Tim Benz stories, Page 170
Tim Benz: Travis Williams needs more than Penguins pixie dust to fix Pirates
“Welcome back, Travis! Now how long before you fix everything? It’s been 40 years since the Pirates’ last World Series. I’m starting to get a little antsy.” Of course, I’m exaggerating about how some Pittsburgh sports fans are reacting to the hire of Travis Williams as the new team president...
Fantasy sports podcast: Helping owners through a QB crisis
There’s no doubt what the major talking point is in fantasy football this week. Quarterbacks. Quarterbacks. Quarterbacks. That discussion occupies the bulk of this week’s fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. Yup. I’m one of those people. I’ve got Patrick Mahomes on my team. I’m replacing him with...
Tim Benz: Failure to add OLB depth catching up to Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers set themselves up for this. They had it coming. On Monday night when the team plays against Miami, it could be down to just one outside linebacker — Bud Dupree — with significant game experience. Anthony Chickillo was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list because of his...
First Call: Would Steelers trade Artie Burns?; Eddie Olczyk takes a jab at PiratesVideo
In Thursday’s “First Call,” the “Trump Ump” has local ties. Artie Burns is a potential trade target. And even Eddie Olczyk takes a jab at the Pirates during a hockey broadcast. Why bother? NFL.com has a list of trade ideas for each team before the deadline hits on Oct. 29....
U mad, bro? No Steelers game? No less anger. Most of it about Gerrit Cole.
No Steelers game, no anger in “U mad, bro?” this week, right? Not so fast. There are plenty of other things to get upset about. And this week, most of them apparently have to do with the Pirates. Specifically, an ex-Pirate name Gerrit Cole. Oh, and an ex-Penguin named Marc-Andre...
First Call: Hockey coach threatens to burn ref’s car; Le’Veon Bell mad at NFL broadcastVideo
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Le’Veon Bell is defending his struggling quarterback. Some rumblings about that Emmanuel Sanders trade. And a hockey coach may have gotten a little too mad at a referee. Strange sense of humor Remember when Bill Cowher stuffed a photograph in a referee’s pocket? Yeah. This is...
Tim Benz, Joe Rutter discuss Steelers’ issues at outside linebacker, potential return of Tuzar Skipper
Wednesday’s “Breakfast with Benz” podcast features TribLive Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter. He joined me as I hosted Adam Crowley’s show on ESPN Pittsburgh. Joe and I attended Tuesday’s Mike Tomlin press conference. And both of us are trying to figure out what the Steelers will do at outside linebacker...
Tim Benz: Steelers vs. Eagles annually at State College in 17-game NFL season? MaybeVideo
Roger Goodell reignited the conversation about a 17-game regular season this week. At the conclusion of the fall owners meetings, the NFL commissioner admitted that angle is part of the collective bargaining agreement conversations. How will that happen? Who knows. An unbalanced, 8-9/9-8 rotating road-home split per season is an...
Tim Benz: Gerrit Cole finally derailed in Game 1 of World SeriesVideo
He’s not a machine. He’s a man! After winning 19 straight decisions (counting the playoffs) since May 22, that was becoming a debate when examining former Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole. But Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series, the Washington Nationals proved that if he bleeds… Washington beat...
First Call: Pirates manager rumblings; Discipline coming for Dolphins starter
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” some Pirates managerial talk. The Steelers have an off-field issue with the Anthony Chickillo situation. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have a problem, too. Also, Sam Darnold’s Monday Night Football disaster impacts Le’ Veon Bell. Mutual interest One name floated as a potential candidate for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Robert Morris women’s Olympian now coaching goalies on men’s hockey team
The Robert Morris men’s hockey team made a little history recently. By adding a woman to its coaching staff. Based on information released by the RMU Department of Athletics website, Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle “is believed to be the first female assistant coach in the history of NCAA men’s hockey, Division I...
Tim Benz: Gut reactions to following Gerrit Cole as opposed to Marc-Andre FleuryVideo
When the World Series starts Tuesday night, former Pittsburgh Pirate Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals in Game 1. Cole’s dominant run through the postseason hasn’t exactly been embraced in the same way that one-time Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s was when he...
Tim Benz: How awful ‘Mud Bowl’ Dolphins compare to awful team set to face Steelers
This Miami Dolphins team the Pittsburgh Steelers will face Monday night is bad. Really bad. Every bit as worthy of being 0-6 bad as you might assume. Offensively, the Dolphins are tied for last with the New York Jets in the NFL in points per game (10.5). They are 31st...
First Call: Schooner crash, great onside kick, Duquesne running back pushes the pile
We start Monday with a “First Call” featuring a Sooner Schooner skid. One of the toughest runs you’ll ever see. And a creative onside kick. Oh, those onside kicks Onside kicks are getting fun again. Cam Sutton made a great play on one for the Steelers last week in Los...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer discuss Penguins’ goalies, Marc-Andre Fleury’s play
No Madden Monday this week, as Mark Madden is off for a few days. So consider this a “Metzer Monday.” Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me for his weekly hockey chat a day earlier than normal. And why not? It was a busy weekend of Pittsburgh Penguins...
Tim Benz: An airing of grievances even without a Steelers gameVideo
So I’m sure you’re thinking, with no Pittsburgh Steelers game this week, there will be no “Airing of Grievances” on “Breakfast With Benz.” C’mon. You know me better than that. Just because the Steelers give us so much to complain about, that doesn’t mean we can’t complain without them. Especially...
Tim Benz: Some Steelers superlatives as the bye week endsVideo
Now that the bye week is done, it’s time to look at some Pittsburgh Steelers superlatives thus far in the 2019 season. After all, Mike Tomlin always likes to say how much self-evaluation he likes to do of his team during the bye. So we did a little of our...
Fantasy sports podcast: Elimination pool plays, QB importance, tough bye week
My fantasy football team is terrible this year. I’m not Miami Dolphins kind-of-bad. But I am, like, Arizona Cardinals or Atlanta Falcons kind-of-bad. And I don’t feel alone. Many people I’ve talked to who play are having a really hard time in their leagues this year. I float some theories...
First Call: Who would punch Myles Garrett in the face? Early goal of the year candidateVideo
It’s our final “First Call” before an extended Steelers bye weekend. We tip our cap to Dan Potash’s efforts on ‘70s night. There was one goal last night even better than Sidney Crosby’s. And someone was dumb enough to punch Myles Garrett in the face. Hit and run? If I...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin makes right call on quarterbacks, despite odd logic
What Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin decided to do with his quarterback situation was the right move. I’m just not so sure about the logic he used to get there. Or why he is as secure in the decision as he appears to be. On Wednesday, Tomlin was asked if...
First Call: XFL fan account jabs Antonio Brown; Ex-Pirates Gerrit Cole, Daniel Hudson shineVideo
In “First Call” on this Wednesday, no Antonio Brown in the XFL! The NFL knows its refs screwed up during the “Monday Night Football” game. And the Nationals are on to the World Series. Can we handle more “Baby Shark”? Hard pass on A.B. You won’t see “Mr. Big Chest”...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh: Who will run out of players first? Steelers or Penguins?
Which team is going to rack up more injuries this year? The Steelers or the Penguins? The Steelers have a bigger roster. So they have more chances for guys to get hurt. But at the rate they are going, I give the Penguins a shot at keeping up. Seriously, this...
U mad, bro? Readers aren’t happy with Mike Tomlin’s coaches, referees, Steelers’ defenseVideo
Stillers, Stillers, nuthin’ but Stillers, n’at! That’s where we are living in our “U mad, bro?” post for the week. Readers lob opinions on the Steelers defense, Mike Tomlin’s assistant coaches, referees and the field in Los Angeles. What? Nothing about the return the Pirates got for Gerrit Cole? Or...
Tim Benz: Did refs in Steelers’ game open replay wormhole to fix call?Video
Because of all the bad calls in the “Monday Night Football” game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, NFL officiating is top of mind this week. So it got me flashing back to Sunday night’s confusing fair-catch moment between Los Angeles Chargers punt returner Desmond King II and...
First Call: James Neal has his own goal song; Gerrit Cole faces Yankees
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” James Neal is making beautiful music. Gerrit Cole looks to dust the New York Yankees. And the Penguins get ready for the red-hot Colorado Avalanche. Real Deal Neal James Neal had a 40-goal season in Pittsburgh back in 2012. He’s on pace for more than that...
