SAME OLD, SAME OLD

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the latest team to hire a new coach. The team hired former Packer and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy to be the new coach, replacing Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons. McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native (grew up in the suburbs) last coached for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. McCarthy has a career record of 174-112-2 with the Cowboys and Packers. There are some people who will love this hire and there are others who don’t, like me.

So, you ask why would I not like this hire? There’s a few reasons, let’s start with the fact that the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since beating the Chiefs in 2016, and their last few appearances they have no showed. The Texans game this season was competitive, but CJ Stroud kept them in that. The Steelers entered this season as the second oldest team in Football (Washington) and after Tomlin left it felt like this could be a restart for the Steelers. 

Another reason I don’t love this hire is Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers played ok this season, but he is also 42 years old and leaving the door open for him is a mistake. But that would be kicking the Quarterback decision further down the road, when it should be addressed now. They could turn to Will Howard, who didn’t take a snap this season, but I get the feeling that is far fetched. The Steelers need to address the Quarterback situation like it actually matters, because going through the AFC in 2026 will be difficult. The Patriots are going to the Super Bowl, and teams like the Bills, Chargers, Broncos will all be back. And oh yeah in their own division they still will have to deal with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, oh and some guy named Patrick Mahomes will be back. The Steelers cannot bandaid the quarterback position again. 

Like I said earlier the Steelers were the second oldest team in football, and after Tomlin left it felt like they could use a reset. Think of the trade offers they could get for TJ Watt, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, etc… the Steelers went all in with Rodgers it didn’t work, now they’re bringing in a coach where it feels the same it’s Super Bowl or Bust. Quite frankly when you look at the AFC I just don’t think the Steelers are at the top and they had an opportunity to reset and they refused. Now that won’t be McCarthy’s fault, but he will be the one who pays.

STEARNS : THE GOOD GUY ONCE AGAIN

BY MARK HALPERN

To quote the great Axl Rose “ All you need is just a little patience”. And truth be told the same could be said for Mets fans because this winter has been a tail of two different emotions.  They saw homegrown and fan favorites leave. Nimmo traded to Rangers, Alonso signed with Baltimore, Diaz went to the freaking Dodgers and traded McNeil to the A’s. Before Mets fans really knew what was happening the team they grew to love was dismantled.

      We all know that David Stearns is one of the best general managers in the game. Fans have emotions and were angry at Stearns for tearing down the core of the Mets. There is no issue with money with Steve Cohen behind the desk, but you can’t spend just to spend. So, Stearns started making moves, he went out and got Jorge Polanco from Seattle,  a solid bat and will most likely DH. Next was Toronto super utility and superstar Bo Bichette, Stearns then trades Luis Angel Acuna and RP to get Luis Robert, who has one of the best gloves in the game but his bat has been on vacation for the last two years. Being on the final year of his deal I wouldn’t  be surprised for career numbers also a change of scenery will help him. Then last night  the Mets got their ace in a trade with the Brewers (Stearns old back yard) and traded two coveted prospects in Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. Freddy Peralta will now lead this rotation and be a huge mentor to Nolan McLean who will one day be the Mets ace.

    IN the beginning Mets fans wanted his head on plate for letting the Polar Bear and Edwin Diaz go. Over the last week the fans have changed their opinion on Stearns.I will be the first to say I was pissed and angry at Stearns. However, nothing I could do but sit back and bitch about here and I did. Stearns, I knew was going to do something but, we were all kind of like mushrooms in the dark. I do not believe he is done as Left Field, First Base (I’d check in on Rhys Hoskins as Mike and I have discussed) and I like this rotation but I would also like to know what’s going on with Zac Gallen. 

NEW LOOK METS

BY MARK HALPERN AND MIKE RIFKIN

The Mets might have been hibernating through the first month or so of the offseason, even though they added pieces that would help, most fans ourselves included were upset at the fact that Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso were no longer to be with the club. But things have changed over the last week. They really have turned things around after Kyle Tucker spurned them for the Dodgers. First they signed Bo Bichette, and now have added their Centerfielder and potential ace. 

          Luis Robert is the answer to the Mets Centerfield issues. Robert is one of the best defenders in baseball but his bat has taken a huge dive over the last two years. I truly think part of that is playing for the White Sox, so a change of scenery might benefit him. The Mets traded Second Baseman Luis Angel Acuna and pitcher Truman Pauly. This is a great deal by Stearns, the Mets are stocked with infielders and one had to go. Acuna really never got a full chance to play for the Mets. His fielding and speed are his advantages but, his bat hasn’t come around yet which kind of made him expendable. I hope Acuna goes on to a good career on a team that should give him playing time.

      The Mets now have two of the three outfield positions set with Robert in Center and Soto in Right. LF is a mystery that needs to be solved. I have no problem in giving a rookie like Carson Benge a shot during spring training but, I think it would be advantageous for the Mets to re sign Starling Marte as the fourth and you can keep Taylor for PR/PH duties. 

    With Cody Bellinger re-signing with the Yankees that takes the biggest 1B off the market. The Mets need a first baseman and I would like to check in on the health of someone like Rhys Hoskins or maybe look at Luis Arraez for the First Baseman. Arraez isn’t someone who is going to give you Pete like numbers. However, not to sugar coat it “He gets on base and makes a hell of a lot less than Alonso.” It’s an option to look in on. I am not fully trusted in the idea of Baty or Vientos to man first. When you look at Hoskins, he is someone who can hit 25 plus homers and plays a solid first base.

    This lineup is coming together rather nicely. Mets fans might still be sour but, with what Stearns has done hopefully will turn those frowns upside down.

One night after striking the Robert deal, David Stearns struck again. All Met fans were waiting for the starting rotation to get an upgrade, and Stearns had something brewing. The Mets GM went to his old employer and acquired Freddy Peralta and Tobias Meyers for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Peralta went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 176 ⅔ innings. Along with Dylan Cease, Peralta has 200 strikeouts over the last three seasons. The downside to Peralta is he is in the last season of his contract, but if he navigates New York they could give him an extension. But after a rough start to the winter, David Stearns is making his move now.

WELCOME TO BO YORK 

BY MARK HALPERN

The New York Mets made a massive signing last week and it was free agent Bo Bichette, (yes, the son of Dante) who will come to New York. Bo signed a 3 year $126Million contract. The Mets pivoted to Bichette after finding out Kyle Tucker was going to be a Dodger.

    Over his first six years Bichette has improved his game on all fronts. In 2021 Bichette led the league with 2 errors, this year he got it down to eight. His flexibility to play 3B, SS and 2B will be a crucial dynamic for the Mets. The Mets announced Bichette will play third base, but his flexibility could help if Francisco Lindor or Marcus Siemien need a day off or get hurt.

   Bichette has been designated to play 3b, which leaves a few questions one of them being what will be in store for the likes of Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. According to Will Sammon of the Athletic, Baty will take on a utility man role, replacing Jeff McNeil. But does that maybe make a Ronny Mauricio expendable? A lot of roster flexibility for David Stearns.

   After losing the likes of Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers of all teams and the Yankees are currently at a breaking point with Bellinger, I feel the Mets still could make two huge moves to accompany this latest move. I’m hoping they get Bellinger to play first, re-sign Marte to round out the outfield and get Zac Gallen and Framber Valdez for the rotation.    What the Mets will be this year is an enigma because there are still a few gaps that need to be addressed. With only a few weeks until Pitchers and Catchers report I expect the Mets to be busy filling their rotation and diamond arrangements so we can make better forecasts on what this season will be.

IT’S OVER

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Wednesday night the New York Rangers were defeated by the Ottawa Senators 8-4. The loss makes it New York’s fourth consecutive defeat, and they are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. To make things even worse the Rangers sit dead last in the Eastern Conference. Yes, because the Eastern Conference is jumbled together the Rangers are eight points out of a playoff spot, and yes I am usually a glass half full kind of person, but not in this case. This team is not the 2019 St. Louis Blues and they’re not making a run. 

For the second consecutive game at Madison Square Garden Ranger fans chanted “fire Drury” as a shot at the Rangers General Manager. This comes about a week after Owner James Dolan gave Drury a vote of confidence on radio. But, let’s be honest the Rangers GM has to go, his fingerprints are all over this team that has quit. Drury inherited a fairly good roster from Jeff Gorton and John Davidson and has failed to push the Rangers to the promised land. Drury saw one of his assistants Mike Grier take over the Sharks and now they’re one of the most interesting and fun teams to watch. Last season there was distractions from Drury himself when he wanted to offset Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider. Trouba was eventually traded to Anaheim, and Kreider finished the season with the Rangers. Kreider, was also moved to Anaheim this past summer, but it’s the same thing as last season with the Rangers. A question that should not be asked of any sports team, is who is the heart and soul of a team? With this team the answer is simple I don’t know. Drury, has hand selected four head coaches ( David Quinn, Gerard Gallant, Peter Laviolette, and now Mike Sullivan). Each of the first three were fired after their second season, this is Sullivan’s first and I can’t blame him for everything that’s wrong. This is on Drury’s hands and right now with the March 6th trade deadline approaching, I’m unsure if I would want Drury running things, because of what this team has looked like it has to sell, I’m unsure if Drury would.

THE END OF AN ERA

BY MARK HALPERN

     On Tuesday Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers stepped down after 19 seasons. Tomlin became the head coach of the Steelers in 2007, replacing Bill Cowher. In his second season Tomlin led the team to a Super Bowl Championship. Tomlin amassed 193 wins and 114 losses to go along with 2 ties. Tomlin also did something in Pittsburgh that will be very hard to beat and that is he never had a losing season under his tenure. 

    When you look at Mike Tomlin’s legacy he will go down as one of the best coaches to step on the gridiron. It is worth noting that with whoever takes the job will be only the fifth coach in Pittsburgh’s long history and the fourth coach since 1969. Don Shula, Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Bill Belichick and Chuck Noll (who also coached the Steelers) all coached 18 or more years with the same team. 

   What is next for Mike Tomlin a lot of people are asking. I am pretty sure he wants to remain coaching and there are plenty of teams out there that would benefit from his Knowledge and Experience. There are rumors he might want to take a year off and then there are others that he is getting ready to meet teams for interviews. He also might want to jump into television, which has also been rumored. No matter the decision made by Tomlin, he has had a Hall Of Fame run. 

     Again, hats off to Mike Tomlin on one hell of a run in Pittsburgh your legacy there will be very hard to beat. Can’t wait to see what is next.

SELL, SELL SELL

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Rangers started life after Igor Shesterkin on Thursday, a 5-2 loss to the Sabres. Shesterkin went on IR after leaving Monday’s game. Over the last year and a half the Rangers have made moves tinkering and changing their roster. Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller, and Chris Kreider (who was the longest tenured Ranger) are gone. Yet the Rangers haven’t gained traction this season, but the Eastern Conference has every team jumbled together. 

At 45 games played this season, we have an idea of what this team is. They don’t score a ton of goals and still make mistakes defensively. They also rely heavily on their top players, which brings us to the March 6th, the NHL trade deadline. 

There are rumors that GM Chris Drury wants to take a swing and buy. One of the players discussed has been Vancouver’s Kiefer Sherwood. Sherwood has 17 goals and 23 points so far this season, after posting a career high 19 goals and 40 points last season. Sherwood is an impending UFA (unrestricted free agent) after the season and if I am Chris Drury I’m not giving up assets for him. Drury’s case for buying is a bad one, this team hasn’t earned the right to be a buyer and you only do it if you think you can win.

Now if you sell the Rangers have options there. Artemi Panarin, who will be the best UFA on the market, because most of the big names have signed extensions. Panarin, 34 is still playing at a very high level and will be coveted on the market. And as much as I have been for extending him, the smarter play would be trade for future assets. I figure nobody is taking the contracts of either JT Miller or Mika Zibanejad, but would someone take on Vincent Trocheck at 50% retained. Trocheck plays in all three phases of the game and we know what Center go for at the deadline. Other names to move would be Carson Soucy and potentially Braden Schneider (only for a nice return)

Now, you’re asking yourself if this is a rebuild? And the answer is it’s not it’s a retooling. You try to get younger and faster. Fans should want to see Gabe Perrault, Brett Berard, Brennan Otthman and the other young guys to see what they have. This summer the UFA market doesn’t have that big name outside of Panarin, the RFA market (restricted free agents) will have some big names headlined by the Stars Jason Robertson. 

One name I didn’t mention was 2020 first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. Lafreniere is in the first season of a seven year 52.1 million dollar contract. It’s an AAV of 7.45 million dollars. Lafreniere hasn’t found consistency this season, but I don’t thin giving up on a 24 year old is a solution Drury could look at unless it is a sensational return.  No matter when Shesterkin returns, the Rangers should sell at the deadline and readjust come draft and summer time. Take notes of what the Capitals did a few seasons ago.

WEEK 18 PREVIEW 

BY SIN BLITZERS

CAR AT TB : Win and in situation for both teams. Winner gets the NFC South and the other goes home. These two teams played a few weeks ago in Carolina in a game the Panthers won 23-20. Bryce Young threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Baker Mayfield threw for 145 yards with a touchdown and a interception. The Bucs have been in to quote the great Tom Petty “Free Fallen” having dropped seven of their last eight games.

SEA AT SF : You want high stakes you got it with this one. Winner wins the NFC West and becomes the top overall seed and gets the lone bye. These two teams haven’t seen each other since week one, where the Niners won 17-13. Brock Purdy threw two touchdowns and two picks. Purdy, has been sensational since coming back from injury. But, nobody is under more pressure in this game than Sam Darnold. Darnold remembers what happened at the end of last season with the Vikings and can’t let it happen again. Darnold only threw for 150 yards in the first meeting, but with the year JSN has had and the Niners don’t get to the QB, Darnold can have a day, and rewrite history. 

DAL AT NYG : Well, it’s that final game of the year for the Cowboys and Giants and it means absolutely nothing to either of them. The Cowboys have two 1 st round picks heading into next year and the Giants are in good position to trade down and acquire some extra picks. Why the Giants beat the Raiders I don’t know( well I do),  but as for the Cowboys look for some of the starters to play while by halftime, I see mainly second tier. Rookie Jaydon Blue will be the #1 back this week with the Cowboys declaring Willams and Dais as out for this week. Dallas should come out with a win. 

DET AT CHI : Det will face division rival the Chicago Bears which winning won’t help the Lions into the playoffs (where they should have definitely have been) it can only decrease their draft standing. As Chicago is cemented in the playoffs a lot of players have been deemed out for different medical issues. With the game meaning nothing for both teams, both teams will have multiple players deactivated or misses game due to mysterious illnesses to get them rested for the Playoffs. What should have been a year where the Lions should have roared, they could only let out a small “MEOW” this season.

BAL AT PIT : The best rivalry in football has a lot to it this week, winner wins the AFC North and the loser goes home. Both teams are getting a star back this week, Lamar Jackson is starting for the Ravens and TJ Watt will return for the Steelers. The Steelers have to find some success passing the ball minus DK Metcalf, who is suspended. If nobody in the passing game steps up the Ravens will win this game, but we’ll have to see if this is the last game of Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh and potentially Aaron Rodgers.

A TRUE 1/1

BY MARK HALPERN

During this year’s NFL preseason, we got a glimpse at what Rookie Quarterback Shedeur Sanders could do. He impressed in some ways but, also showed he had a lot of growing to do before he took control of the Browns especially with Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel. Deshaun Watson was already ruled out for the season, and we’ll see what happens with him next season. Once Rookie Dillion Gabriel left week 14 with a concussion, Sanders took over and has managed to win a couple of games and the Browns made him the Starter for the rest of the season even with Gabriel back and ready.

      Shedeur has vaulted himself to conversation of the #1 Quarterback all depending on what happens with Watson. That being said, I have been a sport card dealer for the las 35 years and have had many big time pulls. Yesterday 12/28/2025 I had taken a shot on the Browns when my good pal Joe Knapp of Hat Trick Breaks LLC in Iowa dropped a 2025 Colligate National Treasures and I grabbed my Cowboys but, I had a feeling. This was a feeling I called a “GIBBS” moment and decide to go for a Shedeur Sanders rookie. Well, the last card in the second box Joe says “And look at this.” When he usually says this, he has hit a Monster. I wasn’t prepared for the card to be the Big XII Patch of Shedeur Sanders auto 1/1. This one of the biggest cards of National Treasures I have hit in a long time and the Dugout of Millwood and The Sports Insanity Network wish to thank Joe Knapp and Hatrick Breaks for a very happy holiday present.

WEEK 17 PREVIEWS

BY SIN BLITZERS

HOU AT LAC : Two of the hottest teams in the league will face off in LA on Saturday as the Texans visit the Chargers. Houston is coming off a 23-21 win over the Raiders. As usual their defense played a big role with three sacks of Geno Smith and a pick six from Derek Stingley Jr. CJ Stroud has been efficient since his return threw for 187 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers are coming off a 34-17 win over the Cowboys. Justin Herbert threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Quentin Johnston had 100 yards and a touchdown on four catches. This should be a lower scoring affair, with two outstanding defenses. Will Andersen and Danielle Hunter could exploit a Charger o line missing both tackles.

BAL AT GB : One team playing for it’s playoff life and the other playing for seeding and that is what is on the line in Green Bay Saturday night. The Ravens are coming off another fourth quarter collapse, this time to the Patriots and it puts them on the brink of elimination. If the Ravens win and the Steelers lose, then week 18 will matter to Baltimore, but to get there they’ll have to do it without Lamar Jackson, who will miss the game with a back injury. The Packers suffered a collapse of their own on Saturday against the rival Bears. But, with the Lions loss on Thursday the Packers are in the playoffs and will be without Jordan Love, who suffered a concussion last week. 

TB AT MIA : The Bucs playoff hopes are hanging by a thread after losing last week to the Panthers. But to remain alive they have to beat their in state opponent the Miami Dolphins. Todd Bowles’ defense needs to be aggressive against Quinn Ewers, who is making his second consecutive start. 

SEA AT CAR : If you had the Panthers playing meaningful football in December, you’re probably lying. The Panthers host the Seahawks, both teams are coming off of massive divisional wins last week. The Seahawks are in control of the top seed in the NFC, while the Panthers are in control of the NFC South. The Panthers have won some massive home games this season, or can former Panther Sam Darnold play spoiler. 

PHI AT BUF : This is the most interesting game of the day in my opinion. This is a game that will tell us a lot about both teams. Both are playing for seeding purposes in the playoffs. But these are two outstanding teams looking to find it before the playoffs.

CHI AT SF : Both teams are in the playoffs and can be the one seed. The Bears have been a fun watch this season, especially the development of Caleb Williams, meanwhile the Niners have overcome a ton of injuries. Two of the NFC’S best collide on Sunday night.