Tim Benz stories, Page 133
Tim Benz: I get what the Penguins are thinking. But how is this going to work?
Like many Penguins fans in their early to mid-40s, I cut my teeth as a hockey fan in the early Mario Lemieux years of the mid-80s and became hooked on the game as they were winning Stanley Cups in the early 90s. That also means — like all Penguins fans...
Madden ‘Tuesday’: Why Penguins goalies are failing, Super Bowl fallout, Steelers ‘nuclear winter’
Our “Madden Monday” podcast had to wait a day because of Mark Madden’s trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Did Madden’s mini-vacation soften his recent harsh assessment of our three Pittsburgh sports teams, specifically the Steelers? “They are one year away from nuclear winter, which is where the...
First Call: Ex-Steeler says Big Ben must replicate Tom Brady; Kevin Colbert on Antonio Brown’s Super Bowl win
The NFL season may be over, but that doesn’t mean Steelers stories stop. In fact, as Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us, they may be coming in even more frequently now that a busy offseason is upon us. The first post-Super Bowl NFL gambling odds are out for 2021’s Super Bowl...
Tim Benz: Steelers can learn a lot from Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win … beyond just signing Tom Brady
What a world it is, Steelers fans. In our current reality, Tom Brady has been to four Super Bowls since Ben Roethlisberger has won his last playoff game. The Steelers have longer odds at the Super Bowl than the Cleveland Browns or Miami Dolphins. And their “retired” former offensive coordinator...
First Call: Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell have opposite Super Bowl experiences; audio/video of streaker
It’s an all Super Bowl “First Call” after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blew out the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in the NFL title game Sunday night. We grit our teeth as former Steeler Antonio Brown celebrates earning a ring and scoring a touchdown. We lament Le’Veon Bell’s non-existent contribution. And...
Despite challenges of pandemic, Chatham hockey will start this weekend
If you’ve paid attention to college sports at all over the past year, you know the struggle it has been to get through schedules during the coronavirus pandemic. Games get postponed, moved up and canceled altogether like it’s beer league softball or rec-league hoops at the local YMCA. If the...
Tim Benz: ESPN is already hyping the 2021 season … and overhyping the Steelers
Leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl, ESPN.com put together some projections for the Steelers and the rest of the league’s 31 other franchises in advance of 2021 season. Hey, no time like the present to start hyping the future, right? They placed every team into one of six boxes based...
Tim Benz: Super Bowl predictions and bets to make Sunday interesting — even without Steelers
Sadly for Pittsburgh Steelers fans, their team isn’t involved in the Super Bowl. Again. It’s been that way for a decade now. But most of us in Pittsburgh will still be watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. So if you want some Super Bowl prop...
First Call: Bruce Arians’ quote about Ben Roethlisberger; Chris Drury not in mix for Penguins GM job
Bruce Arians and Franco Harris comment on the Steelers. A perceived general manager candidate is off the Penguins’ list. And Robert Morris hockey has a rare mid-week doubleheader. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.” Bruce on Brady and Ben Former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians provided an interesting quote about...
The biggest problems facing the Penguins … besides the power play. Oh, and the power play.
At 5-4-1, things could be worse for the Pittsburgh Penguins. But they aren’t great. During Wednesday’s“Breakfast With Benz” podcast, Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer and I spent a lot of time drilling down on the problems facing the power play. But that’s not where the analysis needs to stop....
First Call: Best Super Bowl play ‘debate’; Steelers O-line supporting new hire
We may have a Steelers-Patriots Super Bowl dust up thanks to our friends “across the pond.” Steelers offensive linemen current and past are running to the defense of new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. At least one big name quarterback is staying put. And the “cannons won’t thunder” in Tampa...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are pushing back against media criticism, whether they are right or not
Steelers fans have had enough! It is time to fight for the flag! Or, in this case, the Terrible Towel. I suppose a month of ridiculing the Black and Gold during this winter of discontent has reached its saturation point. We’ve gotten far enough away from the team’s last loss...
Tim Benz: For the Penguins power play, every day is ‘Groundhog Day’
Because of covid-19 issues with the New Jersey Devils, the Penguins won’t play again until Feb. 6 against the New York Islanders. The games against New Jersey at PPG Paints Arena have been postponed. So what will they do with the downtime? Working on the power play is a good...
Chuck Cooper III ‘pinching himself’ as Duquesne is poised to open new arena named after his father
It seems as if everyone associated with Duquesne Athletics has something they love about the reconstructed building around the bones of the 33-year-old Palumbo Center. During a tour of the facility on Monday, athletic director Dave Harper beamed as he showed off the design of the interior and looked out...
First Call: Jerome Bettis’ take on Ben Roethlisberger’s issues; alumni support for new Steelers O-line coach
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Jerome Bettis’ take on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. At least one person is a fan of the team’s new offensive line coach. An honor for Duquesne basketball as they get ready to open their new building. And Duquesne’s football team will have a 2020 season —...
JuJu Smith-Schuster addresses free agency, Ben Roethlisberger, his one ‘Browns is the Browns’ regret
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is speaking publicly about his future, the infamous “Browns is the Browns” quote, logo dancing and offseason radio silence between him and Ben Roethlisberger. The TikTok star and former Pro Bowl pass-catcher is about to become a free agent. He appeared on Fox Sports Radio...
First Call: Matt Murray’s struggles continue; ex-Penguins lighting up the score sheet
Monday’s “First Call” is a hockey hotbed. Former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is continuing to have problems with his new team. And on Sunday, many of them were caused by some other guys who also used to skate in Pittsburgh. In fact, ex-Penguins are scoring like crazy all over the...
Madden Monday: ‘It’s really grim for the Steelers,’ and not enough people will say that out loud
Based on the information coming out from Steelers headquarters last week, it sounds like the organization is taking a slow and steady approach to fixing the issues present with the team at the end of 2020. In fact, Steelers owner Art Rooney II went so far as to tell reporters...
Tim Benz: A return to the 1980s Pittsburgh sports scene? Sadly, it may have already started.
The 1980s were good for a few things. Hair metal. Karate. Tom Cruise movies. Acid wash jeans. Just a few things that leap to mind. However, they weren’t a great time for the Pittsburgh sports scene. No titles were won in Pittsburgh from 1979 (when the Steelers and Pirates both...
Bill Cowher on the notion of a Steelers rebuild in 2021
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher joined Mark Madden on 105.9 The X on Wednesday. He’ll be part of CBS’s coverage of Super Bowl LV. Along with previewing the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Madden asked Cowher for his thoughts on the state of his...
First Call: Steelers’ Bud Dupree laughs at talk of discount deal; Penguins GM candidate emerging
Friday’s “First Call” gives us an update on Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree and his view of free agency. A potential candidate to replace Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is starting to emerge. One former Penguin may be heating up while another is struggling. And the Atlantic 10 tournament has...
Tim Benz: The best Steelers teams that did not get to the Super Bowl
When the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers got off to their 11-0 start, most of us in Pittsburgh were having dreams of talking Super Bowl LV this week leading into the bye after the conference championship games. How can the Steelers slow down Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints? Can they...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans fire back after criticism of Ben Roethlisberger, while others demand more
Steelers and Pirates fans seem to be in a Goldilocks kind of mode this week. Some think my porridge is too hot. Some think it’s too cold. Some think I’m serving it up to the wrong people. Personally, I think it’s just right. You be the judge in this week’s...
First Call: Time for Ben Roethlisberger to ‘ride off into the sunset’? Former Steelers teammate says ‘100%’
A prediction on Ben Roethlisberger’s future from a former Steelers teammate. Also, a Pittsburgh-area product has a big night in the NHL. The Baltimore Ravens are losing an assistant coach. And the Duquesne Dukes may have a freshman star on their hands. All that in a well-balanced football-basketball-hockey “First Call”...
Tim Benz: Jim Rutherford’s ‘personal reasons’ for leaving Penguins resulting in public speculation
The sudden departure of general manager Jim Rutherford from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization raises an always delicate question for the sports media. And for fans on social media, too, for that matter. Hey, I’ve got a column. You’ve got a Twitter account. A lot of us have podcasts and YouTube...
