Tim Benz stories, Page 176
First Call: Steelers already underdogs in New England, Edelman’s thumb, McSorley’s arm
In “First Call” for Friday, is there an injury concern in New England? The Steelers start as underdogs. Robert Morris kicks off its 2019 football season. And the Ravens own the preseason. Want the points? The early lines are out for next week’s season-opening NFL games. The Steelers are underdogs...
U mad, bro?: Carli Lloyd column angered a lot of people. Truth hurts, I guess.
I knew what would dominate “U mad, bro?” this week. I wrote a column about USWNT soccer player Carli Lloyd. She made a 55-yard field goal after an NFL practice recently. So now there appears to be a social media movement to get her an NFL tryout. After one kick...
Tim Benz: Can we start talking about the New England Patriots now?
The goal was to hold this one until after Labor Day weekend. You know, squeeze in one more preseason column after the Steelers’ 25-19 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Bang out one more thought-provoking deep-dive as to who the 53rd versus 54th guy on the roster should...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Last advice before a huge draft weekend
It’s our most important fantasy sports podcast of the year with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This is our final fantasy post before the NFL regular season starts. So, it’s the last time you can get draft advice from Jeff before your fantasy season begins. There’s an important trickle-down effect for...
First Call: Gerrit Cole piles up more strikeouts; JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to ‘be lit’
In “First Call” Thursday, Gerrit Cole dials up the heat. JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to show how marketable he really is. Carli Lloyd keeps the hype going about her place-kicking career. And Alison Riske is up for Round 2 at the U.S. Open. Gas from Gerrit Former Pirate Gerrit Cole dialed...
Steelers’ Kameron Kelly makes strong case for roster spot on defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers play their final preseason game Thursday night in Charlotte. Kameron Kelly is a player who probably circled this game on the calendar and said it might be his last chance to make the team. Now, he’s been so good in training camp and in the preseason games,...
Tim Benz: 3 guarantees for Steelers-Panthers preseason game
On our WDVE Steelers pregame show, my co-host Dale Lolley and I always make our “Three Guarantees.” Three things we guarantee will happen in the game. OK, maybe guarantee is a strong word. But it rhymes. It’s catchy. And it gives us a chance to say, “I told you so”...
Tim Benz: Steelers running backs only thing worth watching in preseason finale
If you are looking for something of substance to track Thursday night in the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason finale, I’ve got two pieces of advice. 1) Find something else to do with your time. 2) If you can’t, watch the running backs. There may be some practical application to doing so....
First Call: Cam Heyward says Steelers ‘need to be the dragon’ in New England
In “First Call” Wednesday, Cam Heyward’s battle cry. Steven Brault shows his skills. And look out for “little Fournette.” Breathing fire Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward may have come up with this year’s team slogan for 2019. During his weekly interview on 102.5 WDVE, Heyward spoke about going to...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown rips Ben Roethlisberger on Twitter, then deletes it
How do you shame a guy who knows no shame? Twitter. That’s how. Former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Antonio Brown sent out the tweet below. Then he deleted it. Antonio Brown deleted this tweet. pic.twitter.com/fyo1RTcXEr— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 27, 2019 That was Brown’s response to Ben Roethlisberger’s halftime interview Sunday...
Steelers’ Bud Dupree doesn’t expect thumb injury to hold him back, will be ready for Patriots
The Pittsburgh Steelers leave for Charlotte, N.C. Wednesday afternoon, where they will face the Carolina Panthers Thursday night in the preseason finale. Bud Dupree won’t suit up, but he should play in the season opener against the New England Patriots. And that’s a relief. After the outside linebacker hurt his...
Tim Benz: If you want to see Carli Lloyd kick in NFL, make her earn it
I was going to leave this alone. I really was. I swear. When I first saw the video of Carli Lloyd kicking a field goal at a Baltimore Ravens-Philadelphia Eagles joint practice, I knew what was going to happen. .@CarliLloyd from distance. Love to see it. pic.twitter.com/FW8iZlzGCG— U.S. Soccer WNT...
First Call: Shannon Sharpe wants to slap Ben Roethlisberger; significant Patriots loss
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Shannon Sharpe claiming he would’ve slapped Ben Roethlisberger. A big loss for the Patriots. Good news for the Browns. And popcorn with a fork. Yeah. It’s true. Popcorn with a fork. Guess where that happened. Wanna clarify that? It looks like Antonio Brown is about to...
Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot gets creative with schedule while waiting for new center
We mix in a little college basketball for the podcast Tuesday as we talk to Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot. The Dukes are living a bit of a nomadic life this year, bouncing around to various venues as the new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is renovated. The non-conference schedule was released last...
Tim Benz: Former Pirates kill their old team. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
In the latest “just laugh because, if you don’t, you’ll just cry” moment of the 2019 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night. How? Glad you asked. Because former Pirate Corey Dickerson homered to give the Phillies a lead in the eighth inning. COREY DICKERSON JUST...
Tim Benz: MLB mercy rule debate masks greater problem
Give Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown credit for self-awareness. He’s right. No one wants to be “that guy.” The old guy yelling “get off my lawn” at any new idea that comes along. That’s how an aghast Brown couched his commentary against the suggestion of a Major League Baseball...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden break down Steelers’ preseason win, Andrew Luck’s retirement and White Claw
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to wrap up the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 18-6 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans. Well, we try to wrap up what we could figure out, anyway. Boy, that camera angle was really bad. We dissect that topic first....
First Call: People hated NBC’s camera angle for Steelers-Titans game
Monday’s “First Call” is filled with hatred of the NBC camera angle during the Steelers game Sunday night. Antonio Brown’s Helmetgate may be coming to an end. And a sad sidebar to Andrew Luck’s retirement. Scrap that idea Steelers fans had one universal critique of the team’s 18-6 win in...
Tim Benz: What Andrew Luck’s retirement means … for the Steelers
For Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, his career was cut short by injury at the age of 29. For the Colts franchise, it has been thrust into a state of uncertainty. For Colts fans, their season of Super Bowl aspirations now appears destined for non-playoff failure. So let’s get to...
Tim Benz: Steelers tempt fate, escape unscathed in Tennessee
The Pittsburgh Steelers played Russian roulette with their veteran starters and won. For the most part. Let’s see how bad safety Sean Davis’ ankle injury is. And linebacker Bud Dupree’s thumb. At least Mike Tomlin didn’t give a dire diagnosis about either player after the Steelers beat the Tennessee Titans...
First Call: A tremendous Sidney Crosby story; NFL teams play on 80-yard field
Friday’s “First Call” features a “Sid-sational” story about the Penguins captain. “Hard Knocks” will have a field day with that Canadian preseason game field fiasco. And Gritty the mascot has become weaponized. Just who he is Here is a clip about Sidney Crosby that has been making the rounds on...
Fantasy sports podcast: Last-minute tips for your football draft
Got your fantasy football draft this weekend? Mine is next week. And I’m getting ready by taking advice from my main man in the business, Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. In this week’s fantasy podcast, we look at the crucial fourth draft slot. Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey appear...
Tim Benz: How Pirates might deal with Chris Archer conundrum
When the topics of the Pirates roster and finances intersect, we can often make the mistake of addressing the decision from the view of what should be done. Instead, it’s far more practical to simply address it from the standpoint of what they will likely do. In other words, don’t...
Tim Benz: The Penguins’ Mount Rushmore of Hate
Here’s one I haven’t been able to shake for about a week. While I was pinch hitting for Mark Madden on 105.9 the X last week, I was joined by Pittsburgh-born comedian Joe Bartnick. He’s excellent. If you saw him open for Bill Burr a few months ago here in...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell weighs in on Antonio Brown’s helmet; Sidney Crosby is a ‘decade-long’ MVP
In “First Call” Thursday, Le’Veon Bell shows balance where Antonio Brown has lost his mind. More career twists for Kevin White and Derick Brassard. Sidney Crosby is a “decade-long” MVP. Le’Veon’s logic When you are looking for logic and sanity you turn to … Le’Veon Bell? Yes, believe it or...
