First Call: J.J. Watt updates his brother’s recovery; Steelers look for OLB depth
Thursday’s “First Call” has J.J. Watt’s latest comments on his brother’s health. The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to bolster the ranks at outside linebacker while T.J. Watt recovers from his lung ailment. The Penguins hit the road in hopes of getting off their six-game losing streak. And there are some...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans fuming, Steelers fans still have complaints despite recent wins
Much like Christmas shopping, Pittsburgh sports fans got the big stuff out of the way early when it came to panic about their local clubs. Look at the reaction after the loss by the Steelers to the Buffalo Bills coming off Thanksgiving. But there are still stocking-stuffer moments to gripe...
Mark Madden: Is this Steelers team better than last season’s?
After Monday night’s comfortable home win over Miami, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said “belief is starting to pick up.” He seemed to be trying to talk himself into it. Or perhaps his teammates. Maybe the citizens. It feels like the Steelers are headed to the same destination as last...
First Call: Performance vs. Steelers may get Tua Tagovailoa benched; Steelers work out 2 QBS
Tua Tagovailoa’s performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers might get him benched. The Steelers are working out a former Detroit Lions quarterback. A former passing target of Aaron Rodgers is on the free-agent market. And the Pitt Panthers are itching for a win on the basketball court. All that in Wednesday’s...
On a ‘strange’ night at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins saw history — but not the kind they wanted
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid was quick to acknowledge the gravity of the evening. “The storylines were endless for the media and the fans. Whatever you guys wanted to write about, you could write about,” McDavid said. The three-time MVP was right. Heading to his team’s game Tuesday night against...
Tim Benz: Steelers flipped the script vs. Miami. Now it’s time for a new ending
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) reversed the current in a number of ways against the Miami Dolphins (6-8) on Monday night. What has been bad has gotten a lot better. And it’s getting good at the right time. Consider some of the negative trends that were disrupted during the club’s 28-15...
Tim Benz: Quick return to Pittsburgh keeps ’emotions’ at the surface for Tristan Jarry
When goaltender Tristan Jarry spoke with reporters in front of an Edmonton Oilers backdrop Monday, the point was driven home. He’s here in Pittsburgh, but not as a Penguin. Already. Less than a week after being traded away from the Penguins. Now he is expected to start against his longtime...
First Call: Despite ‘MNF’ win, Steelers still underdogs in Detroit; updated Steelers-Ravens AFC North scenarios
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory on “Monday Night Football” has done little to swing the odds in their favor to win next week at Detroit. However, they are favored to win the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens got a confirmation they didn’t want on the injury front, and we examine the...
Feats of Strength: Dominant 3rd quarter, newcomer contributions push Steelers past Dolphins
In many ways, Monday night’s 28-15 win over the Miami Dolphins was a 180-degree flip from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ last home performance against Buffalo. The team was excellent in the third quarter. It built on a 7-3 lead at halftime instead of letting one evaporate. “Renegade” got cheered. Mike Tomlin...
Mark Madden: Choking away 3rd-period leads brings clarity to Penguins’ situation
As bizarre as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ choking streak may be, and wholly inexcusable, it may provide clarity to an oft-debated situation: This is not a team capable of making the playoffs, let alone a playoff run, and president of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas should proceed accordingly. If that means stripping...
First Call: Raiders blanked in Kenny Pickett’s start; Philip Rivers’ return at 44; looking at the Lions for next week
Monday’s “Fist Call” recaps Kenny Pickett’s rough first start as a Las Vegas Raider. We examine the Steelers’ next opponent in Detroit. We look at Philip Rivers’ NFL return. And the Bengals may have lost more than just a game Sunday. Pickett picked Former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett made his...
Tim Benz: Gap between Steelers, Dolphins close enough to make Monday’s game very uncomfortable
The Pittsburgh Steelers probably don’t want to view themselves as being in the same neighborhood as the Miami Dolphins, a team that isn’t a true AFC contender. And the Dolphins certainly don’t want to be viewed in the way many people across football have portrayed them — an average team...
Madden Monday: Penguins’ blown leads are ‘in their DNA’; reminder for Kyle Dubas to ‘get back to his original plan’
My knee-jerk reaction to how bad the Pittsburgh Penguins have gotten in the third period of hockey games is to say that it’s mental. It’s psychological at this point. I don’t want to do that, though, because it lets them off the hook. It’s giving them an excuse for what’s...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: With future in mind, the Penguins had to trade Tristan Jarry
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ dressing room perhaps wasn’t overjoyed by Friday’s trade of goalie Tristan Jarry to Edmonton. He was popular and mostly played well this season. But president of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas did the right thing. At 21, Sergei Murashov may not be the present of the Penguins’ goaltending...
Mark Madden: The version of Aaron Rodgers many expected has shown up
The NFL’s quarterbacking situation is nuts. Forty-four-year-old Philip Rivers is making a comeback with Indianapolis. He’s got a fat backside and extra chins, so he’s my favorite quarterback ever. Steelers reject Kenny Pickett is likely to start Sunday for Las Vegas against Philadelphia, another of his former teams. Cleveland rookie...
Football Footnotes: Steelers’ approach if T.J. Watt can’t play; 3rd-down play-calling; Miami’s strengths
As everyone associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers waits for health updates on T.J. Watt, the team has to create plans if he can’t play Monday night against the Miami Dolphins. Given the personnel the Steelers have at outside linebacker, those contingencies would seem obvious. Then again, have you seen the...
Tim Benz: Penguins reverted to the Dark Side on ‘Star Wars’ nightVideo
There was a great disturbance in the force during Thursday’s “Star Wars” night game for the Pittsburgh Penguins. “It was horrible,” defenseman Kris Letang said. “It was not good at all.” Letang was a big part of the Planet Alderaan-esque disintegration during a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. It...
First Call: ESPN projects T.J. Watt’s playing status; ex-MLB GM rips Pirates ‘eye wash’ free-agent offers
Friday’s “First Call” paints a bleak picture when it comes to T.J. Watt’s playing status for Monday night. A former MLB general manager is mocking the Pirates’ alleged contract offers to some significant free agents. The Penguins need to salvage their homestand against some teams from the Western Conference this...
U mad, bro?: Steelers media, NFL officials, Pirates front office on the naughty list this holiday season
When the calendar turns to December, there are always three things you can complain about every year. 1. The cold weather. 2. Mall traffic on McKnight Road. 3. The Steelers. This week reminded me to add two more to the list. • NFL officiating. • What the Pirates are doing...
Mike Tomlin’s ‘hot seat’ response has more layers than you might think
In the last few minutes of Mike Tomlin’s news conference Tuesday, WTAE’s Ashley Liotus asked the Steelers’ coach if he felt like he was on the hot seat heading into last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. “Man, I’ve been in the hot seat for 19 years,” Tomlin responded. Before...
Tim Benz: If Kyle Schwarber bid signals dive into deep waters, Ben Cherington can’t wear a life vest
At his weekly press conference, the only thing Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was not asked about was his level of surprise at the news that the Pirates’ “bid” to sign free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber came up short. My guess is that he is as completely stunned as the rest...
Mark Madden: Pirates are making free agency headlines, but is it all for show?
Some offers are meant to be refused. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ reported four-year, $100 million-plus offer to free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber, for example. The Pirates knew Schwarber would get better offers. He ultimately re-upped with Philadelphia: Five years, $150 million. The Phillies dangled more cash and, obviously, a better chance to...
First Call: NFL admits blown call in Steelers-Ravens game; key Miami injury update; Tristan Jarry trade rumor
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an admission from the NFL about blowing a call in the Steelers-Ravens game. There is a key injury update surrounding Steelers-Dolphins on “Monday Night Football.” The Penguins open a long home stand against a high-scoring opponent, and we have some Tristan Jarry trade rumors. Walking it...
NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore explains where officials were right, wrong in Steelers-Ravens game
“NFL on CBS” rules analyst Gene Steratore is sticking by his original analysis from Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game. When it comes to those three controversial calls that helped Pittsburgh win 27-22, the officials got two of them right. Even if Baltimore hates how the rules are written. Making his weekly appearance...
Tim Benz: So much from Steelers-Ravens was overshadowed by officiating debates
During a full day of debate surrounding three huge officiating calls that benefited the Steelers in their 27-22 win over the Ravens on Sunday, Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. gave his blunt assessment of the pass breakup he got on a play that was initially ruled a fourth-quarter touchdown for...
