Madden Monday: Steelers re-signing Aaron Rodgers ‘puts off where they need to go’
There are two potential outcomes for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense now that Aaron Rodgers is reportedly back for a second year as the starting quarterback. The first is that he’s coming back at age 42, so he’ll be a year older and less productive than he was in 2025. The...
Beyond the Bylines: Pirates attendance; Steelers schedule release; Penguins offseason thoughtsVideo
“Beyond the Bylines” returns this week with Joe Starkey and Tim Benz breaking down the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers schedule. The guys also get into the Pirates-Phillies series. Plus, they delve into concerns about attendance at PNC Park, especially on days when Paul Skenes pitches. There’s also an extended discussion about...
First Call: Pat Freiermuth discusses the Steelers coaching change; Duck Hodges, Lainey Wilson get married
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth talks about changing the franchise’s head coach for the first time since 2007. We are getting some hints about when the Steelers may bust out their alternate uniforms. The Pirates are getting ready for a cross-state rivalry series against the Philadelphia Phillies. And a...
Tim Benz: NFL schedule makers banking on Aaron Rodgers’ return to Pittsburgh (or Steelers winning without him)Video
It’s not like the entire Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase fully supports the notion of Aaron Rodgers returning as the franchise’s quarterback. Far from it. But I can certainly tell you who is rooting for Rodgers’ return to Pittsburgh in 2026: Anyone who tracks NFL television ratings at the league office, and...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas admits Penguins’ problems, but a plan to fix them isn’t as clear
As the Pittsburgh Penguins approach the offseason, there are two realities about the franchise that president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has to consider. One reality is that this team improved by 18 points under a first-year coaching staff and finished second in the Metropolitan Division. The other reality is...
U mad, bro?: Readers are fed up with the Aaron Rodgers wait, NFL schedule expansion, Evgeni Malkin criticism
Some Pittsburgh sports fans are tired of the Aaron Rodgers situation. Others are sick of criticism aimed at Evgeni Malkin. And there are quite a few who say “enough is enough” when it comes to expansion of the NFL schedule. But one thing our readers can never get enough of?...
First Call: Omar Khan redirects question about Aaron Rodgers; Jared Jones not happy with bullpen question
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan has an indirect response about Aaron Rodgers’ status. Meanwhile, Bill Cowher is optimistic that the Hall of Fame quarterback will return to Pittsburgh. Steelers rookie Kaden Wetjen gets a hearty endorsement as a top return specialist. Pirates pitcher Jared Jones...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes once again proves the best way to correct is not to overcorrectVideo
Of all the positive traits Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has demonstrated since his 2024 debut, one stands out above the rest. He is excellent at being his own stopper. Skenes almost never allows one bad start to become two or three in a row. First of all, let’s define...
Tim Benz: While discussing salary cap ‘false flags,’ Kyle Dubas raises red flags about other Penguins issuesVideo
During his season-ending press conference on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was asked about his franchise’s projected cap space for 2026-27. According to Puckpedia, it’s an NHL-best $42.54 million. “It may not be as big of a July as everyone wants,” Dubas said, suggesting that quite...
Tim Benz: Opportunities available for Steelers rookies in the passing game
Shortly after he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft, Iowa return specialist Kaden Wetjen made an interesting admission about his trip to the Senior Bowl. “I actually had some scouts that were, like, ‘We didn’t even know you played receiver. We...
First Call: Recalibrating after last weekend’s Aaron Rodgers speculation; Paul Skenes faces frequent Pirates foe
Tuesday’s “First Call” reassesses the Aaron Rodgers situation after a weekend full of speculation yields no results. Gerrit Cole is still trying to come back to the Bronx. Paul Skenes takes the mound against a frequent Pittsburgh Pirates pest. And Robert Morris lands an intriguing basketball recruit from overseas. Nothing...
Tim Benz: What Kyle Dubas will say (and what he probably wants to say) at his season-ending press conference
Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas will be holding his season-ending press conference Tuesday afternoon. There will be plenty of topics to discuss. Will Dubas answer every question honestly, transparently and with as much detail as humanly possible? Pfft! No! C’mon. What general manager does that? Omar Khan...
First Call: Former Pitt QB defends Steelers rookie Drew Allar amid criticism of technique; an ex-Penguin scores in playoffs
Monday’s “First Call” has some background on the Drew Allar practice tape making the rounds from Pittsburgh Steelers rookie camp. A former Cleveland Brown is leaving the division to head west. And the Pittsburgh Penguins are celebrating a happy anniversary, while an ex-Penguin is making a playoff impact. Context matters...
Tim Benz: Of all the Steelers rookies, Germie Bernard should have the biggest impact in 2026Video
Max Iheanachor is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft choice. Drew Allar is the new quarterback from good ol’ State U. Eli Heidenreich is a hometown hero story. And Gennings Dunker is a 300-pound hay-bale toss champion with a fabulous red mullet and bushy mustache. Mullet in motion ???? @gennings_dunker pic.twitter.com/kNkFmfl5J0—...
Madden Monday: Penguins can’t let the Evgeni Malkin uncertainty equal the Steelers’ issues with Aaron Rodgers
Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas will meet with the media on Tuesday. Those will be his first public comments since the playoffs ended April 29. The elephant in the room will be what the franchise plans to do with 39-year-old unrestricted free agent Evgeni Malkin. During this...
First Call: Darius Slay pans Steelers’ defensive strategy; John Calipari speaks out against NCAA Tournament expansionVideo
Friday’s “First Call” has some inflammatory quotes from an ex-Steeler about the team’s defense. A big-time men’s college hoops coach with local roots isn’t a fan of the new expansion of the NCAA Tournament. The Pirates are taking on a slumping National League foe. And Robert Morris’ lacrosse team is...
Tim Benz: Expected Aaron Rodgers arrival brings ironic twistVideo
If reports from 93.7 The Fan and national media outlets are accurate, the long-expected wait for Aaron Rodgers’ return to the Pittsburgh Steelers is just about over. The word from The Fan Morning Show is that Rodgers is scheduled to be in town by Friday morning. Their anticipation is that...
Tim Benz: Fans pushing back against expansion of NFL regular season, NCAA Tournament
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams. That news became official Thursday. The expansion is being positioned as a way to get more mid-majors into the field, when, primarily, the universities that will benefit the most by this move will still be the power conferences....
First Call: Ex-Pitt QB Nathan Peterman gets another NFL shot; Colts WR praises new Steeler Michael Pittman Jr.Video
Thursday’s “First Call” has evidence of how well-liked Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was by his former Indianapolis teammates. An ex-Pitt Panther quarterback is getting another NFL chance. The Penguins’ AHL club is looking to advance in the Calder Cup playoffs. And Mitch Keller tries to stay hot in...
Jacksonville outshines Robert Morris in NCAA 1st-round lacrosse showdown at Joe Walton Stadium
On Tuesday, the country’s news cycle was honed in on the theory of “kamikaze dolphins.” Wednesday night at Joe Walton Stadium, it appeared that the Robert Morris lacrosse team was a victim of them. The Colonials were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the opening round on their home turf...
U mad, bro?: Penguins’ playoff exit, departing superstars, expanding NFL schedule have readers in a twistVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL playoffs. The NFL might mess with its schedule. Evgeni Malkin could leave Pittsburgh. Andrew McCutchen is grumpy about how he left the Pirates. You can probably imagine how all of that is going over with our readers. If you...
Tim Benz: Bubba Chandler knows where he needs to improve to reach his potential with PiratesVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler had a tough assignment upon entering Major League Baseball last year. He was tagged as “the next big thing” in the franchise’s starting rotation. Unfortunately for him, the most recent “big thing” was still in the rotation, and he had just recently established himself as...
First Call: Arizona WR is recruiting Aaron Rodgers; Robert Kraft pushes for 18-game NFL regular season
Wednesday’s “First Call” advances the conversation about whether the Arizona Cardinals are interested in Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There’s more talk about the NFL going to an 18-game schedule. It’s a Paul Skenes Day in Arizona. And Robert Morris hosts an opening round game in the men’s NCAA lacrosse...
Tim Benz: It’s time for Sergei Murashov to be the Penguins’ No. 1 goalie
Given how he sparkled during the playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs should be applauded. But not rewarded. Well, rewarded to the extent that he gets some sort of contract to stay with the franchise as he enters restricted free agency this offseason. Sure. Reward...
Andrew McCutchen and Evgeni Malkin prove it’s hard to write a perfect final chapterVideo
On Saturday night, former Pittsburgh Pirate Andrew McCutchen made a fabulous catch in right field for the Texas Rangers. Andrew McCutchen showing off in season 18 ???? pic.twitter.com/iv2M6g2wFl— MLB (@MLB) May 4, 2026 That, of course, led to a torrent of “He’s still got it!,” “How do you like him...
