Tim Benz Columns category, Page 52
Tim Benz: Steelers trying to get by with a little help from their friends once again
It’s certainly possible that the Pittsburgh Steelers could get the help they need this weekend to qualify for the NFL playoffs. I’m just longing for the days when they didn’t always need it. Hey, don’t get me wrong. I like the Beatles and Joe Cocker as much as the next...
First Call: George Pickens upset again about another Pro Bowl snub; Ravens pick up another RB
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is unhappy with the Pro Bowl. Again. The Baltimore Ravens are getting a big name in reserve for their offensive backfield. The Penguins don’t have much time to recover from their wild Thursday night affair in Boston. Plus, we take a look at the...
Football Footnotes: Ravens, Bills, Jaguars insiders give predictions, insight on Steelers’ potential playoff path
For the 9-7 Pittsburgh Steelers to qualify for the playoffs, the most direct path is to beat the 13-3 Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, then have the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) lose/tie in Tennessee (5-11) on Sunday afternoon or the Buffalo Bills (10-6) lose in Miami (11-5) on Sunday night. There are...
Tim Benz: Penguins are facing a different kind of challenge in Boston
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, this will be a different challenge. Different. Certainly not less daunting. But, different. Since Christmas, Pittsburgh’s perpetually up-and-down hockey team has played four games. Three of them came against opponents they are chasing in the Metropolitan Division standings as they flail away in an attempt to...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are riled up about Kenny Pickett and the media coverage of him
It was a very contentious week when it comes to Pittsburgh Steelers coverage. Everybody had opinions about what went down with Kenny Pickett’s healthy scratch heading into Seattle. And all of them were very heated. We touch on many of them and more in this week’s “U mad, bro?” I...
First Call: Cam Heyward leaves future open; Travis Kelce rips Tomlin critics; Jags-Titans injury update
Thursday’s “First Call” features an unknown future for Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward and an injury report on one of the games that impacts the Steelers’ playoff hopes. Plus, Tyreek Hill’s agent provides an update on the scary house fire at his client’s home. And Travis Kelce has some...
Duquesne hopes to build on positives from pre-conference schedule as Atlantic 10 play begins
As their Atlantic 10 Conference schedule begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at UMass, the Duquesne basketball team should feel like it is on familiar ground. And in an appropriate spot. The Dukes made it through the two-month pre-conference schedule at 9-3. Their only losses came on the road at...
First Call: Unpopular choice to officiate Steelers-Ravens; fine for David Tepper’s drink toss
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some unfortunate details about the officiating crew for Saturday’s Steelers-Ravens game. One former Pittsburgh Steeler is looking for work, while another one is on a new roster. The Penguins are helping out Cameron Heyward. Marc-Andre Fleury is still working to catch Patrick Roy. And a former...
Tim Benz: If Kenny Pickett is being honest with us, I hope Steelers coaches weren’t being honest with him
A dust-up has been swirling around the allegations that Kenny Pickett refused to be a backup quarterback Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Seattle. Pickett addressed that storyline Tuesday and denied it. Something else he said is the bigger story, though. “There was no talk of me being a backup...
Madden Monday: Steelers win in Baltimore not a layup even against backups; discussing trading Jake Guentzel
As Mark Madden wrote last week here at TribLive, 2023 wasn’t a good year in Pittsburgh sports. He couldn’t even do a “best of Pittsburgh sports” column for the year because there was no “best.” But at least the Penguins and Steelers are finishing strong. The Steelers have won two...
Feats of Strength: Running backs, Rudolph-to-Pickens, Nick Herbig’s huge play help Steelers to rare win in Seattle
The Steelers ended 2023 in style, winning in Seattle for the first time since 1983. The victory keeps the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive going into the final week of the season. Plus, the franchise extends its streak of seasons at .500 or better to 20 with a 30-23 decision over...
First Call: Browns fans troll Pittsburgh during win; Devin Bush on emotions toward Steelers
The final “First Call” of 2023 gives us some AFC North trash talk from Browns fans toward the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cameron Heyward shares his thoughts on Joe Flacco’s success in Cleveland. Hines Ward is done as an XFL head coach. Devin Bush discusses the prospect of playing the Steelers. And...
Football Footnotes: Examining the scenarios for the Steelers to avoid AFC playoff elimination
There are a lot of confusing AFC playoff scenarios afoot this weekend, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are involved in many of them. For the Steelers, a few things are clear. They can’t clinch anything with a win in Seattle on Sunday. And they can’t be eliminated strictly by losing to...
Tim Benz: While the NFL celebrates parity, Pittsburgh shouldn’t applaud Steelers’ mediocrity
NFL parity is nearing historic levels. As you could probably guess, the league is basking in it. Here is a social media post from NFL senior vice president of football and international communications Michael Signora. 24 teams are still in contention for a trip to the Super Bowl, which ties...
U mad, bro?: Readers want more rah, rah, rah for Steelers, their defense, Mike Tomlin
According to Steelers fans in my email, I completely messed up by forgetting to wish for something I sorely needed at Christmas: a pair of Black and Gold pom-poms. Because based on the tone of some of the interactions I got this week, you’d prefer I cheerlead instead of giving...
First Call: James Harrison, Hines Ward snubbed for Hall of Fame again; did Mason Rudolph jab Big Ben?
Thursday’s “First Call” has some unfortunate news for Steelers Super Bowl heroes James Harrison and Hines Ward. There are some key injury updates for the Seahawks as they prepare to play the Steelers on Sunday. Ex-Steeler Devin Bush could start against his old club. Mason Rudolph appears to take a...
Penguins need to quickly find traction coming out of Christmas break
When the Pittsburgh Penguins hit Thanksgiving, they were 9-9-0, and no one was feeling great about it. Now, coming out of Christmas, the Pens have won 15 games and lost 17 (15-13-4). The sentiment about the team is pretty much the same. The club’s 34 points are the second-lowest total...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s advice for Joey Porter Jr.; Seahawks injury news
After a few days off for Christmas, “First Call” is back with a stuffed stocking of Pittsburgh Steelers tidbits. The Seattle Seahawks are getting good news on the injury front in advance of their game against the Steelers on Sunday. However, a Steelers’ AFC rival may not be so lucky...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett’s injury provides cover more than it does strategy for Mike Tomlin
There is no tactical reason for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to announce his starting quarterback this early in advance of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. So he didn’t. Not completely, anyway. All Tomlin said of his QB situation Tuesday is that the team is adopting the same stance...
Madden Monday (early Christmas edition): ‘I’d definitely start Mason Rudolph next game’
With Christmas on Monday, we decided to post this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s 34-11 Steelers win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive wants to make one thing abundantly clear. There is no controversy surrounding what the Steelers should...
Feats of Strength: ‘It’s a Festivus Miracle!’ Steelers break 30 points in a win over Bengals
Apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) were tired of giving out lumps of coal to their fans during the Christmas season. After losing three in a row to the Cardinals, Patriots and Colts, the club felt it was time to shower all the good little boys and girls at Acrisure Stadium...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr. dismisses Tyler Boyd’s criticism; Bill Cowher encourages 1 specific Steelers change
In our final “First Call” before Christmas weekend, Pittsburgh Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr. didn’t have a lot of holiday cheer after hearing Tyler Boyd’s comments this week. Bill Cowher has some advice for the Steelers offense. We look at the full slate of games that impact the AFC wild-card...
Football Footnotes: Who could the Steelers get to replace Mike Tomlin? Let’s try Santa
I feel strongly that Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II is going to keep Mike Tomlin as head coach beyond this season. Yes, even if they lose out and wind up 7-10. That said, the conversations about firing or trading Tomlin sure have picked up as the 2023 campaign has...
U mad, bro?: Plenty of Christmas jeer for George Pickens, Steelers coaches and yours truly
It’s always a sad feeling when Steelers-related depression grips Pittsburgh. It’s especially sad around the holidays. This week’s “U mad, bro?” entries run a wide gamut. George Pickens gets a lump of coal. The coaching staff gets quite a few. And I’m placed on Santa’s naughty list a few times....
First Call: Tyler Boyd knocks George Pickens; T.J. Watt puzzled why some Steelers don’t respond to Mike Tomlin
Pitt alum Tyler Boyd takes a swipe at Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens as his Bengals prepare to visit Acrisure Stadium. Damontae Kazee’s suspension is upheld for the remainder of the regular season. T.J. Watt seems baffled that some Steelers aren’t responding to Mike Tomlin. Jaromir Jagr is still playing...
