You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo ….
Michael DeRosa, @MichaelLDeRosa: It has been 18 years since the Steelers took a dynamic offensive playmaker in the 1st round (Mendenhall). The plodding Najee doesn’t count. If you define it as running under 4.55, is this the longest draft drought for offensive speed for a 1st round talent in modern history?
Starkey: That is a great question, Dr. DeRosa. I hadn’t thought of their recent draft history in those terms, but you are exactly right. They took Santonio Holmes in 2006 and then Rashard Mendenhall in 2008 — and they haven’t taken a game-breaking-offensive talent in the first round since then.
The first thing people will say, I’m sure, is that Mendenhall didn’t turn out to be a game-breaker, either. But I know what you’re getting at — and he did have some good years here, where he busted runs of 68, 60 and 50 yards and ran for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns one year. So your point is well-taken.
Obviously, we’re talking receiver if it happens this year — and it feels like a coin flip right now. The Michael Pittman Jr. signing might keep them from going receiver in the first round, although that would still feel like a reasonable move.
As to your specific question, it might not be as unusual as you’d think, considering there are really only two “dynamic playmaker” offensive positions — running back and receiver — and running backs don’t go in the first round as much as they used to.
Take the Cleveland Browns, for example. In the past 20 years they have taken only two players who fit in this category — at least theoretically — and their names were Trent Richardson and Corey Coleman. The Ravens have tried many times at receiver and have mostly failed.
I still admire your question greatly.
The Burgh Bulletin, @burghbulletin: I know the best judge is the on-field-product in the fall and winter, but do you feel any different now about the McCarthy hire as opposed to your initial feelings on it back in January?
Starkey: I don’t, Dr. Bulletin, but thank you for asking. What has transpired since then, specific to his hiring, that would make me feel differently? I didn’t feel like it was a terrible hire, by the way. I just felt like it was Mike Tomlin 2.0, even if Mike McCarthy specializes on the other side of the ball.
It feels like 9-8-1 with a first-round playoff loss to me, if they get that far. I’d love to be wrong. But like Tomlin, McCarthy has apparently forgotten how to win playoff games. Tomlin went his final nine years without coming close to a playoff win. McCarthy has one playoff win in his past seven seasons.
I will say I feel better about the roster, though, if that’s what you meant by your question.
What did you mean by your question?
Andy Peters, @Andyaecom: Is it possible if somehow the MLB and the MLBPA agree on a salary cap that we can have Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin for many years to come. Similar to NFL dynamic duos like Burrow and Chase?
Starkey: In theory, that sounds great, Dr. Peters, but in reality, that could mean Bob Nutting committing nearly $1 billion to two baseball players. I’m not liking the odds.
Also, it should be possible to lock up Griffin for around eight years with a reasonably priced deal right now.
Joe Custer, @colonelflan42: On a scale of “what in the hell is goalie interference” to “Jesse James caught that ball,” what is the worst officiated play you have ever seen in sports
Starkey: Do you mean a specific play, General Custer, or a kind of play. I think the kind of play that drives me most crazy these days is “illegal” screens in basketball. I’ll watch a game where I see 35 minutes of ball screens of every kind and then, suddenly, out of nowhere, a referee deems one of them “illegal.” Drives me crazy.
But yes, goalie interference is up there, as well, and I’m not sure there is a perfect answer to that problem. Same with catch or not-a-catch in the NFL. The nature of those plays makes them impossible to officiate perfectly, even with replay.
BoomBox Billy, @b1llyboombox: Good Day Joe, will Columbus ever lose again? Islanders? Is the Penguins’ season burnt toast? Colorado, Ottawa, Dallas.
Starkey: Hello BoomBox. Things are getting tighter by the day it seems. Ottawa won again Monday night. The Senators are 14-3-2 in their past 19 games. Columbus has lost three games in regulation since Jan. 20. Boston is 19-5-6 in its past 30 games. The Flyers are in a 9-4-1 stretch. It’s incredible.
The Islanders, Red Wings and Canadiens seem more vulnerable. And yes, the Penguins’ schedule is brutal. But they are not toast. They need to play tighter defense and get better goaltending down the stretch. I’m thinking it might take 98 points or more to get in, which is incredible.
Usually, the low 90s is good enough, but back in 2021-22, the Capitals needed 100 points to snag the final wild card spot. It happens.
Every time I think the Penguins are going to slip away, they come back — whether it’s in-game or the season as a whole. They have 12 games left. They need to average at least a point a game. It’s doable.
Steely McCringleberry, @JimboSportsGuy: If you are the Steelers and Ioane is available before the Ravens pick, do you trade 21, a couple 4ths and a 2027 3rd to trade up and get him?
Starkey: I don’t think, not for a guard, Dr. berry. I do like Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane. Who wouldn’t? But the price there seems a bit steep.
Taylor, @Taylor72815844: Joe, are Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino the last of a dying breed in the college coaching world? If so, is that good or bad for college basketball? Also, are you a fan of fried bologna sandwiches? P.S. — Bob has Dean Martin like features.
Starkey: You stuffed a lot into that post, Dr. 72815844. I’ll take it piecemeal:
1 — Izzo and Pitino are legends, for sure, and they aren’t the only older, old-school coaches still getting it done. What about Kelvin Sampson, Rick Barnes and John Calipari? I’m not sure they’re a dying breed, though, even in an age of more player entitlement. I believe players still want tough coaching, and plenty of younger coaches deliver it.
2 — I don’t like fried bologna, or really bologna of any type.
3 — I agree.
Christian Wagner, @presidentwagner: Are you pulling for the team Danny Nee once led, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, in the NCAA Tournament?
Starkey: I’m a big Danny Nee fan, but no, Dr. Wagner, I am not. My dad went to St. John’s. I’m pulling for them.
Richard Snodgrass, @richsnodgrass64: Joe, what are your thoughts on the Pickett deal with the Panthers? I think he’s going to be stuck behind Bryce Young, barring some unforeseen circumstances. I hope he gets a fair chance to prove all of the naysayers wrong. Both Baker and Darnold turned their careers around there.
Starkey: I’d love to see Kenny Pickett prove people wrong, Dr. Snodgrass, but I think people are right if they believe he’s not an NFL starter. He’s just not.
J, @Crossland895: Greetings Joe! Do you agree with Big Ben’s take when he says “you should build a team, and then get a quarterback, not the other way around”? Bonus: Will you be attending the PFL fights this coming weekend?
Starkey: That’s an easy thing to say when you don’t have a franchise quarterback, Dr. 895. I’d rather have the quarterback and build around him. But I guess it’s the second-best option. And as it turns out, I’ll be away this weekend. Tell them I said hello.
Cam R., @Camking2189: Would you consider QB Anthony Richardson an option if Aaron Rogers retires?
Starkey: No.
Paul Christopher, @paulchr06587000: Who wins in a punt, pass and kick contest, you or City Limits?
Starkey: You know the answer to that, Dr. 06587000. Losing to Limits would be like losing to Kenny Pickett in a hand-size contest.
Burke O’Toole, @BurkeMan513: Dr. Starkey, on the show today you guys talked about surprise hitters. Who do you think will be a surprise pitcher for the Buccos this season?
Starkey: How about Hunter Barco stepping into the rotation and providing a left-handed presence, Dr. 513? I could see that. What’s more, I am predicting that.
Ryan Chepkevish, @oofoof8: Joe, with the regular season starting on Thursday who will hit the first home run of the season? I’m thinking Oneil Cruz. Was in Bradenton for last three games, everyone looked good.
Starkey: OK, I’ll go with Cruz, Dr. 8. Just beware of the Bradenton Flu. It has seized many. You go to Bradenton and you come away thinking the Pirates will win the pennant.
Then again, I predicted them to win 86 games, so who am I to talk?
Mike Jones, @MikeJones412: PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium are now just five seasons away from their lease expiration in 2030. With Pittsburgh’s financial crisis, they’re not getting new stadiums here. Will they renovate the stadiums, or will the Steelers move to Cranberry and the Pirates move to Nashville?
Starkey: I suppose anything is possible, Dr. Jones, but I’d say renovations are much more likely. I’d also say that time flies. How is PNC Park (and Acrisure) a quarter-century old?
MarcoRolo, @MarcoRolo153505: How long of a leash do you give Henry Davis?
Starkey: Man, that is a recurring and intriguing question, Dr. Rolo. If he can’t hit (again), you’d think not long. But he is Paul Skenes’ guy, and that likely counts for a lot with management.
Still, he has to hit at least .220 with a home run every once in a while, right? Especially if Endy Rodriguez and/or Rafael Flores are playing well in Triple-A?
It’s a big storyline.
Donald Hilenbrant, @Hildebeest24: Good day, Joe. I had a feeling the Pens keeping Skinner at the deadline was going to be a mistake. I wanted to see Murashov get more games in before a (possible) playoff series. What does Joseph Q. Starkey think?
Starkey: I agree with every syllable and half-syllable you just uttered, Dr. H. And I’d still give Sergei Murashov a shot by keeping an extra goalie.
But who am I?