Tim Benz stories, Page 199
Football footnotes: Tim Benz breaks down smart plays for Super Bowl betting
I had a pretty good NFL playoffs as far as making picks. I won`t say who. I won`t say where. I won`t say how much. But I`ll just say I went 8-4. So stick with me, kid. You`ll make some money. Here`s my advice on the Patriots-Rams Super Bowl. Take...
Tim Benz: The definitive all-Steelers Super Bowl roster
Super Sunday is this weekend. Without the Pittsburgh Steelers. Again. But that doesn`t mean we haven`t had our fair share. Eight of `em, in fact. So, it`s time for us to do what we do best in Pittsburgh when the Super Bowl doesn`t involve the Steelers. We just flash back...
First call: Jerome Bettis dishes on Antonio Brown drama; Pittsburgh loves Pro Bowl
"First Call" for Wednesday features a state of the Steelers from Jerome Bettis, a soccer assault, Pitt problems and Pro Bowl ratings that were stunningly high in Pittsburgh. The Bus on A.B. On Fox, Steelers great Jerome Bettis referred to the 2018 club as a disappointment. He described it as...
As they prepare for Penguins, a look at what makes Lightning so dominant
The Tampa Bay Lightning come to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night with the best record in the Eastern Conference. By far. They are the easy choice as Stanley Cup front-runners at this point. The Bolts have 76 points. That`s 13 better than anyone else in the conference. The have the best...
U mad, bro? Readers rail on Steelers chaos, Antonio Brown, Pirates payroll
This week`s "U mad, bro?" is all about emotional transference. Y`all are angry about the Pirates payroll, Antonio Brown`s behavior and the Steelers` chaotic failures. And instead of dealing with it yourselves, you are taking it out on me. Poor, sweet, innocent me. We open with Nick and his ad...
Tim Benz: Penguins have to fix current players before acquiring new ones
In recent years, the path to Penguins improvement during the season has been clear. In 2016, it was to fire the coach and improve speed throughout the lineup. So the team swapped out Mike Johnston for Mike Sullivan and traded for the likes of Carl Hagelin, Justin Schultz and Trevor...
First call: Bettis still wants to be Steelers RB coach; Malkin’s minuses piling up
Wednesday`s "First Call" features Evgeni Malkin`s issues. Jerome Bettis thinks he`s getting a new job with the Steelers. A few WPIAL stars are on display at the Super Bowl. And the cost of washing off "Steeler stank." Who wants to tell him? Over the weekend Jerome Bettis posted a poll...
Penguins’ issues vs. bad teams, Evgeni Malkin’s struggles persist
Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joins me for our weekly hockey podcast. The Penguins played a stinker in their first home game back from a week off. New Jersey beat them 6-3. We talk about Evgeni Malkin`s struggles, the team`s inability to beat bad teams and another short-handed goal...
Tim Benz: Actions speak louder than words, and no one can hear the Pirates
At PiratesFest over the weekend, Pirates President Frank Coonelly gave Pittsburgh baseball fans a rah-rah speech. It appears his goal was to build on some late season momentum from the club, which got itself above .500 for just the fourth time since 1992. I`d suggest the time to do that...
Tim Benz: Robey-Coleman’s Patriots yap brings back bad Steelers memories
If you think you`ve heard the name Nickell Robey-Coleman before, you have. He`s the Los Angeles Rams defensive back who was deemed to have had perfectly legal coverage on this play in the NFC Championship Game. Like I said. Perfectly legal. Not a hint of...
First call: Antonio Brown wants to be a Packer?; JuJu recruiting Jets star
In today`s “First Call,” Antonio Brown is flirting with a team besides the 49ers. JuJu Smith-Schuster is trying to woo a player to Pittsburgh ... even though that player can`t leave. And a WPIAL star is staying put at Penn State. So what are you trying to say, A.B.? After...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins’ return as 2nd half begins
Well hockey fans of Pittsburgh, you wanted it. Now, you got it. The Penguins are about to become Topic A in Pittsburgh again. The all-star break is over, the Steelers are done and we won`t see baseball until late March. So it`s almost all hockey, all the time around these...
Tim Benz: Terrible weather, Jason Witten’s trophy gaffe and other Pro Bowl hilarity
Sunday`s Pro Bowl was its usual comedy show of listless play, halfhearted blocking, quarter-speed tackling and zero sincerity. It was like a Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl in Bethel Park with less effort and more rain. For the record, the AFC won 26-7. Let`s hope the NFL never forces the AFC squad...
Tim Benz: Can Steelers still be considered ‘best ever’ if Patriots win Super Bowl?
The present state of the Steelers is a mess. They`re a non-playoff team with a dysfunctional locker room, a defense that can`t get the job done consistently, a neutered coach and an owner in a state of denial over how bad things have gotten. The future doesn`t look so good...
First call: Steelers’ Cam Heyward says T.J. Watt could be better than J.J.
Friday`s "First Call" features a look the Watt brothers and which one is better. Pitt looks to get back in the win column. And Duquesne is red hot. T.J. > J.J.? Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward said Thursday that linebacker T.J. Watt could end up being better than J.J. Watt....
Podcast: Pirates fantasy baseball outlook; how legalized gambling could affect things
Major League Baseball fantasy drafts are getting going soon. In our weekly fantasy sports podcast, Rotowire`s Jeff Erickson joins me to talk some strategy, especially as it relates to the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado conundrums. We also dive deep into what you can expect from the Pirates infield. Plus,...
Tim Benz: Are Steelers players trying to defuse the Antonio Brown drama?
It sure sounds like the Steelers players are trying thaw the cold war between the organization and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Take a look at some of these quotes coming from the Pro Bowl. JuJu Smith-Schuster endorsed the idea of...
Football footnotes: Jets safety’s tackle sends Patriots mascot to hospital during Pro Bowl session
In "Friday Football Footnotes," a Jets player takes out the Patriots mascot. The Browns may not be as far along as we think. And they aren`t Another reason to abolish the Pro Bowl? I thought no one was physical at the Pro Bowl? New York Jets safety Jamal Adams was...
Tim Benz: Cryptic Antonio Brown tweets starting to annoy Steelers fans
Trying to interpret what Antonio Brown`s tweets mean is nearly impossible. Whenever I try, I feel like I`m Indiana Jones attempting to translate ancient hieroglyphics. Almost everything Brown tweets is: • Nonspecific • Open-ended • Contradictory • Or all of the above For example, look at this gem. [embed width="350"...
Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski says he’s optimistic about Jeff Capel at Pitt
It was quite a night at the Petersen Events Center on Tuesday. I was there for Duke`s beatdown of the Panthers. Zion Williamson lived up to the hype with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Jay-Z was in the house. Duke looks like the real deal, ranked second in...
First call: Would NFL be better off going with college overtime rules?
"First Call" for Wednesday features Washington Capitals misery, an NFL overtime debate and a big night on The Bluff. Who has a quarter? A lot of football fans think that the NFL overtime rules are too reliant on who wins the coin toss. In other words, too many games —...
U mad, bro? Readers angry at Steelers brass, support Mike Tomlin (but not Greta Van Fleet)
"U mad, bro?" this week features emailers who are just as mad at the Steelers players and front office as I am, supporters of Mike Tomlin, haters of me and those who despise Greta Van Fleet. I think Steve is being even more critical of Steelers president Art Rooney II...
Tim Benz: The confounding cases of Steelers’ Morgan Burnett, Penguins’ Derick Brassard
Let`s focus on a pair of Pittsburgh athletes. The first player came to Pittsburgh in 2018. His acquisition was widely applauded as a solid move by management. The player`s arrival filled what had been deemed to be a significant hole for quite some time. He was going to get a...
Tim Benz: Jeff Capel modeling Pitt’s rebuild off experience with Duke
Pitt coach Jeff Capel is extremely rare in one regard. He knows what it`s like to lose. At Duke. That doesn`t happen often in Durham, N.C. But during Capel`s sophomore season — when head coach Mike Krzyzewski was absent due to a medical leave — the Blue Devils went 13-18...
First call: Antonio Brown reportedly goes on $500K shopping spree; Pirates rumors abound
In "First Call" Tuesday, we look at Antonio Brown`s shopping spree, Starling Marte trade rumors, and Super Bowl MVP gambling odds. A.B.`s shopping spree Antonio Brown apparently isn`t worried about his earning power moving forward, even if he does get shipped out of Pittsburgh. TMZ reports he went on a...
