Tim Benz stories, Page 179
Tim Benz: Patriots dominance isn’t part of Mike Tomlin’s shortcomings
It’s been 11 days since Mike Tomlin signed a contract extension to coach the Steelers through at least the 2021 season. Since then, several arguments have popped up supporting that decision by Steelers ownership. Others have been highly critical. Both sides make a strong case. I wouldn’t have done it....
Fantasy Sports podcast: Football draft advice, MLB trade fallout, Reds-Pirates brawl
Fantasy football drafts are happening soon. Are you ready? Need some advice? Jeff Erickson of RotoWire gets you prepared in our weekly fantasy sports podcast. We look at where Steelers players Ben Roethlisberger, Vance McDonald and JuJu Smith-Schuster rank among star players at their respective positions. Also, Jeff tells us...
First Call: James Harrison’s ‘comeback’ post; NFL’s 1st pass-interference challenge
Friday’s “First Call” features James Harrison flirting with a comeback in Denver, the first challenged pass interference call and a potential career change for Jameis Winston. More Deebo? James Harrison is coming out of retirement. Well, that’s what he wants us to think. And he wants us to think he...
Tim Benz: Steelers fans downplaying Browns hype could be in for surprise
Doubters of the Cleveland Browns got a little more ammunition this week. As we mentioned in “First Call” on Thursday, ESPN reported that Baker Mayfield chewed out his wide receivers over the weekend. The excitable Browns quarterback reportedly was upset that his pass-catchers weren’t running back to help him while...
Tim Benz: Pirates-Reds brawl suspensions a complete joke
This column is going to be very difficult to follow. Judging by the comments section that normally accompanies my posts, some of you may feel that’s a common occurrence on my page. This time, though, it won’t be my fault. This time. No, today it’ll be Major League Baseball’s fault....
Steelers OC Randy Fichtner breaks down passing game without Antonio Brown
Our “Breakfast with Benz” podcast comes to you from Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College. Tribune-Review Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter and I caught up with Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. We covered a lot of ground, including a look at the passing tree without Antonio Brown in the...
First Call: Raiders’ 1st ‘Hard Knocks’ trailer; Baker Mayfield screaming; Jordan Lyles debuts with Brewers
Thursday’s “First Call” features the new trailer for “Hard Knocks,” with significantly less Antonio Brown than we expected. Jordan Lyles debuts in Milwaukee. Baker Mayfield gets testy in Cleveland. Michael Thomas resets the bar for wide receiver contracts in New Orleans. Corey Dickerson misses out on history in Philadelphia. This...
Tim Benz: Prepare for a 2021 Pittsburgh sports yinz-pocalypse
You think 2019 has been a crazy year for Pittsburgh sports so far? Antonio Brown was traded. Le’Veon Bell went to the New York Jets. And the Steelers jumped into the top 10 of the draft. The Penguins were swept out of the playoffs, but Mike Sullivan got a contract...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans invent reasons to be angry. Pirates fans have easier time
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” some Steelers fans are mad about gender reveals. Others are angry about semi-trucks. And Pirates fans are angry about everything. And I mean, everything. Somebody named Eli did not like how somebody else named Eli showed up to Steelers training camp. When he loses...
Steelers’ Mark Barron breaks down team’s inside linebacker rotation
“Breakfast With Benz” returns to the practice fields of Saint Vincent College today. Oh, the players return as well. The Steelers are back at training camp after a day off. And one position that continues to be intriguing is inside linebacker. That’s where first-round pick Devin Bush is trying to...
First Call: How restructuring Stephon Tuitt’s contract can help the Steelers
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at the benefits of Stephon Tuitt’s reworked contract with the Steelers. Good news for the Ravens. And Larry Fitzgerald loves his new quarterback. This could help The Steelers reportedly are restructuring Stephon Tuitt’s contract. Source: the Steelers have converted $5.195M of DL Stephon Tuitt’s $6M base...
Tim Benz: A stick tap to Chris Kunitz and his underrated Penguins career
Here lies Chris Kunitz’s NHL career. Began: January 17, 2004 (Anaheim) Ended: April 6, 2019 (Chicago) Epitaph: You can’t win a Stanley Cup without a guy like Chris Kunitz. At least one. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a few more. I know this much. Four teams won Stanley Cup...
Tim Benz: Pirates-Reds brawl more comical than cantankerous
The Pirates and Reds had another skirmish in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 11-4 Bucs win. But, at least, this one had some punches thrown as opposed to the chest-puffing pillow fights that occurred earlier in the season. In case you missed it, the two teams clashed on the...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s apology; weird trick pitch; odd NFL rule enforcement
You’ll like the fact that Le’Veon Bell apologized — until you find out who he is referencing. Also, a weird hidden ball trick. And an under-the-radar rules enforcement in the NFL. All that and more in “First Call” for Tuesday. An apology … to whom? Le’Veon Bell has finally apologized....
Tim Benz: Josh Bell made a comical throw. Another play was even worse
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell made this, uh, “throw” in the bottom of the second inning Monday night in Cincinnati. Let’s see if it looks any better on replay.... pic.twitter.com/vQGli0awub— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) July 30, 2019 Yuck! The Reds TV broadcast described that throw from Bell as looking like...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Jordan Lyles trade, Joe Haden contract
I’m moving this week. So I took Monday off. Eventually, I emerged from a sea of boxes, cable wires, duffel bags and clothes I should’ve thrown away a long time ago to record Madden Monday. Sorry it’s a day late. Mark Madden and I caught up in his studio at...
Tim Benz: How can Pirates blow up what doesn’t exist?
This probably shouldn’t have hit me the way it did. It was late Saturday night on the set of the CW “Nightly Sports Call.” So maybe I was a bit testy. With the July 31 MLB trade deadline looming, a call came in asking if it was time to “just...
First Call: Phil Kessel’s ‘leadership’ role with Coyotes; another team in on Felipe Vazquez
In “First Call” Friday, Phil Kessel is taking on some added responsibility in Arizona. Another team in the mix for Felipe Vazquez. The worst Pirates trade of all time. Role change for Phil Phil Kessel: Leader! Yeah, I couldn’t type it with a straight face either. But that’s the picture...
Football Footnotes: Le’Veon Bell looks familiar; Browns popularity; Larry Fitzgerald’s highlight
In this edition of Friday Football Footnotes, a first look at Le’Veon Bell in Jets green. Larry Fitzgerald keeps drinking from the fountain of youth. And the Browns keep making you take notice. Browns business is boomin’ Not that Brown. The Cleveland Browns. It sure seems like NFL fans are...
Tim Benz: With questions in Steelers passing game, James Conner must be sharp from Day 1
Most of the questions on the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp last year were about Le’Veon Bell, his contract status and the state of the running game in his absence. James Conner answered many of those questions and rendered many of the concerns moot with a Pro Bowl...
Steelers podcast: Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman on Tomlin’s extension, Boswell’s challenge
It’s the first of many “Breakfast With Benz” podcasts from Saint Vincent College over the next three weeks. Steelers 2019 training camp is underway. Fellow Tribune-Review columnist Kevin Gorman and I talk about the upcoming practices as the Steelers prepare for the season ahead. The players reported. The first run...
First Call: New suitors for Felipe Vazquez, plus 2 other Pirates may move
In “First Call” Thursday, three Pirates pitchers could be traded. Hue Jackson won’t try to bury the hatchet with Baker Mayfield. Emmanuel Sanders is improving. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is on full tilt. Pirates on the move? If reports are right, the Pirates are trying to trade a few players....
U mad, bro? Readers rage over coverage of Mike Tomlin, Le’Veon Bell, Pirates commercial
In “U mad, bro?” this week, readers disagree about Mike Tomlin. They feign disinterest over Le’Veon Bell. And they find the real root of the Pirates’ problems. Richard sent me an email responding to my column about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s denial of distractions impacting his locker room last year....
Podcast: JuJu Smith-Schuster will outperform Antonio Brown; Pirates’ trade activity
Jeff Erickson is off this week for our fantasy sports podcast. Kevin Payne, also of Rotowire, pinch hits. NFL training camps are underway. It’s time to start thinking about your fantasy draft. Payne tells us whether JuJu Smith-Schuster or Antonio Brown will have a bigger year. His answer may surprise...
Tim Benz: Will addition by subtraction actually work for Steelers, Penguins?
We sure are big on the concept of addition by subtraction around these parts, aren’t we? The Steelers will be better because Antonio Brown is gone. Ben Roethlisberger won’t force the ball to a single receiver anymore. Brown’s ridiculous social media behavior will be happily absent. The game-planning to help...
