Tim Benz stories, Page 173
Tim Benz: Clint Hurdle shouldn’t be Pirates’ only scapegoat
The word “scapegoat” has been used quite a bit in the wake of Clint Hurdle’s firing as Pirates manager. I felt like it was inappropriate. So I double-checked the definition. Merriam-Webster defines the term this way: “A goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after...
Tim Benz: Feats of strength from Steelers’ win over Bengals (finally)Video
Finally! I almost forgot this was possible. We’ve had three straight “Airing of Grievances” entries to start the 2019 season. I was getting worried we’d never get to post a “Feats of Strength” Steelers postgame column. Hey, that’s why it’s always nice to see the Cincinnati Bengals pop up on...
First Call: Rutgers may be interested in Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi as new coach
Monday’s “First Call” features a potential new job for Pat Narduzzi. Feuding Ravens. And maybe the MLB play of the year. Narduzzi in New Jersey? Here’s an interesting one. Pitt Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi’s name has come up as a candidate for the Rutgers coaching job. The Scarlet Knights fired...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden break down Clint Hurdle’s firing and Steelers-Bengals ‘MNF’ game
It’s not often a Pittsburgh Steelers “Monday Night Football” game gets dwarfed by other topics in the Pittsburgh sports world. But the team has started 0-3. Sidney Crosby got hurt. Clint Hurdle got fired. And Pat Narduzzi is getting linked to another job. So, apologies. It’s going to take us...
Tim Benz: Botched firing of Clint Hurdle typical of 2019 Pirates
Given the news cycle of the last week, this may be hard to do. But play along with me if you can. Imagine that the Pirates simply fired Clint Hurdle after the season ended Sunday evening. Hurdle manages Game 162. The franchise gives its sendoff to Steve Blass. The Pirates...
Tim Benz: Who is missed more: Antonio Brown or A.J. Green?
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t good at much this year. The Cincinnati Bengals may be good at even less. But as these two 0-3 teams square off in a pathetic excuse for a primetime matchup Monday night at Heinz Field, Cincy has been better than the Steelers in one very important...
First Call: Antonio Brown gets into Twitter spat with Eric Weddle
Friday’s “First Call” features another Antonio Brown Twitter spat. A major rules change to basketball may be coming. And we’ve found the ugliest sports fan tattoo of all time. Which is to say, we have found the best sports fan tattoo of all time. Cat fight! Former wide receiver Antonio...
Tim Benz: ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says Steelers should consider Antonio Brown reunion. No, they shouldn’t
When you host a national sports talk show on television, you get to do stuff like this. You get to drop a bomb of this magnitude. Then move on to advocate firing Freddie Kitchens in Week 3, declare that Jimmy Garoppolo is better than Tom Brady and wrap up by...
Tim Benz: Who wins battle of Steelers’ bad run defense vs. Bengals bad run game?
It’s the matchup we’ve all been waiting to see. The easily resistible force vs. the highly movable object. Also known as the anemic Cincinnati Bengals running game vs. the leaky Steelers rush defense. It’ll be the game within the game between two teams with a combined 0-6 record. I know....
Tim Benz: Former WPIAL athlete at the center of the ‘Sexy Mister Rogers’ costume controversy
Is it a beautiful day in your neighborhood? If Dessie Mitcheson is in your neighborhood right now, the answer is most assuredly “yes.” View this post on Instagram @shoptobi A post shared by Dessie Mitcheson (@dessiemitcheson) on Jul 30, 2019 at 10:33am PDT Told ya. However, the former Kiski Area...
U mad, bro? Readers grouse over Steelers’ losses, Minkah Fitzpatrick trade
“U mad, bro?” is all about spicy Steelers opinions from readers this week. It gets heated about how badly the team is playing, roster construction, the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade and… ….me. Like many of us in Pittsburgh, Mike is mad at the Steelers. “That team is awful. I am expecting...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman look at why the Steelers are falling apart
It’s my weekly Mike Tomlin press conference wrap-up podcast with fellow TribLive columnist Kevin Gorman. We try to figure out how the Steelers have gotten so bad. As Kevin reminds us, this isn’t just a lousy 0-3 start to 2019. This is about a 2-7 stretch dating back to last...
First Call: Steelers’ Bud Dupree a good fit for Eagles?; Charlie Morton sizzles; Baker Mayfield vs. Rex Ryan
In “First Call” Thursday, trade talk surrounds a Pittsburgh Steeler. Baker Mayfield responds to Rex Ryan. And Charlie Morton shines again. City of Brotherly Bud? The Steelers have been busy trading for players in recent weeks. Now there’s one suggestion that Pennsylvania’s other team should try to snag a current...
Tim Benz: 2019 has been one of the worst Pittsburgh sports yearsVideo
Let’s just skip Halloween. Forget Thanksgiving. Fast forward through Christmas and get to New Year’s Eve! I’m dying to flip the calendar to 2020. Because 2019 has been one of the worst Pittsburgh sports years in recent memory. In fact, unless the Steelers turn things around and scramble to make...
First Call: Video of alleged Antonio Brown furniture toss emerges; Gerrit Cole’s K record
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” video emerges of the alleged furniture-tossing incident involving Antonio Brown. Also, Brown is not getting paid by the New England Patriots. Gerrit Cole is a strikeout machine. And the Pirates help start a party in Washington. Video emerges A television station in Miami aired video of...
Tim Benz: Penn State transfer Mark Allen shines at Duquesne
An under-the-radar good football story is taking place at Duquesne University. Penn State transfer Mark Allen was just named NEC Offensive Player of the Week. The running back rambled for 168 yards and two touchdowns during a 35-31 win over Dayton last week. Brought in as a graduate transfer, Allen...
Tim Benz: Who are NFL’s legitimate 3-0 and 0-3 teams?Video
After three weeks of the 2019 NFL season, some teams have lived up to their offseason hype and are unbeaten. Others are every bit as bad as predicted. Some teams are stunningly 3-0. Others are a dreadfully disappointing 0-3. I think we all know what category includes the Pittsburgh Steelers....
Tim Benz: Steelers’ only hope? That AFC North teams stink worse than they do
It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention. That appears to be especially true if you are inventing optimism. For the most part, that’s what is happening within the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base in 2019, and even within the locker room. In a town that lives, breathes, and eats...
Tim Benz: Steelers game stats are as ugly as their 0-3 record
After a terrible 0-3 start for the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans may be wondering if the team is really as bad as its record. Sadly, it is. If you look deeper at the numbers than just the winless start, the statistics are even worse than you may think. Let’s start with...
What to expect from Monday night’s dueling 0-3 Steelers-Bengals matchup
Logical Pittsburgh Steelers fans were expecting a step back in 2019. All the way back to 0-3? No. Not that far back. In Cincinnati, this isn’t a surprise. The Bengals are 0-3 as well. So that lays the foundation for a made-for-TV, primetime, 0-6 matchup for “Monday Night Football” next...
First Call: Did Tom Brady and Bill Belichick want to keep Antonio Brown?Video
Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us that the decision to cut Antonio Brown may not have been entirely popular with all of the New England Patriots. Is Jalen Ramsey playing sick? Austin Meadows keeps impressing in Tampa. Lobbying for A.B.? The knee jerk reaction from many in Pittsburgh — including me...
Tim Benz: Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Steelers debut was microcosm of debate to acquire himVideo
If you were looking for crystallization of the entire Minkah Fitzpatrick debate, you got it in his first game as a Pittsburgh Steeler Sunday in San Francisco. If you share my opinion about Fitzpatrick as a player, you saw all the reasons to be happy about the transaction. He was...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden rip Steelers, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell
Mondays are hard enough as it is. They are even harder when you live in a city where your football team stinks. And make no mistake, the Pittsburgh Steelers stink right now. They have fallen to 0-3 after a 24-20 loss in San Francisco Sunday. Mark Madden and I analyze...
First Call: Steelers’ next opponent winless, too; Le’Veon Bell is bummed
In “First Call” this Monday, the next opponent for the Steelers is struggling badly, too. Le’Veon Bell is mad about Jets “haters.” Pitt alumnus LeSean “Shady” McCoy leads Chiefs. Bummed-out Bell Criticism of the Jets is getting noticed by Le’Veon Bell. That 30-14 loss to the Patriots dropped the club...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances is overflowing after Steelers’ 3rd loss
The longer the Pittsburgh Steelers’ losing streak continues, the easier it is to come up with our weekly “Airing of Grievances.” Boy, it really has become weekly, hasn’t it? We are long overdue for a “Feats of Strength” post. Maybe that will happen next Tuesday after a Monday night game...
