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

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter and Brian Batko discuss the Steelers' options in the trade market ahead of the NFL draft. Could the team's depth on the defensive line allow GM Omar Khan to trade a player like DeMarvin Leal or Larry Ogunjobi for some extra draft capital? And Does Nick Herbig's emergence at EDGE rusher pot...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles and assistant sports editor Adam Bittner react to the Pirates' opening day win against the Miami Marlins. Was Oneil Cruz's late homer a sign that he can be a clutch hitter for this team? Is there reason for concern about Mitch Keller, who pitched inefficiently, or David Bednar, who was unavailable to serve as the closer late in the game? And did the bullpen'...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bitner ponder the Steelers' QB situation in 2025 and beyond. Could the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott be an option for GM Omar Khan if Russell Wilson and Justin Fields struggle in their one-year stints with the Steelers? Or would he cost too much money on a team with numerous big contracts? What's the threshol...

On the Pitching In baseball podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner the preview the club's 2024 season ahead of opening day Thursday against the Miami Marlins. What grade does GM Ben Cherington deserve for this offseason, in which he acquired starters Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez but still has a rotation that lacks depth behind them and Mitch Keller? Why was t...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to discuss NFL free agency and react to news from the league's owners meetings. Is GM Omar Khan setting up a bigger move with depth signings like Cordarrelle Patterson, Quez Watkins and Dean Lowry? What does the teams list of Top 30...

In his weekly Pitt basketball mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insider Christopher Carter answers reader questions. Among them: What's coach Jeff Capel's transfer portal plan following the loss of Federiko Federiko and Will Jeffress? Why has the team been less busy in landing portal talent than last year? Can Capel keep top players like Jaland Lowe and Bub Carrington in Pittsburgh without a big NIL p...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider welcomes the Philadelphia Inquirer's EJ Smith to analyze the NFL offseason. How much can the Monday signing of former Eagles wideout Quez Watkins bolster the Steelers' depth at that position? What does Watkins have to offer? And does GM Omar Khan need to make another move to add to the group?   Later, they discuss the re...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Andrew Destin and Matt Vensel ponder what GM Kyle Dubas can learn about his team in its remaining games this season now that Stanley Cup playoff hopes look slim. Which prospects could get promoted from the minors for looks at the NHL level? Which have a chance to stick on the roster alongside stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Leta...

On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to analyze coach Mike Tomlin's comments at the NFL owners' meetings over the weekend. Will Justin Fields really get a chance to compete with Russell Wilson for the starting QB role? Or would Wilson have to perform horribly in spring workou...

Host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette insider Brian Batko recap the week in Steelers NFL mock drafts. Are top wideout prospects like LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. plus Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy of Texas good fits as No. 2 receivers across from George Pickens, especially if GM Omar Khan doesn't make a move on rumored interest in names like Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Justin Jefferson on the trade...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Mike's Beer Bar, Steelers insider Brian Batko joins Christopher Carter to take a closer look at the quarterback issues. After Kenny Pickett flamed out, is it fair to question if the team is bad at developing quarterbacks? And who could they have taken instead of Pickett in the 2022 draft? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to discuss trade rumors surrounding Brandon Aiyuk joining the Steelers in a sign-and-trade deal. Post-Gazette insider Gerry Dulace reporters there's "a chance" the move could happen. If it does, would it earn GM Omar Khan an A+ grade for his work in NFL free agency and the trade market? Wha...

On their weekly college basketball show, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Abby Schnable preview the March Madness of the NCAA tournament from a Pittsburgh perspective. What are the odds coach Keith Dambrot and stars Dae Dae Grant and Jimmy Clark can lead 11th-seeded Duquesne to an upset of BYU in this year's bracket? What will happen in the Pittsburgh matchups of Creighton vs. Akron, Kentucky...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Kevin Oestrecher of Ravens Wire and Locked On Ravens to analyze the NFL free agency signings of Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott. Just how good can Queen be on his own at MLB, without a star like Roquan Smith next to him? Can he prove that he's one of the best in the league in...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Sean Hammond of Shaw Local/Bears Insider to give his perspective on the Justin Fields trade. Is Fields prepared to be a backup after starting for Chicago the last few seasons? What can he learn under the wing of presumed starter Russell Wilson, signed last week in NFL free agency? What kind of presen...

In their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Noah Hiles answer reader questions. Among them: Was it a surprise that coach Jeff Capel and Co. were snubbed by the NCAA tournament selection committee for a March Madness berth? Was Capel wrong for declining an NIT invitation? Is Pitt's season a success despite missing the bracket? Will freshman Bub Carrington a...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Andrew Destin and Matt Vensel analyze the team's chances to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Are Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang Erik Karlsson and Co. a real threat to steal a wild-card spot now that they've pulled within five points? Or will the loss of Jake Guentzel at the NHL trade deadline and a recent spate of bad defensive play...

On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze GM Omar Khan's aggressive new approach to NFL free agency and trades. Did the fast overhaul of the quarterback room -- with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields coming in from the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears and Kenny Picket...

Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittpaldo joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers' trade with the Chicago Bears for QB and former first-round pick Justin Fields. How does he fit in the remade quarterback room with Russell Wilson now, and in the future? How was GM Omar Khan able to acquire a player of Fields' pedigree for just a conditional sixth-round pick? Will Fields or Kenny Pickett...

Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers decision Friday to trade QB Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles following the signing of free agent Russell Wilson. Why did the team make this move now? What should we make of the light return of a pick swap into the third round and two 2025 seventh-round picks? Where will general manager Omar Khan and...

On the Pitching In podcast this week, Post-Gazette insider Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to break down all the biggest storylines from Pirates spring training in Bradenton, Fla. Will GM Ben Cherington add to this rotation in meaningful ways before the season begins? Or will names like Chase Anderson and Jared Jones be the most likely to join the likes of Mitch Keller, Marco Gonzales and Mar...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to talk about the team's moves in NFL free agency so far. Which has been the biggest surprise? The signing of Russell Wilson to possibly replace Kenny Pickett? Trading Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson? Giving Patrick Queen a substantial d...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to discuss the Steelers' moves in free agency so far and how they impact the team's NFL draft needs. Does GM Omar Khan still need to draft a receiver early, even if he makes a move for free agent WRs like Tyler Boyd or Josh Reynolds following the Diontae Johnson trade? Should QBs like Bo Nix and Mich...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian insider Seth Engle preview spring practice for coach James Franklin's team. Are the Nittany Lions talented enough at wide receiver with the addition of Julian Fleming from Ohio State? What does Drew Allar have to do to take the next step at QB in his second season as a starter? How is Abdul Carter's tra...

On the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Cody Roark from Mile High Sports and the Locked On Broncos podcast to discuss new Steelers QB Russell Wilson's tumultuous tenure in Denver. What went wrong for him under coach Sean Payton? Were there problems in the locker room? What are Wilson's biggest strengths and weaknesse...