Tim Benz stories, Page 158
The ripple effect of huge NFL moves, delayed MLB season in the fantasy sports world
Not only is the NFL free agent madness impacting the actual league, but it’s also having a major impact on the fantasy football world. A ton of skill-position players moved, so Jeff Erickson and I have plenty to discuss for our weekly fantasy sports podcast. Obviously, Tom Brady going to...
Tim Benz: What’s the Pittsburgh equivalent of Tom Brady leaving New England?
Pittsburgh Steelers fans — much like 30 other NFL fan bases — are enjoying a heaping teaspoon of schadenfreude at the expense of the New England Patriots right now. After 19 years of dominance, the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era is over. Brady is going to play his remaining few years...
First Call: Antonio Brown works out with Steelers WR; Jameis Winston to Pittsburgh?; Sidney Crosby’s future as a coach
In Friday’s “First Call,” we look at which Steelers player is a workout pal with Antonio Brown. Mike Sullivan adresses the the idea of Sidney Crosby eventually coaching. Should Jameis Winston go to the Steelers? Also, more bad news in Boston. And “March Madness” replacement brackets. A.B.’s buddy If anyone...
How did it go so wrong? Tim Benz, Ken Laird discuss Tom Brady leaving the Patriots
Nope. Sportswise, things aren’t great in Pittsburgh right now. The Steelers are just a .500 team. The Pirates may never sniff .500 again. And the Penguins were barely clinging onto third place in the Metro Division when the coronavirus shutdown hit. Could be worse, though. We could be in Boston....
Tim Benz: 4 reasons why an Antonio Brown-Tom Brady reunion in Tampa Bay won’t work
Once his signing becomes official, future Hall of Famer Tom Brady is heading to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Speculation is rampant that former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown will be joining him. As @TomPelissero and I discussed on TV, the word among teams interested in Tom Brady were among the...
‘U mad, bro?’ knows what you need in these troubling times: The venting of Steelers fans
If there is one thing I have learned from all the covid-19 fallout, it is that as Pittsburghers we have come together. We are all linking arms while somehow being six feet apart. We are all pulling on the same rope. Then wiping down that rope with sanitizer. We are...
RMU coach Andy Toole reflects on his team’s NCAA games that never got to tip off
Usually the idea of missing out on a mid-week, mid-March night in Dayton, Ohio doesn’t sound like something that could plunge you into depression. Right now, Robert Morris basketball players may disagree. That’s where they should have been this week. Playing in an NCAA First Four game to kick off...
First Call: Laughing at Tom Brady leaving; Bengals big signing; bad NHL schedule idea
In “First Call” Wednesday, people are laughing at New England’s pain. The NHL player proposal to restart the season stinks. And Marc-Andre Fleury looks like he is in the weeds of a quarantine. Now it is our turn No one is making this easy on New England. Legendary quarterback Tom...
Brett Keisel, fans coax J.J. Watt to Steelers so he can join his brothers
On Tuesday, word leaked that the Steelers are set to sign former Los Angeles Chargers fullback Derek Watt. He is the older brother of Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker T.J. Watt and the younger brother of Houston Texans star defensive lineman J.J. Watt. Most fullbacks don’t exactly get a ton of...
Tom Brady tweets goodbye message to Patriots
It’s not clear where New England Patriots legend Tom Brady is going to play football next season. But it is becoming clear that it will no longer be in New England. Brady posted what appears to be two good-bye tweets to the Patriots organization and fans Tuesday morning. FOREVER A...
First Call: NFL players mock former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien for DeAndre Hopkins trade
Monday was full of major NFL moves on the first day of free agency. Here’s a look at some of the ones that happened late at night that you may have missed. And if you did, I don’t blame you. Based on all the coronavirus news, I would’ve hidden under...
Can this NHL season survive a 45 day pause? If so, how can the playoffs work?
No hockey. No problem for Brian Metzer and me during our weekly hockey podcast! Eh, who am I kidding? It’s a problem. But Metzer — the Penguins Radio Network host on 105.9 the X — and I make the most of it. We pontificate over how the NHL could survive...
Tim Benz: Browns, Ravens improve as Steelers crawl to cap compliance
We’re used to seeing it. On Day 1 of the NFL’s 2020 free agency period, the rest of the league took a headfirst dive into the deep end of the pool. Meanwhile, the Steelers are simply in a doggy paddle toward cap compliance. That’s the case every year, right? But...
First Call: Coronavirus crisis may keep Raiders in Oakland; Tom Brady’s options narrowing; Xavier Johnson staying at Pitt
In “First Call” for Monday, we defend the NFL’s decision to move forward with the start of its league year. Coronavirus may impact the Raiders’ ability to move to Las Vegas on time. And potential landing spots for Tom Brady are disappearing. Look a little deeper The NFL took heat...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss the new NFL CBA, sports alternatives for coronavirus shutdown
The coronavirus has stopped sports. But it hasn’t stopped us from talking about them on “Madden Monday.” In this week’s podcast, Mark Madden and I discuss what you can do to occupy your time without sports on television. I suggest “Brockmire.” Listen for Mark’s recommendations. There are also good ESPN...
Tim Benz: Players, teams that could suffer most under coronavirus sports shutdown
The coronavirus sports shutdown may be worse than originally thought. On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control recommended “that for the next 8 weeks, organizers … cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” That means sports. All of ‘em. The NCAA...
How fantasy sports, gambling are affected by coronavirus; odd team surfaces for Tom Brady
Sports is a multibillion-dollar business. So is sports gambling. So is the fantasy sports industry. And a lot of people in those lines of work are being impacted by the absence of sports because of the coronavirus outbreak. Much like the casual players and big-money investors. Our friend Jeff Erickson...
Tim Benz: Path to coronavirus sports cancellations confused, confounded and contradicted
I’m not a huge fan of “The Office.” It’s OK. Not great. The humor is forced. The characters became two-dimensional characterizations of themselves after the third season. And I found the plot lines repetitive. There. I said it. Unpopular TV hot take for you. But I ran through five episodes...
First Call: How MLB, NHL, NBA can salvage their seasons
In the wake of the coronavirus sports shutdown, sadly, the 2020 NCAA basketball tournament could not be saved. Maybe that could’ve happened with more time to plan. But arena availability is at issue. Many venues are in a state of flux between attempts to reschedule pro sports, events, and shows...
First call: Video shows Rudy Gobert mocking coronavirus before testing positive, shutting down NBA; will NFL Draft pull out of Vegas?
It’s all coronavirus talk in sports. Nothing else. The NBA is done. For now. Many think the NHL and college basketball will soon follow. In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look at how Rudy Gobert’s diagnosis brought down the NBA. What may become of the NFL Draft. And how one college...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh break down Penguins issues, impact of coronavirus on NHL
Full disclosure. TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and I taped this podcast before the NBA announcement to suspend its season upon the realization that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had the coronavirus. And by the time you listen to this, 50 more things may change with the NHL and...
Tim Benz: What’s wrong with the Penguins? Here are 2 theories to debunk
The optimistic way to look at the Penguins is to hope that Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils will be the kind of victory that gets this recently rudderless team back on a Stanley Cup course. Unfortunately, their current stretch of losing eight times in 11 games suggests...
First Call: Gronk to WWE?; NFL overtime may change; Penguins get help; Duquesne basketball snubs
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a new gig for Gronk. Is NFL overtime changing again? Gerrit Cole basks in Yankees stardom. The Penguins get some help in the Metro Division. Gronk to wrestling? The Steelers need a tight end. Well, there is a pretty good one from Woodland Hills that’s getting...
Tim Benz: Coronavirus reaction robs Ivy League players of joy Robert Morris experiences
It’s the one time when bad body language can look good. The piece of net around Josh Williams’ neck appeared to weigh 500 pounds. The Robert Morris guard slowly leaned forward to pick up the microphone to answer postgame questions after his team beat St. Francis (Pa.) 77-67 in the...
U mad, bro? Penguins fans have no patience. Steelers fans have no questions. Pirates fans have no sense of humor.
Yeesh! You’d think that after losing almost non-stop for 40 years, Pirates fans would have a sense of humor. “If you don’t laugh, you are going to cry.” That type of thing. Based on my Twitter feed this week, I guess I’m wrong. But they aren’t alone in their anger....
