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

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko draft an all-time Steelers flag football team ahead of that sport joining the Olympics for the 2028 games in Los Angeles. Does Ben Roethlisberger or Justin Fields make more sense at QB? Are Antonio Brown, Diontae Johnson and Santonio...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. What should we make of Steelers owner Art Rooney II saying he's willing to wait a "little while longer" on Aaron Rodgers at QB following the NFL owners meetings? Did Rodgers add any context to his delay in making a decision in his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast? And what is...

The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey react to a busy week of Pittsburgh sports news. Should OTAs be a red line for Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin in their pursuit of QB Aaron Rodgers? How important is the offseason program to his success, given that it didn't seem to matter much for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields? And how much worse off would the Steelers be with Mason R...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. He weighs in on a report from MMQB's Albert Breer that the Steelers inquired about trading for New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave earlier in the offseason. Were they right to make their move for DK Metcalf instead? Should general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin mount anothe...

Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley recap the Pirates' series victory over the Reds at PNC Park. Before their recap begins, the duo discusses the injury news pertaining to right-hander Jared Jones, who will miss the next 10-12 months after getting surgery to repair a UCL injury in his right elbow. The discussion then pivots to the Pirates pitching staff, which, with names like Mitch...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo discuss the history Cam Heyward is attempting to make at age 36 this season. Can he follow in the footsteps of guys like Reggie White and Bruce Smith, who remained productive well into their 30s? As new faces like Derrick Harmon...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Are the Pirates heading toward yet another five-year rebuild following the firing of Derek Shelton as manager and the continued lack of results from general manager Ben Cherington? Or should owner Bob Nutting consider other options if he makes front-office changes at some point in the c...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko ranks the team's 2025 schedule by degree of difficulty. Will Myles Garrett and the Browns be the easiest foe coach Mike Tomlin's team sees? Or will they still be able to challenge the offense that's been re-tooled with names including DK Metcalf, Kenneth Gainwell and -- possibly -- QB Aaron Rodgers? How muc...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Will Aaron Rodgers sign with the Steelers before OTAs, scheduled for next week? How much will it hurt preparation for coach Mike Tomlin's team if he doesn't? What could it mean for quarterbacks already under contract, including Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, or the chemistry with wide r...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the team's upcoming series with the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. Can Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney and Bailey Falter keep the struggling offense in the game against this relatively average NL Central rival? Will Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen and the offense get an opportunity to turn things around against this pitching staff, including starters like Ni...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo analyze the advantages DK Metcalf gives the team as its No. 1 WR in place of George Pickens, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month. What does Metcalf do better than Pickens? Will he be a better fit in a WRs room w...

On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes former Pirates first-round draft pick Cole Tucker to get his perspective on the Pirates' managerial change from Derek Shelton to Don Kelly. What does Tucker remember about playing for Kelly? Why does he believe the club and former teammates including Ke'Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski ar...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko ponder WR2 options for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin following the George Pickens trade to the Dallas Cowboys. Should the team sign a big name like Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper or Gabe Davis to line up across from DK Metcalf this s...

On his weekly Pirates mailbag video, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: What are the reasons the Pirates' offense is struggling so profoundly. Is it a problem with GM Ben Cherington's development regime? Why does Henry Davis instead of Joey Bart catch for Paul Skenes starts? Could hitting coach Matt Hague be in trouble after manager Derek Shelton's firing...

Host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Maceky to react to a busy week in Pittsburgh sports news, which included the release of the Steelers' schedule on Wednesday night. Is the NFL signaling that it expects Aaron Rodgers will ultimately sign with the team by creating a Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets, his former squad? How intrigued should we be by an early meeting wi...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo eye potential remaining moves for GM Omar Khan this offseason. Why do trades of high-priced veterans including T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick seem unlikely? Even after George Pickens was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys with one ye...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Has the hype for Steelers sixth-round pick Will Howard gotten a bit out of control? How valid are the comparisons between his game and that of Ben Roethlisberger? And what are proper expectations for him in a quarterback room with Mason Rudolph and — possibly — Aaron Rodgers? Paul tackl...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Mark Bergin of the Bleav podcast network to preview the NFL schedule release and what it might hold for the team. What should we make of the already-announced Ireland matchup vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 28? How many primetime games will Mike Tomlin's team play? And which teams will they draw...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. What should we make of George Pickens appearing to call the Steelers a "cheap organization" in the comments of an Instagram post — and his subsequent attempts to walk it back? Is there some validity to his statements? Or is this just another example of why general manager Omar...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the club's series against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Can Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Bailey Falter build on the series win against the Atlanta Braves and stifle a powerful Mets lineup that includes names like Pete Alonso, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor? And how will Andrew McCutchen, Ke'Bryan Hayes and the offense handle a Mets pitching staf...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to GM Omar Khan's comments about his receivers at rookie minicamp over the weekend. Does he really believe in the group as constituted, following the trade of George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys? Could Roman Wilson, Robert W...

Steelers GM Omar Khan speaks with reporters in conjunction with the team's rookie minicamp at its South Side facility. He explains why the team decided to trade George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys this week; why he likes his depth at WR behind DK Metcalf with names like Roman Wilson, Robert Woods and Calvin Austin III; and why he didn't make a move with Pickens before the NFL draft. Hosted by Sim...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo recap the first day of rookie minicamp for NFL draft selections and undrafted free agents at the team's South Side facility. Why did QB Will Howard look and sound impressive as he looks to find his way alongside Mason Rudolph and -- possibly -- Aaron Rodgers? What did Derrick Harmon have to say about navigating the joy of being drafted...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko analyze the team's numerous trades to send former top draft picks away in recent years. Including the deals that have sent George Pickens and Kenny Pickett elsewhere the past two years. Were Pickens, Pickett and others including Chase...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin consider dealing star pass rusher T.J. Watt following the George Pickens trade to the Dallas Cowboys? Does it make sense to continue bolstering their NFL draft capital with an eye toward selecting from the loaded 2026 QB class that includes Arch...