Jordan Addison is officially headed to USC. Poni went on a passionate rant against the school, the football program and anyone involved with it. He shifted his thoughts to Nick Saban – saying Saban is a baby for how he has acted in the last 48 hours. He added that Pat Narduzzi should gain a lot of respect for taking the high road in a time he could have acted much differently. 

Aditi Kinkhabwala joined the show. Poni and Aditi talked about wedding gifts and weekend getaways. Poni asked Aditi her thoughts on the new-look Steely McBeam. She is not a fan. Aditi gave her thoughts on the Big Ben bad blood report, but she said she’s struggling to really see it after hearing the same thing about players like Troy Polamalu and James Harrison. Aditi talked about Ben last year and said he was engaged in learning the offense under Matt Canada. By comparison, Aditi believes Tom Brady pulled the phony retirement to get Bruce Arians to quit coaching. Antonio Brown also came up.

Aditi Kinkhabwala joined the show. Poni and Aditi talked about wedding gifts and weekend getaways. Poni asked Aditi her thoughts on the new-look Steely McBeam. She is not a fan. Aditi gave her thoughts on the Big Ben bad blood report, but she said she’s struggling to really see it after hearing the same thing about players like Troy Polamalu and James Harrison. Aditi talked about Ben last year and said he was engaged in learning the offense under Matt Canada. By comparison, Aditi believes Tom Brady pulled the phony retirement to get Bruce Arians to quit coaching. Antonio Brown also came up.

Jordan Addison is officially headed to USC. Poni went on a passionate rant against the school, the football program and anyone involved with it. He shifted his thoughts to Nick Saban – saying Saban is a baby for how he has acted in the last 48 hours. He added that Pat Narduzzi should gain a lot of respect for taking the high road in a time he could have acted much differently.

More Jordan Addison fallout as the star wide receiver has reportedly chosen USC over Texas after leaving Pitt. The guys debated if NIL is ruining college football. Chris said it doesn’t really matter – it will be a 7 or 8 team sport like it has been for years now. 

Former Steeler JT Thomas joined the show. JT said NIL is a big opportunity for kids in college and it’s a tough situation because the NFL isn’t a guarantee. The guys asked JT his thoughts on playing for Chuck Noll and the 70’s Steelers. The guys let JT listen to Doug Whaley’s comments on Jack Ham and he said he disagrees for several different reasons. JT said he has no doubt a lot of players from his era would translate into the game today. He said even with rules changes, the play styles could translate better than people seem to think.

Former Steeler JT Thomas joined the show. JT said NIL is a big opportunity for kids in college and it’s a tough situation because the NFL isn’t a guarantee. The guys asked JT his thoughts on playing for Chuck Noll and the 70’s Steelers. The guys let JT listen to Doug Whaley’s comments on Jack Ham and he said he disagrees for several different reasons. JT said he has no doubt a lot of players from his era would translate into the game today. He said even with rules changes, the play styles could translate better than people seem to think.

Steve Palazzolo from Pro Football Focus joined the show. Steve defended PFF’s ranking of Najee Harris outside of the Top 10, but said if he made the list, he would have Harris in the Top 10 and maybe the Top 5. Steve said he would take the career of Aaron Rodgers over the career of Ben Roethlisberger without much hesitation. Steve talked about how Big Ben held back the Steelers offense last year. With Stephon Tuitt in question, Steve said Tuitt is a “very good player – not as good as Cam Heyward, but a very good player.” He said aging corners like Joe Haden may have trouble finding a home. Steve ranked Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky – saying both would be in the 35-40 range. Steve said for the Steelers case, whenever it’s time to go to Pickett, the Steelers should make the move.

New Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was asked about the future of the Steelers offense. Poni said there’s a rumor out there that Matt Canada is telling new players the offense will be a lot better without Ben Roethlisberger. Chris said the offense sucked last year so he would hope it’s only better this year. Chris made a comparison to what happened with Baker Mayfield and why he thinks Canada will likely get at least two years post-Ben. Poni ran through the Steelers good history of offensive coordinators before Randy Fichtner. 

NHL insider Gord Stellick joined the show. As a former GM, Gord talked about where Ron Hextall might be at right now. He said Hextall might have to “come out swinging” with how he sees this team going into the future because he could be fighting a losing battle. Gord said he would have Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin on this team next year if he had the choice. Gord said Letang will be the harder player to replace because that position is more difficult, not necessarily because of the level each guy is playing at. He thinks Letang could demand a big contract, in terms of years and money.

NHL insider Gord Stellick joined the show. As a former GM, Gord talked about where Ron Hextall might be at right now. He said Hextall might have to “come out swinging” with how he sees this team going into the future because he could be fighting a losing battle. Gord said he would have Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin on this team next year if he had the choice. Gord said Letang will be the harder player to replace because that position is more difficult, not necessarily because of the level each guy is playing at. He thinks Letang could demand a big contract, in terms of years and money.

Penguins talk to start today’s show. The guys debated how safe Ron Hextall is as the Pens GM. Poni said he’s done with Hextall and wouldn’t have hired him in the first place because he was a former Flyer. Chris thinks Hextall will get fired because things have cratered here thanks to a few odd transactions. 

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joined the show. The guys asked Ray right off the bat about Stephon Tuitt and what his status may be for OTAs next week. Ray was talking about the QB battle going forward and said he won’t read too much into what the team does early on. The guys got into Ray’s chat from earlier in the week when he said Kenny Pickett will have to be significantly better than Mitch Trubisky to beat him out in week one. Poni asked Ray a question about Diontae Johnson and if his stock with the team went down after the Steelers selected two wide receivers in the draft.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joined the show. The guys asked Ray right off the bat about Stephon Tuitt and what his status may be for OTAs next week. Ray was talking about the QB battle going forward and said he won’t read too much into what the team does early on. The guys got into Ray’s chat from earlier in the week when he said Kenny Pickett will have to be significantly better than Mitch Trubisky to beat him out in week one. Poni asked Ray a question about Diontae Johnson and if his stock with the team went down after the Steelers selected two wide receivers in the draft.