Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. The guys asked Mike about the Mike Tomlin rumors that a few of the national pundits put out there this past weekend saying Tomlin could step away from football after the season. Mike gave his take on why we have heard very faint praise of Mason Rudolph so far for what he’s done. Mike thinks Rudolph could have a play in the Steelers QB1 search next season, but he thinks the team will have options, including going back to Kenny Pickett. He thinks Rudolph will have to do even more to build up a true market in the off-season. The guys asked Mike about the future of NFL playoff games on streaming services, like the one airing on Peacock exclusively Saturday night. 

BREAKING NEWS: The Seahawks are moving on from Pete Carroll. The guys talked about what could have been behind this. Carroll won a Super Bowl and went to another in 14 seasons there. We also tied this back to Mike Tomlin, just days after rumors started stating Tomlin could walk away from football after this season. Are we going to see a Tomlin extension soon? If the season ends on Sunday, what does the future look like for Tomlin? Could Art Rooney step in and make a strong recommendation on the Steelers next offensive coordinator? The guys still think candidates with a tie to Pittsburgh have an advantage in that process. Poni said Tomlin stepping away from football would shock the world. Does Tomlin think the Mason Rudolph bubble is about to burst? 

Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. TK talked about the hate that was there when he would play the Flyers as a member of the Penguins. He said he always looked forward to playing Philly, home or road. Tyler said he chirped Max Talbot a few times when he went from the Pens to the Flyers. TK talked about other former Penguins that later played for the Flyers, like Jaromir Jagr, and how his contract played into that. The guys asked Tyler about the angry streak we sometimes see in Evgeni Malkin and how he showed a little bit of that the other night. 

Is Mason Rudolph getting another raw deal? The depth chart snafu is still weird to the guys and is there a reason the team has kept Kenny Pickett as QB1? Is there belief that they know Rudolph won’t be here next season and that’s why he is still listed as the backup?  

Hour 1: An odd quirk to the Mike Tomlin press conference today when a question was brought up regarding the Steelers depth chart and how Kenny Pickett was still labeled as the QB1, despite Mason Rudolph set to start. Why does it seem like Tomlin is giving the faintest of praise to Rudolph in these situations? Is he waiting for the bubble to burst? 

Poni thinks the Steelers are dug in on Kenny Pickett and the depth chart gives that away on the team’s website. He drew comparisons to the situation the Eagles dealt with a few years back with Nick Foles and Carson Wentz. Callers gave their thoughts on the depth chart snafu. 

Are you mad at Mike Tomlin for not going to Mason Rudolph sooner or sticking with Mitch Trubisky for so long? We heard from more callers on the depth chart story. 

Hour 2: Audacy Pittsburgh on-air host Paul Zeise joined the show. Paul is predicting a Steelers win on Sunday in Buffalo. Paul also said he is in a “bad way” if the Steelers lose the game by more than 10 points. Paul expects a pick six from the Steelers on Sunday and “3-4 major gaffes” from the Bills in the game. He thinks Josh Allen might be the most talented player in the NFL, but he isn’t a smart enough player to reach the top. Paul thinks the Bills will lose the game more than the Steelers will win it, and that he would take most of the AFC teams over Buffalo. 

Without TJ Watt, why should there be any faith in the Steelers defense? A unit that has allowed 40+ points in some of their most recent playoff games, with Watt on the field. The depth is better behind Watt for once, but the best chance is Josh Allen playing reckless or the weather being so bad, the Bills can’t throw like crazy. 

Be careful what you wish for if the Bills have to run the ball because Josh Allen and James Cook can make the Steelers pay. Chris thinks Joey Porter Jr. can shut down Stefon Diggs and bog things up for the Bills offense. 

Hour 3: Do we buy in to any of the rumors of Mike Tomlin stepping away from football after the season? Peter King joined Cook & Joe earlier today and he said he puts stock into what national insiders like Jay Glazer and Adam Schefter said over the weekend. Chris thinks it’s a contract ploy due to Tomlin not having an extension as of now. Poni doesn’t think it’s one of those cases when Art Rooney could always just walk down the hall and have a conversation with Tomlin. What does Tomlin’s future look like in Pittsburgh? Would Tomlin take a year or two off to join a network’s pregame coverage or hone his craft on that side of things? 

The Titans fired Mike Vrabel just days after winning the season finale and helping the Steelers make the playoffs. Could he be on his way to New England if Bill Belichick is let go? Is he a better coach than Mike Tomlin right now? Will Tomlin always have to deal with riding the coattails of Ben Roethlisberger to his critics? 

Tomlin Tidbits – Mike Tomlin is impressed by how well the Bills D is at ball awareness, but it quickly turned into a discussion about the Jackass movies and fast food. 

Hour 4: If the Steelers win on Sunday, Poni said his opinion of Mike Tomlin would completely change. Would ending the long playoff drought be enough? Chris thinks the QB is more important than the coach and Tomlin has still flubbed that area since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. What would it take in the playoffs for you to give Tomlin a contract extension? Is Mason Rudolph out-duels Josh Allen, how much would that change your opinion of him?

Steelers insider Brian Batko from the PG joined the show. Brian doesn’t want to put a ceiling on the Mason Rudolph renaissance right now because the guy continues to win. Brian talked about the Steelers emergence in the run game and that Najee Harris is a big part of that. The guys asked if Mason Rudolph will want to come back to Pittsburgh next season. Brian gives the Steelers about a 15% chance of winning on Sunday and about a 25% chance if TJ Watt was healthy. Brian got a chance to weigh in on the rumors of Mike Tomlin moving on from coaching after this season. 

Tomlin Takes – The guys broke down everything else Mike Tomlin said to the media earlier today.

Steelers insider Brian Batko from the PG joined the show. Brian doesn’t want to put a ceiling on the Mason Rudolph renaissance right now because the guy continues to win. Brian talked about the Steelers emergence in the run game and that Najee Harris is a big part of that. The guys asked if Mason Rudolph will want to come back to Pittsburgh next season. Brian gives the Steelers about a 15% chance of winning on Sunday and about a 25% chance if TJ Watt was healthy. Brian got a chance to weigh in on the rumors of Mike Tomlin moving on from coaching after this season. 

If the Steelers win on Sunday, Poni said his opinion of Mike Tomlin would completely change. Would ending the long playoff drought be enough? Chris thinks the QB is more important than the coach and Tomlin has still flubbed that area since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. What would it take in the playoffs for you to give Tomlin a contract extension? Is Mason Rudolph out-duels Josh Allen, how much would that change your opinion of him?