Starkey & Mueller

ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Aditi reacted to Patrick Rooney calling out the Steelers and their way of business. One of the things he said was the ‘insane’ idea of paying TJ Watt. Can Watt accept his poor play from the end of last season and how can that impact his negotiations? Aditi said Watt is putting a plan together for a bounce back in 2025. She indicated that Watt hears the critics. Who does Aditi think is the best Steeler of the last 25 years? She thinks Troy Polamalu makes quite the case.

Patrick Rooney Jr., a member of the Rooney family, said it would be ‘insane’ to give TJ Watt big money right now. Is it a nothing-burger or is there something there? He may not be as close to the family as other members, but he had several critiques of the team at-large. And he’s certainly not a fan of Aaron Rodgers or how his family has built the current team.

Another edge rusher debate to get us going. According to ESPN, the GMs, coaches, scouts, etc. around the league have rated Myles Garrett over TJ Watt. We can say Watt has had a better career than Garrett to this point, but who is going to have the better end to their career? GIVEAWAY. Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Poni threw the red meat topic to Mike that someone in the Rooney family went on a podcast and said it would be ‘insane’ to sign TJ Watt to an extension. Mike wondered if the rubber was really going to meet the road with Watt and the Steelers. Mike still thinks Watt will take what the Steelers best offer is and it could be $36M/year instead of $40M/year. What would the guarantees look like? Mike said players care most about APY above all else instead of the structure of the full deal. If a trade were to take place, what does Mike think that could look like? Mike thinks, at minimum, the deal would require a 1st round pick back to the Steelers. Mike wondered how things would l

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Poni threw the red meat topic to Mike that someone in the Rooney family went on a podcast and said it would be ‘insane’ to sign TJ Watt to an extension. Mike wondered if the rubber was really going to meet the road with Watt and the Steelers. Mike still thinks Watt will take what the Steelers best offer is and it could be $36M/year instead of $40M/year. What would the guarantees look like? Mike said players care most about APY above all else instead of the structure of the full deal. If a trade were to take place, what does Mike think that could look like? Mike thinks, at minimum, the deal would require a 1st round pick back to the Steelers. Mike wondered how things would look if Watt was a lifetime Brown and Myles Garrett was a lifetime Steeler. Mike indicated that he would rank Ben Roethlisberger #1 on a list of best Steelers since 2000.

Another edge rusher debate to get us going. According to ESPN, the GMs, coaches, scouts, etc. around the league have rated Myles Garrett over TJ Watt. We can say Watt has had a better career than Garrett to this point, but who is going to have the better end to their career?

Happy Anniversary, Paul Skenes! It’s been 2 years since the Pirates drafted him and they have gotten worse in the process. How is that possible? Does Skenes deserve any blame? It’s enraging to see what the Pirates have done so far with one of the best pitchers in baseball. How are the Pirates worse with Paul Skenes? HOCKEY TALK! Poni can’t figure out why his question about Gavin McKenna made people mad. Poni said people in Penn State gear give him bad looks.

HOCKEY TALK! Poni can’t figure out why his question about Gavin McKenna made people mad. Poni said people in Penn State gear give him bad looks.

Happy Anniversary, Paul Skenes! It’s been 2 years since the Pirates drafted him and they have gotten worse in the process. How is that possible? Does Skenes deserve any blame? It’s enraging to see what the Pirates have done so far with one of the best pitchers in baseball.

PM Team FULL Show 7-8-25

Some serious, but funny Pirates Top 25 since 2000 lists.

Some serious, but funny Pirates Top 25 since 2000 lists.

ESPN is continuing to put out potential Paul Skenes trade packages with a few weeks to go before the trade deadline. It feels like they are filled with names that we have, mostly, never heard of. We also looked at the no-trade list for Bryan Reynolds and it’s a little confusing. Is he afraid of taxes? Donny Football Debrief – Happy Birthday, Jack Lambert. Is there a more popular Steeler all-time? Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg told the doubters of Oneil Cruz in the HR Derby to watch him take BP sometime. Greg said it’s good for baseball and the Pirates having a player in the Derby. Greg said he plans on asking Don Kelly about Cruz taking part and if he’s worried about him going into a second half slump. Greg talked about a few big prospects that flopped with the Buccos. The guys wanted to get Greg’s reaction to the Cruz throw home from Sunday afternoon. Greg reiterated that Ben Cherington will take a pretty big swing at the deadline. Does Greg believe the Pirates are ‘close’ to being

Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg told the doubters of Oneil Cruz in the HR Derby to watch him take BP sometime. Greg said it’s good for baseball and the Pirates having a player in the Derby. Greg said he plans on asking Don Kelly about Cruz taking part and if he’s worried about him going into a second half slump. Greg talked about a few big prospects that flopped with the Buccos. The guys wanted to get Greg’s reaction to the Cruz throw home from Sunday afternoon. Greg reiterated that Ben Cherington will take a pretty big swing at the deadline. Does Greg believe the Pirates are ‘close’ to being a playoff team? The guys asked Greg about Paul Skenes getting pulled after 5 innings the other day and if he was on-board with it.

We also looked at the no-trade list for Bryan Reynolds and it’s a little confusing. Is he afraid of taxes?

There’s a feeling that a handful of teams are waiting on TJ Watt and seeing what happens with his negotiations with the Steelers. Poni listed the Eagles, 49ers and Lions as the teams that feel like the most likely to make a move. Which team would be the best to make a deal with? Former MLB pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Matt gave his thoughts on Paul Skenes named to his second straight All Star Game and the idea that the Pirates are limiting his innings so he can pitch in the mid-summer classic. Skenes is 4-7 and he might start the ASG – Matt doesn’t think the players are worked up with his usage so far. The guys asked Matt how much the mentality has changed with some players when they get pulled, but he also pointed out that Skenes likely knew of his workload before the start. Matt said that is a conversation for behind closed doors. Matt said the HR Derby is a ‘fan’ event and they got it right by adding Oneil Cruz to the festivities. Matt told the guys he would go out and watch select players durin

Former MLB pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Matt gave his thoughts on Paul Skenes named to his second straight All Star Game and the idea that the Pirates are limiting his innings so he can pitch in the mid-summer classic. Skenes is 4-7 and he might start the ASG – Matt doesn’t think the players are worked up with his usage so far. The guys asked Matt how much the mentality has changed with some players when they get pulled, but he also pointed out that Skenes likely knew of his workload before the start. Matt said that is a conversation for behind closed doors. Matt said the HR Derby is a ‘fan’ event and they got it right by adding Oneil Cruz to the festivities. Matt told the guys he would go out and watch select players during his era take batting practice because it was that entertaining. Matt got to see a young Miguel Cabrera in his early days. The guys asked Matt about any pitchers that could rake while he played.

There’s a feeling that a handful of teams are waiting on TJ Watt and seeing what happens with his negotiations with the Steelers. Poni listed the Eagles, 49ers and Lions as the teams that feel like the most likely to make a move. Which team would be the best to make a deal with?

Oneil Cruz is in the HR Derby. But does he deserve it? Does it matter? All Star games are mostly a joke, but apparently there’s belief that Cruz shouldn’t be in because he’s had a disappointing season. Is it about entertainment or about deserving? That latter hasn’t mattered in years. One caller said he had as much talent as Cruz, just didn’t have the size. Do callers think Oneil Cruz deserves to be in the HR Derby? Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. TK told the guys why Gavin McKenna going to Penn State for a year makes sense before he becomes the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Tyler said it will help McKenna get ready for the league in a less grinding way than playing in Juniors would. Tyler said there weren’t many guys from his era that went to college if they were already playing outside of America. Will this set a trend for big-time NHL prospects playing a year of college hockey?

Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. TK told the guys why Gavin McKenna going to Penn State for a year makes sense before he becomes the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Tyler said it will help McKenna get ready for the league in a less grinding way than playing in Juniors would. Tyler said there weren’t many guys from his era that went to college if they were already playing outside of America. Will this set a trend for big-time NHL prospects playing a year of college hockey?

Oneil Cruz is in the HR Derby. But does he deserve it? Does it matter? All Star games are mostly a joke, but apparently there’s belief that Cruz shouldn’t be in because he’s had a disappointing season. Is it about entertainment or about deserving? That latter hasn’t mattered in years. One caller said he had as much talent as Cruz, just didn’t have the size.