Tim Benz stories, Page 174
U mad, bro? Readers enraged over Pat Narduzzi, shaky Steelers, Ray Searage
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 0-2. The starting quarterback is out for the year. The Pirates have become a civic humiliation. Pitt’s head coach pulled a legendarily stupid decision. So, you tell me. You think there might be some material for “U mad, bro?” this week? Let’s come in hot! This...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman examine Minkah Fitzpatrick, other Steelers moves
It’s our weekly “Breakfast With Benz” podcast from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. Mike Tomlin held his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon, and I’m not sure how many of his pressers had so much to talk about. Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending injury. Mason Rudolph’s first start. The...
First Call: Bracing for Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown hype; Dickerson’s done; mascot battle royal?
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a Steelers fan nightmare, a magical Major League Baseball moment, two stunning NFL gambling lines, and bad news for a former Pirate. I’m not ready for this The slow burn on this topic will start to simmer over the next 48 hours or so. Former Steelers...
Tim Benz: You can like Minkah Fitzpatrick but not like Steelers trading for himVideo
Can you love the acquisition of the player without liking the trade that brings him to town? You applaud the player. Fill a position of need. See the long-term vision of the player’s contract. Appreciate your own club’s gusto to improve the roster at a crucial time. But you hate...
Former WPIAL great Meg Bulger reflects on WVU, shares brother Marc’s curling dreams
Former WPIAL basketball star Meg Bulger enjoyed a Hall of Fame induction over the weekend. Again. This time in Morgantown, W.Va. The West Virginia Athletics Hall of Fame opened its doors to Bulger , where she joins her brother Marc (football) and sister Kate (basketball), who are also members. Bulger...
Tim Benz: Did Antonio Brown break another NFL rule?
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Antonio Brown may have broken another rule. How come you didn’t stop me? The volatile former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver doesn’t like to be told what kind of helmets or cleats to wear, when to show up for work, when he should pay...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick magic; Le’Veon Bell loses after he says ‘I won’
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” a reason to embrace Minkah Fitzpatrick already. Le’Veon Bell looks depressed. Jalen Ramsey wants out of Jacksonville. Love him already Do you like the Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick? Eh, I don’t really understand it. Why make a move to win now in a season...
Tim Benz: No, the Steelers don’t need Colin Kaepernick
Before you ask, the answer is “no.” The Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn’t sign Colin Kaepernick now that Ben Roethlisberger is out for the year. What’s that? Oh. We already asked? Ben Roethlisberger is out for the season. Inevitably, Colin Kaepernick's name will come up. Should the #Steelers consider signing him as...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown adds salt to Steelers woundsVideo
Talk about salt in the wounds. Actually, this is worse than salt in the wounds. More like lemon juice. Or vinegar. Maybe battery acid. While the Pittsburgh Steelers were losing to the Seattle Seahawks, Antonio Brown was making a positive impact in a New England Patriots’ blowout win over the...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden rip Steelers, Pat Narduzzi, awful PiratesVideo
This week’s “Madden Monday” ain’t gonna be pretty. How could it be? You saw the Steelers game, right? There’s so much to tear apart . Mark Madden and Tim Benz analyze what went wrong against the Seahawks. And there was a lot. We start with Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury. Mason...
First Call: Can Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi fix fallout from Penn State loss?; Le’Veon Bell faces the Browns
In Monday’s “First Call,” we try to figure out how Pat Narduzzi will scrub Pitt’s defeat against Penn State. You’ll get a look at the next opponent for the Panthers. Phil Jurkovec makes his season debut at Notre Dame. And why Steelers fans will have an interest in “Monday Night...
Tim Benz: An angry airing of grievances after Steelers’ loss to Seahawks
History wasn’t on the Steelers’ side heading into their season opener in Foxborough in Week 1. And history repeated itself with a 33-3 loss to the New England Patriots. History was on the Steelers’ side in their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. • The Steelers were...
Tim Benz: Penguins rediscovering Evgeni Malkin is bigger than replacing Phil Kessel
There were roughly six months of happy talk about how the Steelers would benefit from addition by subtraction. Subtract Antonio Brown’s shenanigans and Le’Veon Bell’s constant contract uncertainty. Benefit by getting a more harmonious locker room, fewer distractions and game plans that weren’t hindered by needing to pacify egos. Nice...
First Call: Gerrit Cole’s runaway 2019 continues; ex-Penguin Ryan Reaves injured
In Friday’s “First Call,” the “Cole Train” looks to keep rolling. Injury issues for a former Penguin. Some early MLB struggles for a WPIAL star. Meanwhile another WPIAL legend is going into the West Virginia Hall of Fame. Ten in a row? Former Pirate Gerrit Cole looks to continue his...
Steelers coordinators vent about Patriots loss, improvements needed for Seahawks
It’s our final “Breakfast With Benz” podcast before the Steelers play the Seattle Seahawks in the Heinz Field season opener. So I thought it’d be a good idea to hear from both coordinators in advance of the game. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler speaks first. He remains on edge after the...
Football Footnotes: Will Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell play this week?; Seahawks injury news
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” gives us an injury update on the Steelers and Seahawks. We also have updates on both Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Plus “the other Devin” is banged up. Will A.B. play? It’s the question everyone wants to be answered. Well, except maybe the Miami Dolphins....
Tim Benz: A potential matchup nightmare for Steelers vs. Seahawks
Silly me. I thought Rob Gronkowski had retired. Clearly, he didn’t. He just changed his position to wide receiver, his number to 10, and his name to Josh Gordon. Because, obviously, that’s who I was watching in Foxborough Sunday night against the Steelers, right? Doing to the Steelers what he...
Fantasy sports podcast: Concerns about Steelers players, loading up versus Dolphins
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. Some people are worried about Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in fantasy play after Week 1. Jeff tells us why you shouldn’t buy into that concern. How many Patriots should you play against Miami? And how heavy should you invest...
First Call: Are Bill Belichick, Tom Brady already tired of Antonio Brown attention?; New home run record
In “First Call” this Thursday, we see how New England is reacting to the news about the lawsuit against Antonio Brown. The helmet saga surrounding Brown may be resurfacing, too. An MLB home run record. And a significant horse-racing scandal. Fed up already? When we found out Antonio Brown was...
U mad, bro? Readers rip Steelers, Antonio Brown; vent about Pirates’ fight
A ton to choose from for “U mad, bro?” this week! I had so much material from you folks about the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the New England Patriots, I could’ve gone entirely down that path. But with Antonio Brown’s defection to New England, the Pirates bullpen fight, and the...
Tim Benz: Steelers go back to school on defending ’rub routes’
“Jet streaming” and “tailpipe.” Get used to those terms. You’ll be hearing them a lot this week from the Pittsburgh Steelers defenders. And probably a lot during the rest of the season. Maybe the better they perform those techniques, the less you’ll hear these terms: “pick plays,” “rub routes” and...
First Call: Brown’s Odell Beckham Jr. says he’ll keep wearing watch; Jennifer Lopez ‘in talks’ for Super Bowl halftime show
In “First Call” Wednesday, Odell Beckham Jr. is going to keep his watch. Marcus Gilbert is out for the year. “Duck Dynasty” is back in Pittsburgh. And Jennifer Lopez may be up for the Super Bowl halftime show. Got the time? Odell Beckham Jr. claims he is going to keep...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman break down Steelers’ issues on offense, preview Seahawks matchup
Fellow TribLIVE columnist Kevin Gorman joins me for our weekly “Breakfast With Benz” podcast wrapping up the Mike Tomlin press conference. The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach sounded as down on his team as you probably feel about it. He didn’t candy coat anything about the 33-3 loss to the New...
Tim Benz: Too harsh on Steelers? Not based on what Mike Tomlin saidVideo
Perhaps dealing with a brief crisis of conscience, I asked myself a question Tuesday morning. Have I been too hard on the Pittsburgh Steelers since their ugly 33-3 loss in New England Sunday night? I’ve written, said and posted some pretty critical things. Maybe I should’ve kept in mind that...
Tim Benz: Accusations against Antonio Brown test moral compasses
Quite the ethical conundrum we have here, isn’t it, Pittsburgh? You, too, Boston. Especially you, NFL. What’s it going to be? Are your moral compasses going to be guided by your senses of right and wrong? Or the logo involved? That’s what has been brought into play with the latest,...
