Tim Benz stories, Page 164
Tim Benz: There’s no perfect NFL overtime fix. So stop complaining.Video
Another round of NFL postseason games. Another round of overtime results. Another round of whining from people who think the tiebreaking system is unfair. In other words, whining from New Orleans. Or people who bet on New Orleans. OK, maybe Buffalo, too. This is becoming an annual event, much like...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell update, Connor McDavid’s unreal goal, ugly NBA injury videoVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” features one of what will be many Le’Veon Bell offseason updates. Connor McDavid’s potential “goal of the year.” Plus, the good, the bad and the ugly from the NBA. Making it work Is Le’Veon Bell staying with the New York Jets or not? That will be one...
Penguins face brutal schedule, questions about Kris Letang’s play, Sidney Crosby’s return
This week’s hockey podcast goes in all sorts of directions with Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer. We begin with Kris Letang’s recent play. Is it just a bad patch or is he sliding away from Mike Sullivan’s commitment to structure? Many Penguins fans are hoping that a trade is...
Tim Benz: Even Steelers fans would forget hatred of Tom Brady if he lands in PittsburghVideo
It’s the opposite of what any Steelers fan wants to envision. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is working out over the next two months. He looks down at his surgically repaired elbow and says, “This thing ain’t healing right. I’m not close. It’s getting worse. Not better. I’m not going to be...
First Call: Browns favorite to sign Tom Brady if he leaves Patriots; Antonio Brown wants in, too
This can’t happen. Can it? Tom Brady is about to become a free agent. After nearly two decades of dominance, he could leave the New England Patriots. Hey, Michael Jordan was a Washington Wizard. Joe Montana became a Kansas City Chief. And Babe Ruth ended his career with the Boston...
Mark Madden, Tim Benz on Penguins replacing Jake Guentzel, Matt Murray’s goaltending, Patriots loss
This week’s “Madden Monday” with Mark Madden features Penguins talk at first. And there is a lot to get to on that front. The Penguins have gotten three points over their three games since Jake Guentzel’s injury. A win. A loss. And an overtime defeat. But are they hitting a...
Tim Benz: Don’t kid yourself. Steelers never could’ve done what Titans did to PatriotsVideo
Yeah. It crossed my mind, too. Watching the New England Patriots crumble at home against the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Could this have been the year? What if the Steelers didn’t fall apart down the stretch and had managed to scratch their way past...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s future with Jets; Antonio Brown vents about Saints; Brandon Saad to Penguins talk
The first “First Call” of 2020 picks up where 2019 left off—a lot of talk about Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Both of the former Steelers were in the headlines on New Year’s Day. So we get caught up on the latest ax to grind for A.B. and the latest...
Is a Penguins trade necessary to replace Jake Guentzel?
New year. Same problem. That’s what the Penguins are facing to begin 2020. Another significant injury to another significant player. This time it’s Jake Guentzel. This time his season could be over. TribLive beat writer Seth Rorabaugh joins me on Thursday’s podcast to examine how the Pens will deal with...
U mad, bro? Readers seething over Steelers’ elimination, Mike Tomlin, ‘Hard Knocks’ prospect
Whenever the Steelers get knocked out of the playoff race, you know things are going to get spicy. This week’s “U mad, bro?” lives up (or is it down?) to expectations with heat coming from all directions. No one is safe. Not Mike Tomlin. Not the organization. Not HBO. Not...
How much of Mike Tomlin’s season-ending press conference should give Steelers’ fans hope?
Fellow TribLive columnist Kevin Gorman joins me for our last wrap up of Mike Tomlin’s weekly press conferences in 2019. Given that the Steelers have been eliminated short of the playoffs for a second straight year, the next time we do this may be August in Latrobe, and the “Hard...
Tim Benz: Plenty for Steelers to fix that Ben Roethlisberger can’tVideo
When assessing the 2020 Steelers offense, the easy thing to say is, “Ben Roethlisberger will be back, and that’ll fix everything.” Given how good the defense could be again, what a dream scenario that would be! Too bad it isn’t close to true. Yes, Roethlisberger will fix a lot. Red-zone...
First Call: Antonio Brown rips JuJu Smith-Schuster; Jets coach dismissive of Le’Veon Bell
As has been the case for most of 2019, the year couldn’t end without another day of former Steelers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell being in the headlines. Brown couldn’t pass up one last chance to take a jab at former teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster on social media. Boo Boo Shoester...
What will Penguins do if Jake Guentzel is hurt, too?Video
Ok, now the hockey gods are just messing with us, right? Aren’t the Penguins out of guys to get injured? As soon as hope started to build for a return of Sidney Crosby, now Jake Guentzel might be out for a while. At least we are bracing ourselves for that...
Tim Benz: Don’t inflate Steelers’ mediocre 8-8 finish
If you looked skyward in Pittsburgh around 2:45 p.m. Monday, you saw a gorgeous double rainbow over the city. I was heading to the North Side at the time, and I felt like I was driving right into it. Both arches appeared to end directly in Heinz Field’s parking lot....
First Call: Browns’ Baker Mayfield barks at fans; Bengals RB takes out ref; Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella epic rantVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” another epic postgame rant from John Tortorella. Another Saquon Barkley highlight. More comedy from the Bengals. And more yapping from Baker Mayfield. ‘Torts-ing’ it up one more time in 2019 Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella went on one of his classic postgame tirades after a...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden rip Steelers’ season-ending disaster, ‘Hard Knocks’ possibility, offseason challenges
When you need optimism and positivity in a time of sorrow for the Pittsburgh Steelers, you turn to Mark Madden and Tim Benz. We are nothing if not a beacon of hope in your time of need. For instance, in today’s “Madden Monday” podcast about how the Steelers will miss...
Tim Benz: Final 2019 airing of grievances after Ravens humiliate and eliminate SteelersVideo
The Steelers’ 2019 season is over. Technically, so is Festivus. But that’s not going to stop us from engaging in the “Airing of Grievances” about the Steelers one more time before the calendar turns to 2020. Believe me, after what we saw in Baltimore to wrap up the year, there...
At Christmas break, a look at Penguins’ coaching, goaltending, healthVideo
Much like Santa Claus, Brian Metzer and I are all over the map on Christmas Eve. Yes, we get into our weekly Penguins chat, as always on a Tuesday. We talk goaltending. The state of the Pens’ health. And their current standing in the Metro Division. Also, we look at...
Tim Benz: Let’s not be too accepting if Steelers miss playoffs
I saw way too much of this on Twitter during the Steelers’ loss to the New York Jets Sunday. Well it all comes down to next weekend. If the Steelers don’t find any semblance of an offense, why would you want them in the playoffs? The best we could hope...
First Call: Steeler fan’s quick change goes viral; Browns collapse official in ClevelandVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” a Steelers fan pulls off an epic quick change. The Browns meltdown continues. We take a look at Will Grier’s debut with Carolina and Saquon Barkley’s huge day. Way to come prepared Here’s one Steelers fan who planned ahead. He was ready to cheer for Devlin...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden dissect everything that went wrong in Steelers’ loss to Jets
The Steelers’ postseason hopes are hanging by a thread. Matt Murray still can’t find his game. And the Pirates are signing players who hit .151. Merry Christmas. Don’t blame Mark Madden for being a Grinch. Me either. We aren’t putting the coal in your stocking. We are just telling you...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances after a costly Steelers loss to JetsVideo
No Steelers fan is festive this Festivus season. Why should they be? For the second straight year, the Steelers have spent most of December playing themselves out of a playoff spot. The latest issue was Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the 6-9 New York Jets. Now ‘tis the time on the...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell expects some love from Steelers fans; how Yankees won over Gerrit Cole
Friday’s “First Call” looks at Le’Veon Bell as the Steelers prepare to face his New York Jets. An odd twist to ESPN’s NHL all-decade team. And a $324 million-dollar bottle of wine. Don’t get full of yourself Le’Veon Bell says he is expecting a 50-50 split of boos and cheers...
With Bill Hillgrove out, AT&T SportsNet’s Rob King prepares to step in to Steelers broadcast
Longtime Steelers radio play-by-play voice Bill Hillgrove will not call the last two games of the regular season. He is having back surgery. It’s unclear if he will be able to call playoff games if the Steelers make it that far. So Rob King of AT&T SportsNet will be filling...
