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

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to the team's selection of Penn State QB Drew Allar in the third round of the NFL draft. Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy signal intent to use Allar as a starter by visiting with him both at the NFL combine and in Pittsburgh before...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise gives his thoughts on the team's quarterback situation after GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy selected Penn State's Drew Allar at that position in the third round of the NFL draft. What's next for Will Howard and Mason Rudolph now that Allar has joined them in the QB room for now? Will Aaron Rodgers finally join the roster formally s...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the Panthers' new assistant coaching staff and look at key returner Macari Moore. This show is presented by FanDuel. What do the additions of assistant coaches Ronald Ramon, Ricardo Greer and Billy Hubly mean for Jeff Capel's program? What will they bring on and off the court? And what about the departure of Gilbert Brown? Wh...

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 react to the team's NFL draft picks from over the weekend. Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy value development over immediate impact in selecting Max Iheanachor, Germie Bernard, Drew Allar, Daylen Everett, Gennin...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison and sports columnist Noah Hiles break down the Game 4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers and look ahead at who most needs to step up to keep them alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This show is presented by FanDuel. What changed in Game 4 that allowed the Penguins to win their first game of the series? What role did Arturs Silovs play, and should he start G...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo break down Day 2 of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. How surprising was GM Omar Khan's selection of Penn State QB Drew Allar in the third round? What does that pick say for the futures of Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard and Mason Rudolph? Did they reach too far to get Allar? How can new coach Mike McCarthy mold Allar into an NFL quarterback? Can...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo react to the team's first night of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, as they selected Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor after the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in and stole Makai Lemon out from under them. Why was Iheanachor such an unpopular pick? Can the Steelers expect him to produce in his rookie season? Or is he a project? Does it matter th...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison welcomes columnist Noah Hiles to analyze the team's 3-0 series hole against the Flyers. Did the officials handle the Game 3 melee properly? How did the Penguins respond? What role did Stuart Skinner play in the team's second-period collapse? And finally, do the Penguins have a chance to make a major comeback? And what does this series say about where the...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise gives his final thoughts on what the Steelers should do in the NFL draft. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy be seeking playmakers at the receiver position in the form of Makai Lemon and Omar Cooper Jr. to play next to DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.? Should their have their eye on offensive linemen, particularly Vega Ioane t...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Christopher Carter to sort through his final first-round NFL mock draft and its implications for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy's team. Will coveted prospects like Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon and Vega Ioane even be available...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison welcomes Noah Hiles to discuss the team's disastrous first two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs and wonder whether they have any shot at a comeback against the Philadelphia Flyers. This show is presented by FanDuel. What has gone wrong for the Penguins, and why didn't they fix it in between Games 1 and 2? Do the Penguins look old, buoyed by stars like Si...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze picks from his final seven-round mock before the 2026 NFL draft begins. Why did Ray go with receiver Denzel Boston as the first-round pick, despite size that overlaps with what DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. already offer GM Omar Khan...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo react to the pre-draft news conference of GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy. Is Broderick Jones healthier than a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated earlier Monday? Is there still a chance Aaron Rodgers will sign before the NFL draft later this week? Or will Mason Rudolph and Will Howard continue to be the internal signal call...

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 react to news that Broderick Jones has suffered a setback in his injury recovery and may not be ready for training camp or the start of the season. Could this force GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy to go hunting for...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Ray Fittipaldo and Brian Batko recap the introductory news conferences for coach Mike McCarthy's new lieutenants: OC Brian Angelichio, DC Patrick Graham and STC Danny Crossman. How will Angelichio handle the uncertainty at QB with Aaron Rodgers still yet to sign and Will Howard and Mason Rudolph under contract? How will he juggle duties with McCarthy calling the play...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the Panthers' latest transfer portal additions and ponder whether the near-total roster overhaul can actually be a blessing for Jeff Capel's squad. This show is presented by FanDuel. In this day and age of college basketball, could it actually be a blessing in disguise that Capel's squad will be entirely rebuilt for next seas...

In his weekly Pirates mailbag video, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley answers reader questions. This show is presented by FanDuel. Is it too early to be worried about Konnor Griffin struggling to find his stride since his MLB debut? Has manager Don Kelly simply been unlikely with in-game decisions involving Brandon Lowe, Nick Yorke and Justin Lawrence? And in pulling starters like Paul S...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to sort through the week in NFL mock draft for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy's team. Is Ty Simpson starting to fade as a favorite choice for experts like Mel Kiper Jr. and Tom Fornelli? Have Vega Ioane and Omar Cooper Jr. begun to emerge as the m...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the Pirates' series split with the Washington Nationals this week at PNC Park. What should we make of Konnor Griffin's inconsistent start to his MLB career? Both at the plate and on defense, where he had an ugly error that cost the team three runs Thursday before redeeming himself with a triple? Can Oneil Cruz make his hot-hitt...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko is joined by sports editor Adam Bittner to ponder questions for new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham ahead of their expected introductions Friday. This show is presented by FanDuel. What will Angelichio's role be within Mike McCarthy's staff if he's not the pla...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison welcomes Charlie O'Connor of PHLY Sports to preview the Penguins-Flyers matchup in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This show is presented by FanDuel. What led to the Flyers' turnaround after the Olympic break? How does Porter Martone change the complexion of their team? Will Sidney Crosby carry on his tradition of lighting up the Flyers, on...

Post-Gazette Pitt insider Abby Schnable is joined by senior outside hitter Blaire Bayless to talk about the team's spring preparations, new additions and returning players, then Abby answers reader questions. This show is presented by FanDuel. How have spring practices been going? How are new additions like Jordyn Dailey, Ayanna Watson, Izzy Starck and Jessica Smallwood meshing with the team? How...

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 analyze league-wide trends and why they may influence GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy in selecting a receiver in the first round of the NFL draft. Is the high statistical "hit rate" of Day 1 receivers sim...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the latest Steelers draft visits of the week, with Penn State guard Vega Ioane being the biggest name. Are GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy narrowing their focus on a player who could fill one of the team's biggest needs following the departure of Isaac Seumalo? Or are they simply doing their due diligence? And how would Io...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison breaks down the team's Stanley Cup playoffs first-round matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of Tuesday night's regular season finale. This show is presented by FanDuel. How do the Penguins and Flyers match up? Is this a good opponent for the Penguins, or were they hoping for someone else? Will this reignite a yearslong rivalry, one of the best in t...