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 talk about the team's latest NFL draft prospect visitors and what they may or may not tell us about plans for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy. Is Arkansas QB Taylen Green a serious option at QB? How does he compare to bigger names like Drew...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles break down the team's mostly successful weekend at Wrigley Field in Chicago after taking two of three games from the Cubs. This show is presented by FanDuel. What were the positives from the three-game series, and what were the negatives? Does this tell us anything about how the Pirates will move forward in the NL Central? How long can the...

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 attempt to read the tea leaves of the latest prospect visits ahead of the NFL draft. Are GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy prioritizing the defensive back spots by bringing in safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and CB Chr...

On the Saturday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Christopher Carter to sort through the week in mock draft picks for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy's team from around the internet. Why does it seem like there's very little consensus forming around the team's biggest needs at a national level? Is that a fu...

On the Friday 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 ponder GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy's trade options ahead of the NFL draft. Could either T.J. Watt or Alex HIghsmith be moved in a bid to keep Nick Herbig on the roster long term? Will the Patrick Quee...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison reports from New Jersey after the team clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2022. This show is presented by FanDuel. How were the Penguins able to defy all expectations and give Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang one more run at a Stanley Cup? How was Dan Muse able to instill his identity into the team after just...

The NFL Draft is coming soon to Pittsburgh, so the award-winning high school sports team at the Post-Gazette — Keith Barnes, Mike White, Brad Everett and Steve Rotstein — got together to pick their teams of the GREATEST players to ever come out of the WPIAL and City League. The guys split up into two teams, "Some Bad Dudes" (helmed by Keith and Mike) and "Living Legends" (manag...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise breaks down the latest topics surrounding the Pirates, including Konnor Griffin's nine-year contract extension and their upcoming series against the depleted NL Central rival Chicago Cubs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Thursday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Ray Fittipaldo and Christopher Carter ponder the lack of obvious first-round talent among prospects who've visited the team ahead of the NFL draft. Why haven't GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy welcomed more top receivers like Makai Lemon and defenders...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles break down Konnor Griffin's nine-year contract extension and what it means for the team this year and into the future. This show is presented by FanDuel. How did Griffin's extension come together? Is this a good deal for both sides, or did one side come out of it looking better? Is it too risky for the Pirates to commit to a 19-year-old fo...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise ponders the NFL draft future of top Pitt prospect Kyle Louis. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy consider the decorated Panthers linebacker as a Day 2 pick? Would his skills overlap too closely with those of current Steelers linebackers Cole Holcomb, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson? Or do the Steelers need to add to the group wi...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Hall of Fame running Back Jerome Bettis to talk about the Athletic Draft Guide and the decisions facing GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy ahead of the NFL draft. This show is presented by FanDuel. Why does Jerome feel Hines Ward was the draft pick of his Steelers career? How does he feel the QB...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to ponder Joey Porter Jr.'s recent comments on a podcast. Is he really a top-five cornerback in the NFL? Alongside names like Christian Gonzalez, Patrick Surtain II and Sauce Gardener? Or is he slightly below that elite level? Does he have leverage in con...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise ponders which outcome would be better for the Steelers at the end of the 2026 season. Another playoff loss? Or the first overall pick in the NFL draft? Is one more run with names like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Aaron Rodgers worth chasing? Or would the long-term outlook for younger stars like DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Joey Porter...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable take a look at the basketball program's precarious position as the transfer portal opens up. This show is presented by FanDuel. Who's even left on the roster at this point after Brandin Cummings, Roman Siulepa, Papa Kante and Kieran Mullen all announced their intentions to transfer? Among Nojus Indrusaitis, Omari Witherspoon and Macari...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison checks in on the team with four games left in the regular season and a Stanley Cup playoff spot all but wrapped up. This show is presented by FanDuel. How were the Penguins able to so thoroughly dismantle the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers? Is a playoff spot all but wrapped up at this point? What do Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malki...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles take a look at different players' starts to the season and wonder whether they're sustainable or if they'll fade over time. This show is presented by FanDuel. Can Oneil Cruz continue his torrid pace hitting against lefties? Or is this start to the year just a flash in the pan? Can Ryan O'Hearn consistently drive in runs for the Pirates? Wi...

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 ponder GM Omar Khan's trade options ahead of the NFL draft. Will he and coach Mike McCarthy use any of their 12 picks to add selections in 2027 draft, when QBs including Arch Manning, Dante More, Jayden Maiava and other...

On the Saturday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to recap the week in mock draft picks for coach Mike McCarthy's team. Is Chris Brazzell a legitimate option at receiver? Or is his game too similar to that of Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf? Would safety A.J. Haulcy be a steal in the third round?...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable recap a disastrous week for the Panthers in the transfer portal and preview Abby's one-on-one sitdown with Pitt basketball GM Jay Kuntz. This show is presented by FanDuel. Why should fans remain calm surrounding the Pitt basketball program? How is Kuntz planning on turning things around alongside returning coach Jeff Capel? How big of a...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison takes a look at the team's current standing in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hunt. This show is presented by FanDuel. What went wrong in the Penguins' 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night? Any cause for concern? Or just a blip at the tail end of a really challenging month? Should we be worried about Sidney Crosby's performance level since...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel & Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko ponder comments made by owner Art Rooney II, GM Omar Khan and new coach Mike McCarthy this week at the NFL owners meetings. Is the team putting up smokescreens about its remaining personnel decisions in free agency and t...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles react to the news that Konnor Griffin is being promoted for his MLB debut and the Pirates' home opener. What are Colin and Noah's expectations for the 19-year-old? Will it take some time for him to adjust? Is a Rookie of the Year campaign likely? Where does he fit into the Pirates lineup? What does this mean for guys like Jared Triolo and...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes colleague Gerry Dulac for a recap of the NFL owners meetings from the team's perspective. Gerry explains how the team expects to get a decision from QB Aaron Rodgers about returning for 2026 before the NFL draft. And that if Rodgers retires or heads elsewhere, the team plans to sign a veteran QB. B...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Christopher Carter to react to colleague Gerry Dulac's hints that GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy could be looking closely at Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq on Day 1 of the NFL draft. Is tight end a big enough need to justify a first round pick with Pat Feiermuth a...