Tim Benz Columns category, Page 67
Madden Monday: On Penguins’ goalie situation, ‘this might be the year where the goalie contracts go down’
One of Kyle Dubas’ first big decisions as Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations is what to do with the franchise’s goaltending situation. Specifically, with regard to free agent starter Tristan Jarry. Jarry’s checkered history of ill-timed injuries and postseason slumps have left Penguins fans wanting more from the goalie...
Tim Benz: As the Oakland A’s visit the Pirates, are they really as bad as we think? No. They are worse.Video
As the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have righted their ship, their next opponent continues to head straight for Niagara Falls in a barrel. The Bucs’ weekend sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals extended their winning streak to five games. That’s a great way to start June after an 8-18 record...
First Call: ESPN projections for Steelers WRs; Antonio Brown insists he’ll play again; Tom Brady insists he’s retired
In Friday’s “First Call” we have some surprisingly low projections for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens and some better ones for Diontae Johnson. Antonio Brown is insisting that he is coming back to play. Tom Brady is insisting he won’t. And we have some gambling odds for the Stanley Cup...
With disappointing May behind them, Pirates look to improve on mediocre home record to begin June
The month of May couldn’t have gone much worse for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They were 8-18 and didn’t win a single series until the last one of the month when they took two of three from the San Francisco Giants. Now they are back at PNC Park for a nine-game...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas has front office control with Penguins — will he have it over the locker room and bench?
In the weeks between leaving the Maple Leafs as general manager and becoming the president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins, one thing became clear about Kyle Dubas’ exit from Toronto. He wanted a clearer path toward decision-making and control within his front office. That apparently became muddled over...
Tim Benz: The gap between a better Steelers team in ’23 and a better win total
Watching a lot of football in shorts over the past two weeks at Pittsburgh Steelers’ OTAs, I find myself daydreaming about football when it actually means something. In September. In pads. When the guy on the other side of the ball is actually trying to knock your block off. When...
U mad, bro?: Readers are grouchy about George Pickens’ quote, Mike Sullivan, Guns N’ Roses and ‘Succession’ spoilers
We start June with a lot of manufactured outrage in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Distaste over comments from Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens to my “Succession” spoilers to the Guns N’ Roses concert at PNC Park. Don’t you folks have anything legit to be mad about? After all, it’s...
First Call: A new team for former Steelers TE; news surrounding 49ers QBs ahead of season opener in Pittsburgh
Thursday’s “First Call” has a new home for a former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end. We also have a reward for a former Penguins great, news on the Steelers’ opposing QB for Week 1, and some Pirates trade speculation. New home in New Orleans Former Steelers tight end Jesse James has...
Having the Pirates bullpen work with a lead was a rare luxury
At this point in May, any win is worth celebrating for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night was just their seventh this month against 18 losses. How manager Derek Shelton’s team got to that result Tuesday was a reminder of how underutilized...
Tim Benz: If George Pickens felt ‘snubbed’ by the Pro Bowl last year, there are ways to fix that
Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens told College2Pro.com that he felt “snubbed” by failing to make the Pro Bowl. Seeing as how Pickens had a modest four touchdowns, was 38th in the NFL in receiving yards (801), 72nd in receptions (52) and 61st in targets (84), that claim...
First Call: Steelers’ offseason ranked among NFL’s 10 best; Brian Burke gives opinions on Kyle Dubas
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting praise for their offseason approach. We check in on a former Pitt standout in the AFC North. The DeAndre Hopkins-to-Cleveland talk is gaining steam. A former coach in the Penguins system is looking for work. And Brian Burke is letting his...
Madden Monday: Mike Sullivan doesn’t deserve a buffer between himself and the new GM
Most hockey insiders seem to think that the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager job will belong to former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas. If he wants it. And that “if” appears to be linked to the Ottawa Senators. Pierre Dorion is the franchise’s current GM. But there is some belief...
First Call: Antonio Brown fails to play for his own Arena League team; update on Kyle Dubas and Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” recaps a holiday weekend full of notes from the football world, including some nuggets about a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North rivals. We find out what went wrong with Antonio Brown’s National Arena League comeback. And we get an update on the Penguins’ general manager search....
Tim Benz: Steelers’ additions are nice, but Kenny Pickett’s development, offensive growth are what matters
When Kenny Pickett’s car was stolen last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s playbook was in it. If it’s similar to last year’s playbook, no one in Steelers Nation has much reason to be concerned. Based on what Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt was saying, opposing defenses didn’t need the playbook...
Tim Benz: Steelers players say ‘critical’ offensive approach has ‘totally changed from last year’
The plan for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is clear in 2023: Be more explosive. Score more points. That’s not hard to figure out. Coordinator Matt Canada’s group managed just 29 touchdowns in 2022. The only team with fewer was the Indianapolis Colts at 28. No team in the NFL had...
First Call: Steelers Pat Freiermuth deemed ‘underappreciated’; Patriots punished; Lamar Jackson on Ravens’ new offense
Thursday’s “First Call” shines a spotlight on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most “underappreciated” player. The sleepy Pirates bats have a difficult wake-up call out west. The New England Patriots are in trouble with the NFL again. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is discussing his new offense. And America’s red-hot hockey team looks...
U mad, bro?: Fans angry about Steelers QBs, Ben Roethlisberger’s quote on Kenny Pickett, state of the Penguins
So let me get this straight, Pittsburgh sports fans. The Pirates are 5-15 in May. They have played seven series this month and are 0-6-1 in them. They’ve been outscored 91-56 along the way. That’s 2.8 runs scored per game. Yet none of my “U mad, bro?” entries are Pirates...
Tim Benz: Calling out another hypocritical, dumb NFL rule change in the name of ‘player safety’
The National Football League has instituted yet another dumb rule change in the name of player safety. What is really unsafe at this point, though, is the NFL’s radioactive level of hypocrisy. Like, we’re talking about the “open the valves” scene in “Chernobyl” level of radioactive hypocrisy. On Tuesday, the...
First Call: Kenny Pickett adds bulk; Steelers consider veteran pass rusher; salary projections for Penguins’ free agents
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at a veteran pass rusher the Pittsburgh Steelers may attempt to sign. Quarterback Kenny Pickett describes his efforts to bulk up. We’ve got projected salaries for a few free agent Penguins and gambling odds on the next Pens general manager. Plus, Brian Burke has a new...
First Call: NFL passes Thursday night flex plan despite Steelers ‘no’ vote; Antonio Brown to play for Albany Empire
Tuesday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler who is trying to get his career in gear out west. Antonio Brown’s return to the field is set. We know some future Super Bowl and draft locations. And dispute Art Rooney II’s best efforts, Thursday night flex scheduling is coming to...
Tim Benz: Making sense of Mike Sullivan’s reported AHL action plan for the Penguins’ new GM
A Pittsburgh Penguins-related item we dropped into “First Call” last week has really stayed with me through the weekend. Tony Androckitis of Inside AHL Hockey posted these notes about the Penguins on both the NHL level in Pittsburgh and the AHL level in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. • “There are big changes coming...
Tim Benz: Forget what you’ve heard on Penguins’ front office search — here’s the real ‘Succession’ plan
To me, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ quest to fill their vacant general manager and president of hockey ops jobs has been pretty boring. HBO’s “Succession” has been much more interesting. By the end of the upcoming holiday weekend, both succession plans may be finalized. So forget everything you’ve heard about the...
Kenny Pickett, Merril Hoge share personal reasons for helping to aid cancer research
Early Saturday morning, on one of his last days before the start of Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs, second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett made his way through the rain outside of Stage AE. As the first-ever honorary event chair of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center “Rush to Crush Cancer,” Pickett served as the...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger admits he ‘didn’t want (Kenny Pickett) to succeed’ early on; Antonio Brown rips Arena team
We have some interesting self-reflection from former Pittsburgh Steeler Ben Roethlisberger. And it involves current quarterback Kenny Pickett. Mason Rudolph shares some details about his spin through free agency. Antonio Brown is mad at his National Arena League team. And things are looking worse for the Pirates heading into their...
Madden Monday: Anger over Pirates’ decisions a matter of perspective on team’s potential
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost two out of three games to the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend. They have played six series this month and have lost five. The only series they didn’t lose was splitting a two-game road trip to Detroit last Tuesday and Wednesday. The team’s 20-8 start has been...
