Tim Benz stories, Page 180
Tim Benz: How can Pirates blow up what doesn’t exist?
This probably shouldn’t have hit me the way it did. It was late Saturday night on the set of the CW “Nightly Sports Call.” So maybe I was a bit testy. With the July 31 MLB trade deadline looming, a call came in asking if it was time to “just...
First Call: Phil Kessel’s ‘leadership’ role with Coyotes; another team in on Felipe Vazquez
In “First Call” Friday, Phil Kessel is taking on some added responsibility in Arizona. Another team in the mix for Felipe Vazquez. The worst Pirates trade of all time. Role change for Phil Phil Kessel: Leader! Yeah, I couldn’t type it with a straight face either. But that’s the picture...
Football Footnotes: Le’Veon Bell looks familiar; Browns popularity; Larry Fitzgerald’s highlight
In this edition of Friday Football Footnotes, a first look at Le’Veon Bell in Jets green. Larry Fitzgerald keeps drinking from the fountain of youth. And the Browns keep making you take notice. Browns business is boomin’ Not that Brown. The Cleveland Browns. It sure seems like NFL fans are...
Tim Benz: With questions in Steelers passing game, James Conner must be sharp from Day 1
Most of the questions on the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp last year were about Le’Veon Bell, his contract status and the state of the running game in his absence. James Conner answered many of those questions and rendered many of the concerns moot with a Pro Bowl...
Steelers podcast: Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman on Tomlin’s extension, Boswell’s challenge
It’s the first of many “Breakfast With Benz” podcasts from Saint Vincent College over the next three weeks. Steelers 2019 training camp is underway. Fellow Tribune-Review columnist Kevin Gorman and I talk about the upcoming practices as the Steelers prepare for the season ahead. The players reported. The first run...
First Call: New suitors for Felipe Vazquez, plus 2 other Pirates may move
In “First Call” Thursday, three Pirates pitchers could be traded. Hue Jackson won’t try to bury the hatchet with Baker Mayfield. Emmanuel Sanders is improving. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is on full tilt. Pirates on the move? If reports are right, the Pirates are trying to trade a few players....
U mad, bro? Readers rage over coverage of Mike Tomlin, Le’Veon Bell, Pirates commercial
In “U mad, bro?” this week, readers disagree about Mike Tomlin. They feign disinterest over Le’Veon Bell. And they find the real root of the Pirates’ problems. Richard sent me an email responding to my column about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s denial of distractions impacting his locker room last year....
Podcast: JuJu Smith-Schuster will outperform Antonio Brown; Pirates’ trade activity
Jeff Erickson is off this week for our fantasy sports podcast. Kevin Payne, also of Rotowire, pinch hits. NFL training camps are underway. It’s time to start thinking about your fantasy draft. Payne tells us whether JuJu Smith-Schuster or Antonio Brown will have a bigger year. His answer may surprise...
Tim Benz: Will addition by subtraction actually work for Steelers, Penguins?
We sure are big on the concept of addition by subtraction around these parts, aren’t we? The Steelers will be better because Antonio Brown is gone. Ben Roethlisberger won’t force the ball to a single receiver anymore. Brown’s ridiculous social media behavior will be happily absent. The game-planning to help...
First Call: Former Steeler may become a Patriot, another tears ACL
In “First Call” Wednesday, one former Steeler may become a Patriot. Another is out for the year. A baby shark. A sinkhole horse. And a second cycle. New life in New England? Pittsburgh Steelers fans kept waiting for athletic wide receiver Justin Hunter to morph into a decent weapon for...
Podcast: View from Seattle on challenges Penguins legend Ron Francis will face as GM
Seattle is getting an expansion NHL franchise. And they are getting a Penguins legend to run it. Hall of Famer Ron Francis is getting a second crack at being a general manager. This time it’ll be in the Pacific Northwest for the yet-to-be-named expansion team. Francis went 0 for 4...
Tim Benz: Mysteries of 2019 Steelers won’t be solved in training camp
I feel like I’m alone on this. I know why. But I can’t come off my island on this one. Based on nothing but anecdotal conversations with some of my colleagues in the media and fans who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers, I get the sense there is heightened curiosity for...
Tim Benz: 13-year-old Franklin Park kart star looking for major win
It could’ve been really bad. A blow to the face after a Little League game. Right around the eye. He got knocked out. “I was walking home, drinking my apple juice,” said Franklin Park’s Luca Mars, describing the worst injury of his life. “And a girl on the swings with...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden preview Steelers training camp, discuss Pirates’ stumble
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to preview the 2019 Steelers training camp. Are we relying too much on “addition by subtraction” for hope this year? We also kick around a few position concerns such as cornerback, safety and kicker. Then we get...
First Call: Questions about fan on field at PNC Park during Pirates-Phillies game
In “First Call” Monday, I have so many questions about that fan who got on the field at PNC Park. Also tarp terrors and a Big Ten coach should just keep preachin’ on. I’m so confused A fan casually walked up to home plate in the middle of the Pirates-Phillies...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell channels Antonio Brown in social media rant
Did former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell just have a “Mr. Big Chest” moment? It sure looks that way. OK, he didn’t dye any of his facial hair blonde. Nor did he rant on a treadmill during a midnight workout session. But at least Antonio Brown did that stuff in the...
Tim Benz: 1 stubborn stance about Steelers that Mike Tomlin must drop
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is still spinning the same yarn. Circus? Distractions? There was never anything crazy about the Steelers locker room! When speaking to ESPN last week, Tomlin made the following statement when asked if he expected a “calmer locker room” this year. “I don’t know that our...
First Call: Ron Francis introduced in Seattle, Phillies closer pops off
Friday’s “First Call” features Ron Francis’ introduction in Seattle, power from a former Pittsburgh Pirate, injury issues with the Ravens, Aaron Boone’s fully translated fit of rage in New York, and emotions getting out of control from Philadelphia’s bullpen. Francis fans Former Penguins star Ron Francis made his debut in...
U mad, bro? Opinions fly about Mike Tomlin, Pirates, and Steelers of the past
It’s a strange—but highly entertaining—collection of entries for this week’s “U mad, bro?” Some attack the Pirates. Others defend them. And I get attacked for being negative toward Mike Tomlin … in a column that I authored intending to defend him. Oh, also, some guy thinks Deshea Townsend was a...
NFL’s potential regular season split could pinch fantasy sports interest
The fantasy sports landscape could suffer quite a shake-up if that 18-16 regular season split is adopted by the NFL. Imagine how that would impact fantasy lineups and strategies. I see none of that being for the better — in fantasy sports or real life. We talk to Jeff Erickson...
Tim Benz: A look at some great Pittsburgh-Philadelphia sports moments
With the Philadelphia Phillies coming into town for a weekend series, the nostalgia gears in my brain got going. I started flashing back to my favorite Pittsburgh-Philadelphia sports memories of years gone by. I figured I’d choose one from each of the three major professional sports to outline on “Breakfast...
‘Pawn Stars’ helps former Pitt star Mark May recover his Super Bowl rings
Former Pitt football star Mark May is getting his Super Bowl rings back. The Panthers Hall of Fame offensive lineman won the rings with the Washington Redskins during his NFL playing days. According to ABC 15 in Arizona, May was wearing the rings at a charity event in Scottsdale, Ariz....
First Call: Le’Veon Bell’s latest rap, JuJu Smith-Schuster tries the aging app
Thursday’s “First Call” features Le’Veon Bell’s latest rap attempt. Baker Mayfield pops off. And a former Pirate goes yard. Le’Veon’s latest Le’Veon Bell is releasing a new rap album on July 25. That’s the same date as the start of training camp for the Jets. Because, well, why not, right?!...
If you could bring back any Steeler from any era, who would it be?
One of my colleagues at SteelersWire.com is Neal Coolong. He posed a great question on Twitter recently. Bring back one former #Steelers player (played at least one season with the team) to play just for the 2019 season. You're paying him up to the cap ceiling. Who is it?— Neal...
Tim Benz: Even Mike Tomlin’s critics should find this ranking unjust
I’m not one who has a reputation for taking it easy on Mike Tomlin. But even a critic like me can’t agree with this opinion of the Pittsburgh Steelers coach from Elliot Harrison at NFL.com. He published a list ranking the 32 head coaches. And he has Tomlin ninth. That’s...
