Tim Benz stories, Page 171
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer discuss Penguins winning, scoring without key forwards
You know what Penguins rookie Sam Lafferty needs? A fun nickname. Like, for instance, if anyone had ever called him something like “Duck” before, this kid would be running Pittsburgh by now. The Hollidaysburg native has five points in his last two games and the Penguins have won their last...
Tim Benz: Dear NFL officials, you stink. Be brave. Do better.Video
Dear NFL officials, This is Tracy Walker. He plays for the Detroit Lions. He was trying to intercept a ball on this play Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. This isn’t a penalty. Walker was playing the ball. But the NFL doesn't want to hear it. pic.twitter.com/OMdW5ZqoOV— Due# (@JDue51)...
Tim Benz: Steelers win, but some grievances to air: Injuries, wide receivers’ play, stopping tight endsVideo
Given that the Steelers have only managed to win twice this year, I wanted to allow a little time before our weekly “Airing of Grievances.” After all, we’ve got to pick our spots to bask in the warm afterglow of victory, don’t we? That said, the Steelers’ second win of...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris goalie Justin Kapelmaster off to strong start
When starting goaltender Francis Marotte transferred to Clarkson during the offseason, it created what appeared to be a massive void on the depth chart for the Robert Morris Colonials. Usually, problems like that aren’t patched over by the time the first weekend of conference play is concluded. Usually. Fortunately for...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell kids coach after first win; Dolphins are as bad as we thoughtVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” Le’Veon Bell needles his coach with a little post-win celebration. A high school football highlight for the ages. The Miami Dolphins-Washington Redskins game was every bit as bad as advertised. And the Pope accidentally reveals his favorite NFL team. You should’ve seen it coming. Laughing Le’Veon...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden on Steelers win, Penguins hot offense
It’s another edition of “Madden Monday.” This one from Las Vegas as Mark Madden checks in from the road. We recap the dawn of the “Duck Dynasty” as Devlin “Duck” Hodges gets the win in his NFL starting debut. He and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength after 24-17 win over ChargersVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers were traveling to the West Coast — where they are always bad — to play the Los Angeles Chargers. They were banged up, absent eight regulars. And they had to start third-string quarterback Devlin “Duck Dynasty” Hodges. So I had the “Airing of Grievances” template ready to...
Fantasy sports podcast: These Chargers may feast on Steelers again
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of RotoWire. This week, I vent about my recent lack of big-time production from Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. I’m probably not alone there. Speaking of Houston’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, we have a prediction about someone besides...
First Call: National broadcast jumps on ex-Pirates ALDS battle; James Neal stays hotVideo
For our final “First Call” of the week, we recap the ex-Pirates battle in Game 5 of the ALDS. James Neal can’t be stopped in Edmonton. And a very happy anniversary for a Pitt football legend. No contest Gerrit Cole and the Houston Astros blew by Tyler Glasnow and the...
Football Footnotes: Browns could continue downslide, 49ers-Rams a marquee matchup in Week 6
The Steelers play Sunday night in Los Angeles against the Chargers. So let’s fill up your plate with NFL viewing before the Black and Gold kickoff at 8:20 p.m. And maybe beyond. Here’s what to watch as you get ready for — and recover from — the latest Steelers game....
Tim Benz: 3 Steelers who deserve no blame for 2019 mess
There is plenty of blame to go around for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 1-4 start in 2019. Game-planning and play-calling have been atrocious at times from the coaching staff. Just look at the field goal in New England, the conservative game plan vs. the San Francisco 49ers, the overuse of the...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s rambling plea to Patriots; Gerrit Cole vs. Tyler Glasnow in ALDS Game 5
In Thursday’s “First Call,” Antonio Brown says he wants to get back into the NFL with the Patriots. A Major League Baseball player channels his inner A.B. during a postgame celebration. John Gibson is back in Pittsburgh with the Anaheim Ducks. And Zion Williamson’s NBA career seems to be starting...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh examine how Penguins can withstand so many injuries
We welcome Seth Rorabaugh to the “Breakfast With Benz” podcast today. He is our new medical sciences beat writer at TribLive. Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say medical sciences? I meant Pittsburgh Penguins beat writer. But really, what’s the difference? Since Seth has come on board, the Penguins have lost...
U mad, bro? Steelers are bad, so it’s all Mike Tomlin, all the time for readers
It’s all Mike Tomlin, all the time in “U mad, bro?” this week. His decision to kick away in overtime. His hypothetical relocation to Washington. His superiority to me as a head coach. All of these matters are clearly up for debate. Well, most of them anyway. Billy did not...
Tim Benz: Steelers are dealing with many unhappy returns
Mike Tomlin’s hunch about his dreadful kick return team was so bleak, the Steelers’ head coach felt the need to give up possession of the football after winning the overtime coin toss last Sunday. That was an overreaction from Tomlin. And it was the wrong move. Yes, I say that...
First Call: NFL villains abound; Ex-Pittsburgh players star in MLB, NHL, NBA
Wednesday’s “First Call” has two themes. The first is NFL villains getting what they deserve. The second is former Pittsburgh athletes thriving in new places. Everywhere. Shake-gate On Monday night, Richard Sherman made the claim that Baker Mayfield snubbed him in the handshake line before the coin toss. Based on...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman discuss whether Steelers would trade Mike Tomlin
Kevin Gorman and I wrap up Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Boy, there’s a lot of meat on the bone this week, even though the season appears to have slipped through Tomlin’s fingers. * If the Washington Redskins really want Tomlin as...
Tim Benz: If Devlin ‘Duck Dynasty’ Hodges starts for the Steelers, just let him flyVideo
My expectations weren’t high. But I allowed myself to be pleasantly surprised. Hey, I can do that. I witnessed the Pirates win three whole playoff games back in 2013, you know. With my own eyes! I had a micro-level response like that on Sunday. That’s when Devlin “Duck Dynasty” Hodges...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ inconsistent start leading to low-tension games
This year’s Pittsburgh Penguins team certainly doesn’t seem to be one that’s high on tension. It’ll let you beat the traffic out of the arena. In the club’s first game, it put forth a listless effort in a flat 3-1 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Sabres. In Game 2 Saturday,...
First Call: 49ers’ Nick Bosa, Richard Sherman mock Browns’ Baker Mayfield after ‘MNF’ rompVideo
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” San Francisco is really enjoying beating up Baker Mayfield. Charlie Morton continues to shine in the MLB playoffs. And we see — um — a unique football formation. Sweet, sweet revenge Back when Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was at Oklahoma, he made waves by planting...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer discuss how Penguins can get around injury issues
Times aren’t good for the Pittsburgh Steelers right now. We all know that. But it’s a struggle for the Penguins, too. They have to find a way around injuries to Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bjugstad and Bryan Rust. And they are only two games into their 82-game season. Game 3 is...
Tim Benz: What it would take for Steelers to trade Mike Tomlin to RedskinsVideo
I’d do this. Would the Pittsburgh Steelers? No. Would Mike Tomlin want it? Unlikely. He shouldn’t. At least if football stability itself dictates his decision. For other reasons? Well, only he would know that. Since both ESPN and CBSSports.com are fanning the flames on this topic, let’s take a look...
Tim Benz: Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bjugstad injuries have ripple effect beyond their absencesVideo
I’ll reiterate a sentiment I expressed last month. Someone please give me a giant sleeping pill so I can pass out until January 2020. It’s time to be done with 2019. This weekend the tone surrounding Pittsburgh’s pro franchises went from bad to worse to “I think need a new...
First Call: James Harrison defends hit on Mason Rudolph, calls himself a ‘Steeler to the core’
In Monday’s “First Call,” James Harrison weighs in on the Mason Rudolph hit. The medical cart fails at Heinz Field. Marc-Andre Fleury is up to his old tricks. I beg to differ In case you didn’t get a clean look at the hit that knocked out Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph,...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden break down Steelers’ loss to Ravens, Penguins’ start, Pitt’s big win
We have so much on the plate in this week’s “Madden Monday.” Most of it has to do the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest loss, this time to the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore won at Heinz Field Sunday by a final score of 26-23 in overtime, thanks to a game-winning field goal by...
