Tim Benz stories, Page 201
Tim Benz, Jeff Erickson break down quiet Pirates offseason, fantasy NFL playoffs
In our weekly "Breakfast with Benz" fantasy sports podcast, we talk with Jeff Erickson of RotoWire. We`re looking at playoff predictions for all four NFL games this weekend. Not only do we dive into NFL playoff fantasy talk, but we look at the growth of college fantasy football. LISTEN: Tim...
U mad, bro? Readers believe Steelers actually were ‘a few plays away’
This week`s "U mad, bro?" shines a light on angry Steelers fans and prickly Penguins fans. And on people who still call Antonio Brown their "idol." Voluntarily. <hr? Steve emailed me. He agrees with most of my comments in this article about John Elway potentially impacting the Steelers` future on...
Tim Benz: Jerry Rice makes insane comments about Steelers’ Antonio Brown
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown may have a $20,000 G.O.A.T ring. But when it comes to NFL wide receivers, San Francisco legend Jerry Rice is still the G.O.A.T — Greatest Of All Time. Rice is the all-time leader in receiving yards, receptions and touchdowns. He isn`t the G.O.A.T when it...
First call: Is there a ghost in Penguins goalie Matt Murray’s locker?
In "First Call" on Wednesday, Matt Murray`s locker may be haunted. The Penguins celebrate the 1970`s. You can own a classic piece of Pirates history. And we cringe remembering an awful Steelers memory. That was close In their 5-1 defeat of Florida, the Penguins challenged the Panthers` lone goal. They...
Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot discusses state of team as Atlantic 10 home schedule starts
In Wednesday`s Sided.co podcast, I`m joined by Duquesne men`s basketball head coach Keith Dambrot. We talk about the state of his reshaped team as it opens the A-10 home schedule Wednesday night. Fordham is in town. The teams split last year, have identical records this year,and appear closely matched again....
How John Elway could impact the future of the Steelers
The future of the Steelers coaching staff may be in the hands of John Elway. The Broncos president reportedly is down to two candidates to replace Vance Joseph as head coach. That`s according to 9News in Denver. It`ll either be Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio or Steelers offensive line coach...
Tim Benz: Ex-Steeler turned ‘media turd’ Ryan Clark awesome on Antonio Brown situation
I have never been shy about referencing my dislike for Ryan Clark, at least while he played for the Steelers. Actually, when he first came to the club as a free agent safety in 2006, I liked talking to him a lot. He was outgoing, informative, occasionally funny. That soured...
First call: Ex-Bears kicker Robbie Gould was at Chicago’s loss to Eagles
Troy Polamalu is one-for-one in Hall of Fame votes. Penn State`s Robbie Gould is the most popular man in Chicago ... and he doesn`t even kick there anymore. Robert Morris` goalie is standing out. And we may have seen the best shootout attempt ever. Rub it in, why don`t ya?...
Podcast: Penguins can’t shake Chicago demons; what’s wrong with Derick Brassard?
In today`s "Breakfast with Benz" podcast, I`m joined by Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network for our weekly hockey talk. We discuss the Penguins` surprising loss to the Blackhawks. The state of Derick Brassard`s game. Casey DeSmith`s goaltending. Tuesday night`s game against the Panthers. Most importantly, we get into...
Analysis: Steelers’ 2019 schedule already looks daunting
While other teams are looking forward to the second round of the playoffs, Steelers fans are resigned to previewing next year`s schedule. I probably should`ve done that already. Amid a sea of coach firings, AWOL wide receivers, exaggerated injuries and locker room leaks, I`m late to the party. Come to...
Tim Benz: Penguins must avoid turning into what Steelers have become
What a bad Sunday. Blowing a lead. Playing down to the level of bad competition. Thirteen giveaways. I`m not talking about the Steelers. I`m talking about the Penguins. For one night, it felt like Mike Tomlin`s team had swapped its spikes for the skates of Mike Sullivan`s players. The Penguins...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss state of Steelers amid Antonio Brown drama
In this week`s "Madden Monday," Mark Madden of 105.9 the X and I wrap up the first week of the NFL playoffs and how we think the Steelers would have done versus Los Angeles this time around. Also, we get into the latest Antonio Brown drama, and whether or not...
First call: Why the Antonio Brown-James Harrison ‘exclusive’ won’t happen
In Monday`s "First Call," we find out what happened to the James Harrison interview with Antonio Brown. Arizona and Denver may both fill their head coaching vacancies with guys with Steelers connections. And Chris Kunitz may have been welcomed back to Pittsburgh too fondly. So, about that `exclusive` ... According...
A horse named Tomlin starts strong, blows lead, fades late
Another loss for Tomlin. No, not Mike. There`s a race horse named "Tomlin." And unlike her namesake, she was in action on Wild Card weekend. The 3-year-old filly participated in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita. You guessed it. She was wearing Black and Gold! It didn`t...
Tim Benz: Don’t kid yourself. Steelers were more than ‘a few plays away.’
It was maddening, wasn`t it? Viewing the NFL playoffs this weekend with no Pittsburgh Steelers game on the ledger. Watching the Houston Texans get whitewashed at home. Seeing the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens trade special teams gaffes and squandered offensive opportunities. Witnessing the Colts get shut out in...
Tim Benz: Don’t let Roethlisberger off the hook amid Steelers turmoil
Let`s follow up on what James Jones had to say about Ben Roethlisberger`s role in the drama surrounding Antonio Brown. "I have talked to a couple of people in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, and they told me this has been lingering," Jones said on NFL...
First call: Antonio Brown reportedly felt Steelers’ standard was ‘slipping’
In "First Call" Friday, a different twist on the Antonio Brown situation. Alan Faneca will take another run at Canton. And some top-ranked hockey teams are in town this weekend. The standard isn`t the standard? Check out this quote from Albert Breer of "Sports Illustrated" as it relates to Antonio...
What would be fantasy impact of Steelers trading Antonio Brown?
When it comes to all this Antonio Brown controversy, as JuJu Smith-Schuster might say, let`s get to the real important stuff: Fantasy Football. If Brown gets traded, there will be some major waves in the fantasy sports world. So, during our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire,...
Tim Benz: Steelers should be better than Mike Tomlin has made them
Arguing about whether the Pittsburgh Steelers should keep Mike Tomlin is more volatile than any political discussion I can fathom. Give me a nice, quiet conversation about border walls, health care, gun control, government shutdowns or Hillary`s emails any day. Those are far less contentious topics. Sides have been drawn....
Podcast: Wrapping up Mike Tomlin’s final Steelers news conference of the season
Fellow Trib writers Kevin Gorman and Chris Adamski join me to "wallow" in "the Steelers`" darkest hour" following Mike Tomlin`s last news conference of 2018. It`s our final Steelers roundtable podcast of the season. We talk about Antonio Brown going AWOL, the looming offseason and Tomlin`s future. Also, the ripple...
U mad, bro? Readers weigh in on Antonio Brown-Steelers saga
No surprise here! For "U mad, bro?" this week, it`s all Steelers, Mike Tomlin and Antonio Brown all the time. But there is maybe more support for them and rage at me than what you may expect. Well, I expect it all the time. But you judge for yourself. Eli...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown quit on Steelers. Mike Tomlin would’ve played him this week, anyway.
Let`s live in a fantasy world for a minute. Baker Mayfield`s fourth-down pass late in the fourth quarter last Sunday wasn`t intercepted by Baltimore`s C.J. Mosely. Instead, it was complete, and the Browns picked up a first down. They moved a few more yards downfield and kicked a game-winning field...
First call: Mike Munchak to Broncos?; Antonio Brown ‘Masked Singer’ flubs
In Thursday`s "First Call," we check out Mike Munchak`s interview date in Denver, mistaken identities for Antonio Brown in the hippo mask and a sadly tame reaction from Henrik Lundqvist after the Penguins chased him. Rocky Mountain Munchak? Mike Munchak has his interview date in Denver. The Broncos reportedly will...
Podcast: A look at the Penguins turnaround, hot division race
Well, it`s hockey season full time now. The Steelers are done. So it`s up to the Penguins to raise our sagging sports enthusiasm. I`m joined by Brian Metzer of the Pens Radio Network for our weekly hockey podcast. Metz and I look at Matt Murray`s improvement since his return to...
First call: Is an NFC Pro Bowler trying to woo Antonio Brown to 49ers?
In our first "First Call" of 2019, we have the first flirtation with Antonio Brown from a player on another NFL team. Penn State`s Trace McSorley goes down fighting. And a quarterback gets clobbered. Also, humiliation for the Notre Dame mascot. And, no, it has nothing to do with what...

