Tim Benz stories, Page 142
First Call: Le’Veon Bell ‘likes’ criticism of Jets; Big Ben erased from Browns record books; Pitt, WPIAL QB promoted in Dallas
Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell disses his coach on Twitter. Ben Roethlisberger is finally erased from the Cleveland Browns record books. The Dallas Cowboys may turn to a Pittsburgh product at quarterback if Andy Dalton gets hurt. “Ground Chuck” is still in playoff form. All that and more in Tuesday’s “First...
First Call: Will Baker Mayfield play vs. Steelers? Aaron Donald dominates. Steelers opponent loses QB.
In Monday’s “First Call,” Baker Mayfield wants you to know how tough he is heading into Steelers week. Just ask his “momma.” Also, a future Steelers opponent just lost their quarterback. A division rival beats up on another one. Aaron Donald wrecks Alex Smith’s return. And Robert Morris’ hockey team...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ hot start is ‘least impressive 4-0 in history’; Pitt is like its coach
The Steelers won the battle of Pennsylvania Sunday. Sorry, “BENsylvania.” The Penguins traded a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. Sorry, a two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. And the Pitt football team lost in unbelievable fashion. Sorry, completely typical Pitt fashion. So it was quite a week. Mark Madden and I recap all of...
Tim Benz: ‘Feats of Strength’ (7-11 connection) and ‘Airing of Grievances’ (pass coverage) as Steelers outscore Eagles
I could make things really easy this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-29, on Sunday to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1979. And pretty much the entire week all anyone will talk about is two things. So let’s keep it brief. Feats of Strength?...
Pitt, Boston College are opponents Saturday, but fighting the same battles
On Saturday, the Pitt and Boston College football teams will be opponents. Most of the rest of the year, though, these two teams fight many of the same battles. They are city schools in pro sports towns, trying to reestablish the national pulse they had in the 1980s. Doing the...
First Call: Tight ends will be big in Steelers vs. Eagles. Cole vs. Glasnow in Game 5.
Friday’s “First Call” looks at a key matchup in Sunday’s Steelers-Eagles game. The Steelers defensive front gets some high first-quarter grades. Robert Morris hockey has found a special story and a special skater. And the Duquesne Dukes may be part of an Atlantic 10 renaissance. Tale of the tight ends...
Tim Benz: Steelers-Eagles should be a tale of the trenches
Analysis of Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Philadelphia Eagles comes down to two specific things. Check that. The analysis isn’t even that complicated. Simply put, the Steelers should win. Period. And they should cover the seven-point spread bouncing around most gambling outlets. But how easily the Steelers win —...
NFL covid-19 disruptions are causing chaos in fantasy football world, too
Want a “fantasy,” Steelers fans? Here’s a fantasy. How about an NFL week without the specter of games being postponed or moved around? That’s a fantasy in my world. It’s also a fantasy in most fantasy football leagues. And while the real-life logistics of maneuvering around the covid-19 landmines are...
First Call: Titans illegal practice session before Steelers game? J.J. Watt’s clash with Bill O’Brien. Ex-Pirates pitchers shine.
Steelers fans want to know what exacerbated the Tennessee Titans coronavirus outbreak. Thursday’s “First Call” tries to bring that into focus. Also, J.J. Watt apparently had a burr under his saddle about former coach Bill O’Brien. The Duquesne basketball team is thinking mini-bubble. And more ex-Pirates pitchers are impacting the...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans are smoldering. Pitt fans upset. Penguins fans ‘fond farewell’ to Matt Murray.
I’ve gained a whole new respect for Steelers fans. They’ve proven to me that they can get just as uncontrollably agitated about a game the Steelers didn’t even play as they can get about a game that the Steelers didn’t win. I mean, this Tennessee Titans postponement really has Western...
First Call: Steelers pass rush facing banged up Eagles O-line. Vegas struggling to trade Marc-Andre Fleury.
Wednesday’s “First Call” outlines some offensive line problems in Philadelphia as the Eagles get ready to face a fearsome Steelers pass rush. The Vegas Golden Knights are struggling to trade Marc-Andre Fleury. And Ex-Pirates aplenty put their stamp on last night’s Yankees-Rays playoff game. More problems up front In advance...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin noncommittal on NFL forfeit question. That’s smart. For many reasons.
This 2020 NFL season has to be a special kind of torture for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Almost all coaches from pee-wee football to the NFL pound a message of “controlling the controllables.” In other words, focus only on your team. Your own job within that team. On that given...
Pirates middle infield is full of options for 2021. It’s also full of questions
As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for 2021, a vast amount of uncertainty exists. When will games start? Will fans be allowed? What will the length of the schedule be? What about payroll? Who knows? One thing I can pretty much guarantee, though, is that the Pirates will not be allowed...
Potential destinations for Matt Murray, Penguins fans won’t have Jack Johnson to kick around anymore
I’m not sure about much when it comes to the 2020-21 Pittsburgh Penguins. I’m not sure who will be on the roster. I’m not sure if they’ll make the playoffs. I’m not even sure if head coach Mike Sullivan will make it through the season. But I am sure that...
First Call: Browns working around big injury. Titans may face discipline. Happy ‘Sid’iversary, Pens fans.
After the NFL postponed a Steelers game in Nashville this Sunday due to coronavirus concerns, the Tennessee Titans appear to be turning the corner when it comes to controlling the spread. But will they get disciplined for protocol violations after failing to take proper measures to prevent its introduction to...
Tim Benz: Preemptive shortening of NFL season is not the way to go
In each of the last two years, the Steelers have suffered crushing late-season losses over the final four weeks that have prevented them from making the playoffs. In 2018, the Steelers inexcusably lost to the Raiders in Oakland in Week 13. Then they suffered a heartbreaking defeat in New Orleans...
First Call: Rough week to watch! During Steelers ‘bye,’ division and conference rivals win.
The Steelers had an unexpected day off Sunday thanks to the postponement of their game against the Tennessee Titans. And if they spent it watching the rest of NFL, they didn’t like what they saw. All three of their AFC North rivals ended up winning. A pair of other AFC...
Madden Monday: NFL covid-19 problems. Pat Narduzzi is ‘a blowhard.’ Metro Division fit for Marc-Andre Fleury?
No Steelers content to discuss for our “Madden Monday” podcast this week, as the team is coming off its surprise bye weekend. That’s thanks to the postponement of their scheduled game against the Tennessee Titans. Mark Madden and I start the show talking about how the NFL is handling their...
Tim Benz: NFL dancing through raindrops of covid-19, but a bigger storm is coming
This was bound to happen. Now the NFL has to brace for being unable to stop it. Or wish it away. Before this week, the covid-19 pandemic had been an ominous rumble of thunder in the distance. Now it’s become a daily rain cloud over the league. At least the...
First Call: JuJu’s ‘cringeworthy’ quote, some Steelers not happy about schedule shuffleVideo
Friday’s “First Call” gives us some sassy Pittsburgh Steelers who are speaking out about the NFL’s schedule change. An ex-Steeler is surprised about JuJu Smith-Schuster’s quarterback comments. Duquesne basketball is getting some love. And a stroll down Pirates memory lane. Bye-bye, bye Some of the Steelers are less than thrilled...
Tennessee reporter ‘fully confident’ that ‘the Titans did not break any protocol’
Normally what Pittsburgh Steelers fans want more than anything else on any given Sunday is a win from their team. This Sunday, Steelers fans will get something almost as good: a permanent excuse. If the Steelers don’t make the playoffs, or don’t win the division, or don’t win the Super...
Tim Benz: For Ben Cherington, it’s not what he ‘learned’ in 2020. It’s what he chooses to believe for 2021.
I’ve always been a big fan of the cartoon “South Park.” Don’t tell me what happened in “The Pandemic Special.” I’ve got it on the DVR. A recurring spoof in the early seasons of that show was that every episode ended with one of the kids telling the other characters,...
U mad, bro? Pittsburgh fans fume about Steelers-Titans delay, trading Patric Hornqvist, and … the presidential debate?
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” Pittsburgh sports fans are mad about how the NFL is handling the Steelers-Titans postponement. They are also mad at attempts to qualify the Steelers’ 3-0 start. Mad at the Penguins for trading Patric Hornqvist. And mad about the presidential debate. I’m mad, too. Because...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Pitt starting successful seasons on similar tracks
There are many parallels with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers to start their 2020 seasons. • Both are 3-0. • Both have a tremendous pass rush. • Both managed to win a tight game at halftime at Heinz Field last weekend. And both are chasing the perception that...
First Call: TV reportedly sets Steelers-Titans start times; Ryan Switzer visits Browns; Pirates back Bryan Reynolds
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us the potential television times — and network — for the rescheduled Steelers game in Nashville. Bryan Reynolds is getting some support from Pirates brass. Ryan Switzer is getting interest from an AFC North rival. And the Cincinnati Bengals are looking out for their quarterback. Who’s...
