long as he's there. I think OSU's defense, a mediocre offensive line and a Royster that isn't 100 percent all added to the vanilla gameplan. Give OSU credit, its defense played a terrific game. Ironhead Heyward's kid was just terrific.

ajt123: Any word on B. Orpiks injury yet?

Jerry Micco: Not yet.

ajt123: Who is your longest tenured reporter/worker at the PG?

Jerry Micco: Wow, I'm not sure. Copy editor David Fink may be the longest tenured worker in Sports.

Mr_Xiaoqi: Eddie B. escaped his chat because of flying back from Denver on Tues?! Sounds like he was successful in lobbying the boss to make up for that bye week chat ... ha!

Jerry Micco: Even Ed needs a day off sometime. As much as we hate to do it!

Homey: I'm a Pitt alum and no PSU fan, but I'll defend the PSU coverage. I live the Fort Worth area, and the papers here cover U of Texas more than TCU or SMU. It's just reality that the big "state U" is going to have a big following in any state, and papers will want to give it attention.

Jerry Micco: My philosophy, and it was here before me, is this: All things equal, we lean Pitt. We do more stories on Pitt because they are in our city. But to ignore PSU football and when they play a pivotal national game would be poor journalism on our part.

IsraelP: No offense or anything, but what about Ed B's chat this week?

Jerry Micco: None taken. See above. Sometimes when there's a Monday night game, a later flight back on Tuesday and a short week, we give him a day off from chatting. Even Secretariat needed a rest between races now and then.

praveen: Can the NHL stop hyping Crosby as the BEST. He is one of the best. The BEST simply don't go through 5 game scoreless streaks when your linemates are intact for 4 of them.

Jerry Micco: He's certainly one of the best, though I don't think the league says "he's the best." However, he has a scoring title, a Hart and a Stanley Cup. Not bad for your first four years.

PhillyMarty: Wanted to add my two cents worth on Dave Molinari. He is terrific on all levels and even takes time to answer Q&A's that are not deemed fit to print. But he is not an exception. EB and DK gives you three terrific beat writers.

Jerry Micco: Thanks, Marty. We are blessed with a lot of talented people here. You mentioned 3, but we have many more in front and behind the scenes. We hope on all of our platforms, our readers are pleased. We're struggling in this doggone economy like many other businesses, but we still want to deliver quality to readers. Thanks for the kind words it's appreciated more than you know.

Jerry Micco: Time to run back to my other work guys. Thanks for taking the time to join me. Another great crowd and more questions than I have time to answer. You make it the best hour of the week. Some great games this weekend. Come back next Wednesday at noon so we can break them all down. Have a great week!

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