Tim Benz stories, Page 130
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are brash despite offseason concerns. So are … Pirates fans?
I expect Steelers fans to get froggy with me this time of year. I’m used to it. Every March, I tell you the Steelers roster is in decline. You call me “hater” and say Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season. I tell you they’ve gone eight out of...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster waits; Zach Banner will play right or left tackle; humiliating loss for Flyers
As Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster waits for a new contract, another one of his receiver peers found one in Washington. Offensive tackle Zach Banner talks about the process that kept him in Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia Flyers suffered humiliation while the New York Islanders absorbed an injury. And the ties between...
Penguins podcast: Sidney Crosby is right to ask about NHL ‘gray’ area after controversial hit
If you are a Penguins fan, there wasn’t much to like in the wake of the team’s 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. It seemed to be a great chance to snare two more points away from a struggling East Division rival. After all, the Penguins had won six in...
Tim Benz: Want ‘March Madness’? Forget basketball. Track Steelers fans during free agency.
From now on, when I hear the phrase “March Madness,” I will no longer think about college basketball. I’ll think about tracking Steelers news on Twitter during the NFL free-agency “legal tampering” period. Because after what I saw this week, many Steelers fans have actually gone mad. Or somebody “legally...
First Call: Bud Dupree once wanted to fight one of his new Titans teammates; Cam Sutton on why he’s staying
Bud Dupree has left the Steelers for the Tennessee Titans. It turns out he and ex-teammate T.J. Watt had a dust-up with one of Bud’s new pals in Nashville. Steelers captain Cameron Heyward is sad to see Dupree leave. Meanwhile, Cameron Sutton is happy to stay. And some spring training...
As Penguins stars were shining, there’s plenty you may have missed in the NHL
As a Penguins fan, you may have been distracted by the stars on display Monday night at PPG Paints Arena during a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Sidney Crosby scored from an impossible angle, to go along with two assists. No angle? No problem.Just Sidney Crosby things. pic.twitter.com/sZkfu7ydRx— Pittsburgh...
First Call: T.J. Watt on Bud Dupree’s departure; JuJu Smith-Schuster tells Steelers players he’s gone; Philly for Mike Hilton?
Steelers free-agency headlines dominate Tuesday’s “First Call.” It sounds like JuJu Smith-Schuster is halfway out the door. T.J. Watt bids adieu to Bud Dupree. Teams are eyeing up Mike Hilton. And there’s plenty of news surrounding the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, too. See ya’ around Where wide receiver JuJu...
Tim Benz: Andy Toole looks at this year’s brackets, reflects on RMU’s unfulfilled 2020 NCAA Tournament bid
It was a year ago, but you can tell the wounds are still open for Robert Morris head basketball coach Andy Toole. Like anyone in the college hoops game, Toole is thrilled that the NCAA college basketball tournament is actually getting played this year. But that doesn’t bring back the...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster was ‘destined to leave after 4 years the minute he was drafted’
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is likely to be with a new team by the end of the week via free agency. And if that happens, he wanted to bid a fond farewell to the City of Pittsburgh. No matter what happens this week, if I’m back or if I’m...
First Call: Are Steelers keeping Al Villanueva?; Penguins watching red-hot Islanders; scouting the Bruins
Could a certain Steelers veteran re-sign during free agency after all? That’s where we start Monday’s “First Call.” We also look at the Penguins’ next opponent after they dismissed the Buffalo Sabres. We keep an eye on the division-leading New York Islanders. And we have a mixed bag on the...
Tim Benz: List of ‘Steelers fallacies’ growing, getting more difficult to believe
This is a very delicate time of year on the calendar for Steelers fans. We’re in that period where we are barely getting over the shock of the annual January indignity endured by the team. We are just far enough away from whatever hurt we suffered, seeing the franchise eliminated...
Penguins finally get their crack at Sabres. Now they need to pay it off.
After months of waiting, the Penguins are finally getting their shot at the Buffalo Sabres. While the rest of the Eastern Division teams have had their crack at the lowly cellar dwellers, the Pens and Boston Bruins have not. Now it’s time for the Penguins to make the most of...
First Call: Team that may have signed Ben Roethlisberger; team that may sign JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner
Let’s take a look at what could’ve been for Ben Roethlisberger had he not stayed in Pittsburgh. We also have a prediction on James Conner’s future, an ominous outlook for Pirates manager Derek Shelton, and another rough outing for former Penguins netminder Matt Murray. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans bristle at negativity after Ben Roethlisberger’s new deal, NFL’s overtime idea
In this week’s “U mad, bro?,” Steelers fans clap back at my lack of faith in the team. Someone doesn’t like the NFL’s new overtime proposal. And I share the best email I have ever received. Jerry read my article about the Baltimore Ravens’ new overtime proposal. Like me, he...
First Call: Draft expert gives us ‘almost the perfect Steeler’; Al Villanueva impacted by franchise tags
One NFL draft expert has two perfect fits for the Steelers. Franchise tag fallout. And a curious quote from Pitt basketball coach Jeff Capel. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” Perfect in Pittsburgh NFL Network and NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah did his annual pre-draft media conference call to look...
If Joe Haden wants Mike Hilton to stay with Steelers, he should stop being such a good agent
If Mike Hilton’s free-agent market value gets too rich for the Steelers’ blood, general manager Kevin Colbert can thank one of Hilton’s teammates. Fellow cornerback Joe Haden. The veteran Steelers defensive back called Hilton the “best nickel corner in the game” on Monday. Best nickel in the GAME!!! Joe...
Tim Benz: Pirates not alone when it comes to creating lack of competition
Pirates fans, at least you aren’t alone when it comes to your team’s place within the ecosystem of baseball economics. Along with how your team is operating within that world. Meet the Colorado Rockies. They decided to pay the St. Louis Cardinals to accept All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado in...
First Call: Rod Woodson jabs JuJu Smith-Schuster; ESPN knocks Bud Dupree; Mike Hilton on his big decision
Lots of Steelers talk dominates Tuesday’s “First Call.” Rod Woodson is critical of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. One analyst is unkind regarding linebacker Bud Dupree’s free agency projection. Cornerback Mike Hilton talks about the prospect of leaving Pittsburgh. And we mix in some hockey this weekend in Pittsburgh as well....
Tim Benz: Steelers’ same old song about fixing the run game is going over like a ‘Led Zeppelin’
I wonder if Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger likes Led Zeppelin. What about offensive coordinator Matt Canada? If they do, then they may know that Led Zeppelin’s epic hit “Stairway to Heaven” turned 50 years old last week. Note, I said “Stairway to Heaven.” Not “Stairway to Seven.” No, that mothballed...
NHL’s reconfigured divisions are impacting playoff positioning, especially for the Penguins
After a dormant night in the NHL’s Eastern Division, all eight teams are in action Tuesday evening, including the Penguins hosting the New York Rangers at 6 p.m. I was a bit skeptical of how the makeshift 2021 NHL format of entirely intra-divisional play would work out. We’re about 45%...
Madden Monday: Will Big Ben’s contract keep the band together? ‘This ain’t the Beatles.’
There seems to be a misguided sense from Steelers fans that Ben Roethlisberger’s new contract is going to be key in helping the Steelers to make another playoff run. This after the franchise flamed out following an 11-0 start in 2020. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden is...
First Call: Twists as JuJu Smith-Schuster approaches free agency; Islanders stay hot atop East
Monday’s “First Call” features a few interesting twists along the way toward JuJu Smith-Schuster’s free agency. The New York Islanders stay red-hot atop the Eastern Division. Robert Morris’ women’s hockey team takes a unique route to the NCAA tournament. And Duquesne’s spring football season opener turns back the clock when...
Tim Benz: Thumbs down to a new NFL overtime idea (and not just because the Ravens thought of it)
Steelers fans are predisposed to dislike anything the Baltimore Ravens want to do. In the case of Baltimore’s new overtime proposal, though, our inherent anti-Ravens bias doesn’t even have to come into play. It’s a useless plan, and the NFL shouldn’t bother looking at it. Yet the idea is gaining...
Football ‘March Madness’: Duquesne starts 4-game ‘spring season’ Sunday
It’s March Madness on the campus of Duquesne University. And I’m not just talking about the school’s upset win over Richmond in the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Thursday. Onto the next one ?#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/L0mDb1l6JU— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) March 4, 2021 I’m talking about the football team, too. Since the Northeast...
First Call: JuJu and J.J. together in Arizona?, Larry Fitzgerald’s future, Baker Mayfield saw a UFO
Friday’s “First Call” is stacked with news about JuJu Smith-Schuster, J.J. Watt, Larry Fitzgerald and Baker Mayfield. Also, UFOs and ice baths. I’ll let you guess the order. My turn! Now that Ben Roethlisberger’s contract is done, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster wants the Steelers to turn their attention to someone...
