The Pomp And Joe Show
Poni reported a notable Steelers player surprisingly won't be back
18 Feb 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Fan Hotline presented by Sullivan Super Service, providing trusted plumbing and HVAC service for over 50 years. That is where we find Mark Caballi, who is here in studio. Until noon or just afternoon. We're a little bit lax with the clock on this show, if you haven't noticed before. Donnie Football in for Pomp and Joe. They are at a special lunch that the producers don't get to take part in.
But maybe one day, Austin, we will get some shine on that. You may be taking in the show on YouTube, on our live video feed, or on Twitter. X at 93.7 The Fan. That's brought to you by South Hills Kia in Peters Township. Visit them at SouthHillsKia.net. Something of note, the Canada-Czechia game is midway through the second period. One surprising note, Czechia is up 2-1 in the game.
Another point of concern is Sidney Crosby hurt and just went to the locker room for Team Canada. So that is something we will keep some tabs on. And Mark, you noted during the break, he was getting roughed up a little bit in this game. And man, that would be a real damper. As big as it is for Sid to win another gold medal,
That would be a damper if something actually happened in what is truly a meaningless game when it comes to the Penguins' season. Yeah, especially Crosby. He's been pretty healthy over his career other than, obviously, the concussion episode. I mean, he hasn't really missed that much game.
To be able to go to Italy, try to win a gold medal, and get hurt while your team obviously needs you would absolutely stink. He was limping pretty nicely off into the locker room here, so we'll see. Knowing him, he'll come back with a cape on, right?
I mean, if anybody's going to do it, it's going to be him, and I certainly hope it is, because if he doesn't come back, I will be concerned for the rest of the 2026 for the Penguins. It makes you really consider, I mean, is it worth the risk? I mean, I guess he feels it is, but.
Can't be a good sign here that especially a team that him, a guy who obviously wants one last shot at these playoffs or a last shot or two or have a legitimate shot of getting in to have something like this happen in a game of this magnitude. I mean, it's not even the gold medal game. It's not even a quarterfinal game. Yeah, it's a quarterfinal game, not even the semis or a game for a medal.
You can listen to this show, Pomp and Joe, on demand, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts. Mark the... Will the Steelers have any surprise cuts or surprise trades? Our friend Andrew Filippone on Twitter earlier, and we were texting back and forth about this, one of his famed sources told him that there would be a surprise.
Somebody that people would fully expect to be on the team next season, Won't be. No idea who it is. He didn't indicate that. But do you think there could be some sort of surprise cut or trade? Well, first I want to play the pony game. Let's really parse this out and say surprise. Who would you be surprised with right now of being gone or cut?
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Chapter 2: What surprising news did Poni report about a Steelers player?
I mean, most of them are still injured. That's the problem, too. I mean, I guess the one you could look at, it would have to be a trade opportunity, be Mac Jones. I guess he would be the one guy that you say could be a Sam Darnold-like. It would take a lot to get there. He gets the Kyle Shanahan rub. People think he's figured out how to play quarterback now. But then you'd have to trade for him.
I'm sure it wouldn't cost a ton. But if they're not going to make the trade, what do you do? I mean, it's quite a year for the 49ers to be able to hold that down. You know, the fact that they have Mac Jones and it's not a strong rookie class or free agent class. And let's not mistake that Brock Purdy is a guy that is not always healthy.
He's missed a lot of games with injuries too, so they need to find some people. I mean, people tend to forget 2-2 now. Get some play-by-play going, Mark. Actually, we're not allowed to do that. You're not allowed to do that. You can't do actual play-by-play. No, there's some sort of rule against that. But Canada has tied it up with Czechia.
Yeah, I was trying to find a game the other day on the radio somewhere, and I couldn't even find it on any radio stations. It has been frustrating with some of the hockey games. Now, as we get into these rounds, we have nothing to worry about. They're all going to be on TV. But some of the early ones... they wouldn't be on TV.
Chapter 3: Will the Steelers make any surprise cuts or trades this season?
They wouldn't be on NBC. They wouldn't be on USA CNBC. Like you'd have to, you'd have to go to Peacock and find the hockey game. Yeah. I mean, I saw the 97 and a nine on eight for Canada. I'm thinking Crosby was still back out there, but look at that guy. Yeah. We'll keep, we'll keep tabs on that. Sidney Crosby injured in the Canada Czechia quarterfinal game. Uh,
Mark, any look into the Aaron Rodgers timeline before we let you go? I still think it's going to be before free agency. I think that he has enough respect for the process and respect for Mike McCarthy and the Steelers organization as a whole to know that he just can't leave them hanging.
Like last year, Mike Tomlin apparently knew when, not long after the visit in March, that he was going to come here. But I think you have to make it more official here. before you move on. Because even if you don't make it, even if you got that handshake deal like they had almost wink, wink, nod, nod last year, your whole organization is based on him coming back and moving forward.
So you would like to have at least something more concrete. Yeah, it's riding on a guy that's well into his 40s. And if...
If he doesn't officially sign, but they don't sign any quarterback in free agency and they don't draft, let's say, Ty Simpson in the first round and it gets dragged into the summer again, I'm just going to assume that he does come back or else they would really look like fools.
Yeah, I mean, as for drafting a quarterback in the first round, I see the only way that happens if Rodgers does not come back. Because if you draft one, you have to keep Howard, you have to keep your first-round quarterback if it's Ty Simpson. And your boy's getting cut. I'm not even talking about that.
I'm talking about if the 43-year-old quarterback gets hurt, you've got to choose from the rookie or the guy that has zero snaps in his career and has been on the team for half a year under a new offense. So you can't do that. Mark Cabaly, Steelers correspondent from the Pat McAfee Show. Mark, thanks for taking the time. This is a fun hour. You'll be with the guys on Friday afternoon. Oh, yeah.
You double dipping today, huh? I am. You know what they say about double dip? One chip per dip. That Seinfeld reference is too old for you. I do a lot of double headers. I'm like Ernie Banks. Let's play two. Thanks, Mark. DH the second one.
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