The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller

PM Team FULL Show 8-26-26

The big Steelers discussion over the last few days has been about Joey Porter Jr. and if the Steelers will look to trade him before the regular season. But will he be the only one to move? The names: Broderick Jones, Kaleb Johnson and Malik Harrison. We have seen Omar Khan move worse players ahead of the regular season, like Kendrick Green. Will tomorrow night be the first time we see Max Iheanachor? If he looks ready to go, how long should it take for him to crack the starting lineup? What if Dylan Cook continues the decent play he put together at the end of last season? There are also 3 names that the Steelers could trade for and they are all receivers.

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Poni pointed out a report that the Jets could be in hot pursuit of Mike Tomlin as early as next season. Mike said that proposal ‘wouldn’t surprise him at all.’ Mike stands by something he has always said – teams would welcome Tomlin with open arms and possibly fire their current coaches to make it happen. Is Tomlin quite as sought after as Florio believes? Mike feels that Tomlin will be a hot commodity even if it’s 5 years removed from his coaching career in Pittsburgh. We got into the Jed York situation, but there is never a big penalty placed on teams if the owners are the ones at fault. Mike explained why it was different from the Robert Kraft ordeal from a few years ago. Mike reminded us that owners tend to be treated more lightly than players, but there will be some sort of punishment. Will NFL dot com make it impossible to buy certain jerseys. What kind of issues could the Bills run into due to the new stadium having several obstructed view seats that they did not make known to the season ticket holders ahead of time?

Poni went on a rant to start things off. A rant directed at Steelers media, that feed us only things we hear from the team directly. Poni is tired of us getting just one side of the story to always make the player look like the bad guy. There is a bad double standard against Joey Porter Jr., that he has talked about before. We also noted that no matter which way things go here, the beat reporters will say it’s a ‘good’ move. We went over a trade proposal from the Dolphins. Is it enticing enough to send Porter to Miami?

PM Team FULL Show 8-25-26

Could Joey Porter Jr. fetch a 1st round pick in a trade? What kind of deals could the Steelers get for Porter? Would you do it straight up for a 1st or does it need more? If it was a 2nd or 3rd round pick, what type of player would the deal have to include? The guys think the Steelers wouldn’t budge on a trade unless a 1st round pick or impactful player came back in return. Pirates pre-post game host Dan Zangrilli joined the show. The guys asked Dan his thoughts on CBS Sports listing Paul Skenes as the most disappointing pitcher in 2026. Dan got into some of the arm angles we have seen from Skenes in 2026 and why he’s out of gas. Dan wondered if there are too many cooks in the kitchen trying to fix Paul’s problems. Name Game.

Mike McCarthy doesn’t think keeping 4 QBs would be a hinderance to building a 53-man roster. McCarthy hasn’t always felt that way – or at least, he hasn’t acted that way. Is Will Howard a certainty to make the team? Chris is wondering if McCarthy is overcompensating with all of this and will really only keep 3 when it’s all said & done. Was it set in stone since the start for McCarthy that Howard would make the team? Allar’s Answers – What did Drew Allar say to the media today? Donny Football Debrief – The AFC South and NFC North have unveiled their ‘rivalry’ uniforms in 2026. Jed York update. The Big 10 stood up to the players coming back from the NFL.

Is it true that the Steelers haven’t even made an offer to Joey Porter Jr. yet? It’s late August and the season starts in a few weeks. That seems bizarre. Why not even make a lowball offer? The Steelers seemingly want Porter to practice before signing a deal, but there is no deal to sign. Steelers legend JT Thomas joined the show. If you’re an Applebees fan, JT is someone you can thank for bringing the chain restaurant to the Pittsburgh area. JT is going to be a 2026 inductee to the Steelers Hall of Honor and he said it’s an honor to join so many great former Steelers. JT wore #24 so the guys asked him about Joey Porter Jr. and the potential contract in front of him. JT said the game has changed so much since he played that it’s tough to judge, but there’s no denial that JPJ is a great athlete. JT described Porter as a really good defensive back that can be a great one. JT talked about a clause he had in one of his contracts that dealt with the number of TDs allowed. JT doesn’t think it hurts Porter that he doesn’t always travel with the opponent’s WR1. JT changed from corner to safety later in his career, so he was a good source to ask about Jalen Ramsey making that adjustment last season. PM Team Draft – WPIAL football programs.

Report: Joey Porter Jr. wants to be the highest-paid corner in the NFL. Is that a non-starter for the Steelers? Is it too much money? The guys talked about the other money that has been thrown around by the Steelers this offseason. Porter doesn’t have the accolades in terms of All Pro’s that some other corners have, but there is no denying he has been very good in Pittsburgh. Is it worth dropping more than $30M/year on him? The guys think if Mike Tomlin was still here, the deal with Joey Porter Jr. would already be signed. ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – The conversation was stunned off-the-bat to find out that Poni had 34 fantasy football teams last season. Is it fair that the Steelers want to see Joey Porter Jr. practice first before giving him a new deal? Should the Steelers buck up for Peezy? Aditi doesn’t think Porter traveling with every team’s WR1 or not should be a huge hold-up because he’s still taking out half of the field. Does Porter fit what Patrick Graham wants to do with this defense? Aditi thinks Will Howard could actually get through waivers and be placed on the practice squad. She believes the idea of Mason Rudolph being cut loose is a little bit silly. Aditi wouldn’t put too much weight into one bad quarter or half of football in a preseason game. Will Joe get hurt if he jumps off a table in Buffalo?

Could Joey Porter Jr. fetch a 1st round pick in a trade? What kind of deals could the Steelers get for Porter? Would you do it straight up for a 1st or does it need more? If it was a 2nd or 3rd round pick, what type of player would the deal have to include? The guys think the Steelers wouldn’t budge on a trade unless a 1st round pick or impactful player came back in return.

Mike McCarthy doesn’t think keeping 4 QBs would be a hinderance to building a 53-man roster. McCarthy hasn’t always felt that way – or at least, he hasn’t acted that way. Is Will Howard a certainty to make the team? Chris is wondering if McCarthy is overcompensating with all of this and will really only keep 3 when it’s all said & done. Was it set in stone since the start for McCarthy that Howard would make the team?

Steelers legend JT Thomas joined the show. If you’re an Applebees fan, JT is someone you can thank for bringing the chain restaurant to the Pittsburgh area. JT is going to be a 2026 inductee to the Steelers Hall of Honor and he said it’s an honor to join so many great former Steelers. JT wore #24 so the guys asked him about Joey Porter Jr. and the potential contract in front of him. JT said the game has changed so much since he played that it’s tough to judge, but there’s no denial that JPJ is a great athlete. JT described Porter as a really good defensive back that can be a great one. JT talked about a clause he had in one of his contracts that dealt with the number of TDs allowed. JT doesn’t think it hurts Porter that he doesn’t always travel with the opponent’s WR1. JT changed from corner to safety later in his career, so he was a good source to ask about Jalen Ramsey making that adjustment last season.

Is it true that the Steelers haven’t even made an offer to Joey Porter Jr. yet? It’s late August and the season starts in a few weeks. That seems bizarre. Why not even make a lowball offer? The Steelers seemingly want Porter to practice before signing a deal, but there is no deal to sign.

ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – The conversation was stunned off-the-bat to find out that Poni had 34 fantasy football teams last season. Is it fair that the Steelers want to see Joey Porter Jr. practice first before giving him a new deal? Should the Steelers buck up for Peezy? Aditi doesn’t think Porter traveling with every team’s WR1 or not should be a huge hold-up because he’s still taking out half of the field. Does Porter fit what Patrick Graham wants to do with this defense? Aditi thinks Will Howard could actually get through waivers and be placed on the practice squad. She believes the idea of Mason Rudolph being cut loose is a little bit silly. Aditi wouldn’t put too much weight into one bad quarter or half of football in a preseason game. Will Joe get hurt if he jumps off a table in Buffalo?

Report: Joey Porter Jr. wants to be the highest-paid corner in the NFL. Is that a non-starter for the Steelers? Is it too much money? The guys talked about the other money that has been thrown around by the Steelers this offseason. Porter doesn’t have the accolades in terms of All Pro’s that some other corners have, but there is no denying he has been very good in Pittsburgh. Is it worth dropping more than $30M/year on him?

PM Team FULL Show 8-24-26

What are the latest rumors with the Steelers 53-man roster? One preseason game remains and cut-down day is 6 days away. Are the Steelers going to keep 4 QBs? Is that sensible roster allocation? There was a roster projection put out by ESPN today that kept 4 QBs. Some notables left on the cutting room floor were Robert Spears-Jennings, Esezi Otomewo and Kaleb Johnson. There is growing sentiment that Kaden Wetjen is on the bubble. Are 5 DLs enough? Will Will Howard have a better career than Kenny Pickett? Rudolph’s Replies – What did Mason Rudolph say to the media today?

Drew Allar said after Friday’s game that he could have played better, as the team did not score any points. Poni says that Allar passed the eye test more than the stats would indicate that he did. He was a victim of some crucial drops from his receivers in the 4th quarter as well. Mueller says that he thought Allar outplayed Will Howard on Friday. More on Drew Allar and the Steelers game from Friday. Donny Football Debrief – There will officially be guys that have played for NFL teams coming back to play in college.

Will Howard said that he did not play up to par against the Packers on Friday. Most people would probably agree, as he threw 2 picks and didn’t show many positives. Poni thinks that Howard has back up quarterback vibes and he does not expect Howard to be the team’s QB of the future. A lot of people thought that Howard was a steal in the draft, and are staying rigid on that belief despite his struggles. Former Steelers QB Charlie Batch joined the show. Charlie said that Will Howard wasn’t 100% to blame for the interceptions he threw against the Packers, but both of them were still bad decisions/throws. He also says that Howard needs to get a better feel for the pocket, citing the sack he took on the first drive on Friday. Charlie says that he liked what he saw from Drew Allar, including the field flipping play in the 3rd quarter. Batch says that he doesn’t think Howard would clear waivers if the Steelers wanted to put him on the practice squad. Black & Gold Auction House – Round 3. Bids on Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, and Pat Freiermuth ensue.

Mike McCarthy told reporters today that the contract talks with Joey Porter Jr. are at an ‘impasse’ with the regular season quickly approaching. Should the Steelers pay him? Should they seriously listen to trade offers? If another team offered a 1st round pick, the guys think they would make the move. It’s all about getting that 1st round QB in 2027. Is Porter better than fans give him credit for? Jalen Ramsey wants to see Joey Porter Jr. get paid. Would it mean more if those comments came from someone like Cam Heyward or TJ Watt? Could Peezy hold out into the season? WTOV’s Jack Hillgrove joined the show. Jack thinks the motion to keep 4 QBs is growing more and more by the day. Jack believes Max Iheanachor could be the starting right tackle by the mini-bye between Weeks 4 & 5, if not sooner. Jack said the Joey Porter Jr. extension should have been done first over the 3 other members of the 2023 draft class that got deals this offseason. Should the Steelers consider cutting Roman Wilson if they can organize a trade to bring in another WR?

What are the latest rumors with the Steelers 53-man roster? One preseason game remains and cut-down day is 6 days away. Are the Steelers going to keep 4 QBs? Is that sensible roster allocation? There was a roster projection put out by ESPN today that kept 4 QBs. Some notables left on the cutting room floor were Robert Spears-Jennings, Esezi Otomewo and Kaleb Johnson. There is growing sentiment that Kaden Wetjen is on the bubble. Are 5 DLs enough? Will Will Howard have a better career than Kenny Pickett?

Donny Football Debrief – There will officially be guys that have played for NFL teams coming back to play in college.

Drew Allar said after Friday’s game that he could have played better, as the team did not score any points. Poni says that Allar passed the eye test more than the stats would indicate that he did. He was a victim of some crucial drops from his receivers in the 4th quarter as well. Mueller says that he thought Allar outplayed Will Howard on Friday.

Black & Gold Auction House – Round 3. Bids on Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, and Pat Freiermuth ensue.

Former Steelers QB Charlie Batch joined the show. Charlie said that Will Howard wasn’t 100% to blame for the interceptions he threw against the Packers, but both of them were still bad decisions/throws. He also says that Howard needs to get a better feel for the pocket, citing the sack he took on the first drive on Friday. Charlie says that he liked what he saw from Drew Allar, including the field flipping play in the 3rd quarter. Batch says that he doesn’t think Howard would clear waivers if the Steelers wanted to put him on the practice squad.

WTOV’s Jack Hillgrove joined the show. Jack thinks the motion to keep 4 QBs is growing more and more by the day. Jack believes Max Iheanachor could be the starting right tackle by the mini-bye between Weeks 4 & 5, if not sooner. Jack said the Joey Porter Jr. extension should have been done first over the 3 other members of the 2023 draft class that got deals this offseason. Should the Steelers consider cutting Roman Wilson if they can organize a trade to bring in another WR?

Mike McCarthy told reporters today that the contract talks with Joey Porter Jr. are at an ‘impasse’ with the regular season quickly approaching. Should the Steelers pay him? Should they seriously listen to trade offers? If another team offered a 1st round pick, the guys think they would make the move. It’s all about getting that 1st round QB in 2027. Is Porter better than fans give him credit for?

Who will come out as QB2 and will the Steelers get a deal done with Joey Porter Jr. or will they tag him next year OR could the possibly trade him?!

The FULL PM Team show from August 21, 2026.

Former Steeler Bryant McFadden joins the show. B-Mac says that the Joey Porter Jr. situation is very confusing, considering the fact that he is a homegrown guy and has produced at a high level through the first few years of his career. He thinks that JPJ is not far behind Devon Witherspoon or Christian Gonzalez in terms of talent. 

Black and Gold gameday continues

Mark Kaboly joins the show for the next hour. Mark doesn't think it is necessarily a long shot that JPJ gets extended before the season, but he thinks it is more likely that he does not get an extension. He also thinks that Porter is not doing himself any favors by sitting out. Mark also says that the Steelers like their CB depth more than in years past, but they would obviously like to have Porter playing.  More with Mark. Mark thinks that Mason Rudolph is the best backup QB in the league and that he will benefit from having Mike McCarthy as head coach if he makes the team.  More with Mark - We are just over 2 hours away from the Steelers second preseason game. Mark is interested in seeing the running backs play today, as Warren and Dowdle did not play last game. Mark mentions that Kaden Wetjen might be a bubble guy right now, and that it would be a horrendous pick if he ended up getting cut. 

PM Team Black and Gold Gameday starts now. The biggest story in the Steelers' game tonight against the Jets is that Will Howard and Drew Allar will play the entire game, this will be the biggest look that we have gotten of either guy at this point. Poni thinks that if Howard does not play well tonight, the Steelers will have to decide whether it is just growing pains or if they can move on from him.   All Access with Aditi. Aditi mentions that it would be a tough decision if the Steelers decided to hang onto all 4 QBs, as they would lose a roster spot for gamedays. She also says that Deshaun Watson is in a better mental state than he was 5 years ago. There were reports that Deshaun Watson might be a captain for the Browns this year.  Donny Football Debrief - CJ Stroud wants 70 million dollars a year.

Donny Football Debrief - CJ Stroud wants 70 million dollars a year.

PM Team Black and Gold Gameday starts now. The biggest story in the Steelers' game tonight against the Jets is that Will Howard and Drew Allar will play the entire game, this will be the biggest look that we have gotten of either guy at this point. Poni thinks that if Howard does not play well tonight, the Steelers will have to decide whether it is just growing pains or if they can move on from him.  

Fair Game with Nick Farabaugh! JPJ, Steelers roster building strategy, Kaleb Johnson, and much more.

It is unlikely that Joey Porter Jr. will get an extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers according to Chris Halicke of DK Sports. Jordan Schultz, of Starbucks lineage, says that some teams would kick tires on Porter Jr. via trade. What could you potentially get in a JPJ trade? Could you use the Sauce Gardner trade as a framework for JPJ? That would include a first round pick. If you move on from JPJ, what would the Steelers' secondary look like?

PM Team FULL Show 8-20-26

Will Howard will start tomorrow’s game in what is a huge opportunity in his young career. A former NFL insider doesn’t think the Steelers will risk Howard going to the practice squad, especially if he has another outing like he did last week. The intel is that Mike McCarthy ‘loves’ Howard, so it doesn’t seem like he would take the chance of losing him. Does Howard’s mobility give him an advantage over Mason Rudolph, who doesn’t have that tool? Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Has it been decided in the Steelers front office that Mason Rudolph is the backup and he’s not going anywhere? The guys asked Ray if it’s leaning to 4 QBs making the roster, a rare move in modern-day football. Ray said, if there is a split, it’s between how the front office and coaching staff views the future at the position. Ray gives the 4 QB theory a 60% chance of happening. What is the status of the receivers, since we haven’t seen DK Metcalf or Michael Pittman do much of anything? Ray named a few players that could miss out on the 53-man roster if the Steelers roll with 4 QBs, like Robert Spears-Jennings. Ray questioned if the Steelers would keep Robert Tonyan if you keep 4 quarterbacks on the roster. Ray really doesn’t see a way that Kaleb Johnson saves himself before cut-down day. Ray said the defensive line group is one we can find a few different guys that emerge as roster members before it’s all over. What is going on at safety? 2 Truth’s & a Lie.

Andy Weidl spoke to Steelers media yesterday. He compared Drew Allar, in a way, to Jake Delhomme, one of the many QBs Mike McCarthy worked with early in his career. Weidl also spoke highly of Will Howard, saying he consistently played his best in big games. What is more attractive to teams – traits or big-game performances? Joe Burrow is letting it be known again that it feels like now or never for the Bengals. Could he work his way out of Cincy if another season ends in disappointment? It wouldn’t be the first time a franchise QB has done it. Poni decided to predict the Bengals to win the Super Bowl. Donny Football Debrief – The Jets will be starting Geno Smith tomorrow night, so we will see a QB1 against the Steelers defense.

Mason Rudolph is a little bit jealous of Will Howard and Drew Allar, but for reasons you may not think. Rudolph is jealous of the tutelage they have gotten so early in their careers that he didn’t get from a veteran QB or his head coach early on. Aside from the shot taken at Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin, Rudolph is very aware that the fanbase is starving for their next franchise guy. Fair to say he has a point? If Rudolph gets a shot this season, will he succeed under Mike McCarthy? KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Pomp thinks it’s a good broadcasting tool to go back and listen to your work, especially the PXP duties he has with Steelers preseason games. Bob said the preseason games are great for the ratings, even though people claim not to care. Bob thinks 4 QBs is a ‘logical’ move for the Steelers, but it will make things tight when it comes to the 53-man. Pomp was ‘stunned’ by Kaleb Johnson only playing 5 snaps against the Packers, but expects a larger workload tomorrow night. Has Pomp traded notes with Ian Eagle yet, who calls TV games for the Jets in the preseason? Is Gabriel Rubio bound for the practice squad even though he has put together a strong camp? Bob sees a different fire in Roman Wilson this year. After the call, we took a look at the TV crews for NFL preseason games. Power Rankings – Top 5 guys you want on the Steelers roster instead of 4 QBs.

Another labor job for Paul Skenes yesterday in a Pirates win. Poni feels like the public sentiment toward Skenes this year has become very personal and visceral. Is it deserved? Has it gotten as bad as Poni thinks? People are calling in saying he needs to change his diet and dump his girlfriend. Why might the turn be so rotten? The guys pointed out some comments Skenes has made over the course of the season on topics like the World Baseball Classic, the pending work stoppage and his overall performance. The Morning Show was ignored by Curt Schilling today. Calls about Paul Skenes. Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Is the Paul Skenes problem simply come down to a mechanical fix? Is Skenes pushing too hard since he knows things haven’t gone well for him this season? The guys asked Jason about how much blame/credit Bill Murphy deserves, and he thinks it’s a little bit too much on both sides. Jason thinks the most valid complaint from fans is Skenes being hard against the salary cap in baseball because that doesn’t go over well with fans, especially in Pittsburgh. Jason thought the Pirates had a pretty good pitching program in place with Oscar Marin at the helm. The guys credited Andrew McCutchen for being an MVP that loved being part of Pittsburgh and with the Pirates, where as Skenes feels like a hired-gun or a mercenary. Why was Ben Cherington suggesting Skenes was having an ‘excellent’ year?

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Has it been decided in the Steelers front office that Mason Rudolph is the backup and he’s not going anywhere? The guys asked Ray if it’s leaning to 4 QBs making the roster, a rare move in modern-day football. Ray said, if there is a split, it’s between how the front office and coaching staff views the future at the position. Ray gives the 4 QB theory a 60% chance of happening. What is the status of the receivers, since we haven’t seen DK Metcalf or Michael Pittman do much of anything? Ray named a few players that could miss out on the 53-man roster if the Steelers roll with 4 QBs, like Robert Spears-Jennings. Ray questioned if the Steelers would keep Robert Tonyan if you keep 4 quarterbacks on the roster. Ray really doesn’t see a way that Kaleb Johnson saves himself before cut-down day. Ray said the defensive line group is one we can find a few different guys that emerge as roster members before it’s all over. What is going on at safety?

Joe Burrow is letting it be known again that it feels like now or never for the Bengals. Could he work his way out of Cincy if another season ends in disappointment? It wouldn’t be the first time a franchise QB has done it. Poni decided to predict the Bengals to win the Super Bowl.

Andy Weidl spoke to Steelers media yesterday. He compared Drew Allar, in a way, to Jake Delhomme, one of the many QBs Mike McCarthy worked with early in his career. Weidl also spoke highly of Will Howard, saying he consistently played his best in big games. What is more attractive to teams – traits or big-game performances?

KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Pomp thinks it’s a good broadcasting tool to go back and listen to your work, especially the PXP duties he has with Steelers preseason games. Bob said the preseason games are great for the ratings, even though people claim not to care. Bob thinks 4 QBs is a ‘logical’ move for the Steelers, but it will make things tight when it comes to the 53-man. Pomp was ‘stunned’ by Kaleb Johnson only playing 5 snaps against the Packers, but expects a larger workload tomorrow night. Has Pomp traded notes with Ian Eagle yet, who calls TV games for the Jets in the preseason? Is Gabriel Rubio bound for the practice squad even though he has put together a strong camp? Bob sees a different fire in Roman Wilson this year.

Mason Rudolph is a little bit jealous of Will Howard and Drew Allar, but for reasons you may not think. Rudolph is jealous of the tutelage they have gotten so early in their careers that he didn’t get from a veteran QB or his head coach early on. Aside from the shot taken at Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin, Rudolph is very aware that the fanbase is starving for their next franchise guy. Fair to say he has a point? If Rudolph gets a shot this season, will he succeed under Mike McCarthy?

Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Is the Paul Skenes problem simply come down to a mechanical fix? Is Skenes pushing too hard since he knows things haven’t gone well for him this season? The guys asked Jason about how much blame/credit Bill Murphy deserves, and he thinks it’s a little bit too much on both sides. Jason thinks the most valid complaint from fans is Skenes being hard against the salary cap in baseball because that doesn’t go over well with fans, especially in Pittsburgh. Jason thought the Pirates had a pretty good pitching program in place with Oscar Marin at the helm. The guys credited Andrew McCutchen for being an MVP that loved being part of Pittsburgh and with the Pirates, where as Skenes feels like a hired-gun or a mercenary. Why was Ben Cherington suggesting Skenes was having an ‘excellent’ year?

Another labor job for Paul Skenes yesterday in a Pirates win. Poni feels like the public sentiment toward Skenes this year has become very personal and visceral. Is it deserved? Has it gotten as bad as Poni thinks? People are calling in saying he needs to change his diet and dump his girlfriend. Why might the turn be so rotten? The guys pointed out some comments Skenes has made over the course of the season on topics like the World Baseball Classic, the pending work stoppage and his overall performance.

PM Team FULL Show 8-19-26