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

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to break down the Steelers' best- and worst-case scenarios for the year ahead. Can they win 12 or 13 games if Russell Wilson is his old self and if the offensive line -- including youngsters Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier -- reaches it potential quicker? Could they have a losing record if Wilson isn't as...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the contract extension for defensive captain Cam Heyward and ponders whether a deal with TE Pat Freiermuth may be next. He also gives his thoughts on coach Mike Tomlin's press conference Tuesday in which he expressed optimism about his concerning wide receiver and offensive line groups. Will Scotty Miller and Van J...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, host Christopher Carter and Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo react to the three-year contract extension that defensive captain Cam Heyward received Tuesday. Was it the right move for GM Omar Khan? What does it mean for the team's NFL salary cap situation moving forward? And is Pat Freiermuth next in line to get a lucrative deal...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo recap another busy afternoon at the team's practice facilities on Tuesday as Mike Tomlin completed his first weekly press conference of the regular season. How optimistic should Steelers fans be after the news that Isaac Seumalo will avoid the I.R., and how will it affect the future of the team's OL regarding Dan Moore Jr., Troy Fautanu...

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: How much stock can we put into Eli Holstein’s performance in Week 1? Why wasn't tight end Gavin Bartholomew more involved vs. Kent St., and is this is what we should expect from Kade Bell's offense moving forward? Also, should there be concern about Pitt...

Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes veteran Atlanta Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter to preview the team's Week 1 NFL regular season opener on his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast. What should Steelers fans expect from Arthur Smith’s offense in his return to Atlanta? Will we see rumblings of another QB controversy surrounding both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in P...

On his Monday episode of First 10, Jason Mackey breaks down the Cubs' managerial mistake from last night in the Pirates' 5-3 road win, as well as the health and resurgence of Jared Jones and Pittsburgh going with Dennis Santana over David Bednar as its closer. He also discusses how Penn State and Pitt might actually give us some really exciting college football to watch in Western Pennsylvania thi...

On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, host Christopher Carter and Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo take their first look ahead to Week 1 of the NFL season. Both Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins will lead new teams, so which one is more primed for success? Will Cam Heyward and Pat Freiermuth have new contracts before kickoff? And who will start on the banged-up offensive line? Hoste...

In their weekly Pirates podcast, insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin discuss David Bednar's demotion from closer. Can "The Renegade" ever find is his old All-Star form? Plus they discuss what they need to see from the top pitchers in the final month of the season and the ongoing struggles at the plate for Henry Davis. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian insider Joel Haas is joined by the Daily Collegian's Lyle Alenstein to recap Penn State's 34-12 victory Saturday against West Virginia in Morgantown. What should we make of Drew Allar's three-touchdown performance at QB? How much explosive potential does new OC Andy Kotelnicki's offense have after big plays from Nick Singleton at running back and Harrison "Trey&qu...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson break down the Panthers' season-opening 55-24 win over Kent State on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Was this high-scoring offensive output a sign of things to come? How did the Panthers offense work in new offensive coordinator Kade Bell's scheme? How did quarterback Eli Holstein fare in his first collegiate start? How did newcomers...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Christopher Carter and Steelers insider Brian Batko react to Brandon Aiyuk re-signing with the 49ers and ending his chances of coming to Pittsburgh. Should Omar Khan have upped the ante to get San Francisco to bite? Are the Steelers' wide receivers behind George Pickens good enough this year? Plus, will Troy Fautanu start over Broderick Jones...

In his Friday mailbag episode of First 10, Jason Mackey answers an array of readers questions about the Pirates' tanking season. Should Bryan Reynolds change positions next season? What does the team do about Joey Bart at catcher? And just how long is the leash for manager Derek Shelton? Plus, final thoughts on the Brandon Aiyuk situation now that he will not be joining the Steelers. Hosted by Sim...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Nittany Lions insider Joel Haas preview the season opener Saturday vs. West Virginia in Morgantown. Can Drew Allar repeat his sparkling performance against the Mountaineers a year ago? What kind of threat does WVU QB Garrett Greene pose to DC Tom Allen's defense? How can running backs Nick Singleton and...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the conclusion of the Steelers' preseason. Did coaches Mike Tomlin, Arthur Smith and Teryl Austin answer any of their major questions definitively since the start of training camp? Or do things remain too unsettled with QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, offensive linemen including Broderick Jones and Isaac Seu...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Jason Mackey reacts to the Pirates' meltdown Wednesday vs. the Chicago Cubs, in which they blew a 10-3 lead en route to a 14-10 loss at PNC Park. Is it time to replace David Bednar with Aroldis Chapman at closer? How much would moving on from names including GM Ben Cherington, manager Derek Shelton and hitting coach Andy Haines really help? And why do there seem to b...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey ponders the future of manager Derek Shelton, hitting coach Andy Haines and GM Ben Cherington. Should their fates at the end of the season be tied to improving the win total from 76 in 2023? Or if they fall short, is finding out what they have in players like Oneil Cruz in the outfield and Henry Davis behind the plate a reaso...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to ponder moves GM Omar Khan may make now that NFL teams have cut down to their initial 53-man rosters. Could he bolster his receiving corps behind George Pickens via trade? Or the addition of a freshly cut free agent like Noah Brown, formerly of the Houston Texa...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes KDKA-TV sports director and Pittsburgh media legend Bob Pompeani to react to the Steelers' 53-man roster release. Were there any significant or surprising cuts? Why would the Steelers release Quez Watkins and Dez Fitzpatrick when they're already thin at wide receiver? Are they planning on attacking t...

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is coach Pat Narduzzi making the right move in not yet choosing a starting QB and letting both Eli Holstein and Nate Yarnell play this week vs. Kent State? Why are so many depth chart positions unsettled, including defensive tackle where Nakhi Johnson, F...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey gives his thoughts on Heather Lyke's future as Pitt athletic director following the extension for her colleague Pat Kraft at Penn State. How important is it for the Panthers to hold onto Lyke, who's presided over growth for numerous programs including football under Pat Narduzzi and basketball under Jeff Capel? And if she st...

Pittsburgh Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin react to Monday's news of the team announcing it will be moving Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field. Is this a long-term franchise decision, or will Derek Shelton give Cruz a chance again to play at short? Also, how will this affect the team in the short term with the Pirates now eight games out of the NL wild card race? For more sport...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Brian Batko and Ray Fittipaldo recap a busy day at the team's South Side practice facility Monday as roster cuts loom. How is Jaylen Warren recovering from his NFL preseason hamstring injury? And will he be ready for Week 1 vs. the Atlanta Falcons? How is the battle to back up Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson at cornerback shaping up between Cory Trice Jr. and Dariu...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Pirates' series victory against the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend. He also analyzes the team's catching situation. How important is it for GM Ben Cherington to learn what he has in Henry Davis? Has Yasmani Grandal started to live up to his contract after his walk-off Sunday? Is this Joey Bart's position to l...

On their Pirates podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin discuss the team's rotation plans for the remainder of the season. Will GM Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton shut ace rookie Paul Skenes down with the team probably out of the MLB postseason race? Or will they simply slow his workload? What is the plan for fellow rookie Jared Jones? or fellow rotation members Mitch...