Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to tackle the hot topics in Pittsburgh sports, starting with the Steelers' struggles at the wide receiver position in 2024.
Was owner Art Rooney II just being realistic about the team's lack of talent in the passing game when stating his preference to build around the running game earlier this week? Who or what is most responsible for the current mess in the wide receiver room? Is it former general manager Kevin Colbert and current GM Omar Khan for failing to cultivate depth? Is it Mike Tomlin's management of personalities like George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool? Was it moving on from JuJu Smith-Schuster, who's now an important piece for Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs? And where do depth options like Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson fit into the conversation?
Our duo tackles those questions, then reacts to headlines on the college front. How crucial was Pitt basketball's victory against the North Carolina Tar Heels this week? Is coach Jeff Capel starting to figure out how to better use his forwards around star guards like Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett? And on the Penn State front, what does the Jim Knowles hire say about James Franklin's intent to compete at a championship level? And does early 2025 College Football Playoff hype make sense for this team with the return of key pieces like Drew Allar, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen?
Later, the guys react to the Pirates' sluggishness in MLB free agency. What is the primary reason GM Ben Cherington has made only small moves like signing Andrew McCutchen and Adam Frazier or trading for Spencer Horwitz so far? Is TV revenue an issue? Is saving for a Paul Skenes extension a possibility? And how much trouble are Cherington and manager Derek Shelton in? Should we interpret the inactivity as a signal that they feel comfortable?
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First Published: January 30, 2025, 5:16 p.m.
