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On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey and insider Ray Fittipaldo react to the first full week of Steelers training camp. Why does coach Mike Tomlin seem more upbeat that usual? And what does it signal for his plans as he welcomes new veterans including Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and DK Metcalf to his lineup this coming season? Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders some positional flexibility. How much could we see TE Darnell Washington lining up at tackles after he dominated backs-on-backers drills over the weekend? Could he apply pressure to names like Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu? And could Mark Robinson make the team at fullback with the linebacker room loaded with talent including Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson and Carson Bruener?
Jason Mackey comes on with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson to react to the MLB Trade Deadline. August 1, 2025, 9:00 Hour
The trade deadline is four hours away and scuttlebutt is abound. Jon Morosi can speak 6 different languages. Mason Miller got traded for a king's ransom, so is it a given that David Bednar will get traded before the show's over? Chris says Ben Cherington is an “ignoramous”. Poni wants to open up the phones, but the only guy on the line is someone labeled “DO NOT ANSWER, GUY KEEPS CALLING”. A caller badly messes up IKF's name. Chris praises Intern Jack, but takes a shot at me. How much faith should we have in Cherington at this deadline? Chris doesn't know if Bednar will ever be as good as he is now. A caller says he would rather give up Bubba Chandler over Bednar. What? Poni has heard a rumor that the Rangers are interested in Andrew McCutchen, but Pittsburgh has said no go. Jason Mackey joins the show to talk about a potential Cutch trade, what he expects to happen with Bednar, who's making the calls behind-the-scenes on trades, and reaction to
Poni has heard a rumor that the Rangers are interested in Andrew McCutchen, but Pittsburgh has said no go. Jason Mackey joins the show to talk about a potential Cutch trade, what he expects to happen with Bednar, who's making the calls behind-the-scenes on trades, and reaction to
The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jason Mackey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Friday, July 25th, 2025
The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jason Mackey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Thursday, July 24th, 2025
In this hour, Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey continue reacting to the extension the Steelers gave T,J. Watt on Thursday. Also, Chris Carter from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline. And what're three things Mackey will NEVER do in his lifetime? July 18, 2025, 8:00 Hour
In this hour, Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey react together to the Steelers' decision to extend T.J. Watt by a record-setting amount of money. July 18, 2025, 7:00 Hour
In this hour, Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey review some potential prospect QBs that could make some noise in the NFL if they get drafted in 2026. Also, former NFL guard Mike Golic Jr. comes on The Fan Hotline. July 18, 2025, 9:00 Hour
Former NGL Guard Mike Golic Jr. comes on The Fan Hotline to talk with Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey about some CFB QBs that the Steelers should be ready to look at in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Noah Hiles from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline to react to the 2025 MLB All-Star Break with Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey.
Chris Carter from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline to react to the T.J. Watt extension with Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey.
Dorin Dickerson and Jason Mackey wonder if the Steelers are trying to send a message based all the transactions they've made this offseason.
Dorin Dickerson, Jason Mackey and Nicholas "Harry" Callas debate how effective the Steelers' approach has been these last few offseasons under GM Omar Khan, and they discuss whether or not they think this upcoming season will end up yielding a different result than the previous several.
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to the hot topics in Pittsburgh sports this week. Should Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make an exception to their rule of not negotiating contracts with players during training camp and into the season when it comes to T.J. Watt? Or should they stick to their guns as he reportedly seeks a contract that would take him to his age 36 season? Is there still time to trade him? And would that defeat the purpose of signing veterans like Aaron Rodgers and trading for names like DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith? And are there any lessons we can learn from the Le'Veon Bell contract holdout close to a decade ago? Our duo tackles those questions, then talks some hockey. What should we make of Penguins GM Kyle Dubas' moves so far this NHL offseason? Does the deal for goalie Arturs Silovs signal big moves coming with Tristan Jarry and/or Erik Karlsson? Should the team tank for a chance to draft Gavin McKenna? Or give Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang a chance for one more Stanley Cup run together? And what should we make of reports that Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are looking to re-assume ownership of the club? Our duo tackles those questions and more. Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, the guys tackle the hot topics surrounding the club this week. Should GM Ben Cherington be allowed to trade big names like Mitch Keller, Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes while his future is in question? Or should Bob Nutting limit his options for deals to players on expiring contracts like Tommy Pham, Andrew Heaney and Isiah Kiner-Falefa? What should we make of Reynolds' continued struggles? Was Seth Hernandez a good top pick in the MLB draft? Where does Oneil Cruz go from here after his MLB Home Run Derby performance? And how seriously should we take Konnor Griffin as a prospect?
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason gave his thesis on the Pirates season and said the offense is just unacceptable. Jason again questioned the future of Ben Cherington and said he does not believe Bob Nutting was happy about the offseason approach. He remained confident that Cherington is done after 2025 wraps up. We played a YES or NO game with Jason in regards to players that could still be Pirates after the deadline, and Jason thinks the Pirates will hold on to Mitch Keller.
What words can be used to describe the state of the Pirates? How do fans feel about the impending second half of the season for the Pirates? Jason Mackey joins the show to discuss which Buccos he thinks will or will not be traded.
The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jason Mackey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Friday, July 11th, 2025
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason disagreed with Noah and said he thinks Paul Skenes will still be here for multiple seasons because he doesn't see the team moving off from him ‘that soon.' Jason is under the impression that Ben Cherington will run the deadline and the draft before he is let go later in the season. Will Cherington make some sort of Hail Mary trade?
Could next season be the final one for Paul Skenes with the Pirates? A story from Noah Hiles suggested that it could be. It wasn't a report from Noah, just his prediction of how things could end for Skenes in Pittsburgh. How does that make you feel as a Pirates fan? It feels like they are already waving the white flag on this guy who they drafted just 2 years ago. Can the Pirates do anything about it? GIVEAWAY. PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason disagreed with Noah and said he thinks Paul Skenes will still be here for multiple seasons because he doesn't see the team moving off from him ‘that soon.' Jason is under the impression that Ben Cherington will run the deadline and the draft before he is let go later in the season. Will Cherington make some sort of Hail Mary trade?
The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jason Mackey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Monday, July 7th, 2025
Noah Hiles joins Donny Chedrick and Jason Mackey on The Fan Hotline to discuss the Pirates and their recent endeavors with winning, also what to possibly expect next.
In this hour, Jason Mackey from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette comes on with Donny Chedrick to discuss recent news involving the Steelers and the Pirates. July 4, 2025, 9:00 Hour
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. The guys asked Jason about the story brewing about Luis Ortiz and a potential gambling investigation. Investigators are looking 2 individual pitches in this story that apparently altered betting markets. The red-hot Pirates have won 6 straight games, but how long can they keep this going? Jason said this run does not change his mind about the current landscape of their front office. At what point should Ben Cherington be vindicated for his work? Jason does not trust Cherington to make notable trades involving Mitch Keller or David Bednar if those opportunities arise later this month. Jason fully expects Don Kelly to be back next season, but how much credit should Cherington get for that? Going back to the Derek Shelton firing, Jason believes it was a Bob Nutting call to make that change 38 games in. What should the expectation be for Spencer Horwitz?
Poni and Mueller react to the Steelers extending Omar Khan, and discuss what his best move was as the GM of the Steelers. Jason Mackey joins the show to talk about the investigation of Luis Ortiz and the Pirates current hot streak.
The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jason Mackey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Friday, June 27th, 2025
Ray believes Aaron Rodgers is going to get every opportunity to be the starter for all 17 games. Could Rodgers come back next season if the Steelers have a great year? Ray thinks it sure doesn't sound like it. Ray has no timetable for a T.J. Watt extension and it's quiet on Watt's side. Jason misses coaches who are tough on players.
Hour 4 with Jason Mackey: . The Pirates host the Mets this weekend with Mitch Keller on the mound. There are times when Oneil Cruz can play frustrating baseball due to a lack of effort. Bob Walk thinks Cruz tried to go the extra mile the last few games. Bob is frustrated by Cruz going slow at times, but other players do that too. Shane Gillis will host the ESPYS this summer. Which Pittsburgh athlete would you want to see host?
Jeff Passan joined Jason Mackey yesterday and spoke about Bob Nutting's perception around baseball. Will this be the offseason where the Pirates are embarrassed enough to make a significant change? Is it okay to fire a GM mid-season? Crowley says the honeymoon phase with Don Kelly is over. This is going to be a very important trade deadline for Pittsburgh.
The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey size up the NFL free agent wide receiver market now that Aaron Rodgers is officially in the fold for the Steelers as QB. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin be targeting Amari Cooper as one of the biggest names remaining? Allen Lazard as one of Rodgers' personal favorites? Or could they still convince Keenan Allen to come to Pittsburgh to play alongside names like DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Robert Woods? Our duo tackles those topics, as well as Jason's column on why Rodgers is the most important person in Pittsburgh sports right now. Then the guys pivot to hockey ahead of the NHL draft later this week. Should GM Kyle Dubas look to trade up? Or hold onto both of his first-round picks? Could he move draft capital to add firepower around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang? Move out bad contracts to guys Erk Karlsson, Ryan Graves and Tristan Jarry? Or could names like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust be on the trade block? Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, Adam and Jason analyze recent hot streaks for players including Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales. Are they sustainable in the long run or just the latest flashes in the plan? Could those two guys preserve GM Ben Cherington's job by playing well? What should manager Don Kelly do with the struggling Oneil Cruz? Why is Bubba Chandler having trouble in the minors? And should Andrew McCutchen have a roster spot with this team next year if he continues to perform?
The Pirates are 32-50 at the halfway point in what has been a disastrous season so far. A lot of it does come back on Bob Nutting, but what about Ben Cherington gives you confidence going forward? Why is he still here? The managerial change to Don Kelly gave the team a bit of a spark, but still didn't turn it into a winning ballclub. Chris painted a picture of what could have been if Cherington and Derek Shelton were both let go at the end of last season instead of keeping that pair around for the start of 2025. Chris said Cherington has done nothing to inspire confidence and nothing to award keeping his job. Callers sounded off on the Pirates problems halfway through the season. A few are worried that Ben Cherington would screw up any trade in front of him. PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason said Bob Nutting and Ben Cherington have been brothers in arms as 2025 goes crashing and burning. He doesn't have a logical explanation for the thought process behind what is happening. Jason thinks it is in their best interest to move on from anyone on an expiring deal at the trade deadline. Will Mitch Keller get dealt within the next month? The guys went through a couple other names that could and should be on the move. Jason said Ke'Bryan Hayes is another ‘maybe' player on the move ahead of the deadline. How quickly can the timeline move for Konnor Griffin as he continues to tear up A-ball?
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason said Bob Nutting and Ben Cherington have been brothers in arms as 2025 goes crashing and burning. He doesn't have a logical explanation for the thought process behind what is happening. Jason thinks it is in their best interest to move on from anyone on an expiring deal at the trade deadline. Will Mitch Keller get dealt within the next month? The guys went through a couple other names that could and should be on the move. Jason said Ke'Bryan Hayes is another ‘maybe' player on the move ahead of the deadline. How quickly can the timeline move for Konnor Griffin as he continues to tear up A-ball?
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to ponder some Steelers over/unders for the 2025 season. Will Aaron Rodgets surpass 3,200 yards and 22 touchdowns? Will either Jaylen Warren or Kaleb Johnson threaten the 1,000-yard mark? Can DK Metcalf get over the 1,000-yard threshold that's been a problem for Steelers receivers including George Pickens in recent years? And how many sacks will T.J. Watt record? Our duo tackles those questions, plus some Penguins topics. Can GM Kyle Dubas and new coach Dan Muse return this club to Stanley Cup caliber in short order? Or is there too big a gap with the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers right now? What should we make of conflicting reports about Evgeni Malkin's future? Will this season definitely be his last in the NHL? Or could he come back for another chance to win next to Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang? And how seriously should we take a potential sale of the team back to Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle? Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, the guys talk about malaise that has set in after an encouraging early run from manager Don Kelly's team following Derek Shelton's firing. Are fans beginning to tune out? Why hasn't Ben Cherington made a move to salvage the season, as owner Bob Nutting had suggested might be possible? Could Ke'Bryan Hayes and Mitch Keller be among names that are moved before the trade deadline? Why hasn't Tommy Pham been cut yet? And did the Pirates miss an opportunity to create some must-see TV by matching up Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal during a double header against the Detroit Tigers?
Jason Mackey joins the show to talk about why we didn't get Paul Skenes-Tarik Skubal today, if Connor McDavid could actually be a Penguin soon, if Evgeni Malkin retires after next season, the biggest Penguins move this offseason, and more!
Jason Mackey comes on The Fan Hotline to address the rumors about Mario Lemieux and other being interested in buying back the Penguins.
In this hour, Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson discuss which side you blame more for the T.J. Watt holdout. Also, Pirates' broadcaster Neil Walker and Jason Mackey from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette each come on The Fan Hotline. June 13, 2025, 9:00 Hour
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to recap a busy week of Pittsburgh sports news. Do the Steelers have their deepest roster since the Killer Bs era of Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown following the signing of QB Aaron Rodgers; the trade for WR DK Metcalf; and the NFL draft selections of names like Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson and Will Howard? Or is this roster still too lacking in top-end talent to challenge like those teams of the past did? How does Rodgers, at age 41, stack up against QBs of recent vintage including Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields? What moves should coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan make to further shore up the roster? And what does Jason think of the T.J. Watt holdout from minicamp? Our duo tackles those questions. Then later, Jason gives insight on the Dan Muse hiring by the Penguins one week later; and makes picks for the U.S. Open at Oakmont.
An early look at what is happening at Oakmont in the first round of the US Open. A few big names are already well behind the leader, JJ Spaun, after their openers. How can the big names make the cut after a rough start? The best golfer in the world has just begun his round as we began the show. Mullsy played a lot of the ‘I told you so' game. An Oakmont check-in with Jeff Hathhorn. PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. What would happen if the Pirates did get a call on Paul Skenes? Are they going to trust Ben Cherington to do anything big at the trade deadline? Jason thinks the biggest name that could be on the move by the deadline is Mitch Keller.
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. What would happen if the Pirates did get a call on Paul Skenes? Are they going to trust Ben Cherington to do anything big at the trade deadline? Jason thinks the biggest name that could be on the move by the deadline is Mitch Keller.
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey and Penguins insider Matt Vensel react to the team's hiring of New York Rangers assistant Dan Muse as head coach, replacing Mike Sullivan, over names including Mitch Love and D.J. Smith. Did GM Kyle Dubas make the right choice? What can Muse do to lift veterans including Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Tristan Jarry? How can he help the development of young talents including Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty and Sergei Murashov? And is he the guy who can get the franchise back to Stanley Cup contention? Or is he more of a bridge coach? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
In this hour, Jason Mackey from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on to talk with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson about the latest going on in Pittsburgh sports. May 30, 2025, 9:00 Hour
Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to a busy week in Pittsburgh sports news. Should the GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers have allocated their offseason budget toward building roster depth for beyond just 2025? With deals similar to the one they made with DK Metcalf? Instead of pursuing a short-term QB solution in Aaron Rodgers? And if they knew Rodgers' indecision would last into OTAs, would they have handled things differently? What are the biggest storylines around OTAs otherwise? Is it the tackle situation with Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu? The receivers room with Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods jockeying for position behind Metcalf? is it Darius Slay Jr.'s arrival in the secondary? Or the re-loaded running back room with Trey Sermon, Kaleb Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell joining Jaylen Warren? Our duo tackles those questions, the Penguins coaching search and College Football Playoff expansion and what it could mean for Pitt and Penn State. Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, the guys analyze the team's recent hot streak. Is new manager Don Kelly making a meaningful difference compared to Derek Shelton? Or is the offense just getting some better luck? Is Kelly's future tied to Ben Cherington's? Or could Bob Nutting retain Kelly and change GMs this offseason? What should we make of how the club is handling young pitchers Bubba Chandler, Carmen Mlodzinski, Mike Burrows and Braxton Ashcraft? And is Henry Davis finally starting to round a corner?
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Nick Yorke has fallen down some prospect rankings which has the guys wondering if the Pirates are messing with his approach. Does Paul Skenes genuinely believe that the Pirates can win with him here? Despite a hot streak from Henry Davis, Jason still has some doubt he turns into the player we are hoping for. Jason had his takeaways from the schedule we got for our 5 Alarm Marathon. The guys had reactions to the Top 25 (since 2000) Pitt list that Pat Bostick put out there.
Happy Birthday Paul Skenes. Is he the best athlete in Pittsburgh sports right now? The case is still made for Sidney Crosby. How much of a case does TJ Watt have? Cam Heyward? The guys think Skenes is second behind Sid. A text in for Chris Boswell to be on the list. Paul Skenes is now 23. What were we doing on our 23rd birthdays? PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Nick Yorke has fallen down some prospect rankings which has the guys wondering if the Pirates are messing with his approach. Does Paul Skenes genuinely believe that the Pirates can win with him here? Despite a hot streak from Henry Davis, Jason still has some doubt he turns into the player we are hoping for. Jason had his takeaways from the schedule we got for our 5 Alarm Marathon. The guys had reactions to the Top 25 (since 2000) Pitt list that Pat Bostick put out there.
In this hour, Jason Mackey from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline to discuss the latest on the Pirates with Adam Crowley. May 23, 2025, 9:00 Hour
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.
What if the Pirates DID trade Paul Skenes? An AL team executive threw out a massive haul the Pirates could bring in if they called teams offering Skenes. But do you trust Ben Cherington to get it done? The guys are skeptical. Would callers take a deal for Paul Skenes? And why hasn't Bubba Chandler been called up? PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason said his eyes were opened a bit to the idea of trading Paul Skenes based on what some American League executives told top baseball insiders. However, Jason doesn't think there is any chance the proposed trade would happen. How would the Pirates sell it to their fans? Jason hyped up the pitching they already have and can't stand what little they have done about their offense. Jason isn't confident the next offseason is run by Ben Cherington, if he even makes it through this 162. He thinks there's a chance Cherington is gone by the trade deadline.
PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason said his eyes were opened a bit to the idea of trading Paul Skenes based on what some American League executives told top baseball insiders. However, Jason doesn't think there is any chance the proposed trade would happen. How would the Pirates sell it to their fans? Jason hyped up the pitching they already have and can't stand what little they have done about their offense. Jason isn't confident the next offseason is run by Ben Cherington, if he even makes it through this 162. He thinks there's a chance Cherington is gone by the trade deadline.
On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes former Pirates first-round draft pick Cole Tucker to get his perspective on the Pirates' managerial change from Derek Shelton to Don Kelly. What does Tucker remember about playing for Kelly? Why does he believe the club and former teammates including Ke'Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski are struggling so mightily? And what does he remember about his promotion to MLB that included a home run? Then later, our duo discusses Tucker's transition into broadcasting and how he hopes to use his gregarious personality to make TV gold.
The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jason Mackey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Friday, May 16th, 2025