Tim Benz stories, Page 134
First Call: Bruce Arians likens Tampa Bay to Super Bowl XL Steelers; huge night for (many) ex-Penguins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians shares some fond memories of the Steelers Super Bowl XL team. Matt Stafford’s Detroit mansion is up for sale. So obviously he’s coming to Pittsburgh. And a lot of ex-Penguins had big nights in the NHL. Well, not every ex-Penguin. See if you...
Stan Savran enjoys 45th anniversary in Pittsburgh sports media, embraces what’s to come
Shortly after the calendar flipped to 2021, it struck me that I was beginning my 25th year in the sports media business. Nineteen of them in Pittsburgh. That felt like a little bit of an accomplishment. Until I turned on the radio and heard my ESPN Pittsburgh and WDVE colleague...
Tim Benz: As Tom Brady prepares for Super Bowl, time for Steelers fans to do some reassessing
I know what Steelers fans will think as they read this post. “Tim, this is nothing but one giant ‘I TOLD YOU SO!’” Let me tell you in advance, yes. Yes, it’s exactly that. No more. No less. It is one giant “I told you so.” Because I did. Now...
First Call: Support from Washington for new Steeler Dwayne Haskins; celebrating ‘Send it in, Jerome!’
New Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is getting some support from a former teammate as he leaves Washington. And it comes from a guy who helped keep him on the bench. We also flashback to a great moment in Pittsburgh sports. A Duquesne player gets a mid-season honor. And an update...
Mark Madden says T.J. Watt angrily refused his exit interview, Steelers linebacker refutes story
During his 105.9 The X radio show on Monday, TribLive columnist Mark Madden stated that he’d been told Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt refused to participate in his exit interview with the team. They were held with players in the days after the club lost its playoff game to the Cleveland...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer on issues that may be slowing Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin
The Penguins are on a four-game win streak. Sidney Crosby is hot out of the gate with seven points over the first six games. Kasperi Kapanen is back with the team and skating into form. Goalie Tristan Jarry appears to have stabilized after a shaky start in the net. The...
First Call: Steelers touted as potential new team for Aaron Rodgers, ‘Duck’ Hodges flies west, Super Bowl odds
Monday’s “First Call” gives us a dream scenario for the Steelers quarterback situation. Well, a pipe dream anyway. Speaking of Steelers quarterbacks, Devlin “Duck” Hodges has signed with another NFL team. We also look at some Pitt and Steelers connections to the Super Bowl. Plus, we give you the early...
Madden Monday: Another Super Bowl ring puts Tom Brady up with Ali, Jordan, Ruth
The Steelers have been out of the playoffs for two weeks. Super Bowl LV is set as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 7. And it features two demons of Steelers history in Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski with Tampa Bay. Also, two reviled...
Tim Benz: Applaud Pirates tear down, but stay skeptical of ability to rebuild
Unfortunately, former Pirates players Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove and Josh Bell proved one sports cliche to be true: “Nice guys really do finish last.” Because those recently traded Pirates were three of the nicest guys I’ve ever covered in a baseball clubhouse. Even on his way out the door after...
First Call: 3rd Steelers offensive coordinator candidate emerges, Chase Claypool’s welcome for Dwayne Haskins
Friday’s “First Call” takes a look at a third Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator candidate. Chase Claypool is happy about the team’s latest quarterback addition. Bill O’Brien’s new gig is official. And a few college sports teams in Pittsburgh are getting creative to deal with covid-19 scheduling hassles. Next up On...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ signing of Dwayne Haskins shows what could come in the post-Roethlisberger era
There is a lot of speculation over what the signing of former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins “really” means for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is it an indicator that Ben Roethlisberger is going to retire? Is Haskins being brought on board to goose Roethlisberger in that direction? Does it mean that Mason...
Debating Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith in goal for the Penguins Friday night
Even in a 56-game NHL season, it’s still early for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They are 2-2 after their first four games. So, it’s far too soon to start a goalie controversy. Nor should a decision to leave Casey DeSmith in the net for Game 5 of the season against the...
U mad, bro?: Rage. Denial. Acceptance. Defiance. Steelers fans cope with playoff grief.
This edition of “U mad, bro?” serves a specific purpose for Steelers fans. It’s a coping mechanism. In the wake of the Steelers playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns, many Pittsburgh sports fans are surfing their way through various emotions and responses. Pain. Grief. Sadness. Rage. Denial. Deflection. Acceptance. We...
Former NFL scout: How combine changes could affect NFL draft; who may tempt Steelers to go RB in first round
As soon as Matt Williamson said it, I thought that his comment made a ton of sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, for every team in this year’s NFL draft. But especially the Steelers. Williamson is a former pro and college scout. He now works for SNR and WDVE in...
First Call: Actual odds of Deshaun Watson joining Steelers; NFL salary cap update
Want the actual odds of Deshaun Watson winding up with the Steelers? We got ‘em. We also have some NFL salary cap projections. Happy returns for Joe Musgrove. And an update on Robert Morris hockey. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” Watson watch Pittsburgh sports talk radio is gaining steam...
First Call: Mike Tomlin makes Steelers Hall of Fame pitches; Ravens release vets; Matt Murray’s start
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is making a late push for some Hall of Fame candidates. The NFL Combine is dialing back because of the pandemic. And a Steelers rival is leaving Baltimore. Plus, we check in on former Penguins goalie Matt Murray. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Lending his...
Derek Schooley has a familiar plan to stop injury bug from derailing RMU hockey’s hot start
The sage wisdom of a “Tomlinism” knows no boundaries. They are translatable from sport to sport. Even Robert Morris men’s hockey coach Derek Schooley is borrowing a verbal pearl from the Steelers head coach. The Colonials resume play after a nine-day layoff Tuesday night. And the break came at the...
Tim Benz: NFL head coach hiring trend should be a reminder to Steelers about Mike Tomlin
Relax. This won’t be the 5,000th post you have read over the last three years about whether the Steelers should keep Mike Tomlin as the head coach or fire him after a third straight late-season collapse. That debate has become Republican or Democrat. Heavy metal or country. Beach or mountains....
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster stokes free agency talk via video game, Aaron Donald’s emotional response to loss
Monday’s “First Call” starts with Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and his “virtual” flirtation with free agency. Cleveland suffered a bad break during the Browns playoff loss in Kansas City. Los Angeles’ Aaron Donald had an emotional reaction to his Rams losing in Green Bay Saturday. And the “Killer B’s”...
Madden Monday: Matt Canada ‘is not qualified’ to be Steelers’ new offensive coordinator
The idea of the Steelers potentially promoting Matt Canada to become the offensive coordinator is going to go one of two ways. If it eventually happens. 1. It’s going to go as many predict. For quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Canada is going to be a less abrasive, less public annoyance than...
Tim Benz: Photo of dejected Ben Roethlisberger conjures bad Pittsburgh sports memory
I saw that photo of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sitting alone on the bench at the end of the team’s 48-37 playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns. Dejected. Almost slouching into his pads. Staring off into the void of defeat and a murky future. It was about 10 minutes after...
Keith Dambrot torn on rules — and reasons — surrounding recent Duquesne departures
The 2020-21 season was supposed to be a step forward for the Duquesne men’s basketball program (3-4). That hope was largely based on the premise that they had a great deal of upperclass returning talent and experience. Well, it started that way. But so much for that idea, just seven...
Tim Benz: The ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ that cost the Steelers their 2020 season
Without a doubt, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2020 collapse was sinful. But were they guilty of any of the actual Seven Deadly Sins? Hmmm. Now that I’m looking at this list, I may be more guilty of those sins than those on the team itself. • Envy: I’m envious of teams...
First Call: Chase Claypool reiterates Browns critique; Zach Banner may be back. Matt Canada to Miami?
For Friday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Chase Claypool can’t get out of his own way. The Steelers may have to fight to keep Matt Canada on staff. And tackle Zach Banner seems optimistic about his future in Pittsburgh. All that and some college basketball news, too. Doubling down Steelers...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster refutes claims about exit plans, radio host walks back Kevin Colbert story
Plenty of Steelers talk in Thursday’s “First Call.” Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is denying that he’s already planning to find a bigger market in free agency. The Detroit radio host who advanced the “Kevin Colbert to the Lions” story admits where he went wrong. And we find out if the...
