Tim Benz stories

If Mike Sullivan wants to change 'narratives' about using young players, Rutger McGroarty provides that chance

In a recent interview with TribLive, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan adamantly pushed back against the suggestion he doesn’t trust young players enough. He did so by citing the amount of faith he put in the likes of Jake Guentzel, Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust when he first took over...

Tim Benz: There are gaping holes in Mike Tomlin's 'snap management' explanation for George Pickens' reduced workload

During his weekly press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin doubled down on his postgame explanation about why George Pickens saw a reduction in playing time during Sunday night’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The wide receiver only played 59% of the offensive snaps during the game. That’s the...

First Call: Micah Parsons calls George Pickens 'sick'; Davante Adams update; important Raider injured

Wednesday’s “First Call” has an update on potential Pittsburgh Steelers trade target Davante Adams. The Steelers will avoid seeing an important member of the Las Vegas defensive front when they play the Raiders on Sunday. Micah Parsons has thoughts on George Pickens’ behavior. And it was a chippy start to...

Tim Benz: If Kyle Dubas keeps talking about the 'standard' for the Penguins, Mike Tomlin may start asking questions

During his season-opening press conference, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas spoke openly about spending much of his first 16 months on the job learning about the city of Pittsburgh and his team’s fanbase. “After being here for a year, there are people who have lived here for their whole lives....

Mike McCarthy says Mike Tomlin's use of last timeout helped Dallas change its call to the right game-winning play

After the Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys (20-17) Sunday night, I wrote that I disagreed with Mike Tomlin’s decision to use his last timeout prior to the Cowboys’ fourth-down snap at the goal line with 26 seconds remaining. The play resulted in a game-winning touchdown pass for the Cowboys....

First Call: Ex-Steeler calls out George Pickens; Davante Adams update; Sidney Crosby 'not an option' to leave Pittsburgh

Tuesday’s “First Call” has a stern message for George Pickens from a former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion. We also have an update on the chaos swirling around the Raiders as they prepare to host the Steelers on Sunday. Sidney Crosby discusses his long-term future in Pittsburgh. And some highlight...

Madden Monday: Steelers OC Arthur Smith 'hasn't made the offense better. It's just a different kind of bad'

For as critical as I was of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive performance against the Dallas Cowboys during Sunday night’s 20-17 loss, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X is every bit as critical of quarterback Justin Fields and the offense. “The offense isn’t good enough, and the quarterback is...

First Call: Raiders unsure of QB before hosting Steelers; Browns sticking with Deshaun Watson

Monday’s “First Call” looks at the quarterback situation in Las Vegas as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for a trip out there to play the Raiders next weekend. We also have locker-room reaction from both the Bengals’ and Browns’ coaches after painful losses Sunday. There are some NHL roster moves of...

Airing of Grievances: Another rotten offensive start and leaks on defense result in Steelers' loss to Cowboys

While meeting with the media last week, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith borrowed Napoleon Bonaparte’s “Take Vienna” quote to illustrate the concept of coaching conviction and carrying out marching orders. Based on how Smith’s offense performed in the first half of Sunday night’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys (3-2),...

Tim Benz: No perfect balance yet for targeting George Pickens, but it's improving with Justin Fields

One area in which the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled with Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator and Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky as the quarterback was finding the balance between getting George Pickens the ball frequently without pumping it to him in situations when he was too covered to make a...

Football Footnotes: Joey Porter Jr. on coverage plan for CeeDee Lamb; Dallas' scheme to pressure Justin Fields

For as much as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys are known commodities across the NFL, the injuries both teams have endured early in 2024 are casting a bit of mystery over Sunday night’s matchup between the clubs. In this week’s “Football Footnotes,” we look at some of the matchups...

First Call: Najee Harris responds as Zaire Franklin doubles-down on criticism; Steelers-Cowboys primetime history

Friday’s “First Call” has Najee Harris’ response to Zaire Franklin’s criticism. We recap the brief history of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys in regular season primetime games. Pitt looks to extend its unbeaten streak while hoping to shake some frightening history in North Carolina. Penn State renews some long-dormant...

Tim Benz: Steelers need to make the Davante Adams trade happen

In the movie world, a sequel is rarely as good as the original. But seeing as how the Steelers’ first attempt at replacing wide receiver Diontae Johnson didn’t go as scripted, maybe the organization’s second try will have a better ending. No, after innumerable plot twists, Brandon Aiyuk didn’t make...

First Call: Raiders reportedly sitting Davante Adams with injury during trade talks; Cowboys WR out for Steelers game

We have a health update on Las Vegas receiver Davante Adams amid trade rumors that include the Steelers. We also get word of a potential MMA bout between two retired AFC North rivals. More injuries in Dallas. And we check in on a former Pirate pitching in the playoffs. All...

U mad, bro?: Readers enraged over Steelers' loss in Indy, NFL officiating, Pirates

The Steelers were shockingly bad in Indianapolis on Sunday. The Pirates’ 2024 season ended in typically disappointing fashion. NFL officials continue to be a disaster. And Pete Rose died before he was ever let into the Hall of Fame. Let’s just say I had plenty of material to fill out...

Tim Benz: Despite public pressure, MLB and Cooperstown can't change their stances on Pete Rose for 1 big reason

In the days since his death Monday night, the conversation about inducting Pete Rose into baseball’s Hall of Fame has regenerated. Supporters of Rose are calling for Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader to finally be inducted posthumously in Cooperstown because, theoretically, his lifetime ban for gambling on baseball has...

First Call: Steelers RB pushes Davante Adams trade talk; DeMarcus Lawrence gets injury news before Steelers game

Wednesday’s “First Call” has the Pittsburgh Steelers tied to another wide receiver trade conversation. The Steelers made lots of roster moves and hosted a number of players for workouts Tuesday. The Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow when it comes to their injured reserve list in advance of their visit to...

If Mike Tomlin needs another reason to stick with Justin Fields, here's a big one

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t have to invent any variables as to why he may want to keep Justin Fields as the team’s starting quarterback. The Steelers are 3-1 with Fields starting as Russell Wilson recovers from a calf injury that the Steelers have been (to characterize mildly)...

Tim Benz: Don't let win total fool you, the Pirates regressed in so many ways

“You either get better or you get worse. You never stay the same.” If ever there was a sports team that personified that inspirational thought-for-a-day calendar entry, it was the 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates. In the strictest of terms, this year’s Pirates club stayed the same as last year. They were...

First Call: Micah Parsons frustrated over injury before Steelers game; Mason Rudolph helps Titans in ‘MNF’ win

Tuesday’s “First Call” has highlights of Mason Rudolph’s Monday Night Football win for the Tennessee Titans, news about potential moves at wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, context for the franchise’s current offensive line woes, and an update on Micah Parsons’ health in advance of his trip to Acrisure Stadium...

Penguins prospect Owen Pickering and his 'war at the dinner table'

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering is in a fight. I’m not talking about a brawl against an opponent, or his battle to win a roster spot with the NHL club. I’m talking about his own personal war. Against food. “It was war sometimes at the dinner table,” Pickering told me...

First Call: Colts LB calls Najee Harris 'soft' after pregame gesture; Broderick Jones bristles at online criticism

Monday’s “First Call” features fallout from Anthony Richardson’s injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin calls out Najee Harris. Broderick Jones isn’t taking criticism of his play kindly. Meanwhile, there is plenty of officiating criticism to go around. And Dionate Johnson is getting going in Charlotte. Aching...

Madden Monday: Mike Tomlin and the Steelers' defense are the 'biggest reasons the team lost' in Indianapolis

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost 27-24 as road favorites in Indianapolis on Sunday to fall to 3-1. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X said the reasons why the upset happened are quite simple. He begins with the head coach. “(Mike) Tomlin today and...

Airing of Grievances: Steelers undone in Indianapolis by self-inflicted wounds and questionable coaching

I got a message from a reader on social media Wednesday looking ahead to the Pittsburgh Steelers game in Indianapolis as a “TTTG.” Typical Tomlin Trap Game. TTTG. Typical Tomlin Trap Game. This is the type of game Tomlin seems to find a way to lose. They’re superior to the...

First Call: Micah Parsons suffers injury in advance of Steelers game; how previous quests of 4-0 went for Mike Tomlin

Friday’s “First Call” has news about Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons suffering an injury Thursday night as his team now prepares to visit Pittsburgh next week. We look back at some hot starts in the Mike Tomlin era for the Steelers. Paul Skenes has an interesting showdown slated for the...

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