Tim Benz stories, Page 112
Tim Benz: The timing of Evgeni Malkin’s return may be just right
I’ll admit that I had the annual “Steelers are passing the baton to the Penguins” column ready to go in my head. At some point this week, I expected to dust off the once-a-year missive about the Steelers’ season ending, and how that was meshing with the state of the...
First Call: Steelers fans flood charities of Raiders kicker; Sunday night football chaos yields big TV ratings spike
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are showing their appreciation for what the Las Vegas Raiders did to help the Black and Gold playoff cause Sunday night. The television ratings for the Raiders-Chargers “Sunday Night Football” game were through the roof. Jerome Bettis has some unfinished business. And we have an honor for...
Tim Benz: Steelers-Raiders-Chargers drama raises questions about NFL ties, scheduling reform
The Pittsburgh Steelers organization (and its fans) nervously watched “Sunday Night Football” as a 2021 AFC playoff bid almost evaporated thanks to a near-tie. Two thoughts crossed my mind as the Las Vegas Raiders barely beat the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32, securing the AFC’s fifth seed for themselves and the...
Chargers, Raiders react to the big decision that avoided a tie, and got the Steelers in the playoffs
If the Pittsburgh Steelers have any leftover Christmas cards laying around the team offices, it may be nice to send a few to Las Vegas. Specifically, address a couple to the likes of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, quarterback Derek Carr and running back Josh Jacobs. Those guys were instrumental in...
First Call: Chiefs health update before Steelers game; Jaguars coach congratulates Mike Tomlin; Raven’s respect for Big Ben
Monday’s “First Call” gives us health updates on the Kansas City Chiefs as the Steelers prepare for a postseason trip to Arrowhead Stadium. The Jaguars coach has a shoutout for Mike Tomlin after his team’s surprising playoff assist on Sunday. A Ravens veteran has much respect for Ben Roethlisberger. A...
Madden Monday: ‘Raiders did themselves a grave disservice’ by kicking the Steelers into the playoffs
It’s obvious the Pittsburgh Steelers got an enormous amount of help to qualify for the playoffs Sunday. From the Jacksonville Jaguars’ massive upset of the Indianapolis Colts to the Chargers and Raiders avoiding a tie on “Sunday Night Football” to the Baltimore Ravens gifting the Steelers three turnovers. But as...
Tim Benz: ‘Feats of Strength’ and ‘Airing of Grievances’ as Steelers barely keep playoff hopes alive in Baltimore
In a most unlikely turn of events, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense was able to turn around a dreadful day to rally late and win the 2021 season finale in Baltimore, 16-13 in overtime. In an even less likely development, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14) stunned the Indianapolis Colts (9-8), 26-11. That...
First Call: Todd Haley’s new head coaching job; Lamar Jackson still not practicing during Steelers week
Friday’s “First Call” doesn’t paint a rosy picture for Lamar Jackson as we wait to see if the Ravens quarterback is going to play against the Steelers. Todd Haley has a new coaching job. We look at the Penguins’ next opponent. And the Duquesne men’s basketball team may finally be...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh-trained ice dance team competing at nationals with Olympic dreams
Let’s say you are a defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins. You’ve never played on the NHL stage before. Neither has your partner on the blue line. Your first game together is going to take place in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Let that sink in for a minute....
In 1 day, Antonio Brown was released, trashed his ex-coach, posted his bank account info, wound up in the tabloids
Former Steelers All-Pro Antonio Brown is now officially a former Tampa Buccaneer, too. Tampa Bay terminated his contract Thursday in the wake of Brown’s decision to storm off the sideline shirtless during Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Within their press release announcing the move, the Bucs countered Brown’s...
First Call: Health updates for Evgeni Malkin, Lamar Jackson; Antonio Brown’s statement on why he bailed on the Bucs
Thursday’s “First Call” has a health update on Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson as we prepare for the latest chapter of Steelers-Ravens. A loss in the football world is felt by a former Steeler. Evgeni Malkin is on the doorstep of a return for the Penguins. And Antonio Brown is telling...
U mad, bro?: Readers ramp up emotion over coverage of T.J. Watt’s sack record quest; Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement; Steelers’ future
Glad tidings from Steelers fans coming off the holidays and Ben Roethlisberger’s goodbye party lasted only briefly. Given their unfortunate playoff predicament, my inbox was sour like three-week-old eggnog and saltier than that holiday nut-mix grandpa likes. If somehow the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts and the Steelers manage...
Tim Benz: Fans staging ‘Clown out’ protest in Jacksonville as Steelers need Jaguars to beat Colts
For Steelers fans who consider the Jacksonville Jaguars to be a clown show, apparently you were even more accurate than you may have believed. By now, most of Pittsburgh is aware that if the Steelers are to make the playoffs, they need to beat the Ravens on Sunday in their...
First Call: Betting on Ben Roethlisberger’s post-NFL job; legal issue for Bud Dupree; debating records for T.J. Watt, Cooper Kupp
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at Ben Roethlisberger’s life after the NFL. We get some bad news on Bud Dupree, an interesting opinion on NFL records in a 17-game season and a look at what may go down as the goal of the year in the NHL. Guess who was in...
Tim Benz: NFL set itself up for ‘worst nightmare’ Week 18 tie scenario that could impact Steelers
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for their regular-season finale in Baltimore on Sunday, we all know the likelihood of them making the playoffs is slim. Sure, they could beat the Ravens for a second time this year. Even though the game is on the road and the Steelers are a...
Blues a tough test as Penguins look to extend ‘lengthy’ win streak to 9
When is an NHL eight-game win streak longer than an eight-game win streak? Probably when it lasts a full month. The Penguins’ lengthy eight-game unbeaten jaunt began back on Dec. 4 in Vancouver. So between the holiday break and a covid pause, you’ve got to go back to before you...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s surprising message about Ben Roethlisberger; Baker Mayfield’s complaints after loss to Steelers
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some negative fallout for the Browns after their loss to the Steelers Monday night. A stunning turn from Antonio Brown regarding Ben Roethlisberger. And Aaron Rodgers is talking about Pittsburgh again. Miffed Mayfield Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield wasn’t happy with his team’s offensive approach as...
T.J. Watt, Najee Harris highlight ‘Feats of Strength’ as Steelers dropkick Browns
For as nice as it was to see Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger get a warm send off from the Heinz Field fans, I do have one significant regret after the team’s 26-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on “Monday Night Football.” With Cincinnati clinching the AFC North on Sunday,...
First Call: Possible reasons for Antonio Brown’s latest sideline meltdown; O.J. rips A.B.; Steelers’ fate in Jaguars’ hands
In Monday’s “First Call,” we look at how far-fetched the Steelers’ playoff chances truly are. We also find out what the Cleveland Browns’ playoff elimination has done to the gambling line on their upcoming game against the Steelers Monday night. The Antonio Brown saga has plenty of twists and turns....
Madden Monday on Evgeni Malkin: ‘Geno is going to ruin the structure … he is going to beat it to death with a sledgehammer’
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ first game back from their coronavirus pause was a wild one. Sunday’s contest against the San Jose Sharks featured a 6-1 lead for the Pens after one period. That narrowed to a 6-5 lead in the third before eventually leading to an 8-5 win. Two hat tricks...
Tim Benz: Appreciating Ben Roethlisberger’s career, and grasping the massive task of replacing him
For as much as Monday night’s Steelers-Browns game at Heinz Field will be about honoring quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s illustrious career, it also will be about remembering the two decades before he came to Pittsburgh. Those 20 seasons between the start of the 1984 season and the conclusion of the 2003...
Tim Benz: Time for Steelers wide receivers to help Ben Roethlisberger go out in style
Across Pittsburgh, Steelers fans are hoping to see quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wrap up his storied Heinz Field career in grand style Monday night against the Cleveland Browns. If that is going to happen, he’s going to need a lot of help from his receivers. Something he hasn’t gotten enough of...
First Call: Ex-Pitt kicker now on Browns practice squad; Steelers’ playoff odds may be longer than you thought
Thursday’s “First Call” shows how long the odds are against the Pittsburgh Steelers making the playoffs. A Pitt product may be kicking for the Cleveland Browns against the Steelers on Monday. And familiar names dot the scoresheets in some NHL games that were actually able to be played on Wednesday....
U mad, bro?: Fans critical of negative Steelers headlines, Diontae Johnson’s Pro Bowl gripe, loss to Chiefs
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are switching the heat. It’s no longer the team’s headline-worthy bad play that is making them angry. It’s our actual headlines at TribLIVE that they don’t like. Yes, I received a disproportionate amount of responses in my email on that topic over the past few days. So,...
John Madden’s Steelers connections are many, and numerous Steelers fondly acknowledged his legacy
Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden died on Tuesday at the age of 85. His indelible imprint on the NFL came in many ways. As a Super Bowl winning coach with the Oakland Raiders. A legendary broadcaster. And the voice and name behind the iconic EA sports “Madden NFL”...
