Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
What should we make of Justin Fields agreeing to a two-year contract with the New York Jets instead of the Steelers? Did Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make the right choice to let them go? Or should the Steelers have pushed harder to match the Jets' offer? What's next at quarterback? Do all signs point to Aaron Rodgers? Or should Russell Wilson still be an option?
Paul gives his thoughts on those questions, then reacts to the trade for DK Metcalf and the signing of Darius Slay. How will Metcalf fit in the existing receivers room that includes George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson? And how much can Slay help the secondary alongside Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick?
The Post-Gazette Christopher Carter and Adam Bittner react live to news that the team has traded for Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf and signed him to a reported 5-year $150-million extension.
How will he fit into the receiving corps with George Pickens, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson? Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin pay the right price of a second-round draft pick and a huge contract for the 27-year-old? And what does this mean for the QB choice of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers or someone else?
On their weekly Steelers mock draft tracker recap, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo recap the week in projected NFL draft picks for the team from around the Internet.
-Why are Alfred Collins and Darius Alexander desirable as possible Day 2 picks at DT, even if GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin opt to select projected Day 1 guys like Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon and Walter Nolen in the first round?
-Should the Steelers consider QB Shedeur Sanders if he drops down draft boards, as leading mock drafters including Dan Brugler and Lance Zierlein have predicted this past week?
-How does Ray rank the receiver trio of Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka and Luther Burden III, which continues to dominate the projections for the Steelers nationally?
-How closely should the Steelers be watching corners including Will Johnson, Maxwell Hairston and Jacob Parrish as options to pair with Joey Porter Jr.?
-And is the fourth round the right range for the Steelers to take a QB like Will Howard to pair with Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers or whomever they sign to be the starter?
Post-Gazette Pirates insider Andrew Destin recaps the team's 6-5 exhibition loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday as MLB spring training continues in Florida. How did pitcher Mike Burrows look in his brief outing? And is he a candidate to crack the rotation alongside names like Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and Mitch Keller? What does Jared Triolo's recent hot stream mean for his spot on the roster? And is Tim Mayza moving past some of his 2024 struggles with the New York Yankees? Andrew tackles those questions and more.
On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes for Penguins forward and current broadcaster Colby Armstrong to talk NHL trade deadlines past and present.
What does Colby remember from being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in a 2008 blockbuster that brought Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis back to Pittsburgh? What were Sidney Crosby's feelings about the deal, given his close relationship with Colby? What are some funny stories he has from that period in Penguins history, when Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury were leading a resurgence? And what makes a trade so awkward for a player?
Our duo tackles those questions as well as the path that led Colby into broadcasting; his relationship with Crosby as a source; the wild trade rumors swirling around Crosby and the Colorado Avalanche; and an array of current Penguins topics. What does GM Kyle Dubas need to do to get the franchise back on track? And how much can a slew of upcoming NHL draft picks help the franchise?
Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin recap a 3-2 exhibition victory against the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training in Bradenton, Fla. Is Jared Jones Opening Day ready after flashing his slider in an efficient outing? How did Adam Frazier look in his return to action? And is Eddy Yean proving he belongs in the bullpen after registering a two-inning save? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko analyze the reasons the team has not yet reached a deal with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields or both as the NFL free agency legal tampering period looms next week.
Are GM Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin playing hard ball with Fields? Or is he waiting to test his value on the open market? What does it all mean for Wilson's future here or elsewhere? And is there still a chance the Steelers end up with outside options including Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones or Sam Darnold?
Our duo tackles those questions, then wonders whether the Steelers may have missed out on making a deal for receiver Christian Kirk and sizes up top possible targets on the free agent market. Why are names including CBs Carlton Davis, Charvarius Ward, D.J. Reed, Asante Samuel Jr., Byron Murphy as well as DTs Javon Hargrave, Tershawn Wharton and Milton Williams among the biggest to watch in the coming days?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
Should the Steelers seek a long-term deal with Justin Fields to be their quarterback this season and beyond? Or should they make him prove his worth on another one- or two-year type of deal? And what should we make of the latest reports surrounding alternative options including Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers? Paul tackles those, then gives his thoughts on a column by colleague Joe Starkey, who believes Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss could be a franchise cornerstone available through the NFL draft.
Later, Paul weighs in on other topics around town. Did Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas do well in the trade that sent Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators? What other moves should he make before the NHL trade deadline on Friday? How will the ACC's new media rights agreements with Clemson and Florida State affect Pitt football and basketball? And who's standing out to Paul at Pirates spring training?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to news that WR D.K. Metcalf has requested a trade from the Seattle Seahawks.
Could he be a viable fit for GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers? Are his skills too similar to those of George Pickens? Could a deal for Metcalf give Khan the latitude to move Pickens for a haul of draft picks? And which quarterback option could fit with Metcalf best? Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Aarond Rodgers or someone else?
Our duo tackles those questions, then talks Penguins with a little over 24 hours to go until the NHL trade deadline. Was the Thursday night trade that sent Michael Bunting to Nashville in exchange for defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak a good one? Could Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell or anyone else move before the deadline? And how much hope should fans have that Tristan Jarry can make the most of his latest NHL opportunity in goal?
Then on the Pitt front, they ponder what the ACC's media rights settlement with Florida State and Clemson could mean for the Panthers and college football as a whole.
In the third segment, airing on the Post-Gazette's new Pirates YouTube channel, Adam and Jason talk about the latest from spring training. What is Jason excited to see up close in Bradenton when he travels there this week? How much hope does he have that promising starts from Henry Davis, Matt Gorski, Endy Rodriguez and others are for real? Does he have any concern about Ke'Bryan Hayes' slow start at the plate? Or is it simply good news to see him healthy? The guys answer those questions, then analyze the chances of an extension with outfielder Oneil Cruz before Opening Day.
On their weekly Pirates mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin answer reader questions from spring training in Bradenton, Fla.
Are there any prime candidates for a contract extension this spring, given that the Pirates have handed one out to a key piece in each of the last three years? With Matt Gorski producing well during spring training, could we see him lock up a spot on the opening day roster? What does the future hold for fringe infield prospects like Ji Hwan Bae and Liover Peguero? What about stalwart backup catcher Jason Delay? Will new hitting coach Matt Hague focus more on small ball due to the Pirates lineup's lack of major power hitters? And with the return of Daniel Vogelbach, which other former Pirate would Noah and Andrew like to see return in a special adviser's role? Our duo answers those questions and more.