Tim Benz stories, Page 198
Tim Benz discusses another lackluster Penguins home loss
Whenever the Pittsburgh Penguins lose, the default explanation is: "We just need to work harder." OK. Maybe. But was that really the problem in the 4-0 loss Tuesday against Carolina? I think it was more about a lack of execution and perhaps a need for a more simple approach —...
First Call: The homeless Raiders, the unstoppable Ovechkin, the Patriots on ice
For "First Call" on Tuesday, we ask the questions: What city will the Raiders ruin in 2019? Will Pittsburgh get the A-10 tournament again sometime soon? Can Ovi get any better? Can the Lakers get any worse? The (fill in the blank) Raiders Here`s a paradox. If the Raiders are...
Tim Benz: The blame-shifting for — and enabling of — Antonio Brown
As you probably have heard by now, Antonio Brown was reportedly involved in a domestic dispute . As you have also probably heard, it`s the media`s fault. To be clear, Brown was not charged . No arrests were made as result of the police inquiry. Which is exactly what the...
Tim Benz: Penguins wingers must pay off faith Jim Rutherford wants to show
If Jim Rutherford said it, it must be true. Few people are more trustworthy than a general manager approaching the trade deadline, right? Just like a politician near Election Day, a lawyer during closing arguments, or a car salesman on the lot of a "Holiday Sale-A-Thon Special!" But the Penguins...
First Call: Penguins don’t need wingers, Flyers heat up, Super not super
In today`s "First Call," Jim Rutherford may not be in the market for any wings at the trade deadline. The Flyers are heating up. Super Bowl ratings weren`t super. GMJR on hold Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford was on 105.9 The X on Monday. He said that acquiring a...
Tim Benz: ESPN predicts Le’Veon Bell to Houston, Antonio Brown to San Fran, Cleveland wins the North
Here`s a little light-hearted reading I`m sure every Pittsburgh Steelers fan will enjoy . ESPN.com`s Dan Graziano made 10 predictions for the 2019 NFL season, within hours of the 2018 season ending. Here are three of them that will catch the eyes of Steelers fans. • Le`Veon Bell will wind...
Tim Benz: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss Penguins-Hurricanes matchup, Brassard trade
Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena. Brian Metzer joins us from the Penguins Radio Network to preview the matchup. It`s his weekly Sided.co hockey appearance. We also examine the positives and negatives of the Derick Brassard trade. How good can Nick Bjugstad and Jared...
Tim Benz: Hines Ward is right – Steelers are now the Bengals, must become the Patriots
Last week I made this statement about the Pittsburgh Steelers. That thought was met with predictable fan response from Steelers Nation. • "You`re just "spitting hot takes!" • Fake news! • You`re short! You never played in the NFL! What do you know? That last...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss how the Steelers could be more like the Patriots
In this week`s Madden Monday, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins us to recap the New England Patriots win in the Super Bowl. How can the Pittsburgh Steelers better emulate what New England does? Also, how does this victory further entrench the accomplishments of the Brady-Belichick era? Two of...
Tim Benz: Has Antonio Brown changed his mind about Pittsburgh?
Has Antonio Brown changed his mind about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh? The Steelers wide receiver continues to show that he is not bipolar. He`s tripolar. Maybe quadpolar — if that`s a thing. If it isn`t yet, it will be as soon as Brown is diagnosed. Now — after weeks...
First Call: Could Steelers still tag Le’Veon Bell?, Alan Faneca stays strong, Michael Keaton tweets
In Monday`s "First Call," Michael Keaton`s dubious Pittsburgh Steelers tweet during the Super Bowl. Would the Steelers really transition tag Le`Veon Bell? And Antonio Brown may be changing his mind about wanting to stay in Pittsburgh. Super Bowl bombshell Before the New England Patriots plunged the rest of the NFL...
Tim Benz: Some Penguins hockey karma — a Tugnutt scored on a Primeau
Here`s one of those "hockey is a small world" kind of stories — with an ironic twist that I hope makes Pittsburgh Penguins fans smile. I was doing ESPN Pittsburgh play-by-play for the Robert Morris hockey team as they played Sacred Heart this weekend. One of the Pioneers` leading point...
Tim Benz: After 5 straight losses, how does Pitt’s Jeff Capel get his rebuild back on track?
So now what? You can`t blame Pitt basketball fans — and even the program itself — if it has that question at this juncture of its mammoth rebuild. First-year head coach Jeff Capel received — and deserved — high marks for the initial stages of the salvage mission. His energy,...
First call: Terrelle Pryor wants to play for Steelers
In Friday`s "First Call," would Terrelle Pryor be a fit with the Steelers? Tom Brady is campaigning for Ty Law. And the Jets may not want Le`Veon Bell after all. Well, if AB is leaving... Jeannette`s Terrelle Pryor is one of the greatest players in WPIAL history. Now he wants...
Tim Benz, Jonathan Bombulie break down Penguins, ponder Derick Brassard’s future
Check back here weekly for Friday Penguins chats with Jonathan Bombulie, our Penguins beat writer at the Trib. The Penguins get another last place team at PPG Paints Arena on Friday night when Ottawa visits. Can Mike Sullivan`s team finally take care of business against lesser competition after losing eight...
Steelers’ Antonio Brown does some confusing interviews at Super Bowl
Antonio Brown is speaking again publicly. So that`s a recipe for disaster. Forget the big interview reveal, Brown is starting to do a bunch of little ones. Although Brown is not saying much. Mainly because I don`t know how capable he is of doing so. For those thinking there has...
Football footnotes: Tim Benz breaks down smart plays for Super Bowl betting
I had a pretty good NFL playoffs as far as making picks. I won`t say who. I won`t say where. I won`t say how much. But I`ll just say I went 8-4. So stick with me, kid. You`ll make some money. Here`s my advice on the Patriots-Rams Super Bowl. Take...
Tim Benz: The definitive all-Steelers Super Bowl roster
Super Sunday is this weekend. Without the Pittsburgh Steelers. Again. But that doesn`t mean we haven`t had our fair share. Eight of `em, in fact. So, it`s time for us to do what we do best in Pittsburgh when the Super Bowl doesn`t involve the Steelers. We just flash back...
First call: Jerome Bettis dishes on Antonio Brown drama; Pittsburgh loves Pro Bowl
"First Call" for Wednesday features a state of the Steelers from Jerome Bettis, a soccer assault, Pitt problems and Pro Bowl ratings that were stunningly high in Pittsburgh. The Bus on A.B. On Fox, Steelers great Jerome Bettis referred to the 2018 club as a disappointment. He described it as...
As they prepare for Penguins, a look at what makes Lightning so dominant
The Tampa Bay Lightning come to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night with the best record in the Eastern Conference. By far. They are the easy choice as Stanley Cup front-runners at this point. The Bolts have 76 points. That`s 13 better than anyone else in the conference. The have the best...
U mad, bro? Readers rail on Steelers chaos, Antonio Brown, Pirates payroll
This week`s "U mad, bro?" is all about emotional transference. Y`all are angry about the Pirates payroll, Antonio Brown`s behavior and the Steelers` chaotic failures. And instead of dealing with it yourselves, you are taking it out on me. Poor, sweet, innocent me. We open with Nick and his ad...
Tim Benz: Penguins have to fix current players before acquiring new ones
In recent years, the path to Penguins improvement during the season has been clear. In 2016, it was to fire the coach and improve speed throughout the lineup. So the team swapped out Mike Johnston for Mike Sullivan and traded for the likes of Carl Hagelin, Justin Schultz and Trevor...
First call: Bettis still wants to be Steelers RB coach; Malkin’s minuses piling up
Wednesday`s "First Call" features Evgeni Malkin`s issues. Jerome Bettis thinks he`s getting a new job with the Steelers. A few WPIAL stars are on display at the Super Bowl. And the cost of washing off "Steeler stank." Who wants to tell him? Over the weekend Jerome Bettis posted a poll...
Penguins’ issues vs. bad teams, Evgeni Malkin’s struggles persist
Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joins me for our weekly hockey podcast. The Penguins played a stinker in their first home game back from a week off. New Jersey beat them 6-3. We talk about Evgeni Malkin`s struggles, the team`s inability to beat bad teams and another short-handed goal...
Tim Benz: Actions speak louder than words, and no one can hear the Pirates
At PiratesFest over the weekend, Pirates President Frank Coonelly gave Pittsburgh baseball fans a rah-rah speech. It appears his goal was to build on some late season momentum from the club, which got itself above .500 for just the fourth time since 1992. I`d suggest the time to do that...
