How did Paul Skenes look in his first season-opening start? How did the bullpen situation playout with names including David Bednar, Colin Holderman and Denis Santana? Were Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Andrew McCutchen, Ke'Bryan Hayes and the lineup able to get off to a productive start? And what did the guys think of manager Derek Shelton's decisions? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles and sports columnist Jason Mackey stream LIVE from Miami ahead of the club's MLB Opening Day matchup with the Marlins at loanDepot Park. How will Paul Skenes look after a dominant spring training? What about the rest of the rotation -- which includes Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Carmen Mlodzinski and Andrew Heaney -- in the absence of the injury Jared Jones? Are Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and the offense prepared to take a step forward? And what will young players including Endy Rodriguez, Jack Suwinski and others prove in 2025? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
On their weekly podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey react to the Steelers' offseason moves so far.
How do moves for names like DK Metcalf, Kenneth Gainwell, Darius Slay and -- potentially -- Aaron Rodgers compare to GM Omar Khan's action in his first two seasons? Does this group compare well with the 2023 NFL free agency class that included Elandon Roberts, Larry Ogunjobi and Isaac Seumalo? Or the 2024 group that included Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott? Will a lack of NFL draft picks naturally lead to a less bountiful offseason? And how should the stockpiling of compensatory picks for 2026 factor into this conversations?
Later, the guys get into some college talk with Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia all stating spring practice. Are eyes on Drew Allar in Happy Valley as he looks to shake off a College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame? Can he get the most out of a loaded roster that includes returnees such as Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen and more? And are receiver transfers Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson enough to help the passing game as it loses Tyler Warren to the NFL? In Morgantown, what kind of difference can the return of coach Rich Rodriguez make? And can Eli Holstein, Desmond Reid and the Panthers emerge from mediocrity?
Our duo tackles those questions. Then in the third segment, airing on the PG Pirates YouTube channel, Adam and Jason get into predictions for the Pirates and the MLB season. How many wins will manager Derek Shelton's club rack up? Can Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and the pitching staff push them over the .500 mark? Or will the lineup led by Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes continue to struggle like it has in years past? What should we make of Carmen Mlodzinski earning a rotation spot? How will the catching situation play out with Endy Rodriguez making the Opening Day roster and Henry Davis starting in Class AAA? And why haven't we hear from owner Bob Nutting this spring?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5:30 p.m. Eastern.
What should we make of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin dining with Ohio State Buckeyes stars Will Howard, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson at the national champions' pro day? Are Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan paying extra attention to those guys as potential NFL draft picks? Where would Howard fit in a quarterback room with Mason Rudolph and — potentially — Aaron Rodgers? And could Henderson and/or Judkins could be a good replacement for Najee Harris alongside Jaylen Warren?
Paul also talks quarterbacks after Russell Wilson signed with the New York Giants on Tuesday. What went wrong in the Steelers' relationship with him as their starter ahead of Justin Fields last season? Will he find more success in New York? And does this put more pressure on Khan and Tomlin to finish the deal with Rodgers?
Then, later, Paul looks toward opening day on Thursday for the Pirates, as Paul Skenes, Andrew McCutchen, Oneil Cruz and Co. look to have their first winning season since 2018.
On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to Russell Wilson signing with the New York Giants in NFL free agency.
Does the move make an eventual marriage between the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers inevitable, with one less possible destination available to him? How will Wilson perform in New York after mixed results this past season with the Steelers? How seriously might GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin be about Mason Rudolph as a potential starting option if a deal with Rodgers doesn't work out?
Our duo tackles those questions and more. Including: How does Wilson's move further solidify Khan's plans regarding compensatory NFL draft picks for 2026? Could the Steelers use that capital to reload their roster? Or potentially chase a top-level quarterback like Arch Manning via a trade? And how closely are Khan and Co. watching Ohio State prospects including Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins and Will Howard after attending the Buckeyes' pro day this week?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Are GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers having a better or worse NFL offseason than their AFC North rivals? How do the Steelers acquisitions of names including DK Metcalf, Darius Slay, Kenneth Gainwell and -- potentially -- Aaron Rodgers stack up with what the Browns have done in extending star pass rusher Myles Garrett? What about the Bengals and their key extensions for receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase? Or the Baltimore Ravens with WR DeAndre Hopkins? Paul tackles those topics, the reacts to the latest from Pirates spring training as they prepare to open their season Thursday.
On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes New York Post Jets beat writer Brian Costello to figure out what's true and what's not about Aaron Rodgers' tenure with that team, as Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin pursue the QB in NFL free agency.
Was Rodgers really a distraction for the Jets, as many believe because of his outspoken views beyond football? Or was he a better teammate than he's given credit for in a locker room with names like Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and others? And how might he fit in a Steelers locker room that includes stars such as George Pickens, DK Metcalf, Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and others?
Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders the future of former Steelers QB Justin Fields in New York.
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
Is Aaron Rodgers a good potential fit with Steelers OC Arthur Smith's offense? How would it change compared to what we saw last season with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields behind center? And what impact will the acquisition of DK Metcalf to play across from George Pickens at receiver have on what Smith would like to do?
Paul tackles those questions and more from around the sports world. What are his thoughts on the first weekend of March Madness, with mostly major-conference teams advancing? And what should we make of the Pirates' roster decisions announced so far -- including Endy Rodriguez making the team --ahead of Opening Day on Thursday?
Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles briefly discusses the team's 5-1 loss to the Twins in their final spring training contest Monday then gives his key takeaways as the team's opening day roster starts to take shape. Manager Derek Shelton informed reporters Monday morning that Carmen Mlodzinski will start the season as part of the Pirates' starting rotation. Is this just a quick fix in Jared Jones' absence or will Mlodzinski make the jump to being a starter full time? Speaking of Jones, how will his absence affect the team in the short term and — if necessary — the long term? Finally, who has the easiest path to the final roster spots, as six players — Peter Strzelecki, Hunter Stratton, Justin Lawrence, Joey Wentz, Ryan Borucki and Tanner Rainey — vie for three bullpen spots and three players — Jack Suwinski, Ji Hwan Bae and DJ Stewart — compete for the last two position-player spots? Noah answers those questions and more.
On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo weigh in on the team's continuing pursuit of QB Aaron Rodgers in NFL free agency.
Have GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and top brass for team reached desperation for Rodgers to sign? Or is that need overstated? With Mason Rudolph already under contract and other free agent and trade options remaining, including Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Kirk Cousins and Joe Milton III? And with the likelihood of adding Rodgers eventually already fairly high, given his lack of other options?
Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders the upside of NFL draft QBs. Will names including Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Will Howard and Jalen Milroe ever be stars in the NFL? Or are they poised to be career backups? And how should that distinction figure into the Steelers' decision making?
Then Chris and Ray end the show by talking safeties. How good will the Steelers' group -- led by Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott -- be after the signing of free agent Juan Thornhill?