Tim Benz Columns category, Page 48
Looking at each challenge within the Penguins’ crucial 4-game western road swing
For as enjoyable as Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Flyers was, the Pittsburgh Penguins won’t be able to count on scoring seven goals every night moving forward. But, for the offensively challenged Pens, knowing they’ve got that club in their bag may certainly come in handy for the rest of...
Tim Benz: Reason to hope Penguins’ manic win over Philadelphia resonates before trade deadline
As manic as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ (60 points) 7-6 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers (67 points) was Sunday, it’s precisely the kind of win the Penguins needed to have. It was a win over a hated rival. It was two points gained on the Metropolitan Division’s third playoff team. And...
First Call: Compensation models for Jake Guentzel; Steelers lock up ex-Ravens OLB; Ryan Clark’s big bucks from ESPN
After a rare three-day weekend, “First Call” is back at “Breakfast With Benz” with plenty of Pittsburgh Steelers conversation. The franchise has signed a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker. We get an update on Ryan Clark’s status at ESPN. A couple of former Steelers have options on a potential draftee at...
Tim Benz: Adding context to Penguins’ latest win — since that’s what we’re supposed to do now
I’ll admit I felt a little silly asking the questions in the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room after their 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. Was I baiting the hook a little bit? Eh, maybe. Defense counsel might have a hard time protecting me on this one. But...
Terry Bradshaw staunchly defends Kenny Pickett, changes tune on Arthur Smith
While appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday, former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw offered up an impassioned defense of Kenny Pickett as the franchise’s starter at the position. “I love Pickett,” Bradshaw said. “I know him well. He’s fiercely competitive. He’s a tough-minded kid. Things don’t bother him. I...
First Call: A different take on the Justin Fields-to-Pittsburgh talk; guess who almost became Steelers QB in the ‘90s?
A different consideration is being advanced about the prospect of the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for Justin Fields. A blast from the past reveals that he was almost a Steelers quarterback in the early 1990s. The Penguins are preparing to renew acquaintances with their friends from Philadelphia. Some Robert Morris Colonials...
Tim Benz: Yes, Kyle Dubas has many options. No, none of them are any good
If you tried to follow the flowchart of messaging from Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager Kyle Dubas, it got pretty confusing. • At one point during his media availability in advance of the March 8 trade deadline, Dubas made it sound like the Penguins may have to trade All-Star winger Jake...
U mad, bro?: Readers get ‘biblical’ as they sound off about Steelers’ QBs, Russell Wilson, Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher
This week’s “U mad, bro?” features angst over the Steelers’ quarterback situation, the Bible, ‘80s pop songs, and Bill Cowher’s playoff record. Obviously, I listed those things in order of general overall importance. Those topics may come off a little disjointed and scattered. Just know that the connecting thread is...
Tim Benz: The Penguins’ nostalgia buzz can only last so long
The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost three times over the past seven days, yet it still feels like they had a pretty good week. When you welcome back a franchise icon like Jaromir Jagr for the first time in almost a quarter century to retire his jersey, those emotions resonate beyond...
First Call: Former Steelers rival says Russell Wilson will come to Pittsburgh; Big Ben’s Mike Tomlin-Bill Cowher comparison
A former rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers sure sounds like he is pushing Russell Wilson toward Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger draws an interesting comparison between Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher. We check in on some legal issues surrounding a budding Baltimore Ravens star. Plus, we bid a fond farewell to an...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ QB situation gets national media to wonder if the franchise ‘has become unserious’
For a change, it’s not just the local media and fans in Pittsburgh willing to be critical of the Steelers. As a collective, the national media has far too often lashed back and mocked local frustrations over the Steelers. Now, some in those positions are lending a critique of the...
Tim Benz: Penguins and Islanders facing similar circumstances in multiple ways
There is one thing the Pittsburgh Penguins did right against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night. At least they scored first. It took a while. But Sidney Crosby was able to tally a power-play goal with a little more than a minute remaining in the first period to make...
Jaromir Jagr on Sidney Crosby: ‘He can play for another 5 or 6 years’
When it comes to hockey longevity, few can rival Jaromir Jagr. He is 52 and still playing in his seventh post-NHL season with Kladno for his own team in Czechia. That’s on top of playing at least part of 24 seasons in the NHL and four other full seasons in...
First Call: Cameron Heyward has surgery; Antonio Brown rips Steelers’ WR coach hire
For “First Call” on Tuesday, we check in on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward after his surgery. We look at some off-the-radar Steelers draft prospects. Antonio Brown is mad about a Steelers coaching hire. And we scout Tuesday’s Duquesne basketball game. How is Heyward? Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward...
Tim Benz: Emotions surrounding Jaromir Jagr’s jersey retirement were as unique as the player himself
In most situations, the jersey retirement process is a pretty easy one. By the very nature of the honor, the presumption is that whoever is getting their jersey retired in whatever city they used to call home is probably so beloved by the fans that the organization and the player...
First Call: Source claims some Steelers don’t want ‘preferred chance’ for Kenny Pickett; Jaromir Jagr’s one-liner wins crowd
In Monday’s “First Call,” we add a little texture to the reports of “internal division” within the Pittsburgh Steelers regarding their quarterback situation. Jaromir Jagr’s sense of humor was on display during his jersey retirement speech. The Penguins’ next opponent let one get away in a high-profile game on Sunday....
Madden Monday: Penguins’ loss ‘signs Jake Guentzel’s exit papers,’ Diontae Johnson’s ‘future is in doubt’ with Steelers
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, their Jaromir Jagr jersey retirement ceremony on Sunday was an unmitigated, fun-filled success. Until roughly the second intermission of the game itself. By then, you could tell that the Penguins were just trying to nurse a 1-0 lead against the Los Angeles Kings. Their putrid power...
‘The Holdovers’: RMU hockey senior night takes on special meaning for players who stuck around to reboot the program
For three Robert Morris hockey players, this weekend, they will be getting the senior night send-off they never thought they’d receive. Saturday against Canisius (5 p.m.) marks the final regular-season home game for the Colonials in their return campaign after a two-year absence for the program. In May 2021, the...
First Call: Patrick Peterson discusses future in Pittsburgh; new Washington coaching staff features former Steelers
Friday’s “First Call” has some coaching news involving former Pittsburgh Steelers. We discuss Patrick Peterson’s future with the team. And we look at the Penguins’ next opponent. Heading west Former Steelers wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson has a new job. It’s with the Seattle Seahawks. The Hawks are hiring Jackson...
Jaromir Jagr’s Penguins teammates recall when they realized they were playing with a legend-to-be
You didn’t have to know much about hockey — or frankly sports in general — to be able to tell that Jaromir Jagr was different. That he was dynamically gifted at his craft. That he wasn’t just going to be great, but that he was an all-timer. The locker room...
Tim Benz: Penguins sound like they are running out of answers
After practice on Tuesday, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan talked about “rethinking what winning looks like in Pittsburgh.” I’m going to guess whatever he was thinking about isn’t what the Penguins showed Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers, and that’s not what it was supposed to look like. Especially in the...
U mad, bro?: Lots of reader Valentines about Steelers, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Arthur Smith
As I was putting “U mad, bro?” together on Valentine’s Day, I sure could feel the love from my readers. Near as I can tell, you think I’m too hard on the Steelers and too judgmental about the Arthur Smith hire, I pick on Tom Brady too much and I...
First Call: Kirk Cousins’ camp keeping an eye on Steelers’ QB situation; Ryan Clark’s future at ESPN unclear
A big-name free-agent quarterback may have an interest in playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. J.J. Watt is blowing off some derogatory comments about his brother from Micah Parsons. Ryan Clark’s status at ESPN is uncertain. The Penguins are about to play a team that’s in even worse shape than they...
Tim Benz: When it came to Mitch Trubisky’s thud, Steelers (and many fans) refused to see it coming
The Mitch Trubisky signing will go down as one big swing and a miss for the Pittsburgh Steelers. An air ball. A shanked drive. A gutter ball. A foot fault. Whatever negative sports mixed metaphor that you prefer. Fortunately, the financial ramifications aren’t all that vast. While I’m sure Art...
For Mike Sullivan and the Penguins, necessity is the mother of reinvention
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan described frustration as a “useless emotion” after his team’s 2-1 loss Saturday night in Winnipeg. Useless? OK. Understandable, though? For sure. Oh, and that’s not just for Sullivan but for any Penguins fan in Western Pennsylvania. After all, with just 33 games left, the Penguins...
