Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin report from Pirates spring training in Bradenton, Fla., where position players reported for the first time Monday. Why did free agent signing Tommy Pham make a good first impression, as he looks to take over in left field while new teammate Bryan Reynolds moves to right? What new pitch has Jared Jones developed over the MLB offseason? And how might it impact his ability to contribute to the rotation alongside Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and others? And what did Andrew McCutchen have to say upon his arrival at Pirates City, after he signed a new one-year contract with the team over the winter? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to ponder GM Omar Khan's next moves to trim players from his roster to free up salary cap space ahead of NFL free agency next month.
Who will join Preston Smith as a cap casualty as the pass rusher was cut late last week? Is Larry Ogunjobi making too much relative to his hefty salary? Did Cordarrelle Patterson do enough on special teams and in the offensive backfield to justify bringing him back? Especially with Najee Harris set to hit free agency? And how will the team handle the case of the injured Cole Holcomb? Could he be cut but brought back at a lower salary?
Our duo tackles those questions and more on the defensive side. How can Khan and coach Mike Tomlin bolster defensive line depth beyond Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward? Should they consider a pending free agent like Milton Williams, who was drafted by assistant GM Andy Weidl with the Super Bowl champion Eagles a few years back? Should they look to the draft with names like Michigan's Kenneth Grant? And how will new ILBs coach Scott McCurley be able to help key pieces of DC Teryl Austin's unit, including Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson?
On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes Acrisure Stadium public address announcer Larry Richert to get his take on the team's offseason and a range of other topics.
Will Larry be announcing the name of Russell Wison or Justin Fields at QB this coming season? What does he think of offseason angst over things like Mike Tomlin's future, NFL free agency and the NFL draft? And what is it like being the above it all on game days?
Later, our duo discusses the future of Pitt football under coach Pat Narduzzi with key pieces including Desmond Reid and Eli Holstein returning in 2025; Larry's career in TV and radio at KDKA; and his fondness for Pirates spring training in Bradenton, Fla.
Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin share their first impressions of David Bednar and Henry Davis, two players who seem to be in better shape coming into 2025 spring training. How did Bednar look in his first live batting practice? And will Davis' added muscle and a swing adjustment lead to more power?
Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin recap another day of spring training, with Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes speaking to the media for the first time in 2025. Will the Pirates' ace have some new tools to work with this season? And how does Year 2 compare to his first camp?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
He gives his thoughts on an analysis post by colleague Brian Batko on the rare examples of QBs like Justin Fields finding success with different teams than they were drafted by. Is Fields capable of following in the footsteps of names like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield in getting the Steelers to the NFL playoffs after flaming out with the Bears? Or is he destined to be a draft bust like Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Mac Jones? And how will coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan assess that unknown vs. bringing in proven veterans like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers?
Paul tackles those questions and more.
Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin report from the third day of spring training in Bradenton, Fla. Noah and Andrew watched Endy Rodriguez make throws down to second base today. How does Rodriguez's surgically repaired elbow look, and where does he fit into the Pirates' catching situation? How will the bullpen be affected by the news that reliever Dauri Moreta still needs more time to recover from Tommy John surgery and won't compete for an opening day roster spot? On the other side of the injury news spectrum, how can Hunter Stratton shore up his position in the bullpen as he recovers from a knee injury that ended his 2024 season? Our duo answers those questions and more.
Is Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss a QB who should be on GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin's first-round radar? Or would he be a reach in that spot? And where do other QBs including Jalen Milroe of Alabama and Quinn Ewers of Texas belong in the conversation, as the team also weighs free agents including Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers?
Is Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins worthy of first-round consideration? Could cornerbacks including Denzel Burke, Darien Porter and Jahdae Brown make sense as defensive backfield options across from Joey Porter Jr.? Why is Notre Dame's Rylie Mills a name that keeps coming up in multi-round Steelers mocks? And what are Chris's thoughts on trendy first-round WR picks including Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka and Texas' Matthew Golden? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to rank the Steelers' QB options.
Is Justin Fields in pole position because of his potential upside? Who's the next best option behind him? Would the choice be between Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers? Could Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Matthew Stafford be other veterans in the mix? And where do NFL draft options including Jalen Milroe enter the equation?
Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders a potential trade for 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Would Omar Khan be able to pull off such a deal after missing on Brandon Aiyuk in 2024? And how would Samuel fit in OC Arthur Smith's offense?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
Specifically, he gives his thoughts on trade rumors -- quickly shot down -- that the Steelers had engaged the Jacksonville Jaguars in trade conversations regarding QB Trevor Lawrence. Did those rumors ever make sense? Would Lawrence have really been an upgrade more plausible options like Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers? And how much would it have cost to acquire him in terms of valuable NFL draft capital?
Paul tackles those questions, then weighs in on Pirates spring training and Sidney Crosby's big night at the 4 Nations Face-off event Wednesday.