Tim Benz Columns category, Page 118
Tim Benz: For Penguins, it’s minimum expectations vs. maximum anticipation
Kris Letang summed it up perfectly. The Penguins defenseman was answering questions just a few minutes after the club secured a playoff berth. His team had just beaten the Red Wings, 4-1, Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena to clinch a spot. This is the 13th year in a row...
Tim Benz: Early signs show Pirates coming as advertised in 2019
Before the Pirates even got to their home opener, their first three days in Cincinnati gave us a pretty good snapshot of what to expect in 2019. Sometimes the starting pitcher is going to give you six shutout innings, and you are going to win. Sometimes the starter is going...
Tim Benz: Right call if Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger ditches radio show
I’ve avoided this column for a while. Because no matter how fair I try to be, my opinions are going to be viewed with a jaundiced eye. Understandably. But now, national reports have attempted to lend some news value to the story. Based on how national opinions and stories have...
First call: Landry Jones reunites with Antonio Brown; LeSean McCoy not done in Buffalo
In “First Call” Wednesday, you’ll never figure out where Landry Jones signed. There’s still hope for “Shady” in Buffalo. Making sense of a busy night in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. This should be good Guess where Landry Jones is going. I mean, it’s not the Raiders, right? Well, of course,...
Tim Benz: Steelers suddenly supporting Big Ben. What took so long?
It’s the media — and social media — circle of life. Become famous and popular, get torn down. Get abused online for a few months. Become a sympathetic figure. Get built back up again. Maybe Ben Roethlisberger is now in that final stage. After months of being the target of...
Tim Benz: Emmanuel Sanders joins party of bashing Kevin Colbert, Steelers
The latest ex-Steeler to pile on the franchise is current Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Last week, Sanders told 104.3 “The Fan” in Denver about how he left the Steelers. “The Steelers offered me a crappy deal,” Sanders told the radio station. “They offered me three years, $9 million, $1...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins, start of Pirates season, Tom Izzo ‘controversy’
There is a lot to get into for “Madden Monday” this week with Mark Madden of 105.9 the X. We start with the Penguins and the impact of recently acquired forward Denis Sav … uh, I mean … Jared McCann. How about that spin-o-rama goal he scored Saturday night in...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Roethlisberger, Bell, Penguins’ bad weekend, Pirates infield
Thanks to an off-day, this week’s “Madden Monday” comes on a Tuesday. We get into: • Josh Harris’ accusation that Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on purpose against the Bengals. Why is this information just coming out now? • Le’Veon Bell’s failed contract. The spin continues! LISTEN: Mark Madden, Tim Benz discuss...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ free agency moves shouldn’t impact draft strategy
Last year, the Steelers signed a 29-year-old free agent safety they thought could play like a linebacker. This year they signed a 29-year-old linebacker they think could play like a safety. This year’s move should be more of a sure bet seeing as how the candidate has been a full-timer...
Tim Benz: How the new AFC North might look
We begin our “Friday Football Footnotes” with a preemptive statement: What you are about to read is a projection, not a prediction. What you are about to read is an initial reaction to the early days of free agency, not a declaration of who is going to win the AFC...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell can blame only himself for contract with Jets coming up short
Le’Veon Bell agreed to a contract with the New York Jets that’ll reportedly pay him somewhere between $52 million and $61 million over four years. The last reported offer he had to stay in Pittsburgh was $70 million over five years. Le’Veon Bell’s four-year deal with the New York Jets...
Tim Benz: Drew Rosenhaus’ Antonio Brown interview should anger every Steelers fan
If you weren’t sick to death over the Antonio Brown trade to Oakland, Drew Rosenhaus’ weekend interview on the NFL Network probably put you over the top. It did for me. Antonio Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, breaks down how the WR ended up in Oakland landing a new contract."It was...
Former Steelers teammate: Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on purpose
You know the “Steelers circus” Kevin Colbert and Art Rooney II insist never existed? The one that is a total media creation and fabrication? Well, here’s another imaginary dancing bear to throw into the ring. Former Steelers running back Josh Harris — someone even die-hard Steelers fans may not remember...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell cases prove NFL needs CBA changes
If the Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell situations have illuminated one thing, it’s this: It’s time for the NFL to change its salary cap system. Because right now, in a collective bargaining agreement set up to give the players no power, the players are starting to realize they do have...
Tim Benz: Build a Kevin Colbert statue if he gets a 1st-rounder for Antonio Brown
If Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert really ends up with a first-round draft choice for disgruntled wide receiver Antonio Brown, that will make me sad. I’ve always liked Colbert. So I’d hate to see him wind up in prison on a grand-larceny charge. That’s what would be warranted if Colbert...
Tim Benz: Gushing over Jake Guentzel’s OT goal and what it means for Penguins
When it comes to praising the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin-era Penguins, as a fanbase — and media corps — we can get a little … What’s the word I’m looking for? Gushy? Effusive? Flowery? Fawning? Yeah. Any of those fit. Big picture, given the franchise’s accomplishments over those years, that applause...
Tim Benz: Too late for Penguins’ Sidney Crosby to make MVP push?
Is Sidney Crosby making a late push to get into the MVP conversation? It was a topic on the KDKA Sports Showdown Sunday. It came up on Mark Madden’s show on 105.9 the X Monday. “The Athletic” mentioned it after Crosby’s four-point performance in Montreal. And it was featured on...
Tim Benz: Who do you hate more? Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell?
So, it’s come to this. As recently as July, the Steelers fan base was proud to boast two of the top five players on the NFL Network’s “Top 100” list. Running back Le’Veon Bell was No. 5. The big-chested wide receiver formerly known as Antonio Brown was No. 2. Their...
Tim Benz: NFL did Steelers a $9.5M favor with Le’Veon Bell
The NFL may have done a $9.5 million favor for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And no one seemed to pick up on it. When Kevin Colbert hosted his Q&A with local media members Feb. 20, he announced the team wouldn’t use the transition tag on running back Le’Veon Bell. After a...
Tim Benz: Replacing Bryan Rust a challenge for Penguins
Before we start talking about how to best replace Penguins forward Bryan Rust while he is injured, it’s best to establish what has been lost. “Rusty brings a lot,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a good penalty killer. He brings so much speed and puck pursuit to the lines...
Tim Benz: Ties with owner, Cam Newton could make Antonio Brown a fit with Panthers
Perhaps those fretting about an underwhelming trade market for Antonio Brown have worried prematurely. In recent days, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said he has heard from at least three teams who have expressed an interest in Brown. Both NFL.com and Sports Illustrated advanced the Raiders as a good...
Tim Benz: Penguins better heed Jim Rutherford’s wake-up call
In a best-case scenario, the Penguins will make a nice playoff run with newly acquired Erik Gudbranson and Chris Wideman in the press box as scratches. They aren’t all that good. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford gave away two players who aren’t all that good to get them: Tanner Pearson...
Tim Benz: Steelers brass hated the word circus. What do they think of rebuild?
For two guys who didn’t want to admit the Steelers were a “circus,” they sure are doing a lot to tear down the big top. Team president Art Rooney II bristled at references to the Black and Gold being a “circus” after a chaotic 2018 came to a disappointing close....
Tim Benz: What Steelers fans should like, hate, ignore about Kevin Colbert’s comments
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert covered a lot of ground Wednesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. Not as much ground as was covered by Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown during their years in Black and Gold. But a lot nonetheless. It appears neither will be covering...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown getting his way doesn’t mean Steelers lose
Now that “Mr. Big Chest” has spoken, the path for the Pittsburgh Steelers appears to be clear. Antonio Brown posted a photo of himself with team owner Art Rooney II on social media Tuesday. Had a great meeting with Mr.Rooney today we discussed a lot of things and we cleared...
