Post-Gazette Sports Network: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

On this week's Varsity Xtra Podcast, Post-Gazette high school insiders Keith Barnes and Mike White take a look at what Penn State recruits from the WPIAL -- including Fort Cherry's Matt Sieg and McKeesport's Kemon Spell -- might do following James Franklin's firing as coach. They also look back at interim coach Terry Smith's time in the WPIAL as a player and coach. Later, they tackle some hot topi...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to analyze the early results from first-round NFL draft pick Derrick Harmon. Is he proving why he was worthy of being the team's first-round NFL draft pick, even over fellow standout rookies like the Giants' Jaxson Dart? How is his play opening up room...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's weekly news conference ahead of an NFL Week 7 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. Why did Tomlin call out the Cleveland Browns and GM Andrew Berry so harshly for their trade of Joe Flacco to the AFC North rival Bengals? Are his frustrations with the intradivision trade va...

Post-Gazette Pitt football insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable react to the Panthers' upset of Florida State this past week and how it may or may not reframe expectations for coach Pat Narduzzi's team the rest of the season. Could freshman QB Mason Heintschel and RB Desmond Reid still possibly lead the team to an ACC championship appearance? Or would that be asking too much of them within...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo give their thoughts on a rousing victory against the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Specifically, they weigh in on the offense's performance. Have Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren, Darnell...

Host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise react LIVE to the Steelers' NFL Week 6 matchup with the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Was coach Mike Tomlin's defense able to keep its momentum from the Dublin, Ireland win against the Minnesota Vikings going? Were names like T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon able to build on...

Host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily College Nittany Lions insider Isaiah Maldonado react to Penn State's firing of James Franklin as coach after a three-game losing streak vs. Oregon, UCLA and Nothwestern. Was this the right time for athletic director Pat Kraft to make a move? What's the outlook for this team the rest of the season under interim coach Terry Smith? How much is QB Drew Allar to...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac & Ray Fittipaldo recap an NFL Week 6 victory against the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns at Acirusre Stadium. They explain how Nick Herbig, Jalen Ramsey, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Derrick Harmon and others were able to generate so much pressure on Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel; why Patrick Queen and the run defense were able to shut down dangerous ro...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the Panthers' 34-31 win over Florida State on Saturday, with Stephen reporting from Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. How were Pat Narduzzi's Panthers able to pull of the upset on the road? What made the contest so "personal" for Desmond Reid, as he put it, and how much of a difference does he make for the...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko react to trades by the Cleveland Browns ahead of an NFL Week 6 matchup between the two teams on Sunday. Do coach Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Khan and Co. deserve credit for being aggressive about wining in 2025? With big moves fo...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable preview the Panthers' noon contest on Saturday against No. 25 Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium. Can true freshman QB Mason Heintschel lead the Panthers to another win, this time against a ranked opponent in a hostile environment? How pivotal of a game is this for Pitt, and what will we learn about them by the time it's over? What...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo report from the team's Thursday practice ahead of an NFL Week 6 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. They give their thoughts on comments by DC Teryl Austin and OC Arthur Smith. Specifically, the ponder whether Austin has unlocked T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon after they tallied six sacks in Week 4...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Cleveland.com and Plain-Dealer Browns insider Ashley Bastock to preview the NFL Week 6 matchup with the Steelers. What's going on with the team at QB following the Joe Flacco trade. Is Dillon Gabriel ready to be the starter for the rest of the season? And how does Shedeur Sanders figure into the mi...

In this episode of their Serving Up Pitt volleyball podcast, Post-Gazette insider Abby Schnable and former Panthers player Cat Flood take a look at everything surrounding the team after last weekend's wins over Clemson and Georgia Tech. What can Pitt take away from its victories over the Tigers and Yellow Jackets? Are the Panthers being disrespected at No. 4 in the AVCA rankings, behind Kentucky,...

Live around 5 p.m. Eastern, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise weighs in on the Cleveland Browns QB situation ahead of an NFL Week 6 matchup with the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Should T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey and the Steelers defense be happy about facing rookie Dillon Gabriel within the AFC North? Or would they have preferred to face Joe Flacco, who was traded to the Bengals...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Nittany Lions insider Isaiah Maldonado evaluate the state of the program after a costly upset loss at UCLA. Is there anything coach James Franklin can do to escape the toxicity surrounding his job? Does his future deserve to be in question given the elevated commitments the Penn State community has made...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko ponder Pat Freiermuth's lack of usage early this season. Is his lack of presence in the passing game a problem for OC Arthur Smith and QB Aaron Rodgers? Has it simply made more sense to get the ball to other targets inc...

Live around 5:30 p.m. Eastern, Post-Gazette columnist Paul Zeise previews the Penguins season ahead of their opener Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Should fans steel themselves for another year of losing? Can Sidney Crosby continue his excellent play? Is this the last ride for longtime stars like Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang? Will new coach Dan Muse inject some life into the club? Will vete...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo recap coach Mike Tomlin's news conference at the team's UPMC Rooney Sports Complex ahead of their NFL Week 6 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. What do the expected returns of Joey Porter Jr., Alex Highsmith and Jaylen Warren mean for the Steelers heading into two division contests in five days? Will Jalen Ramsey (hamstring) and Calvin...

As the WPIAL regular season has only three weeks remaining, will Ben Hays, running back from small Bentworth High, win the WPIAL rushing title? Our high school insiders Keith Barnes and Mike White play the "yay" or "nay" game on will anyone score on Clairton again this regular season? Will New Castle freshman phenom Marino take a spot among the elite freshmen in WPIAL history....

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Jason Mackey and Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo look ahead to the Browns game and the impending return of starters Joey Porter Jr. and Alex Highsmith. Will the Steelers need to change anything schematically with the reinforcements? Plus, a look at the crazy week in the NFL and where the Steele...

On this week's PG Pitt Show, Panthers insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable look ahead to this weekend's road clash with Florida State. Has new quarterback Mason Heintschel stepped in to save Pitt's season? What are reasonable expectations for him? Can this still be the team we thought they could be in August? Plus, Pitt's defense has been elite. Steps forward from Cruce Brookins, Blaine Spi...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo open Browns week with a look at the surprising role of the tight ends. Did Darnell Washington prove he is more valuable then Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith with his run blocking in the Steelers' latest win over the Vikings? And after watching th...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the Panthers' 48-7 win over Boston College on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. What went into coach Pat Narduzzi's decision to bench Eli Holstein and put in true freshman Mason Heintschel? And why was Heintschel able to have success? How was Heintschel able to rally the whole team around him? What kind of trickle-down effect did...

Around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette columnist Paul Zeise will go live to talk about the Steelers at the bye week. Has Aaron Rodgers fully developed chemistry with his Steelerss teammates, especially DK Metcalf? How far can he take this offense as he gets more comfortable playing in Arthur Smith's system? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...