Tim Benz stories, Page 16

OMAHA, Neb. — You could see the wheels turning in Spencer Johnson’s head the moment he was asked about Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot. The Brigham Young senior was asked whether the fact Dambrot is retiring at the end of the season was going to provide extra inspiration for Duquesne, and,...

OMAHA, Neb. — One thing that always tends to get me in trouble when I fill out my NCAA brackets is that I fall in love with a team early in the season and I proclaim them as my March Madness dark horse in November. Then they inevitably flame out...

Trade rumors are kicking up about San Francisco star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk — and the Steelers are one of the rumored targets. Aiyuk is coming to the end of his rookie contract, and he wants an extension. However, the 49ers don’t usually hammer out contract extensions until July or...

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us an update on the Steelers’ quest to land a big-play wide receiver. Cole Holcomb is trying to make a comeback. Jake Guentzel stays hot in Carolina. And Pitt fans probably cracked a smile when they saw the result of one of the “First Four” games...

During his first media availability with the Philadelphia Eagles, former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett acknowledged that he wanted to leave Pittsburgh in advance of Friday’s trade that sent him across the state. He also did little to tamp down a narrative that he pouted his way through much of the...

Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at a contract extension for a new Steeler. The national media is all over Kenny Pickett’s move to Philadelphia. We also examine the Penguins’ next opponent, and Josh Dobbs’ new team. Signed, sealed, delivered One of the newest Pittsburgh Steelers has a new, one-year contract. It...

Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot is sticking up for the intra-city rival Pitt Panthers in the wake of their NCAA Tournament snub. Amid the lingering celebration of Duquesne’s first conference championship in 47 years and less than an hour removed from his own retirement announcement, Dambrot made an appearance on...

The Steelers have been criticized at times for simply releasing or trading players who were pouty and didn’t want to be in Pittsburgh anymore. Specifically, guys like Melvin Ingram, James Harrison and LeGarrette Blount weren’t happy with their roles and just wanted out of town. The same could potentially be...

Monday’s “First Call” features Kenny Pickett’s farewell to Pittsburgh. Jerome Bettis’ son has made his college football destination known. It looks like the Steelers want to add another veteran wide receiver. Jake Guentzel has scored his first goal for the Carolina Hurricanes. And Duquesne had a rough trip back to...

Duquesne freshman Jakub Necas slipped behind his school’s Atlantic 10 championship backdrop away from the rest of his celebrating team and sat down in a bed of confetti on the Barclays Center floor. The 20-year-old hung up the FaceTime call with his parents back home in the Czech Republic, bowed...

On Feb. 29, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said he has “full faith” in Kenny Pickett. Steelers GM Omar Khan says he has "full faith" in Kenny Pickett pic.twitter.com/p3Ooefacoi— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 29, 2024 Now it’s March 15, and last year’s starting quarterback is a Philadelphia Eagle. If...

When it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ stolen Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, the No. 1 suspect in the case has already claimed responsibility. pic.twitter.com/URnlHouZIu— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) March 14, 2024 However, that just seems too obvious. The Flyers already stole the real Jagr once in 2011. Do they really need to...

Friday’s “First Call” features a new home for ex-Steeler Devin Bush, the prospect of Tyler Boyd returning to Pittsburgh, Jake Guentzel’s first point in Carolina, and a pair of huge wins for Pitt and Duquesne. See you soon Devin Bush is coming back to the AFC North. The ex-Steelers linebacker...

The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to Pittsburgh,...

Thursday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman defecting to the New England Patriots. The Steelers are making a rules change proposal. A former Pitt star is returning to a familiar NFL destination. And an AFC North rival is trying to wedge his way out of town. No Wattage...

When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers signing quarterback Russell Wilson, two things are clear: • Almost everybody in Pittsburgh seems to love it. • Almost everybody in Pittsburgh seems to hate me because I don’t love it as much as all of they do. It’s not like I’m opposed...

The trade of wide receiver Diontae Johnson has refocused the list of needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out of the first wave of free agency. Like many Steelers fans, I was fixated on the center position because last year’s starter, Mason Cole, was let go in advance of free...

Wednesday’s “First Call” features Baltimore’s reaction to Patrick Queen’s departure for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Patrick Peterson is angling for a return. The Steelers are looking at potentially the top center in the draft. And the Yankees are worried about Gerrit Cole’s arm. Ruffling Raven feathers Apparently Patrick Queen’s decision to...

I certainly thought that there was a lot to like about Patrick Queen when he entered the league in 2020. There is still a lot to like now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly signed him away from the Baltimore Ravens four seasons later. Yes, even though the Steelers had...

There was nothing out of the ordinary about Saturday’s postgame press conference for Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot. It was a pretty basic Q&A about the events that led to his team’s 67-65 win over George Washington. But by the end of the press conference, Dambrot did seem a bit...

Tuesday’s “First Call” clues us in as to who was pushing to get Russell Wilson signed in Pittsburgh. The former Denver Broncos quarterback was angling for a wrinkle in his contract that he couldn’t get. The Steelers are hunting for tackle prospects in the draft but are missing out on...

Upon further review, I made a mistake in how I interacted with many Pittsburgh Steelers fans online in the wake of the team signing former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday night. I repeatedly said that he’ll probably — probably — be a better option this year than Kenny...

More Mason Rudolph with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024? I’m not quite sure how or why Rudolph would want to do this, but at least one report is suggesting that he may want to come back to Pittsburgh even if both Russell Wilson and Kenny Pickett are on the Steelers...

Watching the Pittsburgh Penguins in March this year has been like watching the Pirates in August most years. They are bad. They are out of it. And they are playing like they know it. What’s next at PPG Paints Arena? It’s probably too dangerous to shoot off Zambelli fireworks displays...

Monday’s “First Call” has a scathing review of quarterback Russell Wilson. He reportedly agreed to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night. The trade market is soft for Bears quarterback Justin Fields. A potential veteran addition along the Steelers defensive line is off the table. And we look at the...