The Cook & Joe Show

Matt Canada scored 33 points in his first two games as Steelers play caller and Mike McCarthy has only 16. How do you fix the Steelers' offense? Rob in West Miffin is frustrated and annoyed. Would Mike McCarthy ever bench a healthy Aaron Rodgers? Bob thinks not anytime now, but later in the season.

The Steelers offense is a disaster and has only scored 16 points in the first two games. The last time the Steelers scored 16 or fewer offensive points in their first two games was in 2001. Bringing in Max Iheanachor isn't going to fix all the problems. Should Brock Hoffman replace Spencer Anderson?

Joey Porter Jr. isn't playing on Sunday. Are his days in Pittsburgh numbered? Also, the Steelers still have to play a game Sunday against the Pats!

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Joe Starkey, Donny Football, and Austin Bechtold, from Friday, September 18th, 2026

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey and Donny Football: Joey Porter Jr. remains very upset about his contract. If Joey Porter Jr. doesn't play another down in Pittsburgh, who will be to blame? We think it's the Steelers. Donny thinks nothing irritates people in Pittsburgh more than athletes asking for more money. Fans are turning on Porter, but still want him to be paid.

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey and Donny Football: Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined the show. Mike McCarthy won't talk today but the locker room will be open and Ray thinks we will hear what's going on with Joey Porter Jr. Donny thinks there is irony to Porter walking out of practice with the media there. Ray would be surprised if Porter plays in a game for the Steelers. The Numbers Game in Steelers at. Patriots 9-18-2026

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey and Donny Football: Joe is betting on the Bears this week and Kostos is taking the Vikings. The Steelers are 5.5 point underdogs against the Patriots. Nick has the Steelers covering but not winning. Pitt beats Syracuse 27-13 and Syracuse isn't a good program. Joe is anti-dome stadiums.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey and Donny Football: Paul Skenes starts against the Royals. Bob said .500 does mean anything, but could mean something to this team thinking about the steps the team has made. Bob thinks Don Kelly's best attribute is that players love playing for him. This is a step forward, but disappointing season for the Pirates. The Quiz Show, College Football and NFL game picks.

The Quiz Show, College Football and NFL game picks.

Paul Skenes starts against the Royals. Bob said .500 does mean anything, but could mean something to this team thinking about the steps the team has made. Bob thinks Don Kelly's best attribute is that players love playing for him. This is a step forward, but disappointing season for the Pirates. 

Pitt beats Syracuse 27-13 and Syracuse isn't a good program. Donny and Austin were at the Pitt game. Should the Steelers have deviated from their past and made an exception for Joey Porter Jr. and signed him to two years fully guaranteed? The Bills beat the Lions on Thursday Night Football. Joe doesn't know if the Steelers can hang with some of the NFL's better offenses. Joe is anti-dome stadiums.

Joe is betting on the Bears this week and Kostos is taking the Vikings. The Steelers are 5.5 point underdogs against the Patriots. Nick has the Steelers covering but not winning. Nick takes us around the NFL. Nick goes off on Deshaun Watson blaming other people and not playing well. He is taking the Jets to cover against the Packers!

The numbers that matter in Steelers-Patriots.

Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined the show. Mike McCarthy won't talk today but the locker room will be open and Ray thinks we will hear what's going on with Joey Porter Jr. Donny thinks there is irony to Porter walking out of practice with the media there. Ray would be surprised if Porter plays in a game for the Steelers. He thinks by next week or the week after they have to figure out the answer. 

Steelers fans are irritated with Joey Porter Jr. asking for more money, but they play in a different economic system than normal people. Fans are turning on Porter, but still want him to be paid. The Steelers finally found a corner and they won't pay him. Is Drew Allar going to be the Steelers starter next season? 

Joey Porter Jr. remains very upset about his contract. If Joey Porter Jr. doesn't play another down in Pittsburgh, who will be to blame? We think it's the Steelers. Donny thinks nothing irritates people in Pittsburgh more than athletes asking for more money. Only two players drafted by the Steelers in the secondary since 2016 got a second contract.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Bob Pompeani (10-1pm), Joe Starkey, and Austin Bechtold, from Thursday, September 17th, 2026

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Tyler Kennedy: Penguins training camp begins this week. Should Evgeni Malkin be on the first power play? We wonder where Koivunen is going to play. Joe does not want to play Evgeni Malkin in any back to backs. Tyler Kennedy wants him to play and doesn't want to see much load management.

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Chris Hoke: Hokie thinks Joey Porter Sr. is giving Joey Porter Jr. some advice, but letting him make the decision for the contract. Chris said he doesn't think the Steelers made an offer to Porter until last week. Chris Hoke thinks this will be a close game, but a tough loss for the Steelers.

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Joey Porter Jr.'s status was changed from an injury to conditioning! Mike McCarthy said Joey Porter Jr. is continuing to make progress. We think Porter has to practice and full and the back injury, which seems exaggerated, should be done. Aditi joined The PM Team and said that it's spineless from the Steelers to not clear Porter and start to fine him because this is so much about his contract. Joey Porter Jr. was seen leaving Steelers practice with a trainer today.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: 93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Porter Jr. did not return during the media window of practice and left during non-contact individual drills. Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey spend all their time together and Joe wonders if Ramsey is giving Porter Jr. advice on how to approach his contract talks. Mike McCarthy said last week that Porter shouldn't have been listed with a back injury but as conditioning. Callers chime in on what Joey Porter Jr. should do.

Callers chime in on what Joey Porter Jr. should do. Brett in the South Side wants Porter to go and prove himself on the field. Rob in West Mifflin thinks Porter is 7-8th best cornerback. 

93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Porter Jr. did not return during the media window of practice and left during non-contact individual drills. Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey spend all their time together and Joe wonders if Ramsey is giving Porter Jr. advice on how to approach his contract talks. Mike McCarthy said last week that Porter shouldn't have been listed with a back injury but as conditioning.

Joey Porter Jr. was seen leaving Steelers practice with a trainer today. Alan Saunders reported that Porter walked off the field with a trainer after one drill. The Joey Porter Jr. situation is getting very weird with the ramp up and if the contract is playing any factor. 

Joey Porter Jr.'s status was changed from an injury to conditioning! Mike McCarthy said Joey Porter Jr. is continuing to make progress. We think Porter has to practice and full and the back injury, which seems exaggerated, should be done. Aditi joined The PM Team and said that it's spineless from the Steelers to not clear Porter and start to fine him because this is so much about his contract.

Chris Hoke thinks this will be a close game, but a tough loss for the Steelers. He thinks it's around 24-23 and Bob thinks it will come down to which quarterback is protected and able to throw the ball. Will the offense do well when they go up against good defenses? 

Chris's son Lincoln is a freshman at Pitt and played in the first game. The Steelers have a winnable game in New England on Sunday. This feels like a must-win game for the Patriots and Hokie explains how difficult it is playing against Seattle. Hokie thinks Joey Porter Sr. is giving Joey Porter Jr. some advice, but letting him make the decision for the contract. Chris said he doesn't think the Steelers made an offer to Porter until last week.

Joe does not want to play Evgeni Malkin in any back to backs. Tyler Kennedy wants him to play and doesn't want to see much load management. He thinks Malkin needs to be rested and hungry to play, but doesn't want to cut down on his minutes and thinks Malkin's body needs to stay warm so he keeps his body in a good place. 

Stanley Cup Champion Tyler Kennedy joined the show. Penguins training camp begins this week. Should Evgeni Malkin be on the first power play? We wonder where Koivunen is going to play. Joe doesn't think Malkin should be on the first power play and TK wants Bryan Rust to be the focal point.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Austin Bechtold, from Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Will Joey Porter Jr. practice fully today? Joe and Bob don't think Porter is going to play. Gerry Dulac said the Steelers could trade Porter Jr. for a third-round pick! Joe thinks last night was one of the most embarrassing nights in PNC Park history as the Brewers clinch the NL Central. The Athletic reported that Pitt is spending $16-20 million on its roster. West Virginia ($18-22 million) is spending more money than Pitt.

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Gerry Dulac said the Steelers made generous offers to Joey Porter Jr. What has he been offered?? The only thing reported is $33 million fully guaranteed. Mike McCarthy said they're going to see how much Joey Porter Jr. can do today at Steelers practice. Mike DeFabo reported that McCarthy said Porter is scheduled to be a full participant. Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show joined the show. Mark didn't hear if McCarthy said Porter will be full. 

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Will Joey Porter Jr. practice today as a full participant in practice? Mark Kaboly wonders if McCarthy will hold him out for a practice to keep things close to the vest. We are losing our minds talking about Porter. Germie Bernard didn't factor into the offense. Matt Clement joined the show. Fans want Don Kelly to hire a veteran bench coach. Clint Hurdle's name was brought up.

Hour 4 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Joe thinks the Pirates need a veteran manager. Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Buster Olney said today that it would be a surprise if Ben Cherington is fired. Jason thinks Cherington will be back, barring something unforeseen late in the year. He thinks the end-of-season win total matters. Jason is surprised by how the Pirates shut Braxton Ashcraft down and was originally being cautious, but the Pirates are waiting a few days to get more information on Ashcraft.

Buster Olney said today that it would be a surprise if Ben Cherington is fired. Jason thinks Cherington will be back, barring something unforeseen late in the year. He thinks the end-of-season win total matters. Tony Beazley had a bad send of Nick Gonzales where he didn't see the ball and the Pirates didn't score with Gonzales staying at third base.

Joe thinks the Pirates need a veteran manager. Matt thinks the way of baseball is young managers. Start or sit Harold Fannin Jr. or George Kittle? 

Fans want Don Kelly to hire a veteran bench coach. Clint Hurdle's name was brought up and Clint didn't shut down the idea on social media. Matt Clement doesn't think the Pirates are going to replace Chris Negron. Matt thinks we need to consider how much analytics factors into the decision making for Kelly.  

Will Joey Porter Jr. practice today as a full participant in practice? Mark Kaboly wonders if McCarthy will hold him out for a practice to keep things close to the vest. We are losing our minds talking about Porter. Germie Bernard didn't factor into the offense. Matt Clement joined the show. We discuss the Brewers winning the NL Central and baseball economics. 

Mike McCarthy said they're going to see how much Joey Porter Jr. can do today at Steelers practice. Mike DeFabo reported that McCarthy said Porter is scheduled to be a full participant. Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show joined the show. Mark didn't hear if McCarthy said Porter will be full. Mark said there won't be a contract and they will talk again in February and March.

Gerry Dulac said the Steelers made generous offers to Joey Porter Jr. What has he been offered?? The only thing reported is $33 million fully guaranteed. We think the Steelers should have prioritized Porter more and we wouldn't blame him if he wants a trade to get paid more money. The Lions are a team that makes sense for Porter.

The Athletic reported that Pitt is spending $16-20 million on its roster. West Virginia ($18-22 million) is spending more money than Pitt! Penn State is spending $29-32 million. Jeff Patton of Baseball Card Castle joined the show. A 1968 Topps Roberto Clemente card is Starkey's Card of the Week. The General is giving away a Bowman Murf Gray card!

Will Joey Porter Jr. practice fully today? Joe and Bob don't think Porter is going to play. Joe thinks last night was one of the most embarrassing nights in PNC Park history as the Brewers clinch the NL Central. Joe is now coming to Bob and Austin's side where the Pirates should move on from the general manager.