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

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley report from spring training in Bradenton, Fla. with a focus on top prospect Konnor Griffin. Does he have a chance to make the MLB opening day roster? What is he learning in camp from big leaguers including Paul Skenes, Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, Oneil Cruz and others? And why has he been impressive to watch early in camp? Our duo tack...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison welcomes assistant sports editor and former beat partner Matt Vensel to recap the team's season so far, discuss how far this team can go and break down its potential moves at the NHL trade deadline. This show is presented by FanDuel. Which players have surprised? Should we be shocked that Sidney Crosby is still producing at such a high level? Have there b...

On the Thursday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko react to the podcast beef between former franchise Super Bowl champions Joey Porter, Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison. Is their back-and-forth over Mike Tomlin criticism too messy? Especially with the franchise movi...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley report from the first day of spring training in Bradenton, Fla. They recap a busy day of comments from players and coaches as well as on-field action with the Grapefruit League opener looming later this month. How is starter Jared Jones looking in his return from injury? What changes has Mitch Keller made to his routine amid offseason ML...

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 discuss potential winners and losers in the transition between former coach Mike Tomlin's staff to new coach Mike McCarthy's. Could Pat Freiermuth finally see an elevated role at tight end, given McCarthy's...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable react to the Panthers' 70-54 loss to No. 4 Duke on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center. This show is presented by FanDuel. Were there any positives to take away from the loss? How was Jeff Capel's team able to keep it close with Duke in the first half? How were they able to force turnovers and play tough defense, and what changed as...

The WPIAL basketball playoff brackets have been released! Now it's time for our WPIAL insiders — high school sports editor Keith Barnes, writer Brad Everett and the incomparable Mike White to break them down and give their predictions on which teams will stand alone at Petersen Events Center. Did the committee make the right calls in seedings? Who are the players to watch in the tournament? Will s...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Noah Hiles welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to ponder the team's decision at QB in 2025. Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make the wrong call in pursuing Aaron Rodgers over Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold? Could Darnold have replicated his championship success with the Stee...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl victory and wonders if the Steelers got it right in hiring Mike McCarthy as Mike Tomlin's replacement. Will McCarthy's offensive background improve the Steelers enough overall after many years of struggles in that area? Or will they regret breaking tradition and passing on a young defensive mind...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley report from sunny Sarasota, Fla., on the team's signing of slugger Marcell Ozuna and what it means for the lineup, the defense and Andrew McCutchen's future. This show is presented by FanDuel. What was Jason and Colin's reaction to the Ozuna signing? Does he fill an obvious need in the Pirates' lineup? Did GM Ben Cherington get a good de...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison welcomes Keith Barnes to break down the team's win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and take stock of the team's position heading into the Olympic break. This show is presented by FanDuel. Did Avery Hayes stake his claim for a permanent spot in the lineup with his historic two-goal debut? Does another big performance from Ben Kindel, who also scored tw...

In this clip from the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bitner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to the Seattle Seahawks' victory in the Super Bowl. Did Sam Darnold show that GM Omar Khan and new coach Mike McCarthy can win big with free agent QBs? Could 2026 free agents like Daniel Jones,...

No, it's not Christmas. But there will be an unwrapping of sorts Monday when the WPIAL unveils its brackets for the 2026 basketball playoffs! Our WPIAL insiders, high school sports editor Keith Barnes and the incomparable Mike White give their take on which teams should be the top four in each classification for the boys and girls. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

On the Saturday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to sort through the week in mock draft picks for new coach Mike McCarthy's team. How much stock should we put in early first-round receiver picks, given the franchise's historical preference to select them on Days 2 and 3 under Mike Tomlin? Will Om...

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 Brian Batko to analyze Mike McCarthy's assistant coaching staff hires under DC Patrick Graham and OC Brian Angelichio. Will James Campen satisfy the fan base's clamoring for a Mike Munchak-type hire at offensive line coach? What do...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley react to the week of offseason moves and non-moves from GM Ben Cherington's front office. This show is presented by FanDuel. How much will new signing Jose Urquidy boost the starting pitching depth around names like Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler and others? Will his relationship with new pitching coach Bill Murphy yield fruit...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the latest happenings around the Panthers football team. What will Pitt's defense look like under new coordinator Cory Sanders? He's been preparing for this moment for years, but how will he leave an impact on the defense? Will it be similar to the schemes under Randy Bates, or will Sanders bring fresh ideas? Where does the d...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes former Dallas receiver and current podcast Jesse Holley to get his perspective on the hiring of Mike McCarthy. Why didn't things work out for the Super Bowl-winning coach with one of the league's storied franchises? Are there lessons that can be learned from falling short with stars like Dak Presco...

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 analyze the NFL draft QB class following Chris's trip to the Senior Bowl last week. How does the Steelers' Will Howard compare to guys expected to be available on Days 2 and 3? Is he clearly a better option...

Post-Gazette Pitt insider Stephen Thompson breaks down the Panthers' 67-47 loss to No. 18 Virginia on Tuesday night. This show is presented by FanDuel. Were the Cavaliers simply more talented than the Panthers? Or was the lack of effort and hustle by Jeff Capel's team a bigger story? How can Pitt keep big man Cam Corhen out of foul trouble on nights like those? Why didn't Capel turn to Kieran Mull...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable take a look at players to watch for the Panthers as spring football rapidly approaches. This show is presented by FanDuel. With all eyes on the wide receivers room, who could emerge as Mason Heintschel's right-hand man? Why do Bryce Yates, Blue Hicks and Justin Cook jump out as potential options? Is Josh Guerrier poised for a breakout w...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Noah Hiles welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to rank the Steelers' six Super Bowl victories with the big game looming this weekend. Do our guys give the edge to the Steel Curtain teams of the 1970s, led by names like "Mean" Joe Green, Terry Bradshaw, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Franco...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise ponders how new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy stacks up against the nine other coaches hired in this cycle. Is he the best of the big names changing teams? A group that includes the Giants' John Harbaugh, the Falcons' Kevin Stefanski and the Titans' Robert Saleh? Do first-time coaches like Ravens' Jesse Minter, the Raiders' Klint Kubiak,...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo discuss Chris's first mock draft of the season following his visit to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. over the weekend. Should coach Mike McCarthy and GM Omar Khan get aggressive at wide receiver given the depth of this class? How...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison takes a look at coach Dan Muse's impact in his first season behind the bench as the NHL's Olympic break approaches. This show is presented by FanDuel. How has Muse transformed this club on both ends of the ice? Was it on even fuller display Saturday against former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan's New York Rangers? How has he updated the team's offense off t...