The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller

Steelers legend Rocky Bleier joined the show. Rocky has given back so much over the course of his life – not only on the football field, but on the battlefield of Vietnam. He talked about giving back to the community and the people that he loves so much. Rocky said it’s a lot of things that interest him, which includes giving back to military members. Rocky didn’t watch any of the flag football over the weekend, but knew about the NFL team getting worked over by the team of pro flag football players. Rocky talked about the transition in Steelers football going from Mike Tomlin after nearly 20 years on the sidelines. Rocky thinks Mike McCarthy can build and win in Pittsburgh. Bill Shaner from Hampton Beer Outlet joined the show. Bill credited Donny for the weight loss and the wedding over the weekend. Bill talked about his friendship with Adam Crowley, who said he’d be jailed for 24 hours if a certain threshold got met today. Bill is so honored to be part in today’s radiothon and to have a successful local business. Bill said he would be donating roughly 3000 meals to the cause today. Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth joined the show. With baseball starting tomorrow night, Pat shared that he was a diehard Red Sox fan growing up in Massachusetts, but he has pivoted to the Pirates. He said he will be at the home opener next Friday. He said basketball was his favorite sport growing up, but he gave that dream up in high school when football really took off. Chris wants to play golf with Pat at some point this summer after they couldn’t set up a date last year. Pat reflected on Mike Tomlin and the process of him stepping down after nearly 2 decades as the Steelers head coach. Pat said he had a feeling of personal let down because they have been unable to get over the playoff hump and drought that has gone on for nearly 10 years. Pat said he is excited about the future with Mike McCarthy in charge. He can’t say for sure if Aaron Rodgers is coming back. Pat gave a lot of props to Will Howard and him taking advantage of sitting behind Rodgers all season long while he was out with an injury. Pat is getting married later on this year back home in Boston and gave a shout out to Donny for the big wedding over the weekend. Pat shared his feelings on the importance of giving back to the community and the reason he has for being kind and friendly to everyone he has an encounter with. Pirates in-game reporter Hannah Mears from SportsNet Pittsburgh joined the show. Hannah said there is a strong optimism coming from the Pirates on the 2026 season. Hannah talked about Konnor Griffin going through the minor leagues at hyper speed and how quickly he could end up in the bigs. Who does Hannah think will have a breakout season for the Buccos?

Former Pirates pitcher & broadcaster Steve Blass joined the show. Steve had a pair of the most legendary moments of any pitcher in Pirates history and told a little story about his dad when the team won the World Series in 1971. Steve admitted that he is always optimistic about the Pirates, but he is certainly feeling that about this year’s club. He said he can’t wait until the home opener next Friday and the special feel of the first baseball game of the season. Steve talked about the time he faced off against Tom Seaver and the Mets to open the season – he threw 10 innings and Seaver tossed 9 in a 1-0 Mets win in 43-degree weather. Steve has so much excitement for the young studs on this Pirates team – including Konnor Griffin, who isn’t on the big-league club yet. Steve said, as a former pitcher, watching Paul Skenes is special every single time. Steve talked about the charity events he has taken part in that help the city he shined as a sports star and why he gets so much joy out of helping the community in any way he can. Pat McAfee Show CFO Phil Mains joined the show. Chris asked Phil if he has the toughest job of anyone associated with Pat McAfee, since he’s the guy that balances the books every month. Phil is the center of the team that has been so generous to the community with his pals from Plum Borough. He joked about not being a guy that speaks for a living, but getting to help the city he loves at the same time. Phil said it’s all about taking care of your people and your neighbors who may be in greater need than you. With some Pittsburgh sports questions, Phil said he’s excited for a new era of Steelers football led by Mike McCarthy after nearly 2 decades under Mike Tomlin. Phil is still optimistic that the Penguins will still make the playoffs. What will Konnor Griffin look like when he comes up? Phil thinks it’s hard to not be excited about the Pirates lineup and a pitching staff led by Paul Skenes. Did Phil have any tips for Donny driving to-and-from Indianapolis for Friday’s show. An impromptu Name Game with Phil that resulted in 3600 meals being donated to the Greater PGH Community Foodbank. Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi joined the show. Pat talked about Kyle Louis, who is getting set for the NFL Draft after a successful career at Pitt. Chris asked Pat about the second year of Mason Heintschel on-deck and how excited he is to see his young QB develop more in Pittsburgh. Pat shared his stories of giving back to the foodbank each and every year, and the importance of preaching to his players about giving back to the community in any way they can. He said teaching the youth how to give back, not only financially, but with their time and effort, it can create a successful domino effect as the years go on. Pat reflected on the interactions with Mike Tomlin, who he shared a facility with for over a decade on the South Side.

Former McKeesport, Penn State and NFL LB Brandon Short joined the show. Brandon endured a personal tragedy that resulted in the death of his daughter and her unborn child 5 years ago. With that, he setup the Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation. He told Chris about what the foundation means to him and his family, and the rest of the community. Growing up in McKeesport, Brandon talked about his own experience with government funding and getting helped with meals, and how he may not have ended up reaching the career heights without that. Chris asked Brandon about the renovations being done at Beaver Stadium. Brandon reflected on the career of Mike Tomlin and the transition to Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. KDKA Meteorologist Mary Ours joined the show. The conversation started with Mary’s singing ability and performing at events over the years. The guys told Mary about Donny’s wedding over the weekend in Johnstown, but what is there to do there? Mary shared her ideal weather on any given day. Back to music – the guys challenged Mary to sing a few songs acapella-style on the spot. Randy Ford from Exubria Home Healthcare joined the show. Randy said he’s an avid Fan listener and loves what we do for the Feed the Need radiothon. Randy made a $500 donation, which counts at 1500 meals to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank. Sports Court w/ our friends from Edgar Snyder & Associates. A one-on-one today with Chris and Nick from Edgar Snyder & Associates. Another game of ‘Defend or Prosecute’ with some questions pertaining to Pittsburgh sports. What is Nick’s prediction for the Buccos in 2026? Nick asked why the morning show got sent down to Bradenton instead of us. With today being the day it is, Nick talked about the importance of giving back to the community and the work he has also done with the foodbank.

PM Team FULL Show 3-23-26

The Pirates roster looks set for Opening Day. Who’s on it and who’s not? Some of the guys that made it bring question marks. Konnor Griffin got sent down and some others that had good spring trainings went down with him. Is this team a playoff team right now? Jannah Drexler from Giant Eagle joined the show. Jannah is a huge help in our Feed the Need radiothon, which is tomorrow. Jannah talked about her involvement in the event and how long she’s been doing work like this. Jannah got into her work with the food bank and why it’s so important that even the smallest amount can go a long way. The guys told Jannah about the 4,000+ cookies he had at his wedding.

Roger Goodell sat down for an interview with Pittsburgh’s own Michael Bartley this morning. He raved about the city of Pittsburgh as a whole, and talked about the NFL Draft experience. He also talked about his close connection to the Rooney family. Goodell said that the draft has to be very Pittsburgh-centered. Apparently, around 200 trees have been cut down in preparation for the draft. Andrew McCutchen made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster. Did the Pirates make a mistake by letting him go? Donny Football Debrief – Najee Harris looks ready to go after tearing his Achilles last season. What would you grade the draft pick?

Donny got married this weekend, and he said that his wedding day was the best day of his life. He said that everything that came together made him realize this. Callers congratulate Donny on his big weekend. Mock of the Day – Who’s the best Steelers 5th round pick of all time? Donny has an NFL.com mock draft for today. This one has the Steelers taking Blake Miller, an offensive lineman from Clemson.

The Penguins were handled by the Hurricanes yesterday, in a 5-1 loss at PPG Paints Arena. Is it fair to have some big concerns with this team as we get into crunch time on the NHL schedule? The Pens have to figure out the goalie situation fast, a shared deal between Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner. The guys are really concerned about the play of Kris Letang, who is having a rough season. Was yesterday’s game just kind of an outlier in their season? There was acknowledgement to one of the moves Kyle Dubas has been unable to right – Ryan Graves. BREAKING: Travis Kelce is signing a 3-year extension with the Chiefs. Poni questioned the Kelce marriage with Taylor Swift. College Basketball Minute – A Robert Morris transfer was a hero yesterday. We also discovered another kid with a Pittsburgh connection making his name in the NCAA Tournament.

The Pirates roster looks set for Opening Day. Who’s on it and who’s not? Some of the guys that made it bring question marks. Konnor Griffin got sent down and some others that had good spring trainings went down with him. Is this team a playoff team right now?

Donny Football Debrief – Najee Harris looks ready to go after tearing his Achilles last season. What would you grade the draft pick?

Roger Goodell sat down for an interview with Pittsburgh’s own Michael Bartley this morning. He raved about the city of Pittsburgh as a whole, and talked about the NFL Draft experience. He also talked about his close connection to the Rooney family. Goodell said that the draft has to be very Pittsburgh-centered. Apparently, around 200 trees have been cut down in preparation for the draft.

Mock of the Day – Who’s the best Steelers 5th round pick of all time? Donny has an NFL.com mock draft for today. This one has the Steelers taking Blake Miller, an offensive lineman from Clemson.

Donny got married this weekend, and he said that his wedding day was the best day of his life. He said that everything that came together made him realize this.

The Penguins were handled by the Hurricanes yesterday, in a 5-1 loss at PPG Paints Arena. Is it fair to have some big concerns with this team as we get into crunch time on the NHL schedule? The Pens have to figure out the goalie situation fast, a shared deal between Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner. The guys are really concerned about the play of Kris Letang, who is having a rough season. Was yesterday’s game just kind of an outlier in their season? There was acknowledgement to one of the moves Kyle Dubas has been unable to right – Ryan Graves.

Crowley and Dorin hung out with the Bucs this week, the madness starts as the sports world starts to heat up!

Hour 1: What sports story are Pittsburghers most excited about right now? There was a fake Joe Greene death post on social media today. And Nick Farabaugh joins the guys to go over the biggest Steelers news right now. Hour 2: The Steelers appear to be interested in a new quarterback prospect. Matt Clement joins the show to preview the Pirates season. Did Callas throw up in the producer’s booth? Dom gives a Steelers Super Bowl hypothetical. And who was more popular in their prime, Livvy Dunne or Pamela Anderson? Hour 3: Mark Kaboly joins the guys for the hour! The guys recap the morning show’s trip to Bradenton. Does Aaron Rodgers have too much pull with the Steelers? And will Tom Brady be at WrestleMania this year? Hour 4: Poni thinks Konnor Griffin should start in the minor leagues to begin the season. An important Griffin article online is currently behind a paywall. And there have been no upsets in March Madness so far today.

Hour 4: Poni thinks Konnor Griffin should start in the minor leagues to begin the season. An important Griffin article online is currently behind a paywall. And there have been no upsets in March Madness so far today.

Poni says that Konnor Griffin should start this season in Indy. The guys debate what the right move is for the Pirates. Would the start of the season be hindered if Griffin’s not on the Opening Day roster?

Hour 3: Mark Kaboly joins the guys for the hour! The guys recap the morning show’s trip to Bradenton. Does Aaron Rodgers have too much pull with the Steelers? And will Tom Brady be at WrestleMania this year?

Does Aaron Rodgers have too much pull with the Steelers? Kaboly confirms that Pittsburgh didn’t even make an attempt to get Kyler Murray. Apparently there is a Pittsburgh media hair bracket online. Mark gives his record prediction for the Pirates this year. Is the word “homely” underused?

Hour 2: The Steelers appear to be interested in a new quarterback prospect. Matt Clement joins the show to preview the Pirates season. Did Callas throw up in the producer’s booth? Dom gives a Steelers Super Bowl hypothetical. And who was more popular in their prime, Livvy Dunne or Pamela Anderson?

Matt Clement joins the show to talk about his record prediction for the season, where he would put Jared Triolo on the field, realistic expectations for Paul Skenes this year, if wins still matter, if a Moisés Alou urination story is true, what a potential Pirates rotation would look like in a best-of-three playoff series, some rapid fire questions, and more!

Hour 1: What sports story are Pittsburghers most excited about right now? There was a fake Joe Greene death post on social media today. And Nick Farabaugh joins the guys to go over the biggest Steelers news right now.

There was a fake Joe Greene death post on Twitter today. What are Pittsburgh sports fans most excited about right now? Is Poni a football elitist?

PM Team FULL show 3-19-2026

PM Team FULL Show 3-18-26

With Donny’s wedding in a few days, the discussion of wedding cake took over the segment. It then turned into cake versus other desserts like ice cream and pie. The Steelers brass had some eyes on the Georgia pro day and could have been looking at the fastest-rising offensive lineman in the draft – Monroe Freeling. Does this idea have you worried after what has happened with Broderick Jones? 93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Will the Steelers have a different draft strategy or pre-draft strategy with Mike Tomlin no longer in the mix? Jeff said it is clear that they have interest in Georgia guys, but don’t read too much into the lack of presence at the Penn State pro day. Could there be a real consideration for the Steelers to take a left tackle in the 1st round? Jeff thinks it’s more and more likely that the Steelers go away from WR at 21st overall as we approach the draft. Jeff wouldn’t reject a trade for Tanner McKee that required 1 or 2 picks on Day 3 going back to the Eagles. Judge Donny – Should Jack Hughes get the puck that won the gold medal?

The Steelers have scheduled an official visit with Denzel Boston, the fringe 1st round WR from Washington. Boston is expected to slip because his 40-time isn’t great, but how important really is that? Is it still a consensus that the Steelers need to draft a WR at 21st overall? ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Is Kirk Cousins going to hold a clipboard in Vegas once Fernando Mendoza is ready? Cousins hasn’t signed anywhere, but the Raiders are the current favorite. Aditi still feels like it is ‘less likely than more likely’ that Aaron Rodgers plays in the NFL next season. Aditi said it felt like a foregone conclusion last year that Rodgers would play for the Steelers and she doesn’t get that vibe this time around. Aditi had high praise for Tanner McKee and said an NFL OC raved about the Eagles backup QB. Does Aditi subscribe to the idea of drafting a quarterback in every draft? She wants to see Will Howard get a shot if need be. Aditi gave Donny some wedding advice 72 hours before his big day. Donny Football Debrief – The NFL is averaging one trade per day this week. Will a trade tomorrow or Friday take over the sports world as the NCAA Tournament gets underway?

One of the traditions the Steelers follow in their draft prep for a long time was attending the pro day of the player they would eventually select in the 1st round. Last season, they bucked that trend when they didn’t send Mike Tomlin or Omar Khan to the Derrick Harmon workout. Penn State held its pro day today and the Steelers lacked a presence. Poni is surprised they didn’t want to check out Vega Ioane, the stud OL, that could very well be on the Steelers’ board heading into next month. Does this also mean the Steelers lack interest in Drew Allar? Can he be trusted as someone who failed in big games time after time? How many guys in this draft class would you take over Ioane? Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. The Panthers just traded Andy Dalton to the Eagles, which could mean Tanner McKee is available. Is that an avenue the Steelers would go down? Mike reported that the Rams were discussing a trade with the Eagles regarding AJ Brown, but LA tapped out in the process. Mike told the guys that Drew Allar and Carson Beck were not on the list for Chris Simms, his cohost, when he released his Top 5 QB prospects for the 2026 Draft. Mike still isn’t buying into the Will Howard hype that is coming straight from the Steelers. How far into the future will the NFL move to 18 games and what will that schedule look like? Mike believes we could see Ty Simpson fall to the Steelers the way Kenny Pickett fell to them in 2022. Mike found the words of Maxx Crosby awfully interesting after he told his story about what happened with the Ravens. In response to Tanner McKee potentially being available, Poni can’t defend giving up draft capital, even if they are Day 3 picks, for someone who has only played well in the preseason.

Sidney Crosby is back as the Penguins get set to finish their road trip tonight in Carolina. They stayed in their spot in Sid’s absence and continue to look like a playoff team. Should your expectations change with Crosby coming back in a timely manner? Poni will say ‘job well done’ if the boys finish the job and get to the postseason. Chris isn’t there – he wants a playoff series win, which would be the first for the team since 2018. Should Dan Muse win the Coach of the Year? Is there a case to be made for Sidney Crosby being the greatest hockey player of all-time? How do we think Sid is going to look tonight in his return? The Penguins haven’t won a game in Carolina since Antonio Brown was a Steeler. Bucco Minute – The World Baseball Classic is over. Why didn’t Mason Miller pitch last night? A silly rule laid down by the Padres, but Mark DeRosa showed multiple times that he didn’t know what he was doing.

93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Will the Steelers have a different draft strategy or pre-draft strategy with Mike Tomlin no longer in the mix? Jeff said it is clear that they have interest in Georgia guys, but don’t read too much into the lack of presence at the Penn State pro day. Could there be a real consideration for the Steelers to take a left tackle in the 1st round? Jeff thinks it’s more and more likely that the Steelers go away from WR at 21st overall as we approach the draft. Jeff wouldn’t reject a trade for Tanner McKee that required 1 or 2 picks on Day 3 going back to the Eagles.

ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Is Kirk Cousins going to hold a clipboard in Vegas once Fernando Mendoza is ready? Cousins hasn’t signed anywhere, but the Raiders are the current favorite. Aditi still feels like it is ‘less likely than more likely’ that Aaron Rodgers plays in the NFL next season. Aditi said it felt like a foregone conclusion last year that Rodgers would play for the Steelers and she doesn’t get that vibe this time around. Aditi had high praise for Tanner McKee and said an NFL OC raved about the Eagles backup QB. Does Aditi subscribe to the idea of drafting a quarterback in every draft? She wants to see Will Howard get a shot if need be. Aditi gave Donny some wedding advice 72 hours before his big day.

The Steelers have scheduled an official visit with Denzel Boston, the fringe 1st round WR from Washington. Boston is expected to slip because his 40-time isn’t great, but how important really is that? Is it still a consensus that the Steelers need to draft a WR at 21st overall?

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. The Panthers just traded Andy Dalton to the Eagles, which could mean Tanner McKee is available. Is that an avenue the Steelers would go down? Mike reported that the Rams were discussing a trade with the Eagles regarding AJ Brown, but LA tapped out in the process. Mike told the guys that Drew Allar and Carson Beck were not on the list for Chris Simms, his cohost, when he released his Top 5 QB prospects for the 2026 Draft. Mike still isn’t buying into the Will Howard hype that is coming straight from the Steelers. How far into the future will the NFL move to 18 games and what will that schedule look like? Mike believes we could see Ty Simpson fall to the Steelers the way Kenny Pickett fell to them in 2022. Mike found the words of Maxx Crosby awfully interesting after he told his story about what happened with the Ravens.

The Penguins haven’t won a game in Carolina since Antonio Brown was a Steeler.

Sidney Crosby is back as the Penguins get set to finish their road trip tonight in Carolina. They stayed in their spot in Sid’s absence and continue to look like a playoff team. Should your expectations change with Crosby coming back in a timely manner? Poni will say ‘job well done’ if the boys finish the job and get to the postseason. Chris isn’t there – he wants a playoff series win, which would be the first for the team since 2018. Should Dan Muse win the Coach of the Year?

PM Team FULL Show 3-17-26

Did Don Kelly give away the plans for Konnor Griffin? He told the morning show that he will be great ‘when we call him up,’ indicating that the #1 prospect in baseball won’t start in the big leagues. Is it crazy for the Pirates to pay Griffin before he ever takes an at-bat in the majors? Robert Murray thinks a deal worth over $100M is still on the table. Are there any fans against the Pirates giving Konnor Griffin a big contract?

A Steelers legend is tired of the Aaron Rodgers saga. Rod Woodson doesn’t like the ongoing drama have with another former Packers QB – after Brett Favre did the same thing years ago. Woodson also said they should have selected Jaxson Dart in last year’s draft instead of Derrick Harmon. Was that a mistake on the Steelers’ part? NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson from CBS Sports joined the show. Ryan doesn’t think the Steelers made a mistake by not drafting Jaxson Dart last year because they got a good player in Derrick Harmon. He’s also not sold that Dart is a big-time QB or even has that in him. The guys asked Ryan about the idea of the Steelers and Carson Beck in the third round, but Ryan believes he will be off the board before pick 100. Ryan said Beck is a better prospect than Will Howard and thinks Mike McCarthy would favor Beck in a battle of the two. Ryan doesn’t think you can ever have enough DBs in your locker room, so there’s reason why the Steelers are doing homework there. Where do things stand on WR prospects right now? Ryan thinks Antonio Williams from Clemson is a target the Steelers should consider on the second night of the draft. The guys asked Ryan about the visits the Steelers had yesterday. Donny Football Debrief – The NFL season may be starting on a Wednesday in 2026.

The Steelers have brought in their first QB prospect for an official visit ahead of the NFL Draft – Carson Beck. After throwing a few TD passes for the Hurricanes at Acrisure Stadium in November, could he have more TD passes ahead of him in Pittsburgh? If the Steelers draft a QB in the middle rounds next month, is he destined to be the team’s backup? Should Will Howard be put on the back burner for any of the guys drafted on the second night of the draft? The Dolphins traded Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos and paid a hefty price to do it. Waddle is a better player than Michael Pittman Jr., but the Steelers got their guy at a major discount. Out of the 3 WR trades made in the last week or so, who made the best move? Mock Draft of the Day – Mel Kiper has the Steelers selecting Vega Ioane, the guard from Penn State.

The Penguins beat the best team in hockey last night, 7-2 in Colorado. Evgeni Malkin had 2 goals and an assist in his return following the 5-game suspension. Malkin continues to perform on a high level and without Sidney Crosby in the lineup, he is key cog in keeping this thing afloat. Poni had a few points about Geno to start today’s show – he’s a Top 3 Penguin of all-time, he’s on the PGH Sports Mt. Rushmore since 2000, and he deserves an extension after this season. Elmer Soderblom scored his first Penguins goal last night. Do you put Evgeni Malkin on a Mt. Rushmore over Andrew McCutchen? PM Team Sports Court w/ our friends from Edgar Snyder & Associates. Another game of Defend or Prosecute. The guys got the game turned on them too.

Did Don Kelly give away the plans for Konnor Griffin? He told the morning show that he will be great ‘when we call him up,’ indicating that the #1 prospect in baseball won’t start in the big leagues. Is it crazy for the Pirates to pay Griffin before he ever takes an at-bat in the majors? Robert Murray thinks a deal worth over $100M is still on the table.

NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson from CBS Sports joined the show. Ryan doesn’t think the Steelers made a mistake by not drafting Jaxson Dart last year because they got a good player in Derrick Harmon. He’s also not sold that Dart is a big-time QB or even has that in him. The guys asked Ryan about the idea of the Steelers and Carson Beck in the third round, but Ryan believes he will be off the board before pick 100. Ryan said Beck is a better prospect than Will Howard and thinks Mike McCarthy would favor Beck in a battle of the two. Ryan doesn’t think you can ever have enough DBs in your locker room, so there’s reason why the Steelers are doing homework there. Where do things stand on WR prospects right now? Ryan thinks Antonio Williams from Clemson is a target the Steelers should consider on the second night of the draft. The guys asked Ryan about the visits the Steelers had yesterday.

A Steelers legend is tired of the Aaron Rodgers saga. Rod Woodson doesn’t like the ongoing drama have with another former Packers QB – after Brett Favre did the same thing years ago. Woodson also said they should have selected Jaxson Dart in last year’s draft instead of Derrick Harmon. Was that a mistake on the Steelers’ part?

The Dolphins traded Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos and paid a hefty price to do it. Waddle is a better player than Michael Pittman Jr., but the Steelers got their guy at a major discount. Out of the 3 WR trades made in the last week or so, who made the best move?

The Steelers have brought in their first QB prospect for an official visit ahead of the NFL Draft – Carson Beck. After throwing a few TD passes for the Hurricanes at Acrisure Stadium in November, could he have more TD passes ahead of him in Pittsburgh? If the Steelers draft a QB in the middle rounds next month, is he destined to be the team’s backup? Should Will Howard be put on the back burner for any of the guys drafted on the second night of the draft?

PM Team Sports Court w/ our friends from Edgar Snyder & Associates. Another game of Defend or Prosecute. The guys got the game turned on them too.

The Penguins beat the best team in hockey last night, 7-2 in Colorado. Evgeni Malkin had 2 goals and an assist in his return following the 5-game suspension. Malkin continues to perform on a high level and without Sidney Crosby in the lineup, he is key cog in keeping this thing afloat. Poni had a few points about Geno to start today’s show – he’s a Top 3 Penguin of all-time, he’s on the PGH Sports Mt. Rushmore since 2000, and he deserves an extension after this season.

PM Team FULL Show 3-16-26

Are the Pirates a playoff team? We are 10 days away from Opening Day. Poni thinks the Buccos are a playoff team, but isn’t sure if they are division-champion caliber. The guys feel like the team should win somewhere in the mid-80s, like 85 games. The Buccos shored up the offense this offseason, but what will Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz look like coming off disappointing seasons? Is Cruz still an easy scapegoat if things don’t go well? It’s the most optimism around the team since 2016, following their 3-year playoff run. The guys think they are a great bounce back candidate across the league. There is almost always a team that goes from worst-to-first. Do people believe the Pirates can make the playoffs in 2026?