Tim Benz stories, Page 155
Tim Benz: You know who the Steelers got in the draft. Now let’s look at who they didn’t get.
You know what the Pittsburgh Steelers got in the draft. A huge wide receiver from a big school. A Conference USA reserve outside linebacker. A couple of Maryland Terps at running back and safety. And a trash-talking guard who might moonlight as a bouncer at a bar on the South...
Tim Benz: Best wide receiver available? Or best player available? Opinions vary.
A lot of years in the NFL Draft, the Steelers say that they are taking the best player available when they pick. A lot of years I don’t believe that. A lot of years I think they take the best possible player at the position of the highest need. Actually,...
How skill positions in NFL Draft will impact fantasy owners
Our Essey Tire fantasy sports podcast examines the first round of the NFL Draft and how some of these incoming rookies will impact your fantasy leagues. With six receivers taken in the first round and a run on running backs expected in the second round, the answer is: significantly! Jeff...
First Call: ESPN’s NFL Draft production was tremendous, with beautifully natural awkwardness
For Friday’s “First Call,” I’ve got to credit the combined forces of the NFL Network, ABC and ESPN. That was quite an undertaking Thursday night for the virtual reality NFL Draft broadcast. It was so much smoother than I thought it was going to be. All things considered, the multiple...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans vent about JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette
In the week leading up to the NFL Draft, it was clear Steelers fans were feeling particularly on edge. Hey, no first-round pick for the first time since 1967 will do that to you. So, instead of fretting over what was going to happen in the first round, Black and...
First Call: Pittsburgh as NHL return city?; Some underrated potential Steelers draft targets
For “First Call” today, we’re still talkin’ hockey in a bubble. Just different bubbles. Forget New Hampshire, North Dakota and Saskatchewan. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed through ESPN.com that the NHL is looking at four NHL host cities as designated locations to condense the league and to restart the 2019-20...
NFL Draft analyst: Perfect sleeper replacement for Javon Hargrave, OLB options for Steelers
In the first part of our pre-draft podcast with Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling, he outlined how he thought the draft laid out nicely for the Steelers to meet their offensive needs. Even though they won’t be making a first-round selection. In part two, we look at the prospects the Steelers...
Tim Benz: That JuJu Smith-Schuster trade idea? Not gonna happen. But worth a look.
A chin-scratching Steelers trade rumor bubbled to the surface Wednesday. JuJu Smith-Schuster to the San Francisco 49ers for a first-round pick. Rumor has it? #49ers called and checked on the availability of #Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. #NFL #NFLDraft2020 Some things to note #PittsburghSteelers have no number one pick and this...
First Call: Unflattering review of Leonard Fournette, former WPIAL star getting NFL trade interest, Gronk trade impacts gambling
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” a less than stellar review of Leonard Fournette. A former Western Pa. football star may be on the move. And the Rob Gronkowski trade is shifting gambling lines. No fan of Fournette Former Pittsburgh sportswriter Vito Stellino is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He...
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson wants Antonio Brown. Is he crazy? Or onto something?
I’ve been quite happy with how the NFL has managed to socially distance itself from former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. The league has been much farther than six feet away from A.B. since September. Now NFL MVP Lamar Jackson wants Brown to return. And he’d like to see Mr....
NFL Draft analyst: Draft ‘sets up really nicely’ for Steelers’ offensive needs
The Steelers haven’t been without a first-round draft pick since 1967. But with the way things are lining up for this week’s NFL Draft, 2020 may not be a bad year for that to be the case. That seems to be the assessment of at least one draft analyst I...
How politics surrounding coronavirus may slow NHL’s return, 2016 flashbacks
Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me for our weekly hockey chat. During this week’s Essey Tire podcast, we solve all the world’s problems. Who am I kidding? We complain about the state of affairs we are all dealing with in this coronavirus-shut-in-addled existence we are all muddling...
First Call: Price on Leonard Fournette may slip into Steelers range, Jameis Winston’s new tactic
Tuesday’s “First Call” gives us an update on the Leonard Fournette trade front. The asking price could dip into the Steelers’ range if they are interested. That’s not it for drama in Jacksonville. Another Jaguars player is going after ownership. Jameis Winston is playing coy with his free agency. And...
Tim Benz: Ripple effect of Steelers going with a WR or RB early in draft
What I’m about to give you is just my anecdotal observation. It’s far from scientific data. That being said, considering what we’ve learned over the last two months, we all tend to pick and choose scientific data based on the numbers we prefer to believe anyway. So let’s stick with...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss how the draft may impact Steelers trades; Matt Murray’s future
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I focus on the NFL Draft. We both see the logic in the Steelers drafting a skill-position player in the second round. But what becomes of JuJu Smith-Schuster or James Conner if that happens? Could either of them be traded? If...
First Call: Should Steelers look at Leonard Fournette? Rare national praise for Ben Roethlisberger
Monday’s “First Call” starts the week with rare pre-NFL Draft praise of Ben Roethlisberger from the national media. Could the Steelers target running back Leonard Fournette in a trade? More Jameis Winston to the Steelers chatter. And it appears that the Chinese Professional Baseball League (Taiwan) doesn’t quite grasp the...
Pitt doctor leading covid-19 battle discusses lessons learned through sports, optimistic for football’s return
Not much has made me smile since the covid-19 shut-in. Tiger King. Bert Kreischer’s new comedy special. Oh, and this dog video. Good boy’s reaction...?pic.twitter.com/OK3t2x1VJU— Rex Chapman? (@RexChapman) April 15, 2020 C’mon! You gotta laugh every time, right? There was one other thing that gave me a chuckle. It was...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s thoughts on Steelers drafting QB; Mason Rudolph works out with JuJu
Friday’s “First Call” looks at some quotes from Ben Roethlisberger about the talk that his team may draft a quarterback next week. Video of Mason Rudolph and JuJu Smith-Schuster working out together. A new Steelers draft candidate emerges at linebacker. And the latest on the Penguins-Capitals playoff series. Huh?! The...
Former Pirate Rinku Singh describes journey from baseball to pro wrestling
Pirates fans never got to see Rinku Singh pitch in a Major League game at PNC Park. But now they can watch him on a big stage. As a blossoming wrestling star. Singh grew up in Bhadohi, India. He and fellow Pirates minor league teammate Dinesh Patel were thrust onto...
Gov. Wolf won’t commit to Steelers, Eagles hosting games to start 2020 season
In recent days, President Trump and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease director, have each talked about the prospect of America’s sports world getting back on track after the nation’s battle against covid-19. All sports were effectively shut down during NCAA basketball conference championship week...
First Call: Todd Haley’s Twitter mishap, Odell Beckham Jr. trade talk, Derek Watt’s new number
Thursday’s “First Call” features a funny Twitter faux pas from Todd Haley. Trade rumors are swirling around a big-name player with the Cleveland Browns. Hilarious draft rules are in place for homebound prospects. And the worst … sports … Jeopardy answer … EVER! What day is it? A lot of...
RMU’s Chris King on challenges athletic directors face because of covid-19
First-year Robert Morris athletic director Chris King had just gone through a full week of overseeing his teams barrel through playoff performances. The men’s basketball team had just won the NEC Tournament at the brand-new UPMC Events Center. His women’s team finished 17-1 in conference play. The men’s hockey team...
U mad, bro? Shut-in readers gnash teeth about Ben Roethlisberger; Mike Tomlin vs. Bill Cowher; MLB’s future
It appears the longer we stay locked inside because of coronavirus fears, the angrier our audience is getting. Yeah. Me, too. This week’s readers go after Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, spitting baseball players and me. Mainly me. And I’m getting a little too pent up to let it go. “Treston”...
First Call: Watt brothers star on ‘Tonight Show’; sports movie ideas for Stephen King’s list
For “First Call” Wednesday, we try to help out renowned horror writer Stephen King. And the Watt brothers take over “The Tonight Show.” The offseason of the Watt brothers continues. Steelers T.J. and Derek Watt joined older brother J.J. Watt during a segment on “The Tonight Show” Tuesday. It was...
Derek Shelton has one clear goal to protect Pirates pitchers amid coronavirus shutdown
No one in the baseball world is happy right now. No season to start. No games to be played. Everyone is just sitting around idle. Although sitting around idle is still better than having your entire offseason of work go up in smoke. Then having to do it over and...
