This week’s “Madden Monday” podcast comes from Lake Placid, N.Y. I’m out here in support of my sister who was competing in the Ironman Triathlon.

And, no, the irony wasn’t lost on me Sunday morning as I was watching one of American basketball’s most ignominious Olympic defeats from the friendly confines of a town that gave us Olympic hockey’s greatest victory.

Do I believe in miracles, you ask? That depends. Is asking the American Olympic basketball team to scratch out a win against Iran Wednesday considered a miracle?

After the way they played in their 83-76 humiliation of a loss against France, it just might.

Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive joined me for this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. And he didn’t mince words when it came to criticizing the effort of Gregg Popovich’s team in defeat.

“They weren’t even trying,” Madden said. “It’s a lot of guys who don’t want to be there. LeBron (James) and Steph Curry are getting criticized because they just opted out. They just chose not to play. But maybe they did the right thing. Because the guys who went looked like they didn’t want to be there.”

Madden puts a lot of the blame at the feet of Popovich.

“I think Popovich is a horse’s (backside),” Madden continued. “You can’t discount his track record in San Antonio … but he is washed up now. He is over the hill. He is a bitter, old jerk who does not represent the U.S. well, win or lose.”

As for the Steelers, training camp is underway. New additions Trai Turner (offensive guard) and Melvin Ingram (outside linebacker) are on hand after signing free-agent deals from Los Angeles. I asked Madden if he feels the Steelers’ $4 million (with voidable years for a lesser cap hit) was money well-spent on Ingram as a third outside linebacker. Or if he would have preferred the Steelers use that cash to retain — or re-sign — released cornerback Steven Nelson.

The Philadelphia Eagles just signed Nelson on Sunday for roughly that same $4 million price tag, depending on the structure.

“That’s a really good question,” Madden said. “I’m glad they got ‘King Mel’ because I think he helps. And they had so little depth at edge rusher. But I’d be a lot more comfortable at cornerback with the same alignment and with Cam Sutton in the slot (instead of the departed Mike Hilton).”

I’m of a similar opinion. I think the Ingram signing is a good one and worth the money. But I believe that $4 million is better spent on a starting corner than a backup pass rusher, if all things end up being equal.

Also in the podcast, Madden and I talk about the notion of franchise-tagging T.J. Watt. We analyze some other position battles. We examine the Penguins’ activity on both the expansion draft and entry draft fronts. And there is some discussion about lagging Olympic television ratings.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden talk Olympics, debate why the Steelers signed Melvin Ingram but not Steven Nelson

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