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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 10.24.24
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Roman
12:29
Jason, is it really that hard for a WR to jump on the proverbial moving train? I mean, I start by standing still, then I run straight ahead for awhile, and then I either make a left or right, or I keep running straight.  Oh yeah, and if they throw me the pigskin, I try to catch it. What am I missing?
Jason Mackey
12:30
I'm not gonna try to pretend to be an NFL wide receivers coach. But I have no problem with Mike Tomlin holding young guys to a standard. If his play in practice hasn't been up to snuff -- the Steelers should have no interest in benching a perfectly good player -- then bench him. I have a feeling there's probably more at play, though, as far as experience and learning and growing.
Tina
12:30
Hi Jason, what are chances the Steelers trade for Cooper Kupp?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:31
Chances would be a better thing to ask Gerry, Ray or Brian, as they're more of the reporting team, but I will say this: There certainly seems to be a chance. Steelers have expressed interest in a lot of WR2 candidates. They recognize there's a need. Should Kupp be made available -- believe he is or close -- I don't know why that wouldn't be entertained.
TJ
12:32
Jason, when the Final Watt NFL Story is in the proverbial books, who will have had the better career: Myself, JJ or Derek?
Jason Mackey
12:33
Gonna eliminate Derek on that one, no offense. Ha. It's close. Will probably go you by a hair. But likely because of the position played more than anything. Obviously two incredible players.
Mountain Gus
12:39
What is your opinion of the Cooper Kupp situation?  Good fit for Steelers?  Too expensive, old, injury prone?
Jason Mackey
12:39
Hey Gus. Hit this a few times. But basically I love every ounce of it. Perfect complement to George Pickens, a move the Steelers need to make to be great. And I'm not scared off by the price tag. Not one bit.
Cullen
12:39
Why are most publications so down overall on Termarr? To me a 20 year old with elite walk rates and decent strikeout rates with good contact skills and some power, that made it to AA at his age is solid. I get that he has started off slow the last 2 years but he has caught fire after that raising his average nearly 100 points by the end of the year both times. Was this a case of him being to hyped up at draft time and the writers over adjusting based on results? At every level he has been very young and has put ip WrC of 142, 141, 128, and 98. That's a good hitter to me.
Jason Mackey
12:43
I can't answer for mystery publications. Maybe because he's undersized? One could also see this season as a regression? I don't know. I think a lot of Termarr. These group also had Eddy Yean, Tucupita Marcano, Hudson Head and others as top-10 prospects. Not sure I'd take it as gospel.
Caitlin
12:43
Jason, the coach of the losing finals flat out accused the officials of blatantly favoring the big city club over a team from the flyover territories.  Why is this not a bigger story? Worse, it appears to have some basis in reality, no?
Jason Mackey
12:44
Sorry, Caitlin. This one slipped by me.
PrinceBob
12:44
I'm not just sucking up here but a few days ago my oldest son and I were talking about how much we both like your writing. There was a time in his college life when he thought seriously of getting into sports writing or media as a career. He actually broadcast a couple college games and has covered a couple local events for our local paper. But he decided against sports reporting as a career because in his words, "If they sent me to cover something like high school girls' lacrosse I think I'd just kill myself." Which got me to wonder if on your way up you had to cover things that you had no interest in and generally if that's something young media types encounter
Jason Mackey
12:47
I had to cover high school girls lacrosse, yes. But I'd never say I had no interest in it. And that's the honest true. Shoot, I had to do some story on SkyBall (whatever that is) back in the day, as I was cutting my teeth. My wife and I still laugh about that. I love my job. Loved it when I started back in 2007, love it now. It's curiosity. It's reporting. Not doing it feels like telling a musician he or she can't play. So, yeah, I covered girls lacrosse and threw myself into it full bore. Didn't know another way. I wanted to be great. Maybe I was OK. Did the same with field hockey, swimming, tennis ... I don't know, sports others might find boring. I found fulfillment in filling a need or doing something creatively cool. If you're not into writing, learning, telling stories, that whole thing, by all means, this is way too hard of a business to navigate. Anyway, you can tell, I can probably go on and on about my love for this gig and the journey I've had.
joeco
12:47
Kudos to Pitt - mens/womens soccer, women's volleyball, men's football.. Does the men's basketball team add to the upward trend in Pitt sports this year?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Hope so. I think they could. Though it might be tough to stop volleyball. I do like Capel's team. Some intriguing transfers.
Kevin
12:49
How does the conditional pick for Justin fields work. Is there a hold on our fourth round pick that we can’t use that in a trade in case the condition is met that it becomes a fourth round pick to the bears instead of a sixth round pick
Jason Mackey
12:50
Believe it becomes a fourth-round pick if he plays over 51% of the snaps. So, yeah, it would -- to my knowledge -- govern their use of that fourth-rounder as well. (Can't trade a pick you might have already traded, right?)
Yardley
12:50
Hey Jason, any news on K’Bryan’s back rehab?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:50
No, nothing. But that's normal. Nobody bothers anyone in October baseball-wise. There's no availability. Everyone just kind of decompresses. So, haven't heard much. Wouldn't expect to hear much until some point in November.
Cosmo Kramer
12:50
Do you think the Steelers will make a trade for WR help before the deadline?
Jason Mackey
12:51
I do. I hope it's Cooper Kupp, but that would be a big-time deal. Reality says it will probably be smaller in nature.
VAPittfan
12:51
Will Blomquist get a start this weekend?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Yeah, I don't see how you can play Jarry against Edmonton or Vancouver. What happens if he gets shelled? I think you go with Joel and let Jarry work through his issues.
PrinceBob
12:51
Do you prefer college football's "one foot in bounds" rule for completed passes or the NFL's "both feet" in rule? I think I like the college one better because it seems to me that they don't need to review those as often or for as long. And what the college pass interference penalty's 15 yard one or rhe NFL on the spot one?
Jason Mackey
12:52
I wish they matched, and my pick is two feet. Oddly, I think I would go with college's 15-yard rule. I don't like the assumption that play would be made when most times, it is not.
Ken in San Francisco
12:52
Hello Jason.  No question, just want to acknowledge the passing of Fernando Valenzuela , a great player with a unique style.  I understand he helped a lot of people in his much too short life.  Today, Dodger Blue is dodger blue in more ways than one.
Jason Mackey
12:53
No doubt. Thanks, Ken. Make sure you check out Noah's piece on Valenzuela here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2024/10/23/1-on-1-fernando...
PrinceBob
12:53
Do you think that Kansas City will be the last "small market" team to win a World Series in a long,long, time? It seems to me that it's bery possible for a low spending team to pile up enough regular season wins to get to the post season but usually just don't have the fire power to get beyond, the Brewers looking like the poster child here.
Jason Mackey
12:54
I don't. I believe baseball will eventually figure itself out with a cap and floor and revenue-sharing system, potentially in the next CBA cycle.
PrinceBob
12:54
Your column about George Pickens got me to wondering if there is any specific position in any professional sports that generates the kind of melodrama that NFL wide receivers do?
Jason Mackey
12:54
No way. Totally unique one there.
Tom and Margie
12:54
Hey Jason, are any efforts being made to lure a NBA or WNBA franchise to our fair city?  Thank you.
Jason Mackey
12:55
Last I heard was the SEA assessing the feasibility of it or something like that. I don't think finding a buyer or host would be a problem. I think it's more whether the league would put a team here. They have a bunch of (objectively probably better) options.
PrinceBob
12:55
Why does Indianapolis get to keep being the Indians when Cleveland didn't? My first thought is that it's a major league vs. minor league thing. But there are colleges that have felt the need to make similar changes and even some high schools around here have made changes. Could it just be that since the city's name already has "Indians" it they might as well let it end that way?
Jason Mackey
12:55
I think a lot has to do with ownership and whether that group is pressured into changing, as well as how resistant they are to changing. If there was a big fuss made in Indianapolis, something would probably have to be done.
O’Korn
12:55
As a big fan of Robert Clemente, do you think the “Great One” will ever have his number retired by Major League Baseball?  Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:56
I sure hope so. Don't know it hasn't been retired already.
Jim (Cosmo) K in Jax
12:56
Who is the best 412 sports team at this moment? Which one has the best potential to possibly make a difference in the post season? Is Jarry's confidence lost somewhere in the paint can? As always, Darren says hello.
Jason Mackey
12:56
Yeah, Jarry's confidence ain't great. But I do think he can find it. Pitt volleyball has the best chance of winning a championship in its sport. But pro-wise, I'd have to go with the Steelers. They're the biggest threat to win a playoff round at the moment.
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