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Paul Zeise's sports chat: 04.02.20
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Zeise
12:00
Ok it is high noon let’s get started!!!
retguy18
12:01
Paul, I've noticed that the for a while now, James Conner, when introduced before an NFL game, has named his high school and not Pitt as his alma mater. Has he had some kind of falling out with the university?
Zeise
12:04
No I think the thing is he wants to say where he is from, that never forget where you came from thing
paullochrane@yahoo.com
12:04
steelers betting a lot that an old broken down quarterback will lead them to the promise land, i find it hard to believe that guy can lead them anywhere, do you agree that the steelers are holding on to him way too long?
Zeise
12:12
Well I think once they made the decision to sign him to an extension they were stuck with him. I probably would not have signed him to that extension and would have looked into a much cheaper option like Teddie Bridgewater and used him as a bridge QB to the future - and as we found out last year a guy like that might prove to be good enough to win a lot of games for you
Pal
12:12
Could you see live periods/ AAU basketball season shifting towards August, instead of July?
Zeise
12:13
I doubt it, I really do. I think the problem is going to be logistics of it and getting back on campus. And I also think there are gonna be some real cutbacks in terms of recruiting travel budgets and whatnot. I could see it being cut to one week in late July or one four-day weekend in Sept like they used to have
Where is everyone at today!! Must be outside in the sun
Jim
12:13
I read recently that if the NFL plays this season that the stadiums would be employing the 6 foot distancing requirement! How could that be done?
Zeise
12:16
I have not read that. And that’s silly. I would think a more viable option is this - play to like a very small percentage of capacity. It may anger some fans but the alternative is no football. For instance, say it is 1/5th of capacity and the seats sold are spread throughout the stadium sections. If my math is correct that would be something like no more than 12,500 in Heinz Field for a game. You spread that many seats out you could mitigate it some
Retire21
12:16
Purely hypothetical....what would you think if Pitt was invited to the Big 10?
Zeise
12:17
It would be a terrible move for Pitt to be honest. Pitt has nothing at all in common with most of the Big Ten schools. Pitt fits in the ACC. Outside of Clemson and FSU, Pitt can/should be able to compete with every other team and is a better option than many of the teams. There is no reason for Pitt to go to the Big Ten to become Rutgers or Maryland
Pal
12:18
who’s your most respected person in Pittsburgh sports media?
Zeise
12:22
Two guys - Stan Savran and Bob Smizik. Stan didn’t need to take a young punk like me under his wings and help him learn the radio business but he did. And he always had time for me when I had questions. And he has always been a consummate professional with no BS and no schtick. He is the best in that biz in my mind. Smizik was just like Stan - he always took time and treated me with respect and taught me about the business. And he was always the most thought provoking columnist in town. Bob is a great person and a fabulous and talented writer. He is, for my money, one of the best columnists of all time. He was tremendous at what he did. I have a lot of respect for a lot of people in this business, but those two, and Gene Collier are the ones I always looked up to the most. And I owe all three a lot because I would not have had the career I’ve had without their mentoring
Mike
12:23
Suggestion for speeding up baseball: widen the plate by one to two inches and automate the calling of balls and strikes.  Will result in more swings and more balls in play, which will reduce the time to play a game.
Zeise
12:28
Could also lead to a lot more swings and misses and if that’s the case more strikeouts, a more boring game and longer at bats
Retire21
12:29
Based on season ticket sales and expectations, Pirates should have no trouble with social distancing at PNC Park?
Zeise
12:30
Always plenty of good seats available, right? Lol
Pal
12:31
Will we have a Stanley cup champion this year?
Zeise
12:38
I really don’t want to answer this because I don’t think you will like my answer - a week ago I would have said, yes definitely. I would have said they will figure it out. Now, I’m not so sure. I just don’t know how it will be done safely short of “they found a cure” or a vaccine. And there just too many moving parts and too many people involved in hockey. I could maybe see something with the NBA since there are a lot less people on rosters and whatnot but even that will he tough. I hope I’m wrong but I am becoming more pessimistic by the day
12:40
And I would say the same thing about football - I think we will have it but I think it will be pushed back and I don’t see full crowds, if any crowds, this year
Vincent Vega
12:41
What do they call a Big Mac in France?
Zeise
12:41
Is this a bad knock, knock joke?
Retire21
12:41
Pitt, Duquesne, WVU and Bobby Mo in the renewal of a new Steel Bowl type tournament each December?
Zeise
12:44
What is the question? Would I like to see it, yes. I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t want to see that. Will it happen? Probably not. WVU and Duquesne would no doubt be in. The other two I’m not sure about. And there are always these games played when it comes to basketball scheduling that make it impossible for something like that to come together. I will say this - if athletic director’s are responsible they will be doing everything in there power to minimize costs - I.e. travel - for the next year or so. And that would make an event like this attractive
Dan
12:44
We need a RB. Connor has never gotten it done. Thoughts?
Zeise
12:46
I don’t agree. He has gotten it done. He was a Pro Bowl player two years ago. His problem is he has not been able to stay healthy. I agree that the Steelers need a running back to add to the depth and skill set at the position but if Conner is healthy, he is plenty good enough to be a starter in the NFL
NC Steel
12:46
Paul, everyone is asking who you think the Steelers will pick with their no.49 pick. So assuming they pick a WR or RB in 2nd rd, what position will they take in 3rd rd? OL would be great if value is there--especially if they can find a OL who can run block as well as pass block. Thoughts?
Zeise
12:47
I agree - the Steelers will use one of their first two picks on offensive line. It is an area they need long term help. And they could use a little more depth for this year there, too.
IOWASTEEL
12:47
Thanks for that chats..."WHAT IF", big what if, KC or anyone on the staff were to get the COVID-19 during draft time?  Who covers for KC?
Zeise
12:49
Well it depends on how sick he was. I mean we have seen a lot of people - like Cuomo from CNN - who are continuing to work, just in isolation, because their symptoms are mild. However, it would be a combination of Tomlin, his staff and maybe Rooney to a lesser degree
Bud
12:49
Most respected person in Pittsburgh Media (outside of sports)?
Zeise
12:57
Wow that is really tough. There are so many great journalists and media members in this market. We are blessed in that regard. I mean I wouldn’t even know where to begin. We have some people at this paper, like Jonathan Silver and Mike Fuoco, who are outstanding at what they do and are true newsmen and journalists. At KDKA there are guys like Larry Richert and Mary Griffin who are outstanding and really guys you look up to. And of course at KDKA TV there is Paul Maurtino, David Highfield, Kristen Emery, Kym Gable, John Shumway who are all consummate professionals. I mean these are some of the most talented people in the business and I’ve been blessed to work with them all
Piratefan40
12:58
Why doesn’t the NFL just shorten the play clock from 40 to 25 seconds instead of wanting to add a 17th game?  You can always add an extra bye week to extend the season for TV revenue.  I hate kneel downs to run the clock out especially at the end of a close competitive game.
Zeise
12:59
That would make for a much faster game for sure but wouldn’t add revenue. They want an extra playoff team because it will keep more teams in the chase longer and deeper into the season and will mean more games have meaning in the last two weeka
Mountain Gus
12:59
Do you see NCAA football having a season i n the fall?  It is questionable if students will go back to campuses that early.  Would they allow the teams to compete if students are off-campus learning online?
Zeise
1:01
That’s a great question. I love the optimism of many of the people who say that it will definitely happen. But again, liability is the key here and I’m not sure any college President wants an outbreak on his watch because of a football game. It will all depend on developments in science and in medicine between now and say mid-July
River Rat
1:01
Looks like all top WR are gone before 49, and we will be forced to go with RB to have an impact player this year starting from draft.  Agree?
Zeise
1:01
It depends, there are allegedly a lot of good linebackers and offensive linemen in the draft too
Scott
1:02
Paul, During the Mike Tomlin era they have drafted 26 DB's. The only one that even remotely panned out is Willie Gay. The jury is still out on Edmunds but the track record is "below the line" Why are they so bad in this area? Tomlin cut his teeth as a DB coach. They should be better at this.
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