May 4, 2026 • 31 mins
Tim continues to talk about Rodgers and the Steelers in the wake of Gerry Dulac's story, Phil Bourque joins the show to talk about the end of the Penguins season and the offseason ahead.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, So the Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting for
Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
As you read from Jerry Dulac today in the PG.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I'll give you the quote one more time, after watching
two of their expected deadlines come and go and insisting
this isn't the same situation as last year. The Steelers
might not be so understanding of this drags on for
two more weeks If Rogers hasn't given them a decision
by the start of organized team activities on May the eighteenth,
(00:29):
their latest deadline. And that's Jerry putting the emphasis there
before deadline, not me, their patients will start to turn
into frustration and maybe something more. He described in his
opening Jerry did the Steelers as having saint like patients
(00:49):
for Aaron Rodgers. But it could be starting to wear
thin now. If you listen to what Tom Pelicero, though,
said a couple days ago on The Rich Eisen Show,
makes it sound like these Steelers had Aaron Rodgers in
mind when they created their draft board and made their selections.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Take a listen for Aaron.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
He's continuing to MOA's options. My understanding his he is
talked with the Steelers regularly. He has talked to them
since the draft. Everything they did in the draft may
not have been designed for Aaron Rodgers, but certainly if
you were saying what might Aaron Rodgers want? A tackle,
a guard's, a barroom brawler, and a big slot receiver,
those are three things that Aaron Rodgers likes. So everything
(01:31):
seems to have been built in that direction. Aaron's got
to make the final call. If I'm leaning at this point,
I'm still leaning toward Aaron Rodgers is on board, and
he's on the field, not just in Mini camp but
in OTA's at some point. But they still await that call,
and we'll see when exactly they get it.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
To a degree, that's true, but to another degree, I
am not on board with how Pela Sero broke that down.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And stay with me on this.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
If the Steelers truly want Aaron Rodgers to return their
quarterback here in twenty twenty six, I don't know that
the draft makes as much sense as Pelissaro is talking about.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
There.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
See there presumably holding out hope that a forty two
year old quarterback comes back for one more run to
get a ten and seventeen to a slightly better level
than just winning a mediocre division and getting pounded in
the first round of the playoffs yet again. So let's
recap what they did and what they didn't do over
(02:30):
the draft, and you tell me if these selections are
really on a parallel track with that goal to get
better this year with a forty two year old quarterback.
They drafted a lot of offensive guys, like Peli Sera said,
that's true, but the front office was preparing to get
the third of what were perceived to be six wide
(02:51):
receivers who were first round worthy at pick number twenty one.
That was a wise plan, Metcalf Pittman, Junior. Those are
the other receivers of repute on the rock. That was
it those two guys. But when the Eagles yanked the
rugout from under Omar Khan and stole mackay Lemon, the
Steelers then pivoted to get Max Ire and pass protection
(03:13):
for Rogers instead of a pass receiver. That's fair enough.
Ianire has huge upside, but he's raw only picked up
the game of football at the junior college level in
twenty one. They might not feel comfortable entrenching him at
left tackle right away, So Troy Fautanu might have to
switch over to left after he played so well at right,
and then you put he Hanachur then potentially as a
(03:35):
rookie and at right tackle. Instead of continuing to prioritize
getting a wide receiver within the first forty picks. Omar
Khan then didn't trade into the first round for a
second pick, even though multiple trades took place after they
got Ianchor, Nor did he trade up in the second
round board to get Denzel Boston, to get Omar Cooper,
(03:59):
to get Casey Concepsion. They waited and then eventually traded
up from forty seven from fifty three to forty seven
to get Bernard from Alabama as the eighth receiver taken.
He's a nice prospect, but unlikely to make an instant
impact the same way those first six receivers are expected
to make. Then they take a quarterback in the third round,
(04:23):
and I don't know how Rogers likes that, especially since
he's already got one guy to groom in Howard. They
took Jennings Dunker, who's a tackle who's becoming a guard potentially,
so again pass protection, but you're moving a guy from
one position to the other. Then they get Kayden Wetgen,
(04:44):
the kick return specialist, and h back to basically be
a replacement for Hayward and Eli Heinreich, who's a wing
back at Navy who's going to try to learn to
play the slot. So to recap this is what they did.
They got a law offensive tackle who may not win
a starting job, and if he does, may result in
(05:04):
displacing a first round pick of two years ago who's
just fined at his current position. They got a decent
receiver that they traded up to get instead of one
of many potential starting receivers they didn't feel comfortable moving
up to get with the forty two year old quarterback
in place. They got a tackle that's moving to guard
a return man who is a juco running back trying
to become an NFL receiver after twenty three college catches,
(05:27):
an aged back, and a college wingback who will attempt
to become a slot receiver if he makes the team.
That's a lot of players moving around and doing NFL
on the job, training in different spots under the watchful
eye of a forty two year old quarterback who doesn't
hide it when players make mistakes on offense, and he's
(05:47):
the victim of them. And then there's Aller, who's the
piast resistance here, another quarterback of the depth chart. In
addition to Rogers, Howard and Mason, Rudolphs and others, four quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
In the room.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So Ihana, Shore and Bernard and Aller and Dunker. They
all might become very good players someday. The other three
guys could become niche contributors. I'm just dubious of how
many of these guys immediately help a forty two year
old quarterback in what may be his final season of
pro football, Like, how does that improve an offense right
(06:23):
away that needs a lot of assistance right now?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Four one two three three three ninety nine thirty nine.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
That's the number to call if you want to talk
about what Pelissero had to say about the Steelers draft
and how it's supposed to help Aaron Rodgers the other
thing on the Rogers front.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And I put this poll out there.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I'd like to get some people to chime in on it,
because it's a little surprising to me that it's this close.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
But before the.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Show, I just asked the simple question, in the wake
of what Jerry wrote, who do you want to be
this starting quarterback, Rogers, Rudolph, Howard or Aller. And the
longer the poll is up there with almost two hundred votes,
the more people are going towards Will Howard. And I
actually think that makes sense. Thirty four percent of the
(07:15):
vote is going to Howard. Aler's just under twenty six percent,
Rudolph of twenty one percent, Rogers at a little over
eighteen percent. So the Howard thing makes sense to me
because you've spent all this time and all this I
don't know pr spin and saying that Howard is a
starting worthy quarterback. Mike McCarthy just went on national radio
(07:40):
on Sirius XM with Adam Shin and said that that
he's a starting worthy quarterback. He reiterated that stance, which
to me, he says, Okay, well, if he's starting worthy,
why can't he be your starting quarterback then when you
don't have one, since Rogers isn't under contract, if you've
got a twenty five year old starter, then you might
as well start his clock and get him going instead
of stick around and waiting for the forty two year
(08:01):
old to come back for one more so so year.
So again, I don't know how much they buy their
own bs on Howard. But this is a great chance
to figure it out, and Aler's just not going to
be ready. Aler needs time to incubate. You give Howard
time to prove that he's worthy of being a starting quarterback,
or you give him the exact opportunity to prove that
he can't get it done, and then you can pivot
(08:24):
if you want, probably to Rudolph, I would think, because
I don't think you want alar going in there too
early because it could look real bad, real fast, and
then you've shot it for both of the two young guys,
and you're desperately in a position where you have to
take a quarterback next year.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So I get where people are coming from on this.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I just don't know where the twenty percent of the
fan base is coming from who still wants Rogers to
be the guy. What more do you need to see
to convince yourself that it's not the best course of
action for Rogers to come back? Like, do you think
that the changes of the offense that I just rattled
through that Aaron Rodgers now is going to be in
a position to win the division again and actually win
(09:05):
a playoff game for Pittsburgh Because I have no belief
that this year is going to be all that much
better than last on offense. Plus, they didn't do much
different on defense, at least in the front seven. The
secondary they did, but the front seven, to me, hasn't
changed enough that you're gonna see all that much of
a massive difference in what the defense is four one
(09:26):
two three three three ninety nine thirty nine or tweet
me acting Benz PGH. We'll get to your thoughts on
both of those topics surrounding the Steelers. We'll get to
Penguin's talk with Phil Bork and Pierre Maguire. I've got
some thoughts on I Ginny Malkin, and we got the
Bucko round up coming up two one oh five nine X.
Now here's your chance to win one thousand dollars just
(09:47):
as you're this nationwide keyword on.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Art Mark mat and hey Mark, grank.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
You go when you got a young trophy white ohs Monday, todeed,
I can't even quote the big o'bowski righte goodbye DX.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
At one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Got a couple of people on hold and lots of
online responses to the webpole that we put up in
the wake of Jerry Dulac's report today in the PG
about where things stand with the growing level of frustration
surrounding the Steelers in the Aaron Rodgers situation, which is
the first time people have heard that, as we've heard
(10:25):
NonStop the Steelers trying to tamp down any such concerns
that folks might have on the outside. So we're gonna
get to all those real fast bucko round up here.
They're off today. They play against Arizona Tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.
Chandler Schemes Keller are the pitchers against the Diamondbacks. Keller
a great outing last time to stop the losing streak.
Rodriguez Soroca and Gallon. Rodriguez against Chandler, that'll be a
(10:48):
tough one. Ririgez has pitched pretty well two and zero
three oh three ERA so far. Forth Snakes, they are
sixteen and seventeen overall, third place in the West and
pretty good at home, winning nine to fifteen. They struggle
roads the Pirates out there than San Francisco. Back home
for Colorado and Philly next week. That's your buckle round up.
Want to get to some Andrew McCutcheon thoughts and a
(11:09):
little bit more about the pirates later on. Let's get
to Tim, who called in first from Green Tree about
the Rogers and qb situation.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Go ahead, Tim, Hey, Tim, I generally agree with you
that I think Will Howard is a more intriguing starter
at this point.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
I'm more interested in the future. But I think the
argument for Rogers could be, you know, under McCarthy with
a new OC, if Dylan Cook stays and plays left tackle,
who played pretty well at the end of last year,
then you're just plugging in a guard. You have a
new number two receiver, and you have a potentially good
(11:47):
third rookie qb our receiver. Sorry, I could see that
being a better offense than under Mike Tonin.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
I could see that too.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I think that the talent around Rogers should be better
this year. I think that the offensive coordination, the offensive
eye will be better because it's not Tomlin and it
is McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So can I.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Squint and see the offense being better. I probably don't
have to squint all that hard. Yeah, it's actually gonna
be a little tough to make it worse. But I
wonder how much is countered by he's one year older,
he's one year more likely to throw it even faster,
get rid of it quicker.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
And what's the likelihood that he.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Plays in sixteen of seventeen games again like you did
last year.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Yeah, that's fair argument.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
And like I said, I'd rather see the young guys
get a chance because I don't think this is going
to be our super Bowl year.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
But I think that would be the case against it.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Yeah, and thank you to call Tim, And it's a
fair point that you bring up. I would also counter
it though, by saying, the funny thing about Howard is
as little as I believe this to be the case,
what if you're right? What if all the happy talk
and what if all the gassing him up and pumping
his tires is actually right? What if he is a
starting caliber quarterback and you've burned two years and you
(13:06):
don't find that out until next year when he's going
into his third or fourth year, and then you've got
to make a decision on him after just one season.
Basically is he your guy or not? And then what
have you done with Aler? So like he's if we
keep playing this game with Rogers, like then why would
Rogers not want to come back?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Like?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
If this guy's right and they go now eleven or
twelve wins, win the division, and win a playoff game.
Why the hell would he not want to come back?
And then they would feel obligated to pay him like
a real quarterback at forty three. So you know, like
there's there's sort of a caveat to all of this
that puts you in Penguin territory of when do you
eventually move on and really do look for the quarterback
(13:45):
of the future. But at that point, at least you're
winning and winning. Trump's all so I get it rich
from freedom. You're on one of five nine The X.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Hey, I just was talking about how.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I think Phil bork has brought to us by Bricklayers
and Allied craft Workers Local nine, build your foundation with
stronger pay, real benefits, and more opportunity.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Joined today at BAC nine PA dot com.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Borky color commentator here on one O five none The
X in sports and at Pittsburgh covering the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Borky am I hearing birds in the background or is
that somewhere here that I'm hearing that?
Speaker 4 (14:27):
I thought my belllong a few times. I hear birds
all the time.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I think that's something outside. I think there's a bird
loose in here somewhere. There're no more flightless birds. Unfortunately
for the Penguins, though the season is done and you
saw it firsthand against Philadelphia, kind of take us through
the series film and where you thought perhaps the Penguins
might have gotten into it, where they can flip this thing,
(14:50):
and why didn't it get over the top in game six?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Yeah, I think you start right from game one, right
the way that Philly came out and they put the
bullseye right on the two Russians, right, it's Ginny Malkin
and New York Kinakoff number one. They definitely put a
bullseye on on Ben Kendall. And you know the way
they came out, and not only the checks they delivered,
(15:16):
but who they delivered them too. I felt like they
put the Penguins on a very reactive, into the proactive
kind of runway, if you will, where they were playing
more of the Flyers game than the Flyers playing the
Penguins game. And even though you know they dictate the
terms in game number one, I just felt like the
(15:36):
Penguins were slow to really get to their game, and
even game number two, again they were they were chasing
the game, and that's that's exhausting and it shouldn't happen
in your own building. Okay, maybe they catch you with
your pants down in game number one, but in game
number two there was there was just a lot of
I don't know, just just not playoff ready type of
(15:58):
moments where I just felt like the Penguins. I'm sure
they were prepared. I'm sure that dam Muse did a
lot of work as far as preparing them as tendencies,
but you can't always prepare for the shenanigans, you know,
And I just felt like the players that they put
the bullseye on probably did not react properly, whether it's
(16:23):
you know, retaliation or in their play. And again, I
felt like the Penguins by the time they get on
their toes, it was too late.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Phil bork with us here as we wrap up the
Penguin season and we look ahead to the offseason, and BORKI,
there's so much to get to there and sticking with
the theme of what actually happened in the series, before
we get to Malkins contract and since potential extension the
goalie situation. What you saw from Sheilav's is that an
indication to you that he could be a number one,
(16:54):
or do they still keep looking at him as a
guy to split time with Mushav when he comes up
now next year, I.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Don't know if you'll agree with me, but for the
sake of this conversation, would you consider a number one
that plays sixty to sixty five games? Uh?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
For for Murashaws?
Speaker 4 (17:13):
No, No, I'm just saying in general, we're identifying your
definition of the number one goalturner in NHL. Okay, So
if that's the definition, then I think that Archer she
LOFs is going to need a the one a you know,
I mean somebody that can play you know, thirty five
forty games, you know where it's not quite a split
(17:33):
down the middle, but you know, maybe she Lofts, you know,
gets sixty forty split, but she lost getting sixty percent.
So I still think that he's you know, he's still
considered a rookie this year. Tim, you know, we forget
because we feel like he's had so much, so many
accomplishments in his professional career, whether it's international play, American
(17:55):
Hockey League or NHL. Who was a Vancouver connected he
was still considered the rooky this year. So I still
feel like he needs to have a goaltender that can
come in and maybe get on a little bit of
a run, you know, where there's there's a back and forth.
And then I also feel that I think the healthy
competition is good for him. I think as long as
(18:17):
there's a lot of communication, a lot of camaraderie and
that the other guy. And I thought that Stuart Skinner
did a great job of coming in and quickly, you know,
forming a bond and a friendship and a brotherhood if
you will, with our chur Shee loss, where they I
really felt like they were pulling for each other. I
think he needs that kind of support system as a
(18:40):
one to one a tandem. I think that would be
the best moving forward here for the Penguins.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I'm with you with your analysis there. I mean, I
loved what I saw from She Loves. I'm just not
ready to think, Okay, this was like the awakening of
something that's going to be steady to your point, sixty
five games and there's a lot invested in what can
be as a potential star goalie for years to come,
and I would like to see him get that opportunity
(19:06):
and that might speak to a bigger picture borky as
it relates to what direction the team goes in from here.
What is the truer indication of who the Pittsburgh Penguins are.
Are they the team that improved by eighteen points and
finished in second place and the division or are they
a team that actually, by the end of the season,
if you count the playoffs and you don't do the
loser point designation, lost more point, lost more games than
(19:28):
they won.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Yeah, there's definitely you know, some things on the checklist,
right as far as you know, the shootout and the overtime,
and you know that's it's a shame that it came
down to that, but you know that that's not heads
not tails. When it comes to playing the Philadelphia Flyers
in the first round of the playoffs, right, that really
had no significance at all, but it will down the
(19:53):
road if it continues. It's been that way for the
last few years. But the Penguins have struggled, whether it's
overtime or shootout, and it's something that needs to be fixed.
Number one. Number two, you know the guys that you
potentially are going to lose as unrestricted free agents, you
need to have players in the hopper that can come
in and do something similar. You know, if it's a
(20:15):
Nola Chari that's not here for the moment, or Anthemntler
that's that's not here. You need players that can come
in and in some way, shape or form kind of
play that type of role. Right. Uh. And again I've
said this before that if players want to come here
and play on the wing with Citney Crosby and score
thirty or thirty five goals and then go get a
(20:37):
big paycheck somewhere else, that's that's okay, that that's going
to happen, you know, and maybe hopefully they want to
stay here. But if it's just here where they're going
to you know, get their career turned around, then then
by all means, let's let's welcome those guys in the fold.
The other part tim that I don't hear a lot
of people talking about maybe I should you know, bite
(20:57):
my tongue a little bit. But you know, watching the
these playoffs, you just feel like, are the Penguins really
built for the playoffs? Are they tough enough? You know?
And I'm not saying it's hard to find the thumper, right,
It's hard to find the guy that jumps over the
boards and the other team is just fearful of. But
I just feel like that level of toughness when you
get into the playoffs and toughness comes in all different
(21:20):
forms now in twenty twenty six, right, there's mental toughness,
there's physical toughness, there's intimidation. Right. There are size, their strength,
there's you know, just the way you go about your
business that can throw other teams off. You know, when
I think of Chris Koonitz, and I think of Pascal
dupue Eve and Patrick Horncourse and those are a tough
(21:42):
son of a guns. And I know we had all
famous in and we had Brooks Jorbick, you know, we
had those kind of thumpers that went over the boards.
I just think we need more of those guys that
when it comes playoff hockey, that they're more of the
guys like the Flyers had in Game number one, that
really want to step up and stir the part. It
was intimidation, whether his verbal or physical. I just felt
(22:04):
like some of that was lacking.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Well, there's you know, like a Porter martone who's young
and can be tough, is sort of like one of
the guys that I look at I said, I wish
the Penguins had a couple of those who wouldn't. But
you know, it's hard to get younger and get tougher
all in one fell swoop, right, I mean, because they're
trying to do that, right, I mean, it's it's tough
to hit all those bases at once. Like you know,
(22:28):
Ben Kindle is tough in ways in his own right,
but it's not necessarily physical toughness. Like there's mental toughness
and emotional toughness, which I think he showed at the
end of the game six when he will actually at
the game, but a couple of days later when he
spoke with us in the media and own what happened
there at the end. But he's not going to beat
anybody up. He's not going to be Chris Konanz for
you like you just drew out.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
No, that's right, But you need the Ben Kindalls, you
need guys like that. But I still think you need
to insulate, whether it's on the backside and being more
force in front of the net and making it more miserable.
I just felt like the Flyers too, I felt like
they went to the front of the Penguin's net, and
they stayed there. They didn't really fear anybody, you know,
(23:11):
And that's I'm not trying to knock the Penguins defense.
And whether it was Ryan Shay or Parker Wilderspoon or
carnor Clifton, they had great years this year. Don't take
me the wrong way, but I'm just thinking, if you're
really looking to get to the next level, unique guys
that can understand those moments in games, those moments in
series where I really need to flex here, I really
(23:32):
need to establish myself and be a physical presence. And
if the Philadelphia Flyers are going to go stand in
front of our goaltender, then they need to pay more
of a price than they did in that series. That's
just through my lenses. And so yeah, it's easier said
than done. We can bs this back and forth for
the next twenty minutes. But those guys are hard to
(23:52):
find out there. But I think Kyle Dubas has the
eyes for it. I think his staff is willing to
turn over every stone pass to find those guys out
there and make this more of a complete team to
get to another level.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Should they bring if Guinea Maulkin back, will they bring
if Guinea Malkin back.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
I'm not gonna sit on the fence here, but I'm
gonna sound like it a little bit. I think, if
you really feel like you can go out and get somebody,
do you really want to put them in the bottom six?
You know? Do you want to put them on a
third line? I don't know about that. I don't know
if he might say it just to get another contract,
you know, but I think, at the end of the day,
what if he's not on power Play number one? You know,
(24:38):
is he gonna have the booboo face? I would hope not,
you know, but even that I have to ask myself
those questions. It makes you really wonder, right, but if
you don't have anybody that's gonna be able to do
what he did this year, then sign to another year,
then sign to another year, and you know, make it
(24:58):
the final lap, whatever you want to call. You know.
I just feel like, you know, with Gino, he's such
a polarizing player, right because he does so many things
that are so great, right, but then he does things
like shoot the pucket the other team's assistant coach on
the bench in the playoffs. You know, you're just like you, man,
(25:19):
you're just like pulling your hair out there. It's a
lot of times it's one step forward, two steps back,
and a lot of people say, oh, that's just Gino,
Well why is it just Gino? I don't understand, Like.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Yeah, just Gino went a lot further when they were
when he was, you know, putting up MVP numbers. And
to amplify your point about you know, if you bring
him back, how do you use him? I tend to
lean in your direction, which is, if he's here, he's
got to be top six and on the power Play.
But he's got four goals on the power Play in
each of the last two seasons.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
That's what I mean, Tim, And that's what I mean.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
It's it's it's and how many how many more could
Chinakov get if he was on the top power Play?
Speaker 4 (25:54):
No, it's it's a great point. It's a great point.
And then you got other guys, young guys that might
have ben Kinder type of year that you're like, man,
I don't want to bury this guy on the second
unit because I just want to genuflect to Gino, you know,
because he's Geno. You know. It's and I found it
very refreshing that. Finally, in Gino's last interview, he said,
I kind of understand what Kyle is. I understand that
(26:17):
he wants new players, that he wants fresh players in here,
you know, but he's he's voicing his opinion, and I
know where his heart is. His hard is here one
hundred percent. But at the end of the day, you know,
at some point we have to turn the page, right
I don't know if it's this year, and again, I
damn it. I hate sitting on the fence with you
when you ask me a tough question like this, you know,
(26:37):
but if you are not going to have somebody that
can do a lot of the things that he can do,
then sign him for one more year. And it shouldn't
matter what the number is. I know he wants to
be respected, but it shouldn't matter if it's one million
or ten million. It shouldn't matter at all. The numbers
should shouldn't matter at all. Whatever the Penguins say. Just
just throw a number out there that you're comfortable with, Kyle,
(26:59):
and I'm going to say yes to it, you know,
if it comes dat down to that. But at the
end of the day, if that's the last game, he
played as a Pittsburgh Penguin man. It's it's it's a
lot of mixed emotions because this is this is a
first ballot Hall of Fame or no doubt about it.
We've just we've seen it all with Gino, and you know,
so we looked at Gino a little bit differently because
(27:21):
we've seen some of his greatness and we've seen some
of his you know, just Gino being Gino, you know,
and but it is who he is, and it's it's
one of the toughest decisions. The Flourry decision was tough.
This one's going to be equally as tough.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Do you think Sid extends his contract and do you
think that's dependent on Gino coming back?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
No, I don't think it. Just my opinion, my humble opinion,
I don't think it it depends on Geno coming back.
I think if he really wants to continue to play,
then he said, oh, maybe just signs, you know, plays
out this this last extension and then just signs from
there and just one year deal from there. That's that's
(28:02):
a for saying. I'm just guessing right now. I really
have no idea. I'll be surprised if if he says,
this is it, This extension is the last that I'm
going to play. I just think he's he's playing too
good and still loves it too much. So I don't
think whatever happens with if Guinnea Balkin is going to
influence influence Sydney Cosby decision.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I just don't.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
That's my gut, my gut instinct on that.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
What about Carlson? Would you think about extending Carlson?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
I never thought I'd say that this time last year,
but man, he was pretty good this year.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
No, I just don't think you have to. I don't
think you have to. I think just just play it out,
you know. I just always have had the feeling that
if a player really wants to be here, you know,
and players that have made you know, upwards to one
hundred million dollars, you know, like if your heart is here,
and just just keep siying, if you're you're knocking on
forty years of age, just keep signing of one year deals,
(28:56):
you know what I mean. It's team friendly, it's it's
your you get you know, to stay where you want,
where your heart wants to be, and there's monetary value
to your family being happy where they are. I really
believe in that. And if you really love Pittsburgh and
being the Pittsburgh Penguin, then you're going to do what's
best for the team. You understand, you're going to do
it best for you too. And you're saying I get that,
(29:18):
you know, But I just think when you when you've
made so much money and you just want to be happy,
if this is the place you want to be happy,
then I don't see why you have to. You know,
if another team wants to throw them a three year
or four year extension then and the Penguins aren't down
for that, then you shake his hand and you move on,
you move forward, you know. I just think that, you know,
(29:40):
once players start getting close to forty years of age
and giving you know, three and four years extend four
year extensions, I don't know if that's the best for business.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Caroline is going to take care of business, right. The
Flyers aren't going any further, are they.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if they swept. If they
get swept, And that's that's what really burns me more
than you know, Tim, that I wish the Penguins had
really brought their A game in that series, because I
think they would give Carolina a lot more than Philly's
going to give them. I think Philly, I think there's
a sense of satisfaction and they had that kind of
(30:13):
full belly right now where they beat the Penguins. A
lot of people didn't think they could and they beat
the Penguins, and so now to ramp it back up
again and play a team that has really buttoned up
all the things that you wanted the Penguins to do
in that series. Carolina kind of has that in their
game already, right that discipline, whether it's on the ice
or with their emotions and initiating not retaliating. You wish
(30:39):
the Penguins had more of that in their game throughout
the series. They did for moments, but not enough. Obviously.
Carolina has got just too much. And I always thought
their goaltending was a weak link. It's the best I've
seen Frederick Anderson play, and if he's going to play
like this, I think it's.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Gonna be a sweep board gate.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
For the last time with me anyway here in twenty
twenty six, this was good hockey talk, and I didn't.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Enjoy our time together, and this was good hockey talking so.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Bour check him out every game one oh five nine
the x or on sports Net, Pittsburgh TV Radio on
the call with the Pittsburgh Penguins again.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Brought to us.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
By Allied craft Workers Local nine bricklayers and Allied Craft
Workers Local nine. Build your foundation with stronger pay, real benefits,
and more opportunity. Join today at BAC nine PA dot
com
All right, So the Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting for
Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
As you read from Jerry Dulac today in the PG.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I'll give you the quote one more time, after watching
two of their expected deadlines come and go and insisting
this isn't the same situation as last year. The Steelers
might not be so understanding of this drags on for
two more weeks If Rogers hasn't given them a decision
by the start of organized team activities on May the eighteenth,
(00:29):
their latest deadline. And that's Jerry putting the emphasis there
before deadline, not me, their patients will start to turn
into frustration and maybe something more. He described in his
opening Jerry did the Steelers as having saint like patients
(00:49):
for Aaron Rodgers. But it could be starting to wear
thin now. If you listen to what Tom Pelicero, though,
said a couple days ago on The Rich Eisen Show,
makes it sound like these Steelers had Aaron Rodgers in
mind when they created their draft board and made their selections.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Take a listen for Aaron.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
He's continuing to MOA's options. My understanding his he is
talked with the Steelers regularly. He has talked to them
since the draft. Everything they did in the draft may
not have been designed for Aaron Rodgers, but certainly if
you were saying what might Aaron Rodgers want? A tackle,
a guard's, a barroom brawler, and a big slot receiver,
those are three things that Aaron Rodgers likes. So everything
(01:31):
seems to have been built in that direction. Aaron's got
to make the final call. If I'm leaning at this point,
I'm still leaning toward Aaron Rodgers is on board, and
he's on the field, not just in Mini camp but
in OTA's at some point. But they still await that call,
and we'll see when exactly they get it.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
To a degree, that's true, but to another degree, I
am not on board with how Pela Sero broke that down.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
And stay with me on this.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
If the Steelers truly want Aaron Rodgers to return their
quarterback here in twenty twenty six, I don't know that
the draft makes as much sense as Pelissaro is talking about.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
There.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
See there presumably holding out hope that a forty two
year old quarterback comes back for one more run to
get a ten and seventeen to a slightly better level
than just winning a mediocre division and getting pounded in
the first round of the playoffs yet again. So let's
recap what they did and what they didn't do over
(02:30):
the draft, and you tell me if these selections are
really on a parallel track with that goal to get
better this year with a forty two year old quarterback.
They drafted a lot of offensive guys, like Peli Sera said,
that's true, but the front office was preparing to get
the third of what were perceived to be six wide
(02:51):
receivers who were first round worthy at pick number twenty one.
That was a wise plan, Metcalf Pittman, Junior. Those are
the other receivers of repute on the rock. That was
it those two guys. But when the Eagles yanked the
rugout from under Omar Khan and stole mackay Lemon, the
Steelers then pivoted to get Max Ire and pass protection
(03:13):
for Rogers instead of a pass receiver. That's fair enough.
Ianire has huge upside, but he's raw only picked up
the game of football at the junior college level in
twenty one. They might not feel comfortable entrenching him at
left tackle right away, So Troy Fautanu might have to
switch over to left after he played so well at right,
and then you put he Hanachur then potentially as a
(03:35):
rookie and at right tackle. Instead of continuing to prioritize
getting a wide receiver within the first forty picks. Omar
Khan then didn't trade into the first round for a
second pick, even though multiple trades took place after they
got Ianchor, Nor did he trade up in the second
round board to get Denzel Boston, to get Omar Cooper,
(03:59):
to get Casey Concepsion. They waited and then eventually traded
up from forty seven from fifty three to forty seven
to get Bernard from Alabama as the eighth receiver taken.
He's a nice prospect, but unlikely to make an instant
impact the same way those first six receivers are expected
to make. Then they take a quarterback in the third round,
(04:23):
and I don't know how Rogers likes that, especially since
he's already got one guy to groom in Howard. They
took Jennings Dunker, who's a tackle who's becoming a guard potentially,
so again pass protection, but you're moving a guy from
one position to the other. Then they get Kayden Wetgen,
(04:44):
the kick return specialist, and h back to basically be
a replacement for Hayward and Eli Heinreich, who's a wing
back at Navy who's going to try to learn to
play the slot. So to recap this is what they did.
They got a law offensive tackle who may not win
a starting job, and if he does, may result in
(05:04):
displacing a first round pick of two years ago who's
just fined at his current position. They got a decent
receiver that they traded up to get instead of one
of many potential starting receivers they didn't feel comfortable moving
up to get with the forty two year old quarterback
in place. They got a tackle that's moving to guard
a return man who is a juco running back trying
to become an NFL receiver after twenty three college catches,
(05:27):
an aged back, and a college wingback who will attempt
to become a slot receiver if he makes the team.
That's a lot of players moving around and doing NFL
on the job, training in different spots under the watchful
eye of a forty two year old quarterback who doesn't
hide it when players make mistakes on offense, and he's
(05:47):
the victim of them. And then there's Aller, who's the
piast resistance here, another quarterback of the depth chart. In
addition to Rogers, Howard and Mason, Rudolphs and others, four quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
In the room.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
So Ihana, Shore and Bernard and Aller and Dunker. They
all might become very good players someday. The other three
guys could become niche contributors. I'm just dubious of how
many of these guys immediately help a forty two year
old quarterback in what may be his final season of
pro football, Like, how does that improve an offense right
(06:23):
away that needs a lot of assistance right now?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Four one two three three three ninety nine thirty nine.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
That's the number to call if you want to talk
about what Pelissero had to say about the Steelers draft
and how it's supposed to help Aaron Rodgers the other
thing on the Rogers front.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
And I put this poll out there.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I'd like to get some people to chime in on it,
because it's a little surprising to me that it's this close.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
But before the.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Show, I just asked the simple question, in the wake
of what Jerry wrote, who do you want to be
this starting quarterback, Rogers, Rudolph, Howard or Aller. And the
longer the poll is up there with almost two hundred votes,
the more people are going towards Will Howard. And I
actually think that makes sense. Thirty four percent of the
(07:15):
vote is going to Howard. Aler's just under twenty six percent,
Rudolph of twenty one percent, Rogers at a little over
eighteen percent. So the Howard thing makes sense to me
because you've spent all this time and all this I
don't know pr spin and saying that Howard is a
starting worthy quarterback. Mike McCarthy just went on national radio
(07:40):
on Sirius XM with Adam Shin and said that that
he's a starting worthy quarterback. He reiterated that stance, which
to me, he says, Okay, well, if he's starting worthy,
why can't he be your starting quarterback then when you
don't have one, since Rogers isn't under contract, if you've
got a twenty five year old starter, then you might
as well start his clock and get him going instead
of stick around and waiting for the forty two year
(08:01):
old to come back for one more so so year.
So again, I don't know how much they buy their
own bs on Howard. But this is a great chance
to figure it out, and Aler's just not going to
be ready. Aler needs time to incubate. You give Howard
time to prove that he's worthy of being a starting quarterback,
or you give him the exact opportunity to prove that
he can't get it done, and then you can pivot
(08:24):
if you want, probably to Rudolph, I would think, because
I don't think you want alar going in there too
early because it could look real bad, real fast, and
then you've shot it for both of the two young guys,
and you're desperately in a position where you have to
take a quarterback next year.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So I get where people are coming from on this.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I just don't know where the twenty percent of the
fan base is coming from who still wants Rogers to
be the guy. What more do you need to see
to convince yourself that it's not the best course of
action for Rogers to come back? Like, do you think
that the changes of the offense that I just rattled
through that Aaron Rodgers now is going to be in
a position to win the division again and actually win
(09:05):
a playoff game for Pittsburgh Because I have no belief
that this year is going to be all that much
better than last on offense. Plus, they didn't do much
different on defense, at least in the front seven. The
secondary they did, but the front seven, to me, hasn't
changed enough that you're gonna see all that much of
a massive difference in what the defense is four one
(09:26):
two three three three ninety nine thirty nine or tweet
me acting Benz PGH. We'll get to your thoughts on
both of those topics surrounding the Steelers. We'll get to
Penguin's talk with Phil Bork and Pierre Maguire. I've got
some thoughts on I Ginny Malkin, and we got the
Bucko round up coming up two one oh five nine X.
Now here's your chance to win one thousand dollars just
(09:47):
as you're this nationwide keyword on.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Art Mark mat and hey Mark, grank.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
You go when you got a young trophy white ohs Monday, todeed,
I can't even quote the big o'bowski righte goodbye DX.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
At one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Got a couple of people on hold and lots of
online responses to the webpole that we put up in
the wake of Jerry Dulac's report today in the PG
about where things stand with the growing level of frustration
surrounding the Steelers in the Aaron Rodgers situation, which is
the first time people have heard that, as we've heard
(10:25):
NonStop the Steelers trying to tamp down any such concerns
that folks might have on the outside. So we're gonna
get to all those real fast bucko round up here.
They're off today. They play against Arizona Tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.
Chandler Schemes Keller are the pitchers against the Diamondbacks. Keller
a great outing last time to stop the losing streak.
Rodriguez Soroca and Gallon. Rodriguez against Chandler, that'll be a
(10:48):
tough one. Ririgez has pitched pretty well two and zero
three oh three ERA so far. Forth Snakes, they are
sixteen and seventeen overall, third place in the West and
pretty good at home, winning nine to fifteen. They struggle
roads the Pirates out there than San Francisco. Back home
for Colorado and Philly next week. That's your buckle round up.
Want to get to some Andrew McCutcheon thoughts and a
(11:09):
little bit more about the pirates later on. Let's get
to Tim, who called in first from Green Tree about
the Rogers and qb situation.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Go ahead, Tim, Hey, Tim, I generally agree with you
that I think Will Howard is a more intriguing starter
at this point.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
I'm more interested in the future. But I think the
argument for Rogers could be, you know, under McCarthy with
a new OC, if Dylan Cook stays and plays left tackle,
who played pretty well at the end of last year,
then you're just plugging in a guard. You have a
new number two receiver, and you have a potentially good
(11:47):
third rookie qb our receiver. Sorry, I could see that
being a better offense than under Mike Tonin.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
I could see that too.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I think that the talent around Rogers should be better
this year. I think that the offensive coordination, the offensive
eye will be better because it's not Tomlin and it
is McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So can I.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Squint and see the offense being better. I probably don't
have to squint all that hard. Yeah, it's actually gonna
be a little tough to make it worse. But I
wonder how much is countered by he's one year older,
he's one year more likely to throw it even faster,
get rid of it quicker.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
And what's the likelihood that he.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Plays in sixteen of seventeen games again like you did
last year.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Yeah, that's fair argument.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
And like I said, I'd rather see the young guys
get a chance because I don't think this is going
to be our super Bowl year.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
But I think that would be the case against it.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Yeah, and thank you to call Tim, And it's a
fair point that you bring up. I would also counter
it though, by saying, the funny thing about Howard is
as little as I believe this to be the case,
what if you're right? What if all the happy talk
and what if all the gassing him up and pumping
his tires is actually right? What if he is a
starting caliber quarterback and you've burned two years and you
(13:06):
don't find that out until next year when he's going
into his third or fourth year, and then you've got
to make a decision on him after just one season.
Basically is he your guy or not? And then what
have you done with Aler? So like he's if we
keep playing this game with Rogers, like then why would
Rogers not want to come back?
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Like?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
If this guy's right and they go now eleven or
twelve wins, win the division, and win a playoff game.
Why the hell would he not want to come back?
And then they would feel obligated to pay him like
a real quarterback at forty three. So you know, like
there's there's sort of a caveat to all of this
that puts you in Penguin territory of when do you
eventually move on and really do look for the quarterback
(13:45):
of the future. But at that point, at least you're
winning and winning. Trump's all so I get it rich
from freedom. You're on one of five nine The X.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Hey, I just was talking about how.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I think Phil bork has brought to us by Bricklayers
and Allied craft Workers Local nine, build your foundation with
stronger pay, real benefits, and more opportunity.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Joined today at BAC nine PA dot com.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Borky color commentator here on one O five none The
X in sports and at Pittsburgh covering the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Borky am I hearing birds in the background or is
that somewhere here that I'm hearing that?
Speaker 4 (14:27):
I thought my belllong a few times. I hear birds
all the time.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I think that's something outside. I think there's a bird
loose in here somewhere. There're no more flightless birds. Unfortunately
for the Penguins, though the season is done and you
saw it firsthand against Philadelphia, kind of take us through
the series film and where you thought perhaps the Penguins
might have gotten into it, where they can flip this thing,
(14:50):
and why didn't it get over the top in game six?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Yeah, I think you start right from game one, right
the way that Philly came out and they put the
bullseye right on the two Russians, right, it's Ginny Malkin
and New York Kinakoff number one. They definitely put a
bullseye on on Ben Kendall. And you know the way
they came out, and not only the checks they delivered,
(15:16):
but who they delivered them too. I felt like they
put the Penguins on a very reactive, into the proactive
kind of runway, if you will, where they were playing
more of the Flyers game than the Flyers playing the
Penguins game. And even though you know they dictate the
terms in game number one, I just felt like the
(15:36):
Penguins were slow to really get to their game, and
even game number two, again they were they were chasing
the game, and that's that's exhausting and it shouldn't happen
in your own building. Okay, maybe they catch you with
your pants down in game number one, but in game
number two there was there was just a lot of
I don't know, just just not playoff ready type of
(15:58):
moments where I just felt like the Penguins. I'm sure
they were prepared. I'm sure that dam Muse did a
lot of work as far as preparing them as tendencies,
but you can't always prepare for the shenanigans, you know,
And I just felt like the players that they put
the bullseye on probably did not react properly, whether it's
(16:23):
you know, retaliation or in their play. And again, I
felt like the Penguins by the time they get on
their toes, it was too late.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Phil bork with us here as we wrap up the
Penguin season and we look ahead to the offseason, and BORKI,
there's so much to get to there and sticking with
the theme of what actually happened in the series, before
we get to Malkins contract and since potential extension the
goalie situation. What you saw from Sheilav's is that an
indication to you that he could be a number one,
(16:54):
or do they still keep looking at him as a
guy to split time with Mushav when he comes up
now next year, I.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Don't know if you'll agree with me, but for the
sake of this conversation, would you consider a number one
that plays sixty to sixty five games? Uh?
Speaker 2 (17:11):
For for Murashaws?
Speaker 4 (17:13):
No, No, I'm just saying in general, we're identifying your
definition of the number one goalturner in NHL. Okay, So
if that's the definition, then I think that Archer she
LOFs is going to need a the one a you know,
I mean somebody that can play you know, thirty five
forty games, you know where it's not quite a split
(17:33):
down the middle, but you know, maybe she Lofts, you know,
gets sixty forty split, but she lost getting sixty percent.
So I still think that he's you know, he's still
considered a rookie this year. Tim, you know, we forget
because we feel like he's had so much, so many
accomplishments in his professional career, whether it's international play, American
(17:55):
Hockey League or NHL. Who was a Vancouver connected he
was still considered the rooky this year. So I still
feel like he needs to have a goaltender that can
come in and maybe get on a little bit of
a run, you know, where there's there's a back and forth.
And then I also feel that I think the healthy
competition is good for him. I think as long as
(18:17):
there's a lot of communication, a lot of camaraderie and
that the other guy. And I thought that Stuart Skinner
did a great job of coming in and quickly, you know,
forming a bond and a friendship and a brotherhood if
you will, with our chur Shee loss, where they I
really felt like they were pulling for each other. I
think he needs that kind of support system as a
(18:40):
one to one a tandem. I think that would be
the best moving forward here for the Penguins.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I'm with you with your analysis there. I mean, I
loved what I saw from She Loves. I'm just not
ready to think, Okay, this was like the awakening of
something that's going to be steady to your point, sixty
five games and there's a lot invested in what can
be as a potential star goalie for years to come,
and I would like to see him get that opportunity
(19:06):
and that might speak to a bigger picture borky as
it relates to what direction the team goes in from here.
What is the truer indication of who the Pittsburgh Penguins are.
Are they the team that improved by eighteen points and
finished in second place and the division or are they
a team that actually, by the end of the season,
if you count the playoffs and you don't do the
loser point designation, lost more point, lost more games than
(19:28):
they won.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Yeah, there's definitely you know, some things on the checklist,
right as far as you know, the shootout and the overtime,
and you know that's it's a shame that it came
down to that, but you know that that's not heads
not tails. When it comes to playing the Philadelphia Flyers
in the first round of the playoffs, right, that really
had no significance at all, but it will down the
(19:53):
road if it continues. It's been that way for the
last few years. But the Penguins have struggled, whether it's
overtime or shootout, and it's something that needs to be fixed.
Number one. Number two, you know the guys that you
potentially are going to lose as unrestricted free agents, you
need to have players in the hopper that can come
in and do something similar. You know, if it's a
(20:15):
Nola Chari that's not here for the moment, or Anthemntler
that's that's not here. You need players that can come
in and in some way, shape or form kind of
play that type of role. Right. Uh. And again I've
said this before that if players want to come here
and play on the wing with Citney Crosby and score
thirty or thirty five goals and then go get a
(20:37):
big paycheck somewhere else, that's that's okay, that that's going
to happen, you know, and maybe hopefully they want to
stay here. But if it's just here where they're going
to you know, get their career turned around, then then
by all means, let's let's welcome those guys in the fold.
The other part tim that I don't hear a lot
of people talking about maybe I should you know, bite
(20:57):
my tongue a little bit. But you know, watching the
these playoffs, you just feel like, are the Penguins really
built for the playoffs? Are they tough enough? You know?
And I'm not saying it's hard to find the thumper, right,
It's hard to find the guy that jumps over the
boards and the other team is just fearful of. But
I just feel like that level of toughness when you
get into the playoffs and toughness comes in all different
(21:20):
forms now in twenty twenty six, right, there's mental toughness,
there's physical toughness, there's intimidation. Right. There are size, their strength,
there's you know, just the way you go about your
business that can throw other teams off. You know, when
I think of Chris Koonitz, and I think of Pascal
dupue Eve and Patrick Horncourse and those are a tough
(21:42):
son of a guns. And I know we had all
famous in and we had Brooks Jorbick, you know, we
had those kind of thumpers that went over the boards.
I just think we need more of those guys that
when it comes playoff hockey, that they're more of the
guys like the Flyers had in Game number one, that
really want to step up and stir the part. It
was intimidation, whether his verbal or physical. I just felt
(22:04):
like some of that was lacking.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
Well, there's you know, like a Porter martone who's young
and can be tough, is sort of like one of
the guys that I look at I said, I wish
the Penguins had a couple of those who wouldn't. But
you know, it's hard to get younger and get tougher
all in one fell swoop, right, I mean, because they're
trying to do that, right, I mean, it's it's tough
to hit all those bases at once. Like you know,
(22:28):
Ben Kindle is tough in ways in his own right,
but it's not necessarily physical toughness. Like there's mental toughness
and emotional toughness, which I think he showed at the
end of the game six when he will actually at
the game, but a couple of days later when he
spoke with us in the media and own what happened
there at the end. But he's not going to beat
anybody up. He's not going to be Chris Konanz for
you like you just drew out.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
No, that's right, But you need the Ben Kindalls, you
need guys like that. But I still think you need
to insulate, whether it's on the backside and being more
force in front of the net and making it more miserable.
I just felt like the Flyers too, I felt like
they went to the front of the Penguin's net, and
they stayed there. They didn't really fear anybody, you know,
(23:11):
And that's I'm not trying to knock the Penguins defense.
And whether it was Ryan Shay or Parker Wilderspoon or
carnor Clifton, they had great years this year. Don't take
me the wrong way, but I'm just thinking, if you're
really looking to get to the next level, unique guys
that can understand those moments in games, those moments in
series where I really need to flex here, I really
(23:32):
need to establish myself and be a physical presence. And
if the Philadelphia Flyers are going to go stand in
front of our goaltender, then they need to pay more
of a price than they did in that series. That's
just through my lenses. And so yeah, it's easier said
than done. We can bs this back and forth for
the next twenty minutes. But those guys are hard to
(23:52):
find out there. But I think Kyle Dubas has the
eyes for it. I think his staff is willing to
turn over every stone pass to find those guys out
there and make this more of a complete team to
get to another level.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Should they bring if Guinea Maulkin back, will they bring
if Guinea Malkin back.
Speaker 4 (24:14):
I'm not gonna sit on the fence here, but I'm
gonna sound like it a little bit. I think, if
you really feel like you can go out and get somebody,
do you really want to put them in the bottom six?
You know? Do you want to put them on a
third line? I don't know about that. I don't know
if he might say it just to get another contract,
you know, but I think, at the end of the day,
what if he's not on power Play number one? You know,
(24:38):
is he gonna have the booboo face? I would hope not,
you know, but even that I have to ask myself
those questions. It makes you really wonder, right, but if
you don't have anybody that's gonna be able to do
what he did this year, then sign to another year,
then sign to another year, and you know, make it
(24:58):
the final lap, whatever you want to call. You know.
I just feel like, you know, with Gino, he's such
a polarizing player, right because he does so many things
that are so great, right, but then he does things
like shoot the pucket the other team's assistant coach on
the bench in the playoffs. You know, you're just like you, man,
(25:19):
you're just like pulling your hair out there. It's a
lot of times it's one step forward, two steps back,
and a lot of people say, oh, that's just Gino,
Well why is it just Gino? I don't understand, Like.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
Yeah, just Gino went a lot further when they were
when he was, you know, putting up MVP numbers. And
to amplify your point about you know, if you bring
him back, how do you use him? I tend to
lean in your direction, which is, if he's here, he's
got to be top six and on the power Play.
But he's got four goals on the power Play in
each of the last two seasons.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
That's what I mean, Tim, And that's what I mean.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
It's it's it's and how many how many more could
Chinakov get if he was on the top power Play?
Speaker 4 (25:54):
No, it's it's a great point. It's a great point.
And then you got other guys, young guys that might
have ben Kinder type of year that you're like, man,
I don't want to bury this guy on the second
unit because I just want to genuflect to Gino, you know,
because he's Geno. You know. It's and I found it
very refreshing that. Finally, in Gino's last interview, he said,
I kind of understand what Kyle is. I understand that
(26:17):
he wants new players, that he wants fresh players in here,
you know, but he's he's voicing his opinion, and I
know where his heart is. His hard is here one
hundred percent. But at the end of the day, you know,
at some point we have to turn the page, right
I don't know if it's this year, and again, I
damn it. I hate sitting on the fence with you
when you ask me a tough question like this, you know,
(26:37):
but if you are not going to have somebody that
can do a lot of the things that he can do,
then sign him for one more year. And it shouldn't
matter what the number is. I know he wants to
be respected, but it shouldn't matter if it's one million
or ten million. It shouldn't matter at all. The numbers
should shouldn't matter at all. Whatever the Penguins say. Just
just throw a number out there that you're comfortable with, Kyle,
(26:59):
and I'm going to say yes to it, you know,
if it comes dat down to that. But at the
end of the day, if that's the last game, he
played as a Pittsburgh Penguin man. It's it's it's a
lot of mixed emotions because this is this is a
first ballot Hall of Fame or no doubt about it.
We've just we've seen it all with Gino, and you know,
so we looked at Gino a little bit differently because
(27:21):
we've seen some of his greatness and we've seen some
of his you know, just Gino being Gino, you know,
and but it is who he is, and it's it's
one of the toughest decisions. The Flourry decision was tough.
This one's going to be equally as tough.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Do you think Sid extends his contract and do you
think that's dependent on Gino coming back?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
No, I don't think it. Just my opinion, my humble opinion,
I don't think it it depends on Geno coming back.
I think if he really wants to continue to play,
then he said, oh, maybe just signs, you know, plays
out this this last extension and then just signs from
there and just one year deal from there. That's that's
(28:02):
a for saying. I'm just guessing right now. I really
have no idea. I'll be surprised if if he says,
this is it, This extension is the last that I'm
going to play. I just think he's he's playing too
good and still loves it too much. So I don't
think whatever happens with if Guinnea Balkin is going to
influence influence Sydney Cosby decision.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I just don't.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
That's my gut, my gut instinct on that.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
What about Carlson? Would you think about extending Carlson?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
I never thought I'd say that this time last year,
but man, he was pretty good this year.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
No, I just don't think you have to. I don't
think you have to. I think just just play it out,
you know. I just always have had the feeling that
if a player really wants to be here, you know,
and players that have made you know, upwards to one
hundred million dollars, you know, like if your heart is here,
and just just keep siying, if you're you're knocking on
forty years of age, just keep signing of one year deals,
(28:56):
you know what I mean. It's team friendly, it's it's
your you get you know, to stay where you want,
where your heart wants to be, and there's monetary value
to your family being happy where they are. I really
believe in that. And if you really love Pittsburgh and
being the Pittsburgh Penguin, then you're going to do what's
best for the team. You understand, you're going to do
it best for you too. And you're saying I get that,
(29:18):
you know, But I just think when you when you've
made so much money and you just want to be happy,
if this is the place you want to be happy,
then I don't see why you have to. You know,
if another team wants to throw them a three year
or four year extension then and the Penguins aren't down
for that, then you shake his hand and you move on,
you move forward, you know. I just think that, you know,
(29:40):
once players start getting close to forty years of age
and giving you know, three and four years extend four
year extensions, I don't know if that's the best for business.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Caroline is going to take care of business, right. The
Flyers aren't going any further, are they.
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if they swept. If they
get swept, And that's that's what really burns me more
than you know, Tim, that I wish the Penguins had
really brought their A game in that series, because I
think they would give Carolina a lot more than Philly's
going to give them. I think Philly, I think there's
a sense of satisfaction and they had that kind of
(30:13):
full belly right now where they beat the Penguins. A
lot of people didn't think they could and they beat
the Penguins, and so now to ramp it back up
again and play a team that has really buttoned up
all the things that you wanted the Penguins to do
in that series. Carolina kind of has that in their
game already, right that discipline, whether it's on the ice
or with their emotions and initiating not retaliating. You wish
(30:39):
the Penguins had more of that in their game throughout
the series. They did for moments, but not enough. Obviously.
Carolina has got just too much. And I always thought
their goaltending was a weak link. It's the best I've
seen Frederick Anderson play, and if he's going to play
like this, I think it's.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Gonna be a sweep board gate.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
For the last time with me anyway here in twenty
twenty six, this was good hockey talk, and I didn't.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Enjoy our time together, and this was good hockey talking so.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Bour check him out every game one oh five nine
the x or on sports Net, Pittsburgh TV Radio on
the call with the Pittsburgh Penguins again.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Brought to us.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
By Allied craft Workers Local nine bricklayers and Allied Craft
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