Kovacevic: Honestly speechless anymore

Pittsburgh deserves better than this garbage. Fans of the Pirates deserve better. The proud alumni of the franchise, particularly the surviving members of the 1960, 1971 and 1979 championship teams -- Bill Mazeroski, Bill Virdon, Steve Blass, Manny Sanguillen, Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve to cite a handful -- they all deserve better.

That's it. That's all I've got on that subject. It's getting harder and harder to find the words, no matter how much new material keeps coming up through this comical incompetence.

• Here's what Kevin Colbert told our Mark Kaboly in Charlotte last night regarding the Steelers' ravenous pursuit of Joe Haden: “Starter-capable guys usually don’t get released this time of year. It’s usually younger kids that aren’t quite ready to play or veterans that are probably on the downside of things. We didn’t view him in that manner at all. We view him as a young, capable starter who can help us win. When there are quality starters available, I think you are negligent if you don’t look into it.”

Negligent, the man said. Negligent.

I swear, that's all I've got on that subject. For real this time.

• The Steelers need to cut nearly half their current roster to reach the NFL limit of 53, and they've got until 4 p.m. Saturday. We might see a surprise or two, particularly since Colbert prefers to enter a season with a $3 million cap cushion, but it's a virtual certainty that the biggest of those surprises will come at wide receiver.

There are 10 in the fold right now and, of those, the only one who should be characterized as an absolute lock to not make it is Justin Thomas. Sure, there are others, but when one sees the big catches made late last night by Cobi Hamilton and Marcus Tucker, as well as Justin Hunter's earlier 58-yard, straight-line touchdown ...



... that you're fairly certain will be cut. But it's a really high ratio of performers at a critical position in the modern NFL.

Never again suggest the Steelers are stuck in the '70s when it comes to roster-building. That's how a cutdown day in 2017 should look.

• Regarding cuts, is it too much to ask that a couple of the most energetic players on either side of the ball, Terrell 'Nightmare' Watson at running back and Mike Hilton at corner, make the roster?

There just has to be a way to harness all that fire, even if it's primarily on special teams.

• Is it wrong to like Joshua Dobbs as much as I'm starting to like him?

I really pay attention when the guy's behind center. I haven't done that with Landry Jones since two-thousand-and-never.

• If you want to watch one facet of Pitt's opener Saturday vs. Youngstown State that pinpoints whether the Panthers will be able to hang the following week in Happy Valley, focus on the linebackers and stopping the run.

Most eyes on the offense will fix on Max Browne's debut at quarterback. and most on the defense will fix, as ever, on the beleaguered secondary, especially with Youngstown State's Hunter Wells being eminently capable at heaving deep strikes. But the Panthers' imminent fortunes, especially when they face Saquon Barkley the following week at Penn State, will be dictated by how -- or if -- the dubious defensive front can handle Tevin McCaster, a quick-ish, physical-ish, but hardly overwhelming running back for the Penguins.

If that doesn't happen, and I mean right away, big trouble looms.

WHAT'S BREWING


• Our Point Park University Friday Insider opens with stuff I've got on the Pirates.

• Here's the latest on the new, live DK Sports Radio venture. We've made tech progress behind the scenes, and everything looks good for the launch next Tuesday.

• The most fun day of our Random Fun Thing month is when Taylor Haase compiles the very best from the social media scene.

• The next two Daily Grind columns, as will often be the case on weekends, will offer other voices from our staff. Saturday's Grind will go to Josh Yohe, Sunday's to Matt Gajtka. As for me, I'll be over at PNC Park the next two nights.

PIRATES

• Event: Game vs. Reds
• Location: PNC Park
• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• Clubhouse opens to media: 3:35 p.m.
• Home batting practice: 4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
• Visitors' batting practice: 5:15 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Open to fans: 5:05 p.m., Clemente Gate
• Tickets: Available
• Our coverage: DK, Matt Sunday

STEELERS

• Event: No team activities today

PITT

• Event: No team activities today

PENN STATE

• Event: Football practice
• Location: Lasch fields, University Park, Pa.
• Time: 3-6 p.m.
• Open to fans: No
• Our coverage: No access 

 LIVE Qs AT 5

• TODAY: Snyder, entries at 3 p.m.

PNC STAFF LOCATOR MAP

Mark Kaboly's headed home from Charlotte:



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