Tim Benz Columns category, Page 111
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances after all-too-difficult Steelers win over BengalsVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers won a divisional road game with their third-string quarterback to move back into a playoff position. So what’s to complain about, right? Well, when the result was a scattered 16-10 nail-biter in the shadow of the Cincinnati Bengals 0-11 “Escaloser” at Paul Brown Stadium, I hope you’ll...
Tim Benz: Feats of strength after excruciating Steelers win over BengalsVideo
You know how it’s going to go this week. All “Duck vs. Mason.” All the time. Not that Devlin Hodges doesn’t deserve credit for sparking the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-10 comeback win. He does. But aside from one pass, Hodges was only 4-for-10 for 39 yards. And he threw a really...
Tim Benz: Browns’ Myles Garrett should be suspended for what he did off the field, too
Not only should you dismiss Myles Garrett’s claim that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur. You also should dismiss Garrett’s defense of making it. At his hearing to reduce his suspension for ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and swinging it during Week 11 of the NFL season, Garrett apparently made the...
First Call: Patriots reportedly consider Antonio Brown reunion; mockery of Myles Garrett
In Friday’s “First Call,” are the Patriots really thinking about trying to get Antonio Brown back on their roster? Myles Garrett’s celebrity twin. The Bengals have many problems. We focus on one in particular. And former Pitt basketball star Steven Adams brings the funny in a new commercial. `Kicking the...
Another Penguins-Islanders battle: More scoring, lots of stress
Penguins fans, sick of the New York Islanders yet? I already was after the playoffs last spring. And I sure as heck am now! On Thursday night, we will witness the third game in 14 days between these two clubs. The Penguins won Game 1 of the season series 4-3...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin’s comments on Myles Garrett triggers rage from Browns fans
During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the following comments about Myles Garrett swinging his helmet at Mason Rudolph in last Thursday’s game. He was asked if it was at all a “teachable moment” for his players. “I don’t know that we did anything to...
Tim Benz: Breaking down Pirates GM Ben Cherington’s ties to Neal HuntingtonVideo
It could just be one of those “funny how things work out” stories. Or, it could make more sense than that. “He was someone who helped me get an interview for an internship with the Cleveland Indians in 1998,” new Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said of his predecessor Neal...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey shouldn’t be suspended for defending Mason Rudolph in Myles Garrett melee
Anyone outside of Pittsburgh will disagree with this stance, but who cares? The NFL should not suspend Maurkice Pouncey for his role in that Steelers-Browns brawl Thursday night. The Steelers center started punching and kicking Myles Garrett after Garrett swung a helmet and struck Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during the...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances from Steelers’ loss to Browns … before the brawl
A lot of preconceived notions Pittsburghers had about the Cleveland Browns were confirmed Thursday night during their 21-7 win over the Steelers. Like for instance, Myles Garrett is a hot-headed jerk. Myles Garrett doing the unthinkable and unimaginable. pic.twitter.com/Y0UXzrCskn— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019 The prosecution rests. As a...
Tim Benz’s airing of grievances: What Steelers must fix vs. Browns
Fittingly, Bob Dylan was just in town performing in Moon Township on Sunday. Because, “times they are a-changin’”! The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from 1-4 to 5-4. So things are looking up. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, though. And a lot of it must happen fast. Because...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength from win over Rams not all on defenseVideo
Color me impressed. Shocked. Stunned. I never thought they could do it. Three straight wins out of the bye— all at home — for the Steelers normally isn’t something to make yourself go slack-jawed. But it’s mighty impressive when two of the opponents are still above .500 after losing here...
Tim Benz: Enjoy this nightmare scenario for Antonio Brown
The NFL is dragging its feet. So Antonio Brown is stomping his. The former Steelers, Raiders and Patriots wide receiver threw a Twitter hissy fit Thursday. He’s mad that the NFL hasn’t given him a clean slate so that a team can sign him without concern that that he may...
Tim Benz: Steelers offensive line must hit right notes against Rams’ Aaron DonaldVideo
Same song. Different musicians. The Steelers hope the music is just as sweet. In advance of their looming contest against the Indianapolis Colts last week, we heard both Bud Dupree and Cameron Heyward sing it on the Steelers defensive side of the ball. “Ones versus ones. Strength on strength. Good...
Tim Benz: Appreciate Steelers winning streak without massaging their slow startVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers started the season 0-3. Then 1-4. Despite numerous injuries and offseason defections, they have scratched their way back to 4-4 and remain within shouting distance of playoff contention. “It’s good to be .500 at the turn,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday. “It’s good to be...
Tim Benz: Plenty of grievances for Steelers even after win over ColtsVideo
A win without the starting quarterback, a starting defensive lineman, a starting offensive lineman and two running backs. Against a first-place team. Yeah. Sure. Take that without complaint, right? Nah! Who are we kidding? Not Steelers fans. Or… me. Especially when there is so much to complain about coming from...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength from crucial win over ColtsVideo
The Indianapolis Colts (5-3) lost Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton and starting cornerback Pierre Desir midweek. Then they lost starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett and starting center Ryan Kelly mid-game. But do you think the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) are going to feel sorry for anyone? Their star running back and wide...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell says Steelers were interested in trading for him
I’m going to guess that this is a Halloween trick from New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell. But what a treat it would be for those of us in the media if it had actually happened. Who knows. Maybe the Steelers would’ve benefited on the field, too. The former...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh fans should have easy time with ‘scariest sports story’ challenge
SB Nation got this Halloween sports-related thread going on Twitter Thursday. What's the scariest sports story you can tell in 6 words? — SB Nation (@SBNation) October 31, 2019 It shouldn’t be hard for Pittsburgh sports fans to figure out this one. We’ve seen plenty of scary things. And they...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances after Steelers slow start in win over DolphinsVideo
Even in the wake of victory, it’s never hard to construct an “Airing of Grievances” after a Steelers game. Especially when they trailed the woeful (0-7) Miami Dolphins into the third quarter. So let’s get to it. The first quarter It wasn’t pretty. Miami is believed to be one of...
Tim Benz: Pirates owner Bob Nutting responds to 3 questions that had to be askedVideo
On Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting held multiple media gatherings to address the firing of Neal Huntington as general manager and the hiring of Travis Williams as team president. In advance of those discussions, I wrote on Monday morning that there were three specific questions I wanted to...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength in hard-fought ‘MNF’ win over DolphinsVideo
As expected, the Steelers easily dismissed the hapless Miami Dolphins (0-7) by shutting them out 27-0. Well, over the last three quarters anyway. After the first quarter, the Steelers appeared to be en route to become Miami’s first victim, trailing 14-0. And the town was ready to burn. But the...
Tim Benz: Most pressing questions that need to be asked of Pirates’ Bob Nutting
The belief within the Pittsburgh media is that the Pirates will have a press conference of some sort Monday to introduce Travis Williams as the team’s new president. If that happens, it is also anticipated that owner Bob Nutting may be on hand to answer questions. That’s rare. If this...
Tim Benz: If Steelers lose on ‘MNF,’ turn out the lights. The party’s over.Video
To borrow a phrase from “Monday Night Football” lore, if the Steelers lose to the Dolphins Monday at Heinz Field: “Turn out the lights. The party’s over.” To be honest, the party should’ve broken up the minute JuJu Smith-Schuster fumbled in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens. Maybe it did. But...
Tim Benz: Randy Fichtner gives us one way Dolphins could upset SteelersVideo
Whether Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner meant to, he essentially told us the only way the Miami Dolphins could possibly pull off an upset in the “Monday Night Football” game at Heinz Field. Before the bye weekend hit, Fichtner was asked about improvements that the Steelers’ offense could make. “We’ve...
Tim Benz: Travis Williams needs more than Penguins pixie dust to fix Pirates
“Welcome back, Travis! Now how long before you fix everything? It’s been 40 years since the Pirates’ last World Series. I’m starting to get a little antsy.” Of course, I’m exaggerating about how some Pittsburgh sports fans are reacting to the hire of Travis Williams as the new team president...
