Tim Benz stories, Page 107
Tim Benz: 1 aspect of the Penguins’ game that must be rediscovered coming out of the All-Star Break
After a torrid stretch winning 17 of 19 games between Dec. 4 and Jan. 25, the Pittsburgh Penguins limped into the All-Star break by losing four in a row. All of the games were at home. All of the defeats were against clubs with fewer points than them in the...
U mad, bro?: Fans spit fire about Steelers’ QB situation, Heinz Field attendance, Evgeni Malkin, Antonio Brown, NFL OT
Based on what I’ve seen the past few weeks, I was getting concerned that “U mad, bro?” would essentially just boil down to a weekly rant session about the Steelers quarterback situation. And I have no doubt that it will get mentioned every week between now and when a starter...
First Call: Steelers focus on QBs at Senior Bowl; Cameron Heyward’s brother on Steelers’ radar; JuJu’s parting shot?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are spending plenty of time and attention getting to know quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl. JuJu Smith-Schuster has a parting shot for the Steelers before free agency. Cameron Heyward’s brother may be on the Steelers’ draft radar. And Terry Bradshaw discusses a regret in his new HBO...
Tim Benz: Pacman Jones doesn’t want Steelers fans on the Bengals’ bandwagon. Let’s help calm his concerns
Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Adam “Pacman” Jones says he doesn’t want Pittsburgh Steelers fans glomming on to the Super Bowl success of his former franchise. “We don’t want none of the Pittsburgh fans jumping on the bandwagon,” Jones told 93.7 The Fan this week. I’m pretty sure he has...
Why Pitt’s Kenny Pickett didn’t want his hands measured at the Senior Bowl and what he’s doing about it
Questions over the size of Kenny Pickett’s hands have long been part of his pre-draft conversation. According to the ProFootballNetwork, the former Pitt Panthers quarterback is reported to have hands that measure only 8¼ inches. The standard by which most quarterbacks are measured is 9 inches. The concern is ball...
First Call: Steelers defensive coordinator update; a unique Antonio Brown auction item; Vegas’ thoughts on Derek Carr
Tuesday’s “First Call” checks in on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator search. A massive sports bet pays off on the AFC and NFC title games. Derek Carr’s future may still be in Las Vegas. The first “Armory Game” between Pitt and Duquesne is in the books. And now you can...
Madden Monday: Maybe Patrick Mahomes is only a 1-win Super Bowl quarterback
One word to best describe the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game is “arrogance.” To blow off a sure field goal in hopes of scoring a touchdown with just five seconds to go at the end of the first half was pure arrogance....
Tim Benz: Steelers quarterback situation makes it hard to buy what Art Rooney II is selling about Super Bowl goals
During his annual season-ending media session, Art Rooney II made one thing clear. His franchise doesn’t have thoughts of rebuilding. The goal is to have a Super Bowl-winning mentality heading into 2022. “I would never sit here and say that we’re going to change our goal of trying to win...
First Call: Terry Bradshaw praises Ben Roethlisberger, offers thoughts on Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers and Mason Rudolph’s outlook
Terry Bradshaw praises Ben Roethlisberger, shares his thoughts on the idea of Aaron Rodgers going to the Pittsburgh Steelers and has opinions on Mason Rudolph. Could the Steelers reunite with former offensive line coach Mike Munchak? An ex-Penguin is making his presence felt in Seattle. Two former Pitt stars are...
Mike Sullivan said (almost) everything that needed to be said after Penguins’ loss to Seattle
After the Penguins’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken Thursday night, head coach Mike Sullivan said everything that needed to be said about the third-period sequence that led to the game-tying goal. Well, almost everything. There were roughly four minutes left when Evgeni Malkin tried a drop pass to...
First Call: Antonio Brown on Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement; Steelers work out DB with familiar bloodlines
Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement announcement dovetailed with an ironic anniversary in Steelers history. Antonio Brown reaches out to Big Ben on the day his career officially comes to an end. The Steelers work out a defensive back with an interesting background. And the Duquesne Dukes look to get themselves right on...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s Steelers have been stuck in the middle in recent years. The team’s decision on a new QB can’t be
With Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially announcing his retirement Thursday, attention can focus even more squarely on who his replacement will be. The voices of general manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin will weigh most heavily on the discussions. Perhaps those of Colbert’s potential replacements (Brandon Hunt and...
Trade rumors have Capitals trying to get Marc-Andre Fleury — unless he stops it from happening
Picture Marc-Andre Fleury back in net for yet another Penguins-Capitals playoff series this spring. No, not as an injury replacement for Tristan Jarry. Not as the starter with Jarry benched either. I’m saying picture Fleury in the other crease. Wearing Capitals red, white and blue. I know. I can’t do...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger was almost traded in 2009? Antonio Brown flirts with Ravens; Vegas interviews Brandon Hunt
Thursday’s “First Call” features a story about a 12-year-old vetoed trade that apparently involved Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Las Vegas Raiders may raid the Steelers front office. Antonio Brown is lobbying to play in Baltimore. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is done with social media. And another ex-Robert Morris...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans do not like the idea of Aaron Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh at all
One thing became clear to me this week given my interactions with Pittsburgh Steelers fans. They don’t want Aaron Rodgers to be the quarterback of their team. Well, let me rephrase that. Steelers fans claim they don’t want Rodgers to be their quarterback. I mean, would you prefer Mason Rudolph...
Tim Benz: Attendance, TV ratings should serve as a wake-up call to Steelers front office
There are a significant number of issues facing the Pittsburgh Steelers beyond just replacing Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Building an offensive line. Addressing the run defense. Figuring out how to plug holes at wide receiver and in the secondary. That’s just the on-field stuff general manager Kevin Colbert and head...
Antonio Brown accuses Buccaneers of trying to bribe him into ‘the crazy house’
For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, this one has to be interesting to watch from afar. Another day, another chapter in the story of Antonio Brown versus Bruce Arians — aka A.B. versus B.A. The former Steelers wide receiver and the former Steelers offensive coordinator are in a mud-slinging battle that could...
First Call: A possible free agent destination for JuJu Smith-Schuster; Aaron Rodgers discusses his future; Flyers keep losing
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster may already have a preferred destination in free agency. The USFL will stage an interesting television launch in April. Aaron Rodgers outlines his decision-making process for his future playing career. And while the Penguins just keep winning, the Philadelphia Flyers...
Tim Benz: Penguins living in the comfort of a hot streak — regardless of how it is happening
At the halfway point of the season, if you are a Penguins fan, you have to be saying, “Why ask why?” Follow that advice. Because what if you get an answer you don’t appreciate? You know, like, the truth. As in, this charmed life can’t last forever. Or can it?...
First Call: The favorite to land Aaron Rodgers; Steelers defensive coordinator plans; Keith Butler on Stephon Tuitt
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at the odds of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We search for an update on defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt. Another defensive coordinator candidate is interviewing with the Steelers for Keith Butler’s old job. A look at Pitt versus...
Chiefs-Bills thriller shows what elite quarterback play is all about, raises overtime questions
When it comes to great endings in Pittsburgh Steelers playoff history, there are plenty to chronicle. • The Immaculate Reception • Santonio Holmes’ catch at the end of Super Bowl XLIII • The comeback against the Browns at Heinz Field • Jim Harbaugh’s near Hail Mary in the 1995 AFC...
Madden Monday: As for Aaron Rodgers coming to the Steelers — ‘He’s a big mouth’
When it comes to how things went in the first non-Steelers playoff weekend of the year, our Mark Madden had one big takeaway during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “It’s a changing the guard at quarterback. You’ve got (Tom) Brady out in the divisional round. You got (Aaron) Rodgers and...
Tim Benz: If quarterback mobility is in question, do the Steelers need to look elsewhere for an answer?
The season-ending press conference for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin featured a moment similar to one we had seen numerous times in that setting throughout 2021. That was Tomlin discussing mobility at the quarterback position. “Quarterback mobility is valued, not only by me but by everyone. It’s just a component...
First Call: Antonio Brown mocks Bucs’ defeat; possible candidate for Steelers defensive coordinator; AFC/NFC title game odds
Monday’s “First Call” checks in on Aaron Rodgers’ state of mind as Pittsburgh Steelers fans join the rest of the NFL in wondering what will become of his career after this season. We also give you Antonio Brown’s latest social media hilarity. Some interesting gambling odds for the NFL’s conference...
Penguins yielding consistent results despite inconsistent performance
For the Pittsburgh Penguins of late, the results have been consistent. The way they have gotten to those results within games, though? Well, not so much. Since Dec. 14, the Penguins have won 14 of the last 16 times they have hit the ice. But the quality of play within...
