Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Colin Beazley and Noah Hiles react to the biggest stories originating from spring training and Grapefruit League play this week in Florida.
Did GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly make the right move in trading reliever Kyle Nicolas to the Reds for prospect Tyler Callihan? Can Callihan be expected to contribute in the lineup next to names like Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn? And how much will the bullpen miss Nicolas?
The guys also ponder Andrew McCutchen's departure for a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers, what it means for the season and how fans might react to a franchise icon leaving town once again.
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On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, presented by FanDuel, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes former Alabama linebacker and Pittsburgh native Nikhai Hill-Green to take a look at some of his Crimson Tide teammates ahead of the NFL Draft.
Hill-Green tells of his story going from Pittsburgh to the elite St. Frances Academy in Baltimore to stops at Alabama, Colorado, Charlotte and Michigan. Hill-Green gives his thoughts on some of his Alabama teammates also coming out for the 2026 draft, including QB Ty Simpson and defensive tackle Tim Keenan III. Hill-Green also breaks down some current Steelers he's crossed paths with, including WR Roman Wilson and CB Joey Porter Jr.
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Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers appearing on the Pat McAfee show and offering little insight about his future.
Should GM Omar Khan, coach Mike McCarthy and the team be concerned about Rodgers retiring or joining up with another team for 2026? Or is this normal Rodgers gamesmanship? Why was Rodgers non-committal about his future less than a week after Khan said he expected an answer sooner than last year at the NFL combine? Is it time to start evaluating outside QB candidates like Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, Malik Willis and others? What about internal options like Will Howard and Mason Rudolph? Paul tackles those questions and more.
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The WPIAL basketball finals are complete, with 12 champions being crowned last weekend.
But that's not the end of our coverage!
Post-Gazette high school sports editor Keith Barnes and the incomparable Mike White take a look back at the best players, performances and games from the WPIAL finals and look ahead to the state championships, which open on Friday.
All this and more on Varsity Xtra podcast!
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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 talk through reports that the Arizona Cardinals plan to release QB Kyler Murray unless a trade for him can be found before NFL free agency next week.
Should the Steelers be interested in Murray? Or would the move be too similar to the one they made for Russell Wilson a couple of years ago? Is Murray the better QB than Aaron Rodgers at this stage of his career? Or does Rodgers still have the edge even at 42? And would Murray have been a better fit with the Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith offensive staff than he is with Mike McCarthy's?
Our duo tackles those questions, then sorts through Chris's 32-round mock draft published on Post-Gazette.com this week. Why did he go with Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald for the Steelers when most of the industry is pointing toward receiver as the biggest first-round need? How does McDonald compare as a prospect to names like Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Denzel Boston? How would he fit alongside existing defensive line options like Cam Heyward, Yahya Black, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon? Are any of those receivers worth potentially trading up to acquire for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy as they look for a playmaking answer across from DK Metcalf? And could the Steelers potentially be just as happy with lower rated receiver prospects like Malachi Fields and Omar Cooper Jr. in later rounds after swiping McDonald in the first? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
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Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise explains why he feels the Pirates are still one big bat away from having a dangerous lineup for 2026.
Is it too soon to rely on super prospect Konnor Griffin to be a reliable source of power? Can Marcell Ozuna really be counted on to return to his 2024 form? What's a reasonable expectation for an offense led by Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn? And should manager Don Kelly and GM Ben Cherington make one more significant move before MLB opening day? Paul tackles those questions and more.
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On the Tuesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze which pending free agents GM Omar Khan and new coach Mike McCarthy may want to keep for 2026.
Will Kenneth Gainwell be the top priority? How much might it cost to keep him in the backfield next to Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson? How closely aligned will he be with Aaron Rodgers' future? And what are the options at guard with Isaac Seumalo and the guard position? Is there still a chance he could return next to younger teammates like Broderick Jones, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier and Troy Fautanu? Could he be replaced in free agency of the NFL draft? Or is Spencer Anderson the obvious heir to Seumalo's starting spot?
Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders the future of other noteworthy free agents including Kyle Dugger, Cole Holcomb, Daniel Ekuale, Dean Lowry, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Chuck Clark, Jabrill Peppers, James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. on defense. Andrus Peat, Scotty Miller, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Calvin Austin III and Connor Heyward on offense. And Miles Killebrew on special teams.
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Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise ponders the success -- of lack thereof -- of some recent draft picks facing questions about their future.
Is it too soon to label names including Keeanu Benton, Broderick Jones, Roman Wilson as Kaleb Johnson as busts? Or is there still time for them to develop into long-term solutions? Will the transition from Mike Tomlin to Mike McCarthy help or hurt any of these players? And what does this group's lack of success say about GM Omar Khan? Does he deserve criticism for these picks? Or more praise for successes like Joey Porter Jr., Zach Frazier, Troy Polamalu, Mason McCormick, Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington and others? Paul tackles those questions and more.
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Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable identify five key questions coach Pat Narduzzi will have to answer during the Panthers' spring football practices. This show is presented by FanDuel.
After breaking onto the scene as an unknown freshman, how will QB Mason Heintschel evolve mentally and physically in his second year under center? Who of Malik Knight, Blue Hicks, C.J. Lee, Bryce Yates or Tony Kinsler will step up to fill the wide receiver roles left behind by Kenny Johnson and Poppi Williams?
How does a reloaded secondary shake out? Who of Raion Strader, Kanye Thompson or Shadarian Harrison ends up starting opposite Shawn Lee Jr. at corner? Are transfers Alex Sanford, DeMarco Ward, plus returners Cam Lindsey, Jeremiah Marcelin, enough to cover for losses of Rasheem Biles and Kyle Louis? And which freshmen could come out of nowhere to surprise us? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
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On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel & Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to the NFL combine and what we may have learned about GM Omar Khan's plan for free agency, which begins next week.
Did the volume of meetings with receivers and defensive backs telegraph that the Steelers will focus heavily on those position groups in the NFL draft, as coach Mike McCarthy searches for answers across from established playmakers including DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth and Joey Porter Jr.? Are names like Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon and KC Concepcion the ones we need to watch most closely? Could extensions be coming for 2023 draft class members including Broderick Jones, Porter Jr., Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington? Or will that depend on what happens with free agency? And where will Khan focus his free agent spending? Will it also go to the receiver and defensive back positions, as it did with Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill last offseason? Or will it be used to addressed positions like guard, where Issac Seumalo is set to depart? And running back, where Kenneth Gainwell is a free agent? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
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