Joe Starkey Columns category
Joe Starkey: Why couldn’t Pat McAfee just ask Aaron Rodgers a simple question?
The biggest news from the Pat McAfee-Aaron Rodgers bro show Wednesday was Rodgers saying, “I’m a free agent.” Hmmm. I wonder if he’s thinking about the Minnesota Vikings. I would be, although at least if Rodgers returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers he won’t have to ignore Jonnu Smith again. News...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Upon further review, Ben Roethlisberger performed an absolute miracle in his final season
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less (or more, in this case) His unqualified coordinator had never called an NFL play. His top receiver sometimes ran backwards and would be run straight out of the league by his late 20s. His No. 2 receiver would be...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Who’s better — Drew Allar or Will Howard?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo …. Burke O’Toole, @BurkeMan513: Dr. Starkey who would you rather the Steelers try to...
Joe Starkey: She sculpted the Bill Mazeroski statue — and hardly anybody knows
Every so often, Susan Wagner will visit PNC Park to see those powerful Pirates legends statues. Last weekend provided such an occasion, albeit a sad one. Bill Mazeroski died. Dozens journeyed to his bronze likeness at the end of the cul-de-sac on Mazeroski Way, near the right-field entrance, in front...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: What is an ‘AFC North’ quarterback?
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less Steelers GM Omar Khan made sure to talk up last season’s third-string quarterback — the sixth-round pick who has never appeared in a live NFL game — in addressing reporters at the NFL Combine. Of course he did. Khan...
Joe Starkey: The Steelers are Omar Khan’s show now. Is that a good thing?
Evaluating the Steelers’ personnel decisions in recent years was always tricky, because it was often unclear whether coach Mike Tomlin or general manager Omar Khan dictated a given decision. Who was pulling the trigger on many of the main acquisitions, via the draft, trades and free agency — and where...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Steelers not alone in quarterback quandary
The ESPN.com headlines Tuesday felt like one big cry for quarterback help: • “Browns GM: Starting QB up for grabs, includes Sanders, Watson” • “Falcons GM: QB Cousins to be released March 11” • “Dolphins GM: ‘Everything’s on the table’ with Tua” • “Texans GM: Stroud trade speculation is ‘moronic’”...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Would a salary cap enable the Pirates to keep Paul Skenes?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo …. Chris Abt, @Chris_Abt: Why aren’t we considering that the imminent MLB lockout and...
Joe Starkey: My unforgettable afternoon with the Miracle on Ice team
The icy glares had long since melted. Herb Brooks was no longer the fiery tyrant of 1980. He was no longer the mad man who’d ordered his players to skate sprints in the dark after a lazy performance against Norway, telling them if they kept smashing their sticks on the...
Beyond the Bylines: Joe Starkey, Tim Benz on Sidney Crosby’s injury, NHL in the Olympics, Steelers PodcastgateVideo
This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” streamed on Thursday instead of Friday because Joe Starkey already needs a vacation, and he’s only been back at TribLive for about a month. So he is going to Florida to play golf on Friday. We did not discuss Joe’s golf game. We did, however,...
Joe Starkey: Sidney Crosby’s injury should not have happened
Who was officiating the Canada-Czechia Olympic hockey game Wednesday, Jerry Meals? Actually, it was three NHL officials and a Swedish one, and their incompetence might have altered the course of the tournament, not to mention the Penguins’ promising season. As of this writing, Sidney Crosby was to undergo imaging for...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Why can’t the Pirates win 85 games?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me up jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooo … Frank from Cranberry, via email: Joe — hope the colonoscopy went well. The prep sucks. Anyway,...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Steelers should steer clear of Tyreek Hill
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on Sports in 350 words or less Omar Khan’s never-ending search for a legit No. 2 receiver resumes this offseason. Strike that. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a No. 2 receiver. His name is DK Metcalf. He’s a decent player when he’s not taking pot shots at...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Elroy Face and old baseball stories that never get old
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on Sports in 350 words or less I had only a few conversations with Elroy Face, but he was always ready with a story. His passing Thursday at age 97 reminded me of that. And of a few other things: • How quickly time flies and...
Joe Starkey: Projecting Pirates lineups is suddenly enjoyable, especially with Konnor Griffin in them
I keep reading about how the Pirates defense could be compromised by their offseason acquisitions, and I keep not caring. I’ll take the offense. Consider the case of all-field, no-hit Ke’Bryan Hayes, now in Cincinnati. Hayes is an elite defender, but how many times per game is he afforded the...
‘Beyond the Bylines’ with Tim Benz and Joe Starkey — Feb. 13, 2026Video
Go “Beyond the Bylines” with Tim Benz and Joe Starkey as they cover the latest sports talk in Pittsburgh — digging deeper on the subjects — from Steelers to Penguins to Pirates, and beyond. Watch the Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, show:...
Joe Starkey: Ben Roethlisberger led where his team needed him most — on the field
What did Ben Roethlisberger actually say about Mike Tomlin that has Joey Porter and so many other ex-Steelers all hot and bothered? Not much, as it turns out. Back in December, Roethlisberger stated on his podcast what all but the most delusional Tomlin apologists were saying: “Maybe it’s a clean-house...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Would Mac Jones be a good option for Steelers?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. We had a banner first three weeks. This is no time for a trap game. Apologies for the delay this week. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Great defense still wins championships. If only the Steelers had one
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less This part of Dan Graziano’s Super Bowl piece on ESPN.com stood out, in the context of Art Rooney II wanting to bring Mike Tomlin back after nine years of not coming close to a playoff win (before Tomlin fired...
Joe Starkey: Malik Willis is the kind of quarterback the Steelers should be courting
It’s not like we didn’t know already, but Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy finally made it plain. Asked by KDKA’s Bob Pompeani last week if he’d like to try to recreate his Green Bay magic with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy replied in no uncertain terms. “That’s the plan,” he said....
Joe Starkey: Ravens went risky. Steelers stayed safe. Who’ll be proven right?
You knew as soon as the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens became unexpected members of this year’s coaching cycle that one of them would hire a young, untested riser of a defensive coordinator as its new head coach. You just didn’t think it would be the Ravens. Neither did I. That...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Should Kordell Stewart be in the Steelers Hall of Honor?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. We had a banner first two weeks. Let’s go for a three-peat. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me up jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s go … David Reese, @davidreese36: Good...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: It doesn’t sound like Tristan Jarry is making friends in Edmonton
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less Oh boy. Things seem to be deteriorating for Tristan Jarry in Edmonton. Did you see his comments after getting pulled from a 7-3 loss to Minnesota on Saturday? Whether you’re a goalie, a quarterback or a pitcher — in...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: The Pirates whiffed on Eugenio Suarez
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less The Pirates had the second-most strikeouts in the National League last season. They whiffed 1,422 times. Add one more. Bob Nutting and Ben Cherington watched a fastball go right down the middle. The Pirates desperately need a third baseman....
Joe Starkey: Mike McCarthy mentioned ‘1137 Greenfield Ave.’ Quite a woman lives behind that door
“My heart is full. My focus is singular. It’s time to bring another championship back to this great city. And with that, I just want to make sure when we do get that trophy, the seventh trophy in the case, we’ll start that victory parade at 1137 Greenfield Ave.” —...
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