Tim Benz stories, Page 194
First call: Le’Veon Bell to Kansas City? Duquesne player scores 40 … and loses?
Kansas City, here he comes! Le’Veon Bell to the Chiefs? That’s how we start Thursday’s “First Call.” It also features a fantastic Duquesne game, major Metropolitan Division machinations and how Kyler Murray may have faked his height measurement at the combine. How do you do that exactly? Asking for a...
Tim Benz: Build a Kevin Colbert statue if he gets a 1st-rounder for Antonio Brown
If Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert really ends up with a first-round draft choice for disgruntled wide receiver Antonio Brown, that will make me sad. I’ve always liked Colbert. So I’d hate to see him wind up in prison on a grand-larceny charge. That’s what would be warranted if Colbert...
Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley previews Atlantic Hockey tournament
Our Sided.co “Hockey Week” podcasts continue with Derek Schooley. The Robert Morris men’s hockey coach previews his team’s first-round playoff series against Holy Cross (10-19-5, 10-14-4 AHA) this weekend at the RMU Island Sports Center. The ninth-seeded Crusaders come to Neville Island for the second time this season. They split...
First call: Ravens cut Mike Tomlin-favorite Eric Weddle; Bruins help Penguins
A Mike Tomlin favorite from Baltimore is hitting free agency. The Bruins helped the Penguins…a little bit. And Bryce Harper is so rich he may think that he can buy the definition of “tampering” out of the Oxford dictionary. We want Weddle? The Ravens released Eric Weddle. The Steelers could...
Analysis: Replacing Jason Witten with Pat McAfee on ‘Monday Night Football’ is right move
Let’s hope the “Monday Night Football” decision makers learned a lesson from the Jason Witten fiasco. Last week it was announced that Witten was going to leave the broadcast booth to go back to the Dallas Cowboys. I have to admit, as much as Witten struggled with the job, I...
Tim Benz: Gushing over Jake Guentzel’s OT goal and what it means for Penguins
When it comes to praising the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin-era Penguins, as a fanbase — and media corps — we can get a little … What’s the word I’m looking for? Gushy? Effusive? Flowery? Fawning? Yeah. Any of those fit. Big picture, given the franchise’s accomplishments over those years, that applause...
Previewing critical back-to-back Penguins-Blue Jackets games
Somerset native Bob McElligott is the play-by-play man for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He joins me for the Thursday Sided.co “Hockey Week” podcast. The Penguins and Columbus have enormous back-to-back games coming up. These contests Thursday and Saturday are huge in the Metropolitan Division standings and may go a long...
First call: Peter King predicts Antonio Brown, the walrus, going to Raiders
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” a noted Steelers foe is about to become a free agent at inside linebacker. An amazing failed NHL goal. Antonio Brown is “The Walrus.” And he may become a Raider. That’s optimistic In Monday’s “Football Morning in America” post, Peter King writes this about Antonio Brown:...
Breaking down what could be biggest week of Penguins season
It’s our weekly Sided.co hockey podcast with Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network. He joins me to talk about a crucial week for the Pens. It features four Eastern Conference games. The first of those contests is Tuesday against the Panthers. It’s definitely the least daunting task of the...
Steelers’ Antonio Brown joins Cameo. Hilarity ensues.
For a guy who recently claimed he doesn’t need football or its money, Antonio Brown sure seems to be selling out. Brown has linked up with Cameo.com. That’s a place where people can buy a personalized greeting from a celebrity. It is recorded and sent to a friend or a...
Tim Benz: Too late for Penguins’ Sidney Crosby to make MVP push?
Is Sidney Crosby making a late push to get into the MVP conversation? It was a topic on the KDKA Sports Showdown Sunday. It came up on Mark Madden’s show on 105.9 the X Monday. “The Athletic” mentioned it after Crosby’s four-point performance in Montreal. And it was featured on...
First call: Larry Fitzgerald critical of Antonio Brown; Metropolitan Division madness
In “First Call” for Monday, Antonio Brown and the Steelers are haggling again. Larry Fitzgerald has some advice for Brown. The Capitals win a hockey game in a really strange way. It`s on The Steelers are digging their heels in. And so is Antonio Brown. Expect it to be like...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Antonio Brown interviews, Penguins weekend
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I talk about the journalistic atrocity that was the Antonio Brown interview on ESPN. We roast his farce of an appearance on HBO as well. Also, we dive into Kevin Colbert’s quizzical comments about Le’Veon Bell. Would the Steelers really have...
Tim Benz: Duquesne’s Lass targets WNBA. Will she play until 54 like her mom?
On Christmas Day 2016, Duquesne women’s basketball director of operations Melissa Franko stopped by her office at the Palumbo Center. She was en route to Heinz Field for the Steelers-Ravens game. She assumed the facility would be empty. “I walked in, and there’s Kadri-Ann on the court. Shooting. With her...
Tim Benz: Who do you hate more? Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell?
So, it’s come to this. As recently as July, the Steelers fan base was proud to boast two of the top five players on the NFL Network’s “Top 100” list. Running back Le’Veon Bell was No. 5. The big-chested wide receiver formerly known as Antonio Brown was No. 2. Their...
First call: Blue Jackets jump Penguins; Carolina fans mad about Antonio Brown
In “First Call” Friday, the Penguins are back outside of the playoff bracket again. Pitt has a huge road challenge. A little perspective on the Bryce Harper signing. Carolina fans are mad at me. Back outside Columbus’ 4-3 win over the Flyers caused some shuffling in the Eastern Conference standings....
Podcast: Previewing critical matchup for Penguins vs. sliding Sabres
The Penguins are in Buffalo on Friday night to play the Sabres. It’s an important game in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres made a push in the wild-card chase, but they’ve bottomed out lately, losing seven of nine. Meanwhile, the Penguins are trying to secure the final playoff spot in...
Analysis: Trade interest in Antonio Brown all over the map
Antonio Brown is an elite player. He plays a position where you need multiple threats. He’s under contract at a relatively affordable rate. His team wants to give him away. And he’d love to craft a new deal that may be more beneficial to him long term, which may massage...
Tim Benz: NFL did Steelers a $9.5M favor with Le’Veon Bell
The NFL may have done a $9.5 million favor for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And no one seemed to pick up on it. When Kevin Colbert hosted his Q&A with local media members Feb. 20, he announced the team wouldn’t use the transition tag on running back Le’Veon Bell. After a...
First call: Mike McCarthy goes off on high school refs; IUP forgets uniforms
In “First Call” on Thursday, Mike McCarthy is getting shamed for his actions at a high school basketball game, Justin Houston is on the trade block and the IUP men’s basketball team had to play a game wearing an opponent’s uniforms. Mad Mike Mike McCarthy has been fired as Packers...
U mad, bro? Steelers angst, Penguins concern, Oscars disagreement
It’s the Feb. 28 edition of “U Mad, Bro?” It features Steelers angst, Penguins concern and disagreement over the Oscars from readers. ••• Somebody calling themselves “Steeler Nation” says the Steelers are not rebuilding, despite my recent column to the contrary. No, I dont think you're rebuilding when you have...
Tim Benz: Replacing Bryan Rust a challenge for Penguins
Before we start talking about how to best replace Penguins forward Bryan Rust while he is injured, it’s best to establish what has been lost. “Rusty brings a lot,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a good penalty killer. He brings so much speed and puck pursuit to the lines...
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot discusses his team’s ability to bounce back
Duquesne’s last game was a 19-point comeback victory on the road at George Mason. And it wasn’t the first of its kind in 2019. It was the seventh. That’s right, seven times this year Keith Dambrot’s Dukes have responded from double-digit deficits. Three of those were in the second half....
Tim Benz: Penguins start make-or-break stretch on right foot
The NHL trade deadline is always an identifiable line in any hockey team’s season. The way the last few weeks have gone, Penguins fans should see the first nine games out of the gate following the deadline as a make-or-break stretch in the season. Between Tuesday night and March 14,...
Tim Benz: Ties with owner, Cam Newton could make Antonio Brown a fit with Panthers
Perhaps those fretting about an underwhelming trade market for Antonio Brown have worried prematurely. In recent days, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said he has heard from at least three teams who have expressed an interest in Brown. Both NFL.com and Sports Illustrated advanced the Raiders as a good...
