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Paul Zeise's sports chat: 05.14.20
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Zeise
12:01
OK it is about that time - let’s get started!!
Buzzard Bill
12:02
Paul, I just don't think that Bush can handle the majority of Steeler ILB duties without wearing down as the season progresses. He was not overworked as a rookie, and the Steelers seem to be at risk here if he gets too many snaps.  Come playoffs time, I think that the Steelers will be vulnerable to the run.  Do you agree?
Zeise
12:05
I don’t know - what is this based on? Is it because you think he is undersized or something? Players play. I know he had a few injuries in college but I didn’t see any evidence that he couldn’t handle the rigors of the league last season.
Lucky
12:06
Do you think the Steelers would temporarily shift operations to Florida in order to have a summer camp if PA is still in the current status?
Zeise
12:07
No. And I think the state will accommodate these teams. There is so much posturing going on right now it is silly. The Steelers will train at the South Side facility
Tom in Dallas
12:09
Two positions when sports open back up: Fans are starved, and even it they can't go to the game, they will watch games and viewership will be very strong.
Other view: people have learned to live w/o sports and when the restart, viewership will me much lower than in the past.  What is your thought on which position is more accurate?
Zeise
12:12
I think the fact that the draft, the schedule show, the Last Dance and anything that is “new” in sports is breaking ratings records tells me everything I need to know. People are starved for sports, want sports and will want to watch sports when they return
JPBP
12:13
Hey Paul ...haven’t heard Josh Taylor on the Fan or seen him on KDKA or the Nightly Sports Call.  Has he been reassigned or taken a new position?  Thanks.
Zeise
12:15
No he is a part-time anchor who fills in for Pompeani and Rich Walsh. But right now he isn’t needed because those two can cover seven days. When Rich has to go on assignment, when the two are taking vacations that’s when Josh is needed most. But Rich has nothing to go cover so all seven days of the anchor desk can be covered. Josh is a pro though and hopefully gets a full-time gig on TV soon. He deserves it
Dan
12:17
Think Pittsburgh ever gets an NBA team?
Zeise
12:18
No I don't and the reason I don't is I just don't think there is enough corporate money here to support four teams. I think there would be fans for it, especially if it got good. The question would be could it sell enough corporate suites, sponsorships, luxury boxes, etc. to meet the amount necessary for the NBA to even consider moving a franchise here. I just don't see it every happening.
Mo Nongahela
12:18
The Pens have furloughed some employees for 4 months.  Does that mean they are not counting on being back in action for that long?
Zeise
12:22
No I think it means they are not counting on having fans, having fans buying beers and hot dogs and nachos. That's a big factor in the NHL.
marty v
12:23
What % of salary of NFL players do agents make?  Also, do they also get a portion of the signing bonus?
Zeise
12:28
I think the cap is 3 percent in the NFL but most take between 1 and 2 percent. It includes all of the money in the contract/contracts that are negotiated
Mo Nongahela
12:28
Paul, your thoughts on whether there will be Steelers' preseason games this year?
Zeise
12:29
I do think there will be at least one preseason game. I don't think the Hall of Fame game will happen and I don't think teams will play three or four preseason games but I'd imagine there will be at least one if not two and it would only make sense - there has to be some sort of dress rehearsal since everything is going to be new again.
Alan in Nashville
12:30
Hi Paul, I know the old practice of putting in the backup QB in blowout wins or losses has faded over the past 20 years. It seems as the “big guys” want to stay on the field with their guys in those situations as well. That being said, we need to know if Mason is developing and is a potential starter and with what promises to be a limited preseason, he’s going to have limited opportunities to prove it unless disaster strikes again. So do you see the coaches forcing Ben off the field in those situations more than in the past? Thanks!
Zeise
12:36
I don't know - Ben has never been very easy to handle when he is asked to come out of a game early. I hope, though, given his age that the Steelers will be smart about getting him out of games that are already decided. As for the Mason Rudolph "needs work" stuff, well, I suppose I could revive an old joke from my days of covering Pitt when fans were freaking out that "Bill Stull needs work, got to get Stull work" his freshman year when he was the backup to Palko and Wanny didn't use him in some situation late in a game that was decided. It became a running joke and now I suppose we can go with "Mason Rudolph needs work, got to get Rudolph work....." I have always said this: there is nothing more overrated than the need to get meaningless snaps (which are almost all handoffs) at the end of a game long since decided. It is one thing if it is for an entire quarter and he runs the offense. That's different. But these "let's get him six snaps at the end of game" cries are usually silly.
Gino
12:36
Hi Paul, your thoughts or comments on the Last Dance?  Do you think MJ and Isiah Thomas will ever reconcile now that their accounts of what caused their feud have been aired?
Zeise
12:38
I do not. Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were best friends before they had a falling out when Barkley on TNT ripped Jordan's ability to be an owner/general manager. Now they don't even speak and Barkley has reached out to Jordan several times and Jordan refuses to talk to him. I can't imagine Isiah Thomas, who Jordan has hated since their days as a player, would get better treatment than Barkley
Mo Nongahela
12:39
MT said that Matt Canada will have new ideas to contribute to the offense in addition to coaching the QB's.  How do you see that being manifested in the offense this year?
Zeise
12:42
I think the biggest difference will be in the run game. I bet the Steelers run-blocking schemes will be better, I think the design of their running plays will be better and I think there will be more diversity in their run game. That is where I think Canada will have the most influence.
Jeff
12:42
Thanks for the chats.  Your Steelers article was SPOT ON.  Too much has to go right and even then we will finish just above .500.  sounds like another Pittsburgh franchise we know.
Zeise
12:43
Jeff, you have now outed yourself as a hater!!! Join the club. Anyone who doesn't have the Steelers at 11-5 is apparently a hater!!
Paul from Sacramento
12:44
Hi Paul,  Love your chats and insight.
Paul, love your chats and insight.  I try not to be a Mason hater, but wonder if you think the Steelers might spend a first round pick on a QB?
Zeise
12:47
Thanks. It all depends on how Rudolph performs this year when he gets opportunities and in practices. I do think the Steelers will look to the future at the QB situation soon and if the right player is available in the first round they might grab him. But that would only happen if they are convinced that Mason Rudolph is not going to be good enough to be the quarterback of the future.
Clifford
12:47
Assuming you’re watching the Last Dance?  Is there anything so far that has surprised you?  I think GM Krause and Coach Jackson let Pippen off easy for not getting his leg surgery done in the offseason and especially for refusing to in for the last play of the playoff game.  Thank you sir.
Zeise
12:49
There isn't a lot that has surprised me because I grew up in that era. I mean I was in my teens and 20s when Michael Jordan was playing and I worked at the NBA for two of those seasons. I do think Pippen is coming out of this looking like a bit of a whiner.
TB
12:49
have you read the comments from Blake Snell on ESPN? What are your thoughts? He needs to get his so he does not think it is worth it to come back for reduced salary. He makes 7 million a year and 3.5 not worth risking it. I’m sure he’s not the only one who thinks it but man what a bad look that he actually said it.
Zeise
12:53
Blake Snell should stop sniffing glue or whatever it is he is doing that is making him so delusional. Here is the thing - these guys and these owners need to understand this: they ain't that important. We would love to have baseball back. We don't need to have baseball back. So if guys like Snell want to whine about their salaries and say they are going to sit out, here is my response: sit the hell out, who cares? That's what it comes down to, either play or don't play but don't whine about how unfairly you are being treated because a country that is economically struggling doesn't want to hear it. The fact that there isn't already a deal in place is ridiculous.
Tom in Dallas
12:53
Which of the major sports is hurting or going to hurt more bacause of  no games, revenue...?  To rephrase, which sport will have the longest negative impact?   (and assume the NFL season is impacted)
Zeise
12:56
The NHL is the most vulnerable and that's because it is most reliant on attendance. And with no fans and no tickets sales the NHL is going to be hurting. I also think college football is a huge problem for the NCAA right now. If college football can't happen and happen with fans then it will have devastating consequences.
Scott
12:56
What are the strengths and weaknesses UG3 displayed at the college level and during camp last year?
Zeise
1:02
They are hoping he can take on the Mark Barron role from a year ago but I don't know, he is good in coverage, not so good against the run and filling the hole and making tackles. He has a lot of work to do in order to have a chance to be the primary backup to Vince Williams and Devin Bush. That's what they had in mind when they drafted him but we shall see if he can develop.
Bill
1:02
I hated everything about those Bulls teams and everyone involved, so I haven't watched a second of the Last Dance as I have no interest.  But I'm astounded that ESPN has not only managed to milk it into weeks of programming, but has had the chutzpah to cover it on their various platforms like it's an actual live sporting event.  Shameless journalistic standards, or brilliant marketing strategy?
Zeise
1:04
Brilliant marketing strategy. They understand there is a void right now and people are starving for sports. They knew they had great behind the scenes stuff from Jordan and a 10-part series. They know they have a captive audience. And they have used their multiple platforms to promote it brilliantly. I don't love a lot of what ESPN does - but nobody does documentaries better and nobody knows how to create a market for something better.
Kevin Colbert
1:06
If JuJu rebounds and has a great year (100 catches, 1100 Receiving yards), do I pay him $16M÷ or let him walk. You know the priority will be T.J. Watt's extension in 2021, then Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2022. What should I do?
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