Tim Benz stories, Page 164
Tim Benz: Marcus Weathers a huge reason for Duquesne’s hot start
Here’s what Saint Louis University basketball coach Travis Ford said about Duquesne forward Marcus Weathers before the two teams tipped off Jan. 2. “I think Weathers has developed into one of the best players in the Atlantic 10,” Ford said. “He’s turned into an elite player. He gives you a...
Fantasy football industry looking into NFL Wild Card Weekend controversy
Controversy during last week’s NFL Wild Card Weekend wasn’t limited to pass-interference debates and arguments over the overtime format. No, it bled into the fantasy football world as well, courtesy of two former reality TV stars. A pair of alumni from “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” — Jade Roper Tolbert...
Tim Benz: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is right to look for trade after Jake Guentzel’s injury
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford stopped short of saying the Penguins would definitely make a trade to offset the loss of All-Star winger Jake Guentzel. Not by much, though. Speaking on his 105.9 the X radio show Wednesday night, Rutherford sounded like a GM well-aware of what he had lost....
First Call: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford talks trade interest, Kris Letang’s issues, Evgeni Malkin’s riskiness
“First Call” today is all Jim Rutherford, all the time. The Penguins general manager had his first radio show of the year on 105.9 the X Wednesday. And the hyperbole meter was on high. During the program, Rutherford: • Called Jake Guentzel “the most underappreciated star player in the league”...
As the Penguins turn: When will Sidney Crosby return? When will Matt Murray play?
TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh joins me for our weekly hockey podcast. The Penguins are grinding through a difficult month with seven more games packed in before they hit Jan. 22 for their bye week. There are two more games on this road trip. And captain Sidney Crosby may...
U mad, bro? Readers trash NFL overtime, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, Tom Brady. But mostly Tim Benz.
Most of the heat in this week’s “U mad, bro?” comes down on me because of my thoughts on Tom Brady and NFL overtime. Well, me and Brady himself. And JuJu Smith-Schuster. And James Conner. And Mike Tomlin. Ok. Maybe it’s not all me. Anyway, let’s see who the readers...
First Call: Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury blames himself for loss; Penguins trade targets heat upVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” features an unhappy Marc-Andre Fleury after losing to his old Penguins teammates. Two Penguins’ trade targets net goals. Bob Huggins gets fined. And the Pitt hoops team may be catching North Carolina at the right time. At least Roy Williams seems to think so. No Flower power...
Tim Benz: Duquesne looks to stay hot in ‘first’ road game of seasonVideo
The Duquesne men’s basketball team hasn’t played a true road game all season. Then again, they haven’t played a true home game all season either, have they? The first of those two things will change Wednesday night. The other won’t change until next season. Duquesne (12-2) visits St. Joseph’s (3-11)...
How Titans defeated Patriots and can they beat Ravens, too?
The last time we caught up with old friend Jon Burton (formerly of WTAE-TV) on the “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, it was mid-August. The Pittsburgh Steelers were getting ready to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 of the preseason, and Burton was covering it for News Channel 5 in...
Tim Benz: There’s no perfect NFL overtime fix. So stop complaining.Video
Another round of NFL postseason games. Another round of overtime results. Another round of whining from people who think the tiebreaking system is unfair. In other words, whining from New Orleans. Or people who bet on New Orleans. OK, maybe Buffalo, too. This is becoming an annual event, much like...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell update, Connor McDavid’s unreal goal, ugly NBA injury videoVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” features one of what will be many Le’Veon Bell offseason updates. Connor McDavid’s potential “goal of the year.” Plus, the good, the bad and the ugly from the NBA. Making it work Is Le’Veon Bell staying with the New York Jets or not? That will be one...
Penguins face brutal schedule, questions about Kris Letang’s play, Sidney Crosby’s return
This week’s hockey podcast goes in all sorts of directions with Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer. We begin with Kris Letang’s recent play. Is it just a bad patch or is he sliding away from Mike Sullivan’s commitment to structure? Many Penguins fans are hoping that a trade is...
Tim Benz: Even Steelers fans would forget hatred of Tom Brady if he lands in PittsburghVideo
It’s the opposite of what any Steelers fan wants to envision. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is working out over the next two months. He looks down at his surgically repaired elbow and says, “This thing ain’t healing right. I’m not close. It’s getting worse. Not better. I’m not going to be...
First Call: Browns favorite to sign Tom Brady if he leaves Patriots; Antonio Brown wants in, too
This can’t happen. Can it? Tom Brady is about to become a free agent. After nearly two decades of dominance, he could leave the New England Patriots. Hey, Michael Jordan was a Washington Wizard. Joe Montana became a Kansas City Chief. And Babe Ruth ended his career with the Boston...
Mark Madden, Tim Benz on Penguins replacing Jake Guentzel, Matt Murray’s goaltending, Patriots loss
This week’s “Madden Monday” with Mark Madden features Penguins talk at first. And there is a lot to get to on that front. The Penguins have gotten three points over their three games since Jake Guentzel’s injury. A win. A loss. And an overtime defeat. But are they hitting a...
Tim Benz: Don’t kid yourself. Steelers never could’ve done what Titans did to PatriotsVideo
Yeah. It crossed my mind, too. Watching the New England Patriots crumble at home against the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Could this have been the year? What if the Steelers didn’t fall apart down the stretch and had managed to scratch their way past...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s future with Jets; Antonio Brown vents about Saints; Brandon Saad to Penguins talk
The first “First Call” of 2020 picks up where 2019 left off—a lot of talk about Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Both of the former Steelers were in the headlines on New Year’s Day. So we get caught up on the latest ax to grind for A.B. and the latest...
Is a Penguins trade necessary to replace Jake Guentzel?
New year. Same problem. That’s what the Penguins are facing to begin 2020. Another significant injury to another significant player. This time it’s Jake Guentzel. This time his season could be over. TribLive beat writer Seth Rorabaugh joins me on Thursday’s podcast to examine how the Pens will deal with...
U mad, bro? Readers seething over Steelers’ elimination, Mike Tomlin, ‘Hard Knocks’ prospect
Whenever the Steelers get knocked out of the playoff race, you know things are going to get spicy. This week’s “U mad, bro?” lives up (or is it down?) to expectations with heat coming from all directions. No one is safe. Not Mike Tomlin. Not the organization. Not HBO. Not...
How much of Mike Tomlin’s season-ending press conference should give Steelers’ fans hope?
Fellow TribLive columnist Kevin Gorman joins me for our last wrap up of Mike Tomlin’s weekly press conferences in 2019. Given that the Steelers have been eliminated short of the playoffs for a second straight year, the next time we do this may be August in Latrobe, and the “Hard...
Tim Benz: Plenty for Steelers to fix that Ben Roethlisberger can’tVideo
When assessing the 2020 Steelers offense, the easy thing to say is, “Ben Roethlisberger will be back, and that’ll fix everything.” Given how good the defense could be again, what a dream scenario that would be! Too bad it isn’t close to true. Yes, Roethlisberger will fix a lot. Red-zone...
First Call: Antonio Brown rips JuJu Smith-Schuster; Jets coach dismissive of Le’Veon Bell
As has been the case for most of 2019, the year couldn’t end without another day of former Steelers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell being in the headlines. Brown couldn’t pass up one last chance to take a jab at former teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster on social media. Boo Boo Shoester...
What will Penguins do if Jake Guentzel is hurt, too?Video
Ok, now the hockey gods are just messing with us, right? Aren’t the Penguins out of guys to get injured? As soon as hope started to build for a return of Sidney Crosby, now Jake Guentzel might be out for a while. At least we are bracing ourselves for that...
Tim Benz: Don’t inflate Steelers’ mediocre 8-8 finish
If you looked skyward in Pittsburgh around 2:45 p.m. Monday, you saw a gorgeous double rainbow over the city. I was heading to the North Side at the time, and I felt like I was driving right into it. Both arches appeared to end directly in Heinz Field’s parking lot....
First Call: Browns’ Baker Mayfield barks at fans; Bengals RB takes out ref; Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella epic rantVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” another epic postgame rant from John Tortorella. Another Saquon Barkley highlight. More comedy from the Bengals. And more yapping from Baker Mayfield. ‘Torts-ing’ it up one more time in 2019 Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella went on one of his classic postgame tirades after a...
