Tim Benz stories, Page 139
Tim Benz: For the Penguins power play, every day is ‘Groundhog Day’
Because of covid-19 issues with the New Jersey Devils, the Penguins won’t play again until Feb. 6 against the New York Islanders. The games against New Jersey at PPG Paints Arena have been postponed. So what will they do with the downtime? Working on the power play is a good...
Chuck Cooper III ‘pinching himself’ as Duquesne is poised to open new arena named after his father
It seems as if everyone associated with Duquesne Athletics has something they love about the reconstructed building around the bones of the 33-year-old Palumbo Center. During a tour of the facility on Monday, athletic director Dave Harper beamed as he showed off the design of the interior and looked out...
First Call: Jerome Bettis’ take on Ben Roethlisberger’s issues; alumni support for new Steelers O-line coach
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Jerome Bettis’ take on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. At least one person is a fan of the team’s new offensive line coach. An honor for Duquesne basketball as they get ready to open their new building. And Duquesne’s football team will have a 2020 season —...
JuJu Smith-Schuster addresses free agency, Ben Roethlisberger, his one ‘Browns is the Browns’ regret
Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is speaking publicly about his future, the infamous “Browns is the Browns” quote, logo dancing and offseason radio silence between him and Ben Roethlisberger. The TikTok star and former Pro Bowl pass-catcher is about to become a free agent. He appeared on Fox Sports Radio...
First Call: Matt Murray’s struggles continue; ex-Penguins lighting up the score sheet
Monday’s “First Call” is a hockey hotbed. Former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is continuing to have problems with his new team. And on Sunday, many of them were caused by some other guys who also used to skate in Pittsburgh. In fact, ex-Penguins are scoring like crazy all over the...
Madden Monday: ‘It’s really grim for the Steelers,’ and not enough people will say that out loud
Based on the information coming out from Steelers headquarters last week, it sounds like the organization is taking a slow and steady approach to fixing the issues present with the team at the end of 2020. In fact, Steelers owner Art Rooney II went so far as to tell reporters...
Tim Benz: A return to the 1980s Pittsburgh sports scene? Sadly, it may have already started.
The 1980s were good for a few things. Hair metal. Karate. Tom Cruise movies. Acid wash jeans. Just a few things that leap to mind. However, they weren’t a great time for the Pittsburgh sports scene. No titles were won in Pittsburgh from 1979 (when the Steelers and Pirates both...
Bill Cowher on the notion of a Steelers rebuild in 2021
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher joined Mark Madden on 105.9 The X on Wednesday. He’ll be part of CBS’s coverage of Super Bowl LV. Along with previewing the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Madden asked Cowher for his thoughts on the state of his...
First Call: Steelers’ Bud Dupree laughs at talk of discount deal; Penguins GM candidate emerging
Friday’s “First Call” gives us an update on Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree and his view of free agency. A potential candidate to replace Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is starting to emerge. One former Penguin may be heating up while another is struggling. And the Atlantic 10 tournament has...
Tim Benz: The best Steelers teams that did not get to the Super Bowl
When the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers got off to their 11-0 start, most of us in Pittsburgh were having dreams of talking Super Bowl LV this week leading into the bye after the conference championship games. How can the Steelers slow down Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints? Can they...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans fire back after criticism of Ben Roethlisberger, while others demand more
Steelers and Pirates fans seem to be in a Goldilocks kind of mode this week. Some think my porridge is too hot. Some think it’s too cold. Some think I’m serving it up to the wrong people. Personally, I think it’s just right. You be the judge in this week’s...
First Call: Time for Ben Roethlisberger to ‘ride off into the sunset’? Former Steelers teammate says ‘100%’
A prediction on Ben Roethlisberger’s future from a former Steelers teammate. Also, a Pittsburgh-area product has a big night in the NHL. The Baltimore Ravens are losing an assistant coach. And the Duquesne Dukes may have a freshman star on their hands. All that in a well-balanced football-basketball-hockey “First Call”...
Tim Benz: Jim Rutherford’s ‘personal reasons’ for leaving Penguins resulting in public speculation
The sudden departure of general manager Jim Rutherford from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization raises an always delicate question for the sports media. And for fans on social media, too, for that matter. Hey, I’ve got a column. You’ve got a Twitter account. A lot of us have podcasts and YouTube...
First Call: Bruce Arians likens Tampa Bay to Super Bowl XL Steelers; huge night for (many) ex-Penguins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians shares some fond memories of the Steelers Super Bowl XL team. Matt Stafford’s Detroit mansion is up for sale. So obviously he’s coming to Pittsburgh. And a lot of ex-Penguins had big nights in the NHL. Well, not every ex-Penguin. See if you...
Stan Savran enjoys 45th anniversary in Pittsburgh sports media, embraces what’s to come
Shortly after the calendar flipped to 2021, it struck me that I was beginning my 25th year in the sports media business. Nineteen of them in Pittsburgh. That felt like a little bit of an accomplishment. Until I turned on the radio and heard my ESPN Pittsburgh and WDVE colleague...
Tim Benz: As Tom Brady prepares for Super Bowl, time for Steelers fans to do some reassessing
I know what Steelers fans will think as they read this post. “Tim, this is nothing but one giant ‘I TOLD YOU SO!’” Let me tell you in advance, yes. Yes, it’s exactly that. No more. No less. It is one giant “I told you so.” Because I did. Now...
First Call: Support from Washington for new Steeler Dwayne Haskins; celebrating ‘Send it in, Jerome!’
New Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is getting some support from a former teammate as he leaves Washington. And it comes from a guy who helped keep him on the bench. We also flashback to a great moment in Pittsburgh sports. A Duquesne player gets a mid-season honor. And an update...
Mark Madden says T.J. Watt angrily refused his exit interview, Steelers linebacker refutes story
During his 105.9 The X radio show on Monday, TribLive columnist Mark Madden stated that he’d been told Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt refused to participate in his exit interview with the team. They were held with players in the days after the club lost its playoff game to the Cleveland...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer on issues that may be slowing Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin
The Penguins are on a four-game win streak. Sidney Crosby is hot out of the gate with seven points over the first six games. Kasperi Kapanen is back with the team and skating into form. Goalie Tristan Jarry appears to have stabilized after a shaky start in the net. The...
First Call: Steelers touted as potential new team for Aaron Rodgers, ‘Duck’ Hodges flies west, Super Bowl odds
Monday’s “First Call” gives us a dream scenario for the Steelers quarterback situation. Well, a pipe dream anyway. Speaking of Steelers quarterbacks, Devlin “Duck” Hodges has signed with another NFL team. We also look at some Pitt and Steelers connections to the Super Bowl. Plus, we give you the early...
Madden Monday: Another Super Bowl ring puts Tom Brady up with Ali, Jordan, Ruth
The Steelers have been out of the playoffs for two weeks. Super Bowl LV is set as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 7. And it features two demons of Steelers history in Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski with Tampa Bay. Also, two reviled...
Tim Benz: Applaud Pirates tear down, but stay skeptical of ability to rebuild
Unfortunately, former Pirates players Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove and Josh Bell proved one sports cliche to be true: “Nice guys really do finish last.” Because those recently traded Pirates were three of the nicest guys I’ve ever covered in a baseball clubhouse. Even on his way out the door after...
First Call: 3rd Steelers offensive coordinator candidate emerges, Chase Claypool’s welcome for Dwayne Haskins
Friday’s “First Call” takes a look at a third Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator candidate. Chase Claypool is happy about the team’s latest quarterback addition. Bill O’Brien’s new gig is official. And a few college sports teams in Pittsburgh are getting creative to deal with covid-19 scheduling hassles. Next up On...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ signing of Dwayne Haskins shows what could come in the post-Roethlisberger era
There is a lot of speculation over what the signing of former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins “really” means for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is it an indicator that Ben Roethlisberger is going to retire? Is Haskins being brought on board to goose Roethlisberger in that direction? Does it mean that Mason...
Debating Tristan Jarry or Casey DeSmith in goal for the Penguins Friday night
Even in a 56-game NHL season, it’s still early for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They are 2-2 after their first four games. So, it’s far too soon to start a goalie controversy. Nor should a decision to leave Casey DeSmith in the net for Game 5 of the season against the...
