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 Steelers owner Art Rooney II saying he's willing to wait a "little while longer" on Aaron Rodgers at QB following the NFL owners meetings? Did Rodgers add any context to his delay in making a decision in his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast? And what is a reasonable timeline for signing with OTAs and minicamp fast approaching? And Mason Rudolph and Will Howard poised to get top reps?
Paul tackles those questions and looks ahead to the Pirates' four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey react to a busy week of Pittsburgh sports news.
Should OTAs be a red line for Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin in their pursuit of QB Aaron Rodgers? How important is the offseason program to his success, given that it didn't seem to matter much for Russell Wilson and Justin Fields? And how much worse off would the Steelers be with Mason Rudolph as their starter instead? Is the national media bashing he's received fair?
Our duo tackles those questions; the difference between George Pickens and DK Metcalf as WR1; and the team's biggest remaining weakness after adding Derrick Harmon and Kaleb Johnson in the NFL draft.
Later, the guys discuss the Penguins coaching search. Why does Mitch Love continue to make a lot of sense as a frontrunner? How much say should Sidney Crosby have in the hiring process? And how cool is it to watch Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury play together one last time at the IIHF world championships?
Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, our duo ponders Ben Cherington's options as the season continues to slip away. Is there a trade he can make to salvage his job? Is that a move he should be allowed to make, given his track record? Would firing him have a bigger practical or psychological impact? And what should we make of the Paul Skenes trade chatter, initiated this past week by ESPN's Jeff Passan?
Adam and Jason give their thoughts, then analyze the catching situation with Henry Davis and Joey Bart. And Alexander Canario's recent hot streak.
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
He weighs in on a report from MMQB's Albert Breer that the Steelers inquired about trading for New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave earlier in the offseason. Were they right to make their move for DK Metcalf instead? Should general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin mount another attempt to acquire Olave as a No. 2 after sending George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys? And how much confidence should we have in the current receivers room that includes names like Robert Woods, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson?
Paul weighs in on those question, the NFL's decision not the ban the "tush push" popularized by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles; and the conclusion of the Pirates' three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.
Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley recap the Pirates' series victory over the Reds at PNC Park. Before their recap begins, the duo discusses the injury news pertaining to right-hander Jared Jones, who will miss the next 10-12 months after getting surgery to repair a UCL injury in his right elbow. The discussion then pivots to the Pirates pitching staff, which, with names like Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes, Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney, has been nothing short of dominant under new manager Don Kelly. But for as good as the pitching has been, the bats have struggled, tying an MLB record for 26 straight games with four or less runs scored. The video is concluded with a quick look at the team's upcoming series against the Brewers, which includes a first big-league start from right-hander Mike Burrows on Thursday evening.
On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo discuss the history Cam Heyward is attempting to make at age 36 this season.
Can he follow in the footsteps of guys like Reggie White and Bruce Smith, who remained productive well into their 30s? As new faces like Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black join the defensive line fold alongside Heyward and Keeanu Benton?
Later our duo looks at the latest in the T.J. Watt extension saga for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin. And how the Steelers could be at the forefront of a plan to change the NFL's offseason schedule for OTAs and minicamp.
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
Are the Pirates heading toward yet another five-year rebuild following the firing of Derek Shelton as manager and the continued lack of results from general manager Ben Cherington? Or should owner Bob Nutting consider other options if he makes front-office changes at some point in the coming weeks and months? Could a rebuild lead to a trade of star pitcher Paul Skenes sooner rather than later as national MLB insiders including ESPN's Jeff Passan have speculated recently? Or should they keep him in their rotation alongside names like Mitch Keller for as long as possible? And when will it finally be time for the team to promote star pitching prospect Bubba Chandler? Paul ponders those questions and more.
On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko ranks the team's 2025 schedule by degree of difficulty.
Will Myles Garrett and the Browns be the easiest foe coach Mike Tomlin's team sees? Or will they still be able to challenge the offense that's been re-tooled with names including DK Metcalf, Kenneth Gainwell and -- possibly -- QB Aaron Rodgers? How much pressure will offensive juggernauts like the Bills and Lions put on T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, first-round pick Derrick Harmon and the team's new-look defense? Can they slow down stars like Josh Allen, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown? Or will those guys find success like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry of the division rival Ravens did in the playoffs last season? And how do Joe Burrow and the Bengals plus J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings factor into all of this? Brian tackles those questions and more.
Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern.
Will Aaron Rodgers sign with the Steelers before OTAs, scheduled for next week? How much will it hurt preparation for coach Mike Tomlin's team if he doesn't? What could it mean for quarterbacks already under contract, including Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, or the chemistry with wide receivers including DK Metcalf, Robert Woods, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson? And what should we make of comments Rodgers' biographer made last week?
Paul tackles those questions, then gives his thoughts on a disastrous Pirates weekend series that included a brilliant Paul Skenes start wasted by a lack of offense.
Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the team's upcoming series with the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.
Can Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney and Bailey Falter keep the struggling offense in the game against this relatively average NL Central rival? Will Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen and the offense get an opportunity to turn things around against this pitching staff, including starters like Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez and Brady Singer? And why is Austin Hayes the bat Pirates pitching will most need to look out for? Noah tackles 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 analyze the advantages DK Metcalf gives the team as its No. 1 WR in place of George Pickens, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month.
What does Metcalf do better than Pickens? Will he be a better fit in a WRs room with names including Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods and Roman Wilson? And how quickly can he generate chemistry with QBs including Mason Rudolph and -- possibly -- Aaron Rodgers?
Our duo tackles those questions, plus lessons GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin should take from the ill-fated 2022 NFL draft in which they selected Pickens, Austin, Kenny Pickett, DeMarvin Leal and others.
Then in the third segment, the guys ponder whether Aaron Rodgers or the offensive line -- including young players like Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick -- are more important to the team for its upcoming late-season grind.