Post-Gazette Sports Network: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter and Noah Hiles react to news this week that Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will enter the NFL supplemental draft this summer.

Should coach Mike McCarthy and GM Omar Khan consider Sorsby as another possible successor to Aaron Rodgers after 2026? Or should they stand by their current duo of young QBs in Drew Allar and Will Howard? And what other options would they have to pursue a franchise QB after this season, when names including Dante Moore, Arch Manning and Jayden Maiava are expected to be available in the 2027 NFL draft? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

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Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley details his conversation with reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes about the state of MLB's current labor negotiations and the possibility that games could be lost in the 2027 season.

He also explains the competing proposals and the implications of each on the Pirates. Would owner Bob Nutting, GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly be better able to compete in a salary cap system? Would it be more likely for stars like Skenes, Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Braxton Ashcraft and Konnor Griffin to stay in Pittsburgh long term? And would the team be able to make more impact signings like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn in free agency? Colin tackles those questions and more.

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On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Christopher Carter wrap up Steelers OTAs with a focus on the 2026 NFL draft class.

How should this group be viewed with Germie Bernard still the only player expected to contribute quickly? Can Max Iheanachor, Drew Allar, Gennings Dunker and/or Daylen Everette accelerate their respective timelines and make impacts the way names like Joey Porter Jr., Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, Keeanu Benton, Mason McCormick and Derrick Harmon have in recent years under GM Omar Khan? And are we sleeping on the potential of specialist players like Kaden Wetjen, Eli Heidenreich and Riley Nowakowski to stand out within their roles?

Our duo tackles those questions and more as new coach Mike McCarthy's first team starts to take shape around established stars like DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.

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On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the team's moves with its 2023 NFL draft class.

Are new deals for LB Nick Herbig and TE Darnell Washington a sign of how much GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy believe in that group over the long run? Will Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton also get new deals this summer? And if so, will those players form the team's new core of stars, replacing the old guard led by Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey and DK Metcalf?

Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders the defense's future. How long will it remain the highest paid unit on that side of the ball in the NFL? Will the spending outlast the tenures of names like Ramsey, Watt and Heyward in Pittsburgh? Or will spending start flowing more to the offensive side of the ball and names like Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Jaylen Warren and others who could be up for new contracts in the next couple of years?

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On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to discuss coach Mike McCarthy's old-school ideas for tight ends Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth.

Can a 1990s-style role within the offense work for that duo with Aaron Rodgers at QB and an improved set of pass catchers including DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Roman Wilson and Jaylen Warren around them? And how capable is the current roster of playing that more physical style of the past?

Our duo tackles those questions, then talks QBs and how pivotal this summer could be for Will Howard as he looks to prove he deserves consideration for the QB2 role next to Mason Rudolph and Drew Allar.

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The Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac and Christopher Carter report from Steelers OTAs at the team's South Side facility. The explain how younger players including Drew Allar, Will Howard and others are getting more work this week with older veterans now off until training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Were Allar and Howard able to make the most of their reps with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph absent? Does Howard need to unseat Rudolph as Rodgers' primary backup to make the roster? Will GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy get enough value out of Darnell Washington following his extension last week to play alongside Pat Freiermuth for the long term? Is new DC Patrick Graham signaling intent to play more nickel defense with names like Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker and DeShon Elliott in the secondary? And what's the timeline for an extension for Porter Jr.? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

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Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Colin Beazley and Matt Press react to the team's ill-fated road trip against the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves and look forward to a crucial series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This show is presented by FanDuel.

How can manager Don Kelly right the proverbial ship with the back-to-back World Series champs coming to PNC Park? Are there any moves left to make with Gregory Soto, Dennis Santana, Carmen Mlodzinski and others within the struggling bullpen? Can Paul Skenes shake his latest mini slump against one of the toughest lineups in baseball? And what else are the guys watching as Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn and the offense look to lift the team out of its latest skid? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

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On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Christopher Carter reset the major Steelers offseason storylines following OTAs and minicamp.

They start with the quarterbacks and the competition to back up Aaron Rodgers. Is Will Howard the player under the most pressure to impress and hold on to his roster spot for 2026? How far is Drew Allar from competing meaningfully for the No. 2 role? And does Mason Rudolph have any potential to enjoy a renaissance in his 30s as QBs like Baker Mayfield, Gene Smith and Sam Darnold have elsewhere in the NFL? Especially with a known QB developer like Mike McCarthy as his head coach?

Later, the guys look at the offensive lines, receivers and defense. How soon will NFL draft picks Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker have a chance to start next to established names like Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu? Are Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook in position to win the other starting spots for now? Where does Broderick Jones fit within that calculus? What have we seen from Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard in the early going as they join DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson? And where has new DC Patrick Graham's influence become most clear within that unit? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

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In his weekly Pirates mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insider Colin Beazley answers reader questions. Among them: Should fans be worried about ace Paul Skenes' recent results? Particularly with fast ball velocity dipping? What can GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly to do to get the bullpen under control after another meltdown this week against the Astros? What are the best- and worst-case scenarios for Jared Jones in his return from injury? And could a prospect like Antwone Kelly begin to make an impact at the MLB level soon?

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On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter and Noah Hiles digest a busy week of moves from the Steelers and their AFC North rivals.

Did GM Omar Khan invest too much in depth players like Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington with extensions this week? Considering their lower depth chart status behind names like Alex Highsmith, Pat Freiermuth and T.J. Watt? Or do these moves set Khan up to potentially make some trades as he looks to bolster the roster around Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Jaylen Warren, Cam Heyward and others?

Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders the implications of the Myles Garrett trade. Should Khan be more aggressive like the Rams if the goal is to compete meaningfully for a Super Bowl in 2026? Where does this deal leave the Cleveland Browns? And how will the absence of Garrett within the division impact the Steelers' playoff chances?

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