Starkey & Mueller

PM Team FULL Show 8-7-25

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Ray said Cam Heyward had been present for the early stages of camp and nobody thought to ask about him working to the side because vets of his status get treated a little bit differently. Ray thinks both sides of the equation have an argument. Ray told us Chris Boswell has spent more time at the local Latrobe golf courses than on the practice field, but it doesn’t change the fact that he is among the best in the game. Ray said this could get uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, they will be on the field. The Steelers signed Andrus Peat today, who could be an insurance policy for Broderick Jones. Ray said Yahya Black is the player he’s most excited to watch on Saturday night.

We gave some time to the Chris Boswell news, sitting as the 11th highest-paid kicker in football. Poni said he is more sympathetic to Cam Heyward and his situation given how much he puts his body on the line. More calls. Steve Palazzolo from the 33rd Team joined the show. Steve said Cam Heyward is still a very good player and he is coming off an ‘incredible’ 2024 campaign. Steve said the age with Heyward makes things tricky, but if it’s for this year and next year, they can handle it financially. Steve joked that he hates discussing kickers, but when it is clear you have one in the top tier, like Chris Boswell, you should ‘hold your nose’ and pay the player. Steve likes the Steelers addition of Derrick Harmon to the defensive front. Steve thinks the Will Howard injury is a big deal because it was a chance for the Steelers to see the reps in-game from their rookie QB. Why did Howard fall so far in the draft? Donny Football Debrief – Reports from training camp that Cam Heyward denied the media after practic

Steve Palazzolo from the 33rd Team joined the show. Steve said Cam Heyward is still a very good player and he is coming off an ‘incredible’ 2024 campaign. Steve said the age with Heyward makes things tricky, but if it’s for this year and next year, they can handle it financially. Steve joked that he hates discussing kickers, but when it is clear you have one in the top tier, like Chris Boswell, you should ‘hold your nose’ and pay the player. Steve likes the Steelers addition of Derrick Harmon to the defensive front. Steve thinks the Will Howard injury is a big deal because it was a chance for the Steelers to see the reps in-game from their rookie QB. Why did Howard fall so far in the draft?

We gave some time to the Chris Boswell news, sitting as the 11th highest-paid kicker in football. Poni said he is more sympathetic to Cam Heyward and his situation given how much he puts his body on the line.

BREAKING: Chris Boswell is also going through a silent hold-in at training camp, per ESPN. We took calls on that news and the Cam Heyward situation. Former Steeler Chris Hoke joined the show. Hokie isn’t worried about Cam Heyward, saying he will be on the field in Week 1 no matter what. Chris thinks Heyward deserves the money as one of the best in the business. Chris kept saying that Heyward is a ‘team guy’ and isn’t worried about where this leaves the rest of the operation. Hokie called out teams for often not honoring contracts the way players are always told to. Chris really likes what he has seen from Derrick Harmon in camp so far. He also thinks Yahya Black will contribute a lot more than people expect early on. Hokie won’t fault a guy for having confidence and said he isn’t bothered by Juan Thornhill thinking the current Steelers defense can be one of the best of all-time. Chris is excited to watch Jack Sawyer more than any other player on Saturday night. Kaleb Johnson is the player he chose on the of

BREAKING: Chris Boswell is also going through a silent hold-in at training camp, per ESPN.

Former Steeler Chris Hoke joined the show. Hokie isn’t worried about Cam Heyward, saying he will be on the field in Week 1 no matter what. Chris thinks Heyward deserves the money as one of the best in the business. Chris kept saying that Heyward is a ‘team guy’ and isn’t worried about where this leaves the rest of the operation. Hokie called out teams for often not honoring contracts the way players are always told to. Chris really likes what he has seen from Derrick Harmon in camp so far. He also thinks Yahya Black will contribute a lot more than people expect early on. Hokie won’t fault a guy for having confidence and said he isn’t bothered by Juan Thornhill thinking the current Steelers defense can be one of the best of all-time. Chris is excited to watch Jack Sawyer more than any other player on Saturday night. Kaleb Johnson is the player he chose on the offensive side of the ball.

BREAKING: Cam Heyward is undergoing a silent hold-in at training camp, per ESPN. There is a long list of defensive tackles that are making more than Cam, who is due $15M this season. Should the Steelers give him another extension and bump up the money to over $22M/year? We think the local media assumed it was simply Heyward getting veteran time off. Should the Steelers give Cam Heyward a raise? PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Poni asked Jason how some of the people with boots on the ground missed the story about Cam Heyward. Does Heyward deserve the extension? Paul Skenes is pitching tonight – is there truth to the rumor that the Pirates are trying to extend him? Jason believes Skenes is optimistic about the Pirates’ offseason plan for 2026. What will Ke’Bryan Hayes do in his return to PNC Park tonight?

PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Poni asked Jason how some of the people with boots on the ground missed the story about Cam Heyward. Does Heyward deserve the extension? Paul Skenes is pitching tonight – is there truth to the rumor that the Pirates are trying to extend him? Jason believes Skenes is optimistic about the Pirates’ offseason plan for 2026. What will Ke’Bryan Hayes do in his return to PNC Park tonight?

BREAKING: Cam Heyward is undergoing a silent hold-in at training camp, per ESPN. There is a long list of defensive tackles that are making more than Cam, who is due $15M this season. Should the Steelers give him another extension and bump up the money to over $22M/year?

PM Team FULL Show 8-6-25

We got an update on the Will Howard injury from Mike Tomlin. It appears to be a broken finger that will have him ‘week-to-week.’ Howard has a fracture on a finger of his throwing hand, but surgery won’t be necessary. A few reports are suggesting it is his pinky finger, which is probably the one you want it to be if you had to pick. There was also a brawl at today’s practice. Juan Thornhill stoked the fires of the hype around the team’s defense. How good can they be? 93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Jeff mentioned Derrick Harmon missing practice for a second day in a row. Jeff broke down the practice fight from earlier today. Chris asked Jeff about Harmon flying under the radar compared to 1st round picks of the past. Jeff brought up the combo of Broderick Jones and Isaac Seumalo on the left side and noted it has looked better for Jones since Seumalo came back to practice. Jeff said it was another solid day for Aaron Rodgers. Jeff couldn’t 100% confirm, but based on looking at his

93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Jeff mentioned Derrick Harmon missing practice for a second day in a row. Jeff broke down the practice fight from earlier today. Chris asked Jeff about Harmon flying under the radar compared to 1st round picks of the past. Jeff brought up the combo of Broderick Jones and Isaac Seumalo on the left side and noted it has looked better for Jones since Seumalo came back to practice. Jeff said it was another solid day for Aaron Rodgers. Jeff couldn’t 100% confirm, but based on looking at his hand, it appears to be the pinky that Will Howard broke yesterday. Jeff noted that Roman Wilson got a lot of love today from QB1.

Rodgers Replies. Rodgers was empathetic of Will Howard after it was announced that Howard will miss 3 weeks. Rodgers said that the offense has been clicking more the last 3 or 4 days. Rodgers also praised Roman Wilson a lot and called him “so talented”. He was also very complementary of Arthur Smith. Mullsy says that Rodgers sounds way more authentic and normal than Russell Wilson. ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Aditi says that it is an unfortunate time for Will Howard to get hurt because it stunts his development. She also says that the Steelers would have wanted to see Howard in live action football. Aditi says that it would have been important for Howard to get experience calling the offense in preseason games. Donny Football Debrief – ESPN will distribute NFL Redzone on traditional television, and ESPN and NFL Fantasy will combine. NFL Network will distribute Redzone through NFL+. Mullsy says that ESPN and the NFL are one in the same.

ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Aditi says that it is an unfortunate time for Will Howard to get hurt because it stunts his development. She also says that the Steelers would have wanted to see Howard in live action football. Aditi says that it would have been important for Howard to get experience calling the offense in preseason games.

Rodgers Replies. Rodgers was empathetic of Will Howard after it was announced that Howard will miss 3 weeks. Rodgers said that the offense has been clicking more the last 3 or 4 days. Rodgers also praised Roman Wilson a lot and called him “so talented”. He was also very complementary of Arthur Smith. Mullsy says that Rodgers sounds way more authentic and normal than Russell Wilson.

Aaron Rodgers said in his press conference that Preseason games are meaningless, and that joint practices are more useful. Would other players in different situations disagree? Mullsy says that preseason matters more to rookies than it does to a 20+ year vet like Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers says that join practices are more useful than preseason games because teams aren’t afraid to show things to teams that they will not play. Mullsy says it would be worse if a player got hurt in a joint practice than it would be if aa player got hurt in preseason. Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Mike says that joint practices make more sense for teams because they can avoid QBs getting hit. He also says that if they could, the NFL would get rid of preseason games and go to a 20 game season right now. Mike says that we need to see how the whole ESPN Redzone thing plays out before we can determine what it’s going to be like. ESPN bought the name “Redzone” so they can now make an NBA Redzone or a CFB Redzone.

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Mike says that joint practices make more sense for teams because they can avoid QBs getting hit. He also says that if they could, the NFL would get rid of preseason games and go to a 20 game season right now. Mike says that we need to see how the whole ESPN Redzone thing plays out before we can determine what it’s going to be like. ESPN bought the name “Redzone” so they can now make an NBA Redzone or a CFB Redzone.

Aaron Rodgers said in his press conference that Preseason games are meaningless, and that joint practices are more useful. Would other players in different situations disagree? Mullsy says that preseason matters more to rookies than it does to a 20+ year vet like Aaron Rodgers.