Tim Benz stories, Page 200
Breaking down Pitt’s chances of pulling off upset in Syracuse
Pitt hosts Duke on Tuesday. But first Jeff Capel`s crew visits Syracuse on Saturday. Trib Pitt beat writer Jerry DiPaola and I discuss the prospects of the Panthers pulling off another ACC upset, as they did against Florida State on Monday. We dive into the nuances of attacking the Orange`s...
Tim Benz: Steelers extending Mike Tomlin would mean nothing for his future
If you are someone like me, you embrace the idea of a Steelers head coaching change. And if you are someone like me, you would have preferred to see Mike Munchak get the job. But that ship has sailed. That`s not going to happen. It was never going to happen....
Tim Benz: Can Pitt coach Jeff Capel rediscover Jamie Dixon’s magic against Syracuse?
The chants of "We Want Duke" could be heard Monday throughout Petersen Events Center. A celebratory Pitt basketball crowd was basking in the glow of its rejuvenated program upsetting 11th-ranked Florida State. Yup. A game against mighty Duke on Tuesday night. That`s the next home tilt for new Panthers head...
First call: Terry Bradshaw on ‘The Masked Singer’; a player who doesn’t want Antonio Brown
In Thursday`s "First Call," another Steeler on "The Masked Singer." One wideout doesn`t want Antonio Brown on his team, Alexander Ovechkin channels his inner Mike Tyson and an NCAA hoops double-coach ejection. What am I missing here? When I saw Terry Bradshaw`s name trending in Pittsburgh on Twitter last night,...
U mad bro? Bruce Arians slams Antonio Brown, who rips Emmanuel Sanders
Ooh! It`s a special "U Mad, Bro?" Normally, this weekly post is all about our beloved readers venting at me. But, here`s a new one. This week`s entry is all about Steelers getting mad at each other. As Mike Tomlin might say, "It`s Steelers vs. Steelers today." Well, a current...
Podcast: Uncertainty remains after Art Rooney II addresses Steelers offseason plans
In the wake of a nightmare collapse for his team, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II held his annual meeting with Pittsburgh-area beat writers. Joe Rutter was our representative for Trib. He joined me for our podcast. Rooney said one thing in particular that I couldn`t believe. I shared my...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s take on Steelers ‘circus’ is pure ‘nonsense’
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II had his annual season-ending powwow with the team’s local print outlets Wednesday. He made one comment that was so far from true, it couldn’t see the truth with the Hubble telescope. Rooney was asked about the perception that his team is a circus and...
Analysis: Why bottom-dwelling Coyotes could mean trouble for Penguins
The Penguins next play in Arizona on Friday night. And the Coyotes stink. That`s bad news for the Penguins. Wait. Huh? Well, as the Trib`s Jonathan Bombulie pointed out this week, "The Penguins have played seven games this season against the four teams currently occupying last place in the league`s...
First call: Antonio Brown teases another interview; Mike Tomlin tweets about Mike Munchak
In Wednesday`s "First Call," Tomlin tweets! Guess what it is about. Antonio Brown is not to be outdone. Plus, updates on two major WPIAL stars. Another interview threat Antonio Brown`s post-meltdown Instagram interview with James Harrison got scrubbed. But now the disgruntled Steelers wide receiver is teasing another interview. As...
Tim Benz: Hits and misses from James Harrison’s newest anti-Mike Tomlin take
Disgruntled ex-Steelers linebacker James Harrison is on his anti-Mike Tomlin kick again. Watch FS1`s "Undisputed" clip below. Then we`ll see where he`s right and where he`s wrong. • Regarding Tomlin`s relationship with Antonio Brown: Harrison is right when he says Tomlin is too lax when...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s take on Steelers ‘circus’ is pure ‘nonsense’
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II had his annual season-ending powwow with the team’s local print outlets Wednesday. He made one comment that was so far from true, it couldn’t see the truth with the Hubble telescope. Rooney was asked about the perception that his team is a circus and...
First call: Jerry Rice says Antonio Brown wants to join 49ers ‘really bad’
In Tuesday`s "First Call," Jerry Rice is going to make Antonio Brown a 49er if it`s the last thing he does! Also, don`t expect the Colts to chase Brown or Le`Veon Bell. The Colts come up again as we take a little trip down Steelers memory lane. And we show...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer talk Penguins’ issues against bad teams, giving up short-handed goals
Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joins me for his weekly Sided.co hockey chat. We discuss the club`s issue when it comes short-handed goals. Also, how long can Jake Guentzel sustain this hot streak? We look at the remainder of the team`s west coast swing, too. LISTEN: Tim Benz, Brian...
Renowned ‘team player’ Reggie Jackson has a message for Steelers’ Antonio Brown
NFL legend Jerry Rice is doing whatever he can to support Antonio Brown and figure out a way top get him into a San Francisco 49ers uniform. However, a legend from another sport is coming out against Brown for abandoning the Steelers. Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson sent out...
Tim Benz: More to Mike Munchak’s departure from Steelers than meets the eye?
There`s an easy way to explain the departure of Mike Munchak. That`s why you shouldn`t accept it. It`s too easy. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their prized offensive line coach to the Denver Broncos. He took the same job there. Perhaps for more money. But from a job title point of...
First call: Antonio Brown axes affiliation with Steelers on Twitter, posts photo in half-49ers jersey
In "First Call" Monday, Antonio Brown unfollowed the Steelers on Twitter, posted a picture of himself in half a San Francisco uniform and is favored to wind up in Atlanta. Aside from that, it was a quiet weekend for ol` A.B. Weird look Since the Antonio Brown trade talk started,...
‘Best hands in the league’? Alshon Jeffrey’s flub ends Eagles’ title defense
Last week, it was Bears kicker Cody Parkey who was the sob story of the NFL playoffs. He "double-doinked" a field goal that would`ve sent the Bears to the next round with a win over the Eagles. This week, though, it`s an Eagle who is...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Steelers-Antonio Brown drama, Penguins’ Jake Guentzel
In this week`s Madden Monday, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to wallow in the latest chapter of the Antonio Brown drama. It comes from comments made by former Steeler receiver Emmanuel Sanders. We also talk about the futures of Mike Tomlin and Mike Munchak and Art Rooney...
Tim Benz: Emmanuel Sanders rips Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger — and he’s mostly right
The latest former Steeler to chime in on the Antonio Brown situation is fellow receiver and 2010 draft classmate Emmanuel Sanders. You know, the other "dog" in that "two dogs, one bone" scenario Mike Tomlin created in their rookie year. Sanders — now a Denver Bronco — was on the...
First call: A free-agent linebacker who could fit with the Steelers
In Friday`s "First Call," a linebacker you can expect the Steelers to sign. A soccer player gets run over by a cart. Klay Thompson`s amazing night. Sully makes Tortorella look un-Tortsy. Keep an eye on this guy Remember when the Steelers played the Panthers this year? Mike Tomlin gushed about...
Tim Benz: One NFC team made a decision the Steelers should follow
There have been many complaints about Mike Tomlin from Steelers fans. • He doesn`t have control over his players. • His teams underachieve given their level of Pro Bowl talent. • His playoff success hasn`t matched his regular season success in recent years. • His players play down to the...
Antonio Brown has cryptic response to Rooney’s comments about future with Steelers
In "Friday Football Footnotes," San Francisco keeps trying to lure Antonio Brown. A.B. responds to Art Rooney II`s comments. And an NFC team does something the Steelers should`ve done a long time ago. Antonio Brown answers Rooney`s comments Kind of. On Thursday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II said it would...
Tim Benz, Jonathan Bombulie preview Penguins’ 5-game, 9-day road trip
I`m joined by Penguins beat writer Jonathan Bombulie for Friday`s Penguins podcast. He has a weeklong series about the team coming up for their bye week, which starts starting Jan. 21. He`ll give us a sneak peek. Before then, the Pens have five straight games out west, starting Friday night...
Tim Benz: Another Pittsburgh coach rips team in Michel Therrien-like rant
Within a day of the anniversary of "the rant," Duquesne women`s basketball coach Dan Burt channeled his inner Michel Therrien. He even called his team "soffff." Burt actually pronounced the "t" at the end. But close enough. You remember Therrien`s infamous diatribe addressing his struggling Penguins team after a 3-1...
First call: ‘Injured’ Antonio Brown seems to be working out pretty hard
In Thursday`s "First Call," Antonio Brown really seems to be struggling with his "injury." The never-ending parallels between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. And perhaps the greatest non-walk-off home run celebration ever. Gosh, I hope he`s OK For a guy who was too injured to be in the Pro Bowl...
