Tim Benz stories, Page 140
First Call: Bruce Arians forecasts Antonio Brown’s role; Avery Williamson already gets Pittsburgh
Our Wednesday “First Call” proves new Steelers linebacker Avery Williamson already has a good sense of Pittsburgh. We’ve got an update on the covid-19 situation from Baltimore. And a look at the looming Tampa Bay debut of Antonio Brown. Small steps for Mr. Big Chest? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have...
Tim Benz: Expanded NFL playoff contingency plan is a bad idea, and not just for Steelers
As the Steelers sit at 7-0, the NFL is considering an expansion of the playoff field from seven teams to eight per conference. For this incredibly strange season only. That means if the Steelers earn the only playoff bye in the AFC, there may not even be a bye to...
Avery Williamson’s role with Steelers should change by Ravens rematch
I believe Mike Tomlin when he says new linebacker Avery Williamson was acquired from the New York Jets to be a complementary part of the inside linebacker rotation. For now. Maybe the next three weeks or so? But by Thanksgiving night, I’ll bet a drumstick Williamson is getting the majority...
First Call: Dallas QB update for Steelers game Sunday; Antonio Brown’s legal team in full gear
Tuesday’s “First Call” features a look at this week’s Cowboys quarterback situation as the Steelers prepare for a trip to Dallas. The Ravens made history during their loss to the Steelers Sunday. John Harbaugh is defending his team’s coronavirus practices. And Antonio Brown’s legal team is working overtime in advance...
Once a possibility to replace Ryan Shazier, can Avery Williamson replicate Devin Bush on Steelers defense?
After Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a career-ending spinal injury in December 2017, the Steelers scurried to find a free agent replacement for him in the 2018 offseason. They tried to fill the void with veteran journeyman Jon Bostic, special teamers such as Tyler Matakevich and L.J. Fort,...
Tim Benz: 2020 Steelers look to improve on old history by erasing recent memories
The nicest compliment any modern Steelers team can receive is a comparison to the sainted teams of the 1970s. Around these parts, that’s like telling a basketball player that he shoots like Larry Bird. Or a singer that he sounds like Pavarotti. So when the 2020 Steelers beat the Baltimore...
First Call: Avery Williamson humorously posts about trade to Steelers; Ravens WR pouts after loss
In Monday’s “First Call” Avery Williamson posts about his looming trade to the Steelers. The statistics suggest the Steelers’ 7-0 start means “can’t miss” for the playoffs. Le’Veon Bell had a rough day against his former team. And a pouting Raven on social media. Rekindled? Since taking over for Devin...
Madden Monday: Ravens ‘should be displeased by how stupid they played’ vs. Steelers
This week’s Madden Monday podcast poses an in-depth question about the Steelers victory in Baltimore. What was the bigger reason for the 28-24 outcome? Did the Steelers steal it? Or did the Ravens give it away? I gave you my thoughts after the win in Maryland. TribLive columnist and 105.9...
Tim Benz: Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances as Steelers stay unbeaten in Baltimore
The calendar flipped to November, and the Pittsburgh Steelers flipped the script on last week’s game in defeating the Baltimore Ravens, 28-24, on Sunday. Last Sunday in Tennessee, the Steelers managed to hold off a surging Titans comeback in the second half after going into the locker room up 24-7....
First Call: Baltimore media jabs fallen Ben Roethlisberger, Big Ben on Antonio Brown, Ravens injury news
A Baltimore television station is ramping up the trash talk for Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game. And Ben Roethlisberger is in the crosshairs. Big Ben also talks about that big signing in Tampa Bay. We’ve got Baltimore injury news, too. And the latest on a familiar face potentially quarterbacking the Dallas Cowboys....
View from Baltimore: Steelers ‘playing better,’ Ravens still really good, but not like last year
Even at 6-0, it still may not be easy for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers to envision a win for their team Sunday in Baltimore. But Mike Tomlin’s club is certainly better poised to beat the Ravens than it was last season. For one, Ben Roethlisberger is healthy at quarterback....
First Call: Tom Brady discusses Antonio Brown signing. Crazy Steelers-Ravens stats. Super Bowl seating.
Thursday’s “First Call” features some unreal stats about the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. Tom Brady makes his first comments about being reunited in Tampa with former Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. A former Steeler has been traded to a division rival. And Super Bowl seating is being debated. Quoth the Raven Exactly how...
Guess who is posing as Steelers receiver Chase Claypool in Ravens’ practice
If the first five years of Chase Claypool’s career are as good as the first five years of Dez Bryant’s career, Steelers fans will wind up being quite happy. Well, on the field anyway. That would mean 381 catches, 5,424 yards, and 58 touchdowns. Now, the Baltimore Ravens are simply...
U mad, bro? Readers skeptical of too much Steelers praise. Angry with Pirates, Pitt, too.
Some Steelers fans want us to pump the brakes on all this happy talk after a 6-0 start. Other readers are mad at the Pitt football team. For various reasons. And still others made the mistake of watching the World Series. Which plunged them further into depression about being Pirates...
First Call: Steelers fan confidence grows; Ravens, Super Bowl gambling lines shrink
For Wednesday’s “First Call” we look at how much confidence is rising within the Steelers fanbase. We also see a correlation in the gambling world. And can things really get worse for the Dallas Cowboys? Yes. Yes, they can. Direct correlation As confidence grows in the 2020 Steelers, the gambling...
Antonio Brown officially signs with Tampa Bay … in forcefully understated fashion
It’s official. A.B. is in T.B. with TB 12. Antonio Brown is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. The former Steelers All-Pro is now on his third team since forcing his way out of Pittsburgh at the end of the 2018 season. It’s been known that the Bucs were planning on signing...
Tim Benz: Ravens defense is biggest challenge yet for Steelers offense
As the Steelers prepare to visit Baltimore Sunday, the Ravens defense of 2020 may not conjure the images of 10 to 15 years ago. It’s still very good, though. And it is the best one this Steelers offense will have faced so far in this season. Denver’s isn’t bad. Philadelphia’s...
First Call: Ravens will have some fans Sunday. Will they have Mark Ingram?
We are caked with Steelers-Ravens nuggets for Tuesday’s “First Call.” Gambling tidbits. Roster and injury news from Baltimore. And a little historical perspective in advance of Sunday’s game. Plus, a former Steeler gets away with a dirty, dirty hit. Do, or don’t, on Dez Well, at least it’s not Antonio...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ projection changed after beating Titans; imagine what beating Ravens would do
Hype has a different tone in 2020. It’s not quite the same because of coronavirus. Is anything? There are no tailgates starting Sunday morn — scratch that — Friday at happy hour. People aren’t pouring out of the bars on Carson Street waving their Terrible Towels after wins. No 1:59...
Derek Schooley talks Robert Morris’ hockey schedule, Pittsburgh ‘Frozen Four’ hopes
Robert Morris men’s hockey coach Derek Schooley must’ve said it three or four times during a recent Zoom conversation. With increasing anticipation each time. “Let’s drop the puck and go.” His Colonials haven’t played since March 8, an elimination game victory over Holy Cross in Round 1 of the Atlantic...
First Call: Bruce Arians denies Tom Brady made Antonio Brown decision; Larry Fitzgerald makes history
Some interesting details about Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Arians has some questionable quotes about how that signing went down. Plus, an eye-popping stat about Le’Veon Bell in his first game with the Kansas City Chiefs. Larry Fitzgerald makes some history. And Tyler Glasnow’s late postseason...
Madden Monday: Why this Steelers offense may be better than Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell editions
The Steelers are 6-0 after a 27-24 win Sunday in Tennessee. And they got there in familiar fashion. Playing one great half and one crummy half. I’m not stunned that was enough to beat the likes of Denver, Houston and the New York Giants earlier in the season. But enough...
Tim Benz: Feats of Strength, Airing of Grievances as Steelers cling to victory in Tennessee
For the first 30 minutes of Sunday’s 27-24 Pittsburgh Steelers victory over the Tennessee Titans, I thought this was going to be a much shorter post than normal. I didn’t have any grievances to air! And the “Feats of Strength” were coming in droves. I thought I’d only be doing...
Tim Benz: We’ve seen ‘typical Pitt’ losses in 2020. Will we see a ‘typical Pitt’ win?
We throw around the phrase “typical Pitt loss” all the time when discussing the football team. Except there are many different iterations of a “typical Pitt loss.” • There is the mind-boggling, creative way of blowing a game late. Like when kicker Alex Kessman bombed a field goal from the...
Sean McDonough on Pitt-Notre Dame, ‘When Sid Slid,’ Mike Emrick’s retirement
In advance of the Pitt-Notre Dame game at Heinz Field on Saturday, ABC broadcaster Sean McDonough has just one request of viewers in Pittsburgh. “Don’t kill the messenger.” Over the last 35 years, McDonough has proven to be one of the most talented and versatile play-by-play announcers in the business....
