Tim Benz stories, Page 124
First Call: Ravens looking at Todd Gurley; Browns DBs getting healthy; Robert Morris rink negotiations appear dead
Steelers fans will be interested in Friday’s “First Call” as we have updates on two AFC North rivals. The Cleveland Browns are getting healthy in the secondary, and the Baltimore Ravens’ deep group of running backs may be adding another familiar name. Meanwhile, we celebrate the present and the past...
Despite sweep by Dodgers, Pirates insist they have ‘good momentum’ heading into tough June stretch
Because the Pirates are, well, the Pirates, any analysis has to be done through the prism of what they are versus what they are not. What they are not is a Major League team with any goal of challenging for a playoff spot in 2021. What they are is a...
Tim Benz: College football playoff expansion idea is good, but don’t go too far
The new college football playoff proposal is a case of a good idea that’s going half a step too far. According to multiple national reports Thursday, the current four-team format would extend to 12 schools. It’d be composed of the six highest-ranked conference champions, followed by the six highest-ranked at-large...
First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush ‘100%’ sure he can cover Browns’ Jarvis Landry; Ray Shero’s new job; Dave Parker turns 70
Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage. There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin. Plus, we wish a happy birthday...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick says ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Agreed. But how ’bout a tune up?
This week at Steelers organized team activities, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was asked about the prospect of his role in the 2021 defense and if it will change much from his first two All-Pro seasons in Pittsburgh. “I don’t think too much is going to change,” Fitzpatrick replied. “If it ain’t...
U mad, bro?: Pirates pitiful mishaps, odious ownership, putrid Penguins playoff goaltending have readers ranting
A precarious Penguins future. Pathetic Pirates performances. Odious ownership. Oh, and, of course, last week’s edition of this column. That’s what has readers ravenous in this week’s “U mad, bro?” But that’s pretty standard by now, isn’t it? We kick things off with a tweet about the Penguins from Wayne....
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted fifth-year option for Steelers’ teammate; Gerrit Cole’s awkward Spider Tack response
Wednesday’s “First Call” features interesting comments by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on some recent front office decisions. Gerrit Cole gives a bizarre explanation about Spider Tack. Levon Kirkland sees a lot of himself in a potential NFL star linebacker. And yet another entertaining game out west between the Colorado...
Robert Morris hockey players withholding transfer announcements to show solidarity with Colonials programs, ex-teammates
With every passing day, it’s getting harder and harder to resuscitate the Robert Morris hockey programs. It’s been almost two weeks since the university abruptly eliminated the successful men’s and women’s teams. While supporters and alumni are scurrying to come up with funds to keep them alive — or plans...
Tim Benz: Steelers QB Mason Rudolph is certain about his uncertainty, and that’s OK with him
There’s one thing Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph can’t buy with his one-year, $5 million contract extension from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Certainty. Peace of mind? Maybe. To a degree, anyway. But certainty? No. All that contract means (announced an hour before the 2021 NFL Draft on April 29) is that Rudolph...
First Call: High hopes for Steelers’ Najee Harris; Bruce Arians gets bump in pay; long range depth for Ravens O-line
Expectations are already high for Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris. Bruce Arians is getting a bump in pay for winning a Super Bowl ring. Depth is coming for the Baltimore Ravens offensive line. But not this year. And now we have an idea of how the Duquesne basketball...
Tim Benz: Pirates don’t want PNC Park to be ‘soft’ spot to land for up-and-down Dodgers
As they prepare to host the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, this must’ve felt good for any Pittsburgh Pirates player or official who happened to check the Los Angeles Times in advance of the three-game series which starts Tuesday. The headline read as follows: “Dodgers still waiting for...
Levon Kirkland on his College Football Hall of Fame nomination, Super Bowl XXX, Bill Cowher’s book
Former Pittsburgh Steelers will be abundant at this summer’s Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions thanks to elections of safety Donnie Shell, coach Bill Cowher, guard Alan Faneca and safety Troy Polamalu (former scout Bill Nunn was already posthumously enshrined April 28). Canton, Ohio will be filled with Black and...
First Call: How Julio Jones trade may impact Steelers; no Selke for Sidney Crosby; curtain call for Andrew McCutchen
Monday’s “First Call” tells us how the Julio Jones trade will impact the Steelers. Andrew McCutchen is getting hot. Sidney Crosby is shut out of the Selke voting. And local product Brandon Saad is back on the score sheet in the NHL playoffs. But he was one-upped by someone on...
Madden Monday on Penguins: ‘There will be one token big trade. I still think it will be Jake Guentzel.’
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden takes a deeper look at some of the comments Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke made on his 105.9 The X radio show. The statements from Burke included a ton of faith in head coach Mike Sullivan, goaltender Tristan Jarry and...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey coaches must help players to transfer while maintaining hope programs can return
As supporters of Robert Morris ice hockey hold out hope that some sort of 11th-hour development may save the recently eliminated men’s and women’s programs, the coaches are taking on a gut-wrenching job. Men’s head coach Derek Schooley and women’s head coach Paul Colontino are tasked with dismantling their rosters,...
‘We won a division for God’s sake’: Brian Burke defends Tristan Jarry, Mike Sullivan, core 3 and ‘Penguins DNA’
Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke hears the fans and media members who are voicing frustration and calling for change. Speaking on 105.9 The X on Thursday afternoon, Burke offered a straightforward reminder about the 2021 East Division champions. “We won a division for God’s sake,” Burke exclaimed...
First Call: Can the Maulers return in the new USFL?; a snag in Robert Morris hockey talks already; Jordan Staal comes up big
Friday’s “First Call” wonders if a return of the Pittsburgh Maulers could be coming. Brandon Saad and Jordan Staal are keeping Pittsburgh hockey fans interested in the NHL playoffs. Gerrit Cole gets burned by an ex-Pirates teammate. And things may already be going backward in the Robert Morris hockey negotiations....
Tim Benz: What was Bill Cowher’s best Steelers team he ever coached? His answer is surprising.
One of the more surprising declarations in Bill Cowher’s new book “Heart and Steel” comes when the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach describes the disappointment of losing the 1997 AFC Championship game. “That 1997 team might have been the best team we had in my 15 seasons in Pittsburgh,” Cowher wrote....
First Call: Steelers’ Highsmith praised; RMU hockey players unload; Pitt, Penn State Hall of Fame nominees
Thursday’s “First Call” has an odd honor for Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, Hall of Fame nominations for Pitt and Penn State greats and Marc-Andre Fleury back in the crease for the Vegas Golden Knights. Plus, the Robert Morris hockey teams get to air their grievances against the university president who...
U mad, bro: Penguins fans seething about Mike Sullivan, jawing about Tristan Jarry; Pirates fans fed up with Bob Nutting
We are in the midst of a short week coming off of Memorial Day. But there is no shortage of evil emails, tenacious tweets and pouting Facebook posts. Pittsburgh fans are livid over another early Penguins ouster from the playoffs, the pathetic Pirates and the ridiculous Robert Morris hockey mess....
Tim Benz: Penguins’ efforts to salvage Robert Morris hockey may get some help. Will the university accept it?
Like testing a newly frozen pond, we may be ready for our first skate toward progress when it comes to saving the Robert Morris University men’s and women’s hockey teams. Now it’s time to find out how thin the ice is. A day after Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse...
Trustee chair: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert tried to save Robert Morris hockey, and Penguins are willing to help
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert was among those who “emotionally” appealed to keep the Robert Morris University hockey teams alive, but his pitch ultimately fell on deaf ears. Now the Pittsburgh Penguins are willing to help resuscitate the programs. If that’s at all still possible. Those are just two...
Robert Morris president leaves little hope for salvaging hockey programs
If men’s and women’s ice hockey players at Robert Morris were hoping to hear a change of heart from university president Dr. Chris Howard, they didn’t get one Tuesday. During his first public question and answer session with media members since the school’s decision to eliminate those programs last week,...
First Call: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert resigns from RMU board as backlash continues over hockey cuts; NFL’s new European plan
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the decision to cut Robert Morris’ hockey teams may have soured a relationship with the Steelers general manager. We celebrate a Penguins anniversary. A superb ending in the NCAA men’s lacrosse final. And how the Steelers may expand their brand in Europe. Checking out On Monday,...
Madden ‘Tuesday’: Barry Trotz’s critique of Penguins’ top line was harsh, but ‘also true’
After the New York Islanders eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the East Division playoffs, they advanced to play the Boston Bruins. When asked to compare the Bruins’ top line of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron to Sidney Crosby’s line with Jake Guentzel and Bryan...
