Tuesday 12 Qs: Tate, Watt, Kunitz, Pouliot, racism

DK, please explain something for me. I know that it is widely written that there is "no cheering in the pressbox." Fair enough. And I've heard plenty of writers on the call-in shows professing "I'm not a fan."

But all you sportswriters must like sports, and you've certainly had favorite teams growing up and, I presume, as adults.

Do you ever get to enjoy sports as just a spectator? Root for a team? Or has your chosen profession dictated that you no longer maintain any rooting interests? Does writing professionally about sports reduce you to a coldly objective clinical observer of all contests? (How dull.)

How's this work?

What should the NHL do about the mump outbreak? I know I'm not alone in thinking it's gotten out of hand.

DK, if your the Pens when do you really start to get concerned with the recent play resulting in the 4 game slide? Do they need to try something like signing Dany Heatley as a stop gap? Anyone at forward that can fill some reasonable minutes in a top 6 role has to be a better option than what WB can provide.

Over the last four games, teams decided to stop Bell. Pocket pressure was minimal, so Ben looked comfortable the whole game. Week 10 in the Meadowlands, Rex Ryan beat Ben by making him uncomfortable in the pocket early - after a couple of early hits, #7 never recovered his composure. If Bell can't play, how does Ben deal with the all-out pressure the Ravens will surely bring?

DK, love the site and coverage! There seemed to be a major redistribution of snaps at ILB against the Bengals compared to prior weeks, with Shazier on the field much more and Williams much less. What is your interpretation, and how do you see this playing out against the Ravens? Also, how does this impact Timmons role and ability to make plays?

Lets say the Pens are able to get Jagr for lets say a 4th rounder. (Hypothetically) Would he be worth bringing in considering he can still contribute. Or do you fear he would be a cancer in the locker room. Or did he burn the last bridge to Pittsburgh when he snubbed the Pens and signed with philly?

Happy holiday DK. You have written that it is important for Pitt to focus on the real causes of their malaise.....not a stadium or a logo or other alumni/fan dreams. Has the past few weeks been productive in that regard in your opinion?

Hiya DK! Do you have any clue as to how much money the Pens have to spend to stay under the cap? I know we had approximately $450,000 to go before we hit the cap ceiling. With all of the injuries though, that would have freed up space under the cap to allow us to add a player or two. I am not an accountant though and have no clue how much was actually freed up. I know Florida will be in the market to move some unrestricted free agents once they determine that they are out of it for probably nothing more than some draft picks. Your thoughts?

Is there any word on the Pitt AD situation? Did Gallagher want to put his personal stamp on the university by hiring the coach before the AD or was this just a case of getting the right coach in there based on timing?

Good morning DK,

Apparently the injury to Le'Veon Bell is significant enough they have brought in Ben Tate for a look-see.

Shouldn't the Steelers just go with Dri Archer and Josh Harris against the Ravens, and hope Ben can pass them to victory and that Bell can return for the Denver game? I don't see how signing Tate is going to improve the team, especially given his attitude issues, which was the entire reason we cut LeGarrette Blount on November 18th.

Why don't Antonio Brown and Big Ben get mentioned in the MVP conversation, which seems to be all about Rodgers vs. J.J. Watt? I'm not suggesting either of those two would be undeserving, but Brown just completed one of the best statistical seasons in NFL history while setting new standards for consistency. And the Steelers would have been lucky to win five games without Ben.

DK, You were deservingly critical of Mike Mitchell throughout the season, and as evidenced through the past few weeks, he is doing his job much better than earlier. (maybe it is due to the candid conversation you said you had with him)...What's your take on the sudden change, and longer-term, do you see the Steelers honoring his contract past this season?

With all of the injuries the Pens have been facing lately, the organizational depth on D has been shining while the lack of Forward depth in the organization has been glaring. Since Duper is done, probably for the rest of the year, and Hornqvist and Comeau are out long term, do you see GMJR making a move sooner rather than later?

I've heard Antoinne Vermette's name dropped and of course there's the rumors of multiple allegedly available Oilers and Sabers and now Jagr rumors. Bennett is supposed to be close, but he is as unreliable as they come for staying healthy for even a short amount of time.

Any new feature pieces, or other recurring articles you are planning on doing in 2015? I remember you previously did a "great things about Pittsburgh" write-up, and was wondering if you were ever considering revisiting that? Thanks, DK and Happy New Year!

Do you expect this Saturday's game with the Ravens to be physical? Should Ben wear full body armor just in case? (Just kidding!) Serious question. Do you think the Steelers success in what was widely regarded as a rebuilding year (at least in the view of fans) bodes well for the future? It seems to me that last year at this time, they had a multitude of needs to be fulfilled in the off season, and now only one area of major need exists, of course in the secondary. A pretty impressive transition year, wouldn't you say?

DK, what's your take on the Pirates obtaining the rights to negotiate with Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang? Expensive infield insurance or the soon to be new second baseman?

If Crosby as healthy as you state, why is he wearing a black brace on his right wrist that he's never worn before?

In the playoffs he claimed to be healthy, but looked off and couldn't score goals. It was then announced in the summer he had sustained a wrist injury, which would explain the lack of goal scoring ability. He opted not to have surgery on his wrist and looked great early in the season, scoring at his normal pace. Now he's wearing a brace on his right wrist and he's hardly scoring. Seems very likely he's re-injured his wrist and it's again causing the scoring woes. Everything else about him seems fine, but the ability to finish and win faceoffs. Both of those are wrist related and both were things he struggle with in the post season.

With NardDog still coaching through their bowl game, who do you speculate or have heard that will be brought in and/or retained as assistants for this Pitt team going forward? Any word on whether the budget is actually going up for assistants?

John in Altoona- DK- tremendous job on the site- isn't it time we all gave this Steeler team credit for overachieving this year? Plus the coaching staff deserves an enormous amount of credit - Steelers are playing on house money now- your thoughts?

DK,

Maybe looking at this with a "glass half full" outlook but if there was a game to be without Leveon Bell at 100%, it's against a team that has issues defending the pass. With that said, a Leveon Bell in passing situatiions where he is asked to pick up the block and run certain pass patterns seems like a way to use him (and be effective) while limiting his load. Is that an option or do you think that if he plays, they go 100% all in or sit him if he can't function as normal?