The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller

PM Team FULL show 11-6-2025

-If the Steelers still need to get a QB in this upcoming draft, which ones should they now circle? The season has gone south for so many high-end college QBs that the conversation has now changed. The 4 names – Ty Simpson (Alabama), Dante Moore (Oregon), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Sam Leavitt (Arizona State). What do we like about these guys? – Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. The guys discuss DeMarvin Leal getting released, as well as the team's chances of snatching Jakobi Meyers, and if they would've been able to sign him for 2026 and beyond. Does the team not acquiring an outside receiving candidate at the deadline mean more opportunities for Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson? – Total Request Thursday

Smith’s Sayings – What did Arthur Smith say to the media earlier today? – Steve Palazzolo from the 33rd Team joined the show. Steve thought the Steelers probably should have added something to the offense at the deadline, but thinks there might be a little bit left in the tank of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He said MVS has a lot of issues in his game, but if he can still run and have that connection with Aaron Rodgers, it could pay dividends. Steve said we live in a ‘championship or bust’ world, which could blind people to future assets. Is the defensive output going to even out? The guys had Steve react to the Steelers cutting DeMarvin Leal earlier today. Is Steve more about traits or production at the college level? Steve picked the Steelers to win in LA. – Donny Football Debrief – Antonio Brown has been taken into custody by US Marshals on an attempted murder charge. What does all of this mean for his HOF candidacy?

-What grades do we give the Steelers for their first half of the season? We are all between A- and B after the first 9 weeks. – KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Does Pomp still golf this time of year? Bob gave the Steelers a B- grade for the first half of the season. How much does the Bengals game weigh on their docket? The Chargers will start Trevor Penning on Sunday, who they acquired ahead of the trade deadline – will the Steelers regret not making a move for a WR? Bob loved what he saw on Sunday, but wondered if the Steelers can beat a team like the Bills without forcing multiple turnovers. Bob thinks the Steelers win a close game in LA. – Power Rankings – PGH athletes under 25.

-There are former Steelers asking why the team didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline to better the team. One believes if the defense needed help, Mike Tomlin would have made sure an acquisition took place. If the Steelers added somebody like Jakobi Meyers, where would that put them in the AFC? Do we still think it was a mistake that they didn’t do anything ahead of the deadline, outside of the Kyle Dugger move from over a week ago? The guys questioned whether or not the Steelers thinking about the draft was a smart move. How much say did Mike have in comparison to the owner and GM? – Pitt QB Mason Heintschel joined the show. Mason said his favorite football jersey is his Patrick Mahomes one from around 2018. He was a 3-sport athlete in high school, so the guys asked him about his HS exploits. Mason told the guys why he is a Tennessee Titans fan. He joked that the Titans upset playoff win over the Ravens a few years back was ‘one of the best days of his life.’ Mason said baseball was a little bit too slow of a sport for him to get into. What was Mason’s motivation getting into college football? Mason said scoring on the first drive in his first start really raised his confidence level. Mason watches a lot of Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert film. He added Drew Brees to that list. He talked about the role his parents have played in where he’s at. Mason talked about the confidence instilled in him, but the fine line you have to walk. He said he’s not much of a trash talker on the field, but Pitt has no shortage of that. The guys asked Mason about his chat with Jon Gruden that was published earlier in the week – saying Gruden may be at the Pitt-Notre Dame game next weekend. Mason said he is using the bye week to get a little bit ahead of Notre Dame even with the Panthers winning 5 straight games. Mason talked about the trip to Florida State, playing in front of a hostile crowd, and coming out of it with a win. Mason credited some high school classes for why he has no issue public speaking or doing a full-length interview. Did Mason have any relationship with Bruce Gradkowski, who was a Toledo football legend? – Former Pitt QB Pat Bostick joined the show. Pat talked to the guys about Mason Heintschel and how special of a young man he is. The guys talked about what has transpired at QB with Pitt in the last 12 months. Pat described Mason as a ‘football junkie’ and said he was watching film when he was the third QB on the depth chart. What kind of pitch does Pitt have to put forth to make sure Mason is back next season in the NIL/transfer portal era of college football? What led to such love for Notre Dame and the Catholic contingent that roots on the Fighting Irish? The guys said Marcus Freeman is easier to like than just about any coach in ND history. Can Pitt stand up to the Irish next Saturday? What kind of resume is Pitt giving to the College Football Playoff committee?

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. The guys discuss DeMarvin Leal getting released, as well as the team's chances of snatching Jakobi Meyers, and if they would've been able to sign him for 2026 and beyond. Does the team not acquiring an outside receiving candidate at the deadline mean more opportunities for Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson?

Steve Palazzolo from the 33rd Team joined the show. Steve thought the Steelers probably should have added something to the offense at the deadline, but thinks there might be a little bit left in the tank of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He said MVS has a lot of issues in his game, but if he can still run and have that connection with Aaron Rodgers, it could pay dividends. Steve said we live in a ‘championship or bust’ world, which could blind people to future assets. Is the defensive output going to even out? The guys had Steve react to the Steelers cutting DeMarvin Leal earlier today. Is Steve more about traits or production at the college level? Steve picked the Steelers to win in LA.

PM Team Week 10 NFL picks.

KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Does Pomp still golf this time of year? Bob gave the Steelers a B- grade for the first half of the season. How much does the Bengals game weigh on their docket? The Chargers will start Trevor Penning on Sunday, who they acquired ahead of the trade deadline – will the Steelers regret not making a move for a WR? Bob loved what he saw on Sunday, but wondered if the Steelers can beat a team like the Bills without forcing multiple turnovers. Bob thinks the Steelers win a close game in LA.

Former Pitt QB Pat Bostick joined the show. Pat talked to the guys about Mason Heintschel and how special of a young man he is. The guys talked about what has transpired at QB with Pitt in the last 12 months. Pat described Mason as a ‘football junkie’ and said he was watching film when he was the third QB on the depth chart. What kind of pitch does Pitt have to put forth to make sure Mason is back next season in the NIL/transfer portal era of college football? What led to such love for Notre Dame and the Catholic contingent that roots on the Fighting Irish? The guys said Marcus Freeman is easier to like than just about any coach in ND history. Can Pitt stand up to the Irish next Saturday? What kind of resume is Pitt giving to the College Football Playoff committee?

Pitt QB Mason Heintschel joined the show. Mason said his favorite football jersey is his Patrick Mahomes one from around 2018. He was a 3-sport athlete in high school, so the guys asked him about his HS exploits. Mason told the guys why he is a Tennessee Titans fan. He joked that the Titans upset playoff win over the Ravens a few years back was ‘one of the best days of his life.’ Mason said baseball was a little bit too slow of a sport for him to get into. What was Mason’s motivation getting into college football? Mason said scoring on the first drive in his first start really raised his confidence level. Mason watches a lot of Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert film. He added Drew Brees to that list. He talked about the role his parents have played in where he’s at. Mason talked about the confidence instilled in him, but the fine line you have to walk. He said he’s not much of a trash talker on the field, but Pitt has no shortage of that. The guys asked Mason about his chat with Jon Gruden that was published earlier in the week – saying Gruden may be at the Pitt-Notre Dame game next weekend. Mason said he is using the bye week to get a little bit ahead of Notre Dame even with the Panthers winning 5 straight games. Mason talked about the trip to Florida State, playing in front of a hostile crowd, and coming out of it with a win. Mason credited some high school classes for why he has no issue public speaking or doing a full-length interview. Did Mason have any relationship with Bruce Gradkowski, who was a Toledo football legend?

There are former Steelers asking why the team didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline to better the team. One believes if the defense needed help, Mike Tomlin would have made sure an acquisition took place. If the Steelers added somebody like Jakobi Meyers, where would that put them in the AFC? Do we still think it was a mistake that they didn’t do anything ahead of the deadline, outside of the Kyle Dugger move from over a week ago? The guys questioned whether or not the Steelers thinking about the draft was a smart move. How much say did Mike have in comparison to the owner and GM?

PM Team FULL Show 11-5-25

The Steelers newest addition is in town and was at practice. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, an old friend of Aaron Rodgers, was chatting with the media today. MVS credited Rodgers for being the reason why he was in Pittsburgh even though Mike Tomlin simply called him a practice squad guy. MVS also sounds like a guy that will be in the lineup sooner rather than later and not just hanging out at practice. We also got news that Asante Samuel Jr. is visiting the Steelers next week. A reason the Steelers may not have traded a 4th round pick yesterday is due to the record Omar Khan has drafting in that round – which has yet to have a clear miss in 3 years. Are we also overrating those players a little bit? 93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. The guys went over the injury report with Jeff and he thinks Isaac Seumalo is one to watch this week with the ongoing pec injury. Could Andrus Peat see his first action with the Steelers? Jeff thinks Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be on the field the moment he is ready and isn’t just a ‘warm body.’ Jeff confirmed that Jakobi Meyers was on their radar, but the compensation was just a little too much. Jeff thinks there’s a decent chance Asante Samuel Jr. signs here if he makes it to Wednesday as a free agent. Jeff sees a low-scoring game with the Steelers winning in LA. Judge Donny – Are the Penguins a playoff team?

Rodgers’ Rebuttals – What did Aaron Rodgers say to the media today? ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Aditi said it is fair for people to criticize the Steelers for the lack of moves yesterday. Aditi didn’t think the price for guys like Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed were too steep for the Steelers to take a chance. Aditi talked about players going through breakout games and what it could mean for them going forward. Do the Steelers have guys like that in their WR corps? Broadly speaking, Aditi doesn’t see the Steelers among the top 3 or 4 in the AFC, but will be in the playoff picture as always. She said the smarts from Aaron Rodgers has been a true difference maker in the Steelers offense. Out of Poni’s somewhat ridiculous QB suggestions for 2026, she said Joe Flacco would be her pick. Donny Football Debrief – A community college in Compton, CA had a rough football season with some ‘grizzly’ veterans on the field.

There is a conspiracy theory floating around that Art Rooney II ‘blocked’ any trade the Steelers could have made to save draft picks for next April when the event takes place in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are projected to have up to 12 selections that weekend and the owner may feel like holding onto the capital is the best move. Do we think there is anything to this? Former MLB pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Matt came hot out of the gate talking Pirates free agency, saying his first call would be to JT Realmuto and that they should offer him a 3-year deal. Matt didn’t put any blame on Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his baserunning gaffe in Game 7. He added thoughts on some of the other events in the game. How much did he enjoy the final game of the season? Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Mike said the Steelers should throw away the ugly throwbacks they wore on Sunday Night Football. The guys had Mike react to the trade deadline and the lack of moves from the Steelers yesterday for players like Jakobi Meyers or Rashid Shaheed. Mike doesn’t buy into the conspiracy theory that Art Rooney II prevented the front office from making moves. What does he think of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who will stand as the Steelers lone WR move? Mike was surprised they didn’t acquire Allen Lazard since the Jets were undergoing a fire sale. Mike doesn’t think there should be regret in dealing George Pickens even if they failed to fill that WR2 void. Mike isn’t ready to consider the Steelers a serious contender – he said their season comes down to fending off the Ravens. Poni threw out a few QBs that could be available for the Steelers in 2026 if Aaron Rodgers retires after the season. Mike believes Kyler Murray will be available and will possibly get cut by the Cardinals before we enter the offseason. Mike described the YouTube TV feud with Disney/ESPN as ‘unfortunate’ because it continues to make things more difficult for the consumer. Mike said if they ‘gave a crap’ about the customers, they would resolve this before they do anything else, but there is too much ego coming from the top. Mike said the NFL is powerful enough that they can settle this problem if they really wanted to – saying it’s ‘curious’ that the league is standing on the sidelines here.

We continued to react to the Steelers standing pat at the trade deadline. Poni had a gripe with the people who cover the team, many of which are on our airwaves. Almost all of them lauded the team for not making a single move yesterday, giving the team an A+ for their work. Poni believes the same people would have given the team the same grade if they had made moves. The Fan vs The Fans. Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. The Penguins have made a plethora of moves, including the promotion of Sergei Murashov, who could be the goaltender of the future. TK said if this kid has great early returns, it creates a ‘good, tough’ decision for the Penguins when Tristan Jarry is healthy. He suggested the team putting Jarry on waivers if Murashov shows out. Tyler said it will be a tough transition in terms of crowd noise and attendance, as well as the uptick in the pace of play. He will likely get his first action against Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer of all-time. The guys asked Tyler about the collapse in Toronto the other night when the Penguins held a 3-0 lead after 2 periods.

93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. The guys went over the injury report with Jeff and he thinks Isaac Seumalo is one to watch this week with the ongoing pec injury. Could Andrus Peat see his first action with the Steelers? Jeff thinks Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be on the field the moment he is ready and isn’t just a ‘warm body.’ Jeff confirmed that Jakobi Meyers was on their radar, but the compensation was just a little too much. Jeff thinks there’s a decent chance Asante Samuel Jr. signs here if he makes it to Wednesday as a free agent. Jeff sees a low-scoring game with the Steelers winning in LA.

ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Aditi said it is fair for people to criticize the Steelers for the lack of moves yesterday. Aditi didn’t think the price for guys like Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed were too steep for the Steelers to take a chance. Aditi talked about players going through breakout games and what it could mean for them going forward. Do the Steelers have guys like that in their WR corps? Broadly speaking, Aditi doesn’t see the Steelers among the top 3 or 4 in the AFC, but will be in the playoff picture as always. She said the smarts from Aaron Rodgers has been a true difference maker in the Steelers offense. Out of Poni’s somewhat ridiculous QB suggestions for 2026, she said Joe Flacco would be her pick.

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Mike said the Steelers should throw away the ugly throwbacks they wore on Sunday Night Football. The guys had Mike react to the trade deadline and the lack of moves from the Steelers yesterday for players like Jakobi Meyers or Rashid Shaheed. Mike doesn’t buy into the conspiracy theory that Art Rooney II prevented the front office from making moves. What does he think of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who will stand as the Steelers lone WR move? Mike was surprised they didn’t acquire Allen Lazard since the Jets were undergoing a fire sale. Mike doesn’t think there should be regret in dealing George Pickens even if they failed to fill that WR2 void. Mike isn’t ready to consider the Steelers a serious contender – he said their season comes down to fending off the Ravens. Poni threw out a few QBs that could be available for the Steelers in 2026 if Aaron Rodgers retires after the season. Mike believes Kyler Murray will be available and will possibly get cut by the Cardinals before we enter the offseason. Mike described the YouTube TV feud with Disney/ESPN as ‘unfortunate’ because it continues to make things more difficult for the consumer. Mike said if they ‘gave a crap’ about the customers, they would resolve this before they do anything else, but there is too much ego coming from the top. Mike said the NFL is powerful enough that they can settle this problem if they really wanted to – saying it’s ‘curious’ that the league is standing on the sidelines here.