From 'Kickoff with Boomer & Valenti' (subscribe here) - Boomer Esiason and Mike Valenti discuss everything pertaining to Super Wild Card Weekend. Jets say they are going to make a splash in free agency. Lamar Jackson takes to social media about his injury. Where do you rank playoff QB's and finally Boomer's final word.

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Andrew McCutchen is back with the Pirates and we are loving it. 

Giveaway.

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly from The Athletic joined the show. The guys asked Mark if there is any update on the Matt Canada front. Mark isn’t ruling anything out just yet, but did say the team usually gets the ball rolling quickly. Mark reminded the guys the Steelers haven’t fired an OC since 2000. Mark thinks Mike Tomlin sees how close the team was to the playoffs and thinks it can only get better next season. Mark talked about the young talent on the offense, but questioned if they had the right coordinator to do it. Did the players label Canada as a “bum” earlier in the season before the bye week? Mark doesn’t see any bold moves made by the Steelers with guys currently on the roster, like a Diontae Johnson trade. The guys asked Mark what kind of moves they could make on the offensive line.  

Did Mark Kaboly highlight a downer of an off-season for the Steelers? 

Pirates insider Jason Mackey from the PG joined the show. Jason talked about how the Pirates reunion with Andrew McCutchen came to be earlier today. He said credit should go to Bob Nutting and Ben Cherington for making it happen. Jason thinks he feels like Cutch can add to the team on and off the field. He thinks he will play regularly and be a huge mentor in the clubhouse. Jason thinks it’s more likely that McCutchen spends a few years to finish out his career than get traded at the deadline. Jason reported that Cutch had other offers on the table, but he chose Pittsburgh over them all. Jason expects the deal to be finalized this weekend or early next week. 

Pirates insider Jason Mackey from the PG joined the show. Jason talked about how the Pirates reunion with Andrew McCutchen came to be earlier today. He said credit should go to Bob Nutting and Ben Cherington for making it happen. Jason thinks he feels like Cutch can add to the team on and off the field. He thinks he will play regularly and be a huge mentor in the clubhouse. Jason thinks it’s more likely that McCutchen spends a few years to finish out his career than get traded at the deadline. Jason reported that Cutch had other offers on the table, but he chose Pittsburgh over them all. Jason expects the deal to be finalized this weekend or early next week. 

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly from The Athletic joined the show. The guys asked Mark if there is any update on the Matt Canada front. Mark isn’t ruling anything out just yet, but did say the team usually gets the ball rolling quickly. Mark reminded the guys the Steelers haven’t fired an OC since 2000. Mark thinks Mike Tomlin sees how close the team was to the playoffs and thinks it can only get better next season. Mark talked about the young talent on the offense, but questioned if they had the right coordinator to do it. Did the players label Canada as a “bum” earlier in the season before the bye week? Mark doesn’t see any bold moves made by the Steelers with guys currently on the roster, like a Diontae Johnson trade. The guys asked Mark what kind of moves they could make on the offensive line.  

Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg said there is no downside to the Andrew McCutchen signing and said the team and fans are due a break. Greg thinks the relationship between Bob Nutting and McCutchen is what got the deal done. Greg touted the accolades of Cutch and how he can be a huge impact as a leader on this current club. Greg got chills thinking about the home opener in April with McCutchen back in a Pirates uniform. Chris claimed Cutch would hit a homer in his first at-bat at PNC Park in 2023. 

Matt Canada is still here and it sounds like he is going to stay another year. This ruined the day for Poni and possibly his whole year. He said it throws all of the other Steelers off-season moves to the backburner because they won’t admit their biggest problem. We tried playing our favorite show song, Friday by Rebecca Black, to help Poni’s mood. 

Calls.

Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg said there is no downside to the Andrew McCutchen signing and said the team and fans are due a break. Greg thinks the relationship between Bob Nutting and McCutchen is what got the deal done. Greg touted the accolades of Cutch and how he can be a huge impact as a leader on this current club. Greg got chills thinking about the home opener in April with McCutchen back in a Pirates uniform. Chris claimed Cutch would hit a homer in his first at-bat at PNC Park in 2023. 

Andrew McCutchen is back. How do we feel about it? The guys love it for the fans and the team. And it leaves a lot of possibilities. 

Calls.

Minkah Fitzpatrick collected his third All-Pro accolade and Poni admitted he was wrong about the trade.

Andrew McCutchen is back. How do we feel about it? The guys love it for the fans and the team. And it leaves a lot of possibilities. 

Poni puts a Matt Canada return at 80% after today. He said it is way too quiet on the Steelers front and the team isn’t even thinking about it. He said the only thing that could get Canada out of town is the players standing up and telling Mike Tomlin and the front office to make a change. 

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Ray said he still isn’t hitting the panic button on Matt Canada yet. He’s giving it until next Wednesday or Thursday before he believes he is coming back. The guys asked what kind of backing Canada has in the facility. Ray threw around a couple names the Steelers may consider if they do move on from Canada. Ray talked about how much the family business of the Steelers plays into not making a change with one more year left on the Canada contract. Ray wants the Steelers to build up the trenches and the Steelers have an elite run game.