Tim Benz stories, Page 176
Tim Benz: How Steelers should prepare for post-Gronkowski Patriots
It’s … what? What word would you use? Ironic? Typical? Funny? Unfortunate? No. Not unfortunate. No matter how you slice it, be glad that the Steelers don’t have to deal with Rob Gronkowski anymore. Even if they are probably better suited to do so right now than they have ever...
First Call: New Coyote Phil Kessel speaks; Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott gets huge contract
Wednesday’s “First Call” features details on Ezekiel Elliott’s new contract. Phil Kessel speaks for the first time as an Arizona Coyote. Austin Meadows homers again. And two local pitchers break new ground in the Major Leagues. Kessel the Coyote Phil Kessel may have been traded to Arizona two months ago,...
Without Rob Gronkowski, will Patriots rely on running game vs. Steelers?
We head to New England to get a little perspective on the Patriots for Wednesday’s podcast. And a familiar voice provides that for us. TribLive Radio pioneer Ken Laird joins me. He now works with WEEI in Boston as part of the radio station’s morning show. Ken tells us how...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Javon Hargrave could be a ‘Blockbuster’ vs. Patriots
It isn’t the most obvious Mike Tomlin analogy of all time. But I see where he is going with it. At his weekly press conference on Tuesday, I asked Tomlin about nose tackle Javon Hargrave. In my mind, if the Steelers pull off an upset against the New England Patriots...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s latest jab at Steelers is laughable
Le’Veon Bell lobbed one more shot at the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of the 2019 season. And this one was just a plain old quote. Not a tweet or a mumbled rhyme in a terrible rap track. Check out this hot take from the New York Jets running back....
First Call: Ex-Steeler Chad Brown screws up nickname; Gerrit Cole is strikeout leader; Phil Kessel to speak
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” a former Steeler gives us some bad broadcasting. A former Cowboy looks for big broadcasting bucks. Le’Veon Bell’s ironic tweet. Gerrit Cole’s huge afternoon. And Phil Kessel finally speaks. Brownout of the brain Chad Brown is now providing color commentary for the Pac-12 Network. He had...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss how Steelers matchup against Patriots
In this week’s “Madden Monday” with Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 the X, it’s a ton of Steelers-Patriots talk. The Steelers are faster on defense than they have been in the past. But are they fast enough to keep up with Tom Brady and his wide receivers? There are...
Tim Benz: Steelers want a win over Patriots to matter this time
It meant nothing. Oh, sure. For a few hours on December 16, 2018, it was a lot of fun. To borrow a phrase from Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, his team had finally managed to “be the dragon” by slaying the dragon. The dragon that usually flies into Pittsburgh...
Tim Benz: Pitt is stuck in the middle with Pat Narduzzi
One of the easiest things to do in sports is throw dirt on a college football team if it loses its opener. Especially if that loss is at home, in conference and against a beatable opponent. With only 12 games on the schedule, if a team drops a contest like...
First Call: Steelers already underdogs in New England, Edelman’s thumb, McSorley’s arm
In “First Call” for Friday, is there an injury concern in New England? The Steelers start as underdogs. Robert Morris kicks off its 2019 football season. And the Ravens own the preseason. Want the points? The early lines are out for next week’s season-opening NFL games. The Steelers are underdogs...
U mad, bro?: Carli Lloyd column angered a lot of people. Truth hurts, I guess.
I knew what would dominate “U mad, bro?” this week. I wrote a column about USWNT soccer player Carli Lloyd. She made a 55-yard field goal after an NFL practice recently. So now there appears to be a social media movement to get her an NFL tryout. After one kick...
Tim Benz: Can we start talking about the New England Patriots now?
The goal was to hold this one until after Labor Day weekend. You know, squeeze in one more preseason column after the Steelers’ 25-19 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Bang out one more thought-provoking deep-dive as to who the 53rd versus 54th guy on the roster should...
Fantasy Sports podcast: Last advice before a huge draft weekend
It’s our most important fantasy sports podcast of the year with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This is our final fantasy post before the NFL regular season starts. So, it’s the last time you can get draft advice from Jeff before your fantasy season begins. There’s an important trickle-down effect for...
First Call: Gerrit Cole piles up more strikeouts; JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to ‘be lit’
In “First Call” Thursday, Gerrit Cole dials up the heat. JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to show how marketable he really is. Carli Lloyd keeps the hype going about her place-kicking career. And Alison Riske is up for Round 2 at the U.S. Open. Gas from Gerrit Former Pirate Gerrit Cole dialed...
Steelers’ Kameron Kelly makes strong case for roster spot on defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers play their final preseason game Thursday night in Charlotte. Kameron Kelly is a player who probably circled this game on the calendar and said it might be his last chance to make the team. Now, he’s been so good in training camp and in the preseason games,...
Tim Benz: 3 guarantees for Steelers-Panthers preseason game
On our WDVE Steelers pregame show, my co-host Dale Lolley and I always make our “Three Guarantees.” Three things we guarantee will happen in the game. OK, maybe guarantee is a strong word. But it rhymes. It’s catchy. And it gives us a chance to say, “I told you so”...
Tim Benz: Steelers running backs only thing worth watching in preseason finale
If you are looking for something of substance to track Thursday night in the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason finale, I’ve got two pieces of advice. 1) Find something else to do with your time. 2) If you can’t, watch the running backs. There may be some practical application to doing so....
First Call: Cam Heyward says Steelers ‘need to be the dragon’ in New England
In “First Call” Wednesday, Cam Heyward’s battle cry. Steven Brault shows his skills. And look out for “little Fournette.” Breathing fire Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward may have come up with this year’s team slogan for 2019. During his weekly interview on 102.5 WDVE, Heyward spoke about going to...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown rips Ben Roethlisberger on Twitter, then deletes it
How do you shame a guy who knows no shame? Twitter. That’s how. Former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Antonio Brown sent out the tweet below. Then he deleted it. Antonio Brown deleted this tweet. pic.twitter.com/fyo1RTcXEr— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 27, 2019 That was Brown’s response to Ben Roethlisberger’s halftime interview Sunday...
Steelers’ Bud Dupree doesn’t expect thumb injury to hold him back, will be ready for Patriots
The Pittsburgh Steelers leave for Charlotte, N.C. Wednesday afternoon, where they will face the Carolina Panthers Thursday night in the preseason finale. Bud Dupree won’t suit up, but he should play in the season opener against the New England Patriots. And that’s a relief. After the outside linebacker hurt his...
Tim Benz: If you want to see Carli Lloyd kick in NFL, make her earn it
I was going to leave this alone. I really was. I swear. When I first saw the video of Carli Lloyd kicking a field goal at a Baltimore Ravens-Philadelphia Eagles joint practice, I knew what was going to happen. .@CarliLloyd from distance. Love to see it. pic.twitter.com/FW8iZlzGCG— U.S. Soccer WNT...
First Call: Shannon Sharpe wants to slap Ben Roethlisberger; significant Patriots loss
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Shannon Sharpe claiming he would’ve slapped Ben Roethlisberger. A big loss for the Patriots. Good news for the Browns. And popcorn with a fork. Yeah. It’s true. Popcorn with a fork. Guess where that happened. Wanna clarify that? It looks like Antonio Brown is about to...
Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot gets creative with schedule while waiting for new center
We mix in a little college basketball for the podcast Tuesday as we talk to Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot. The Dukes are living a bit of a nomadic life this year, bouncing around to various venues as the new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is renovated. The non-conference schedule was released last...
Tim Benz: Former Pirates kill their old team. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
In the latest “just laugh because, if you don’t, you’ll just cry” moment of the 2019 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night. How? Glad you asked. Because former Pirate Corey Dickerson homered to give the Phillies a lead in the eighth inning. COREY DICKERSON JUST...
Tim Benz: MLB mercy rule debate masks greater problem
Give Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown credit for self-awareness. He’s right. No one wants to be “that guy.” The old guy yelling “get off my lawn” at any new idea that comes along. That’s how an aghast Brown couched his commentary against the suggestion of a Major League Baseball...
