Tim Benz stories, Page 200
Why were the Penguins so spotty on West Coast road trip?
It`s our weekly Sided.co "Breakfast With Benz" hockey podcast with Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio network. Plenty of topics on the table this week. • The Penguins were very spotty on that 2-3 west coast trip before the break. How come? • How do the Pens currently compare to...
Tim Benz: L.J. Fort’s ‘kicker tweet’ shows Steelers don’t comprehend chaos around them
During NFL championship Sunday, Steelers linebacker L.J. Fort sent out this tweet. That`s true. In terms of points scored, Harrison Butker (Chiefs), Will Lutz (Saints) and Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots) were third, fourth and sixth in scoring this season. The Rams` Greg Zuerlein was 12th, and...
First call: Tom Brday’s F-bomb, Michael Thomas’ butt give NFL some ‘oops’ moments
In Monday`s "First Call," Tom Brady drops an F-Bomb on TV. A player gets his pants pulled down during a tackle and Fox ditched the feed. A tennis player has a meltdown. Hit the dump button! It`s not often that these two quarterbacks are confused with one another. But Tom...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss officiating chaos, Art Rooney’s stance on Steelers
In this week`s Madden Monday, Mark Madden of 105.9 the X joins me to talk about the dueling overtime games in the AFC and NFC title round Sunday. Specifically, we discuss the officiating chaos and why the Patriots just won`t die. LISTEN: Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss AFC, NFC title...
Steelers fans bask in blown pass-interference call against Saints in NFC title game
A fistful of bitter karma with a coating of sweet schadenfreude dipped in black-and-gold righteous indignation. That was the recipe for Steelers fans who were watching the NFC Championship Game. With 1:48 remaining on a third-and-10 play from the Rams 13-yard line, the score was 20-20. Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney’s constant defense of Steelers culture actually proves its flaws
Boy, Art Rooney II sure is willing to die on this hill, isn`t he? Last week, the Steelers owner said he disagreed with the popular fan and media assessment that his Steelers are "a circus" and don`t have a "culture problem." Like many Steelers fans and Pittsburgh media members, I...
Tim Benz: Pitt draws high praise from Syracuse despite loss
SYRACUSE, N.Y. Last Monday, the basketball teams that played Saturday at the Carrier Dome took big steps forward. Pitt toward becoming a legitimate ACC program again by upsetting 11th-ranked Florida State at home. Syracuse toward being a legitimate Sweet 16 threat again by upsetting top-ranked Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium....
ESPN’s Mel Kiper predicts Steelers will draft inside linebacker in 1st round
The worst thing about the NFL season ending way too early is that NFL Draft season starts way too early. But Steelers fans will likely enjoy this speculation to kick off the campaign. ESPN`s Mel Kiper has the Steelers drafting an inside linebacker in the first round. That`s a position...
First call: Does Antonio Brown have a ‘burner’ Twitter account?
In Friday`s "First Call," does Antonio Brown have a burner account? A first look at the draft for the Steelers. And an honor for Jarome Iginla. A.B.`s `burner` We all know Antonio Brown is a burner on the field. But does he have a "burner" account on his phone? One...
Breaking down Pitt’s chances of pulling off upset in Syracuse
Pitt hosts Duke on Tuesday. But first Jeff Capel`s crew visits Syracuse on Saturday. Trib Pitt beat writer Jerry DiPaola and I discuss the prospects of the Panthers pulling off another ACC upset, as they did against Florida State on Monday. We dive into the nuances of attacking the Orange`s...
Tim Benz: Steelers extending Mike Tomlin would mean nothing for his future
If you are someone like me, you embrace the idea of a Steelers head coaching change. And if you are someone like me, you would have preferred to see Mike Munchak get the job. But that ship has sailed. That`s not going to happen. It was never going to happen....
Tim Benz: Can Pitt coach Jeff Capel rediscover Jamie Dixon’s magic against Syracuse?
The chants of "We Want Duke" could be heard Monday throughout Petersen Events Center. A celebratory Pitt basketball crowd was basking in the glow of its rejuvenated program upsetting 11th-ranked Florida State. Yup. A game against mighty Duke on Tuesday night. That`s the next home tilt for new Panthers head...
First call: Terry Bradshaw on ‘The Masked Singer’; a player who doesn’t want Antonio Brown
In Thursday`s "First Call," another Steeler on "The Masked Singer." One wideout doesn`t want Antonio Brown on his team, Alexander Ovechkin channels his inner Mike Tyson and an NCAA hoops double-coach ejection. What am I missing here? When I saw Terry Bradshaw`s name trending in Pittsburgh on Twitter last night,...
U mad bro? Bruce Arians slams Antonio Brown, who rips Emmanuel Sanders
Ooh! It`s a special "U Mad, Bro?" Normally, this weekly post is all about our beloved readers venting at me. But, here`s a new one. This week`s entry is all about Steelers getting mad at each other. As Mike Tomlin might say, "It`s Steelers vs. Steelers today." Well, a current...
Podcast: Uncertainty remains after Art Rooney II addresses Steelers offseason plans
In the wake of a nightmare collapse for his team, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II held his annual meeting with Pittsburgh-area beat writers. Joe Rutter was our representative for Trib. He joined me for our podcast. Rooney said one thing in particular that I couldn`t believe. I shared my...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s take on Steelers ‘circus’ is pure ‘nonsense’
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II had his annual season-ending powwow with the team’s local print outlets Wednesday. He made one comment that was so far from true, it couldn’t see the truth with the Hubble telescope. Rooney was asked about the perception that his team is a circus and...
Analysis: Why bottom-dwelling Coyotes could mean trouble for Penguins
The Penguins next play in Arizona on Friday night. And the Coyotes stink. That`s bad news for the Penguins. Wait. Huh? Well, as the Trib`s Jonathan Bombulie pointed out this week, "The Penguins have played seven games this season against the four teams currently occupying last place in the league`s...
First call: Antonio Brown teases another interview; Mike Tomlin tweets about Mike Munchak
In Wednesday`s "First Call," Tomlin tweets! Guess what it is about. Antonio Brown is not to be outdone. Plus, updates on two major WPIAL stars. Another interview threat Antonio Brown`s post-meltdown Instagram interview with James Harrison got scrubbed. But now the disgruntled Steelers wide receiver is teasing another interview. As...
Tim Benz: Hits and misses from James Harrison’s newest anti-Mike Tomlin take
Disgruntled ex-Steelers linebacker James Harrison is on his anti-Mike Tomlin kick again. Watch FS1`s "Undisputed" clip below. Then we`ll see where he`s right and where he`s wrong. • Regarding Tomlin`s relationship with Antonio Brown: Harrison is right when he says Tomlin is too lax when...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s take on Steelers ‘circus’ is pure ‘nonsense’
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II had his annual season-ending powwow with the team’s local print outlets Wednesday. He made one comment that was so far from true, it couldn’t see the truth with the Hubble telescope. Rooney was asked about the perception that his team is a circus and...
First call: Jerry Rice says Antonio Brown wants to join 49ers ‘really bad’
In Tuesday`s "First Call," Jerry Rice is going to make Antonio Brown a 49er if it`s the last thing he does! Also, don`t expect the Colts to chase Brown or Le`Veon Bell. The Colts come up again as we take a little trip down Steelers memory lane. And we show...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer talk Penguins’ issues against bad teams, giving up short-handed goals
Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joins me for his weekly Sided.co hockey chat. We discuss the club`s issue when it comes short-handed goals. Also, how long can Jake Guentzel sustain this hot streak? We look at the remainder of the team`s west coast swing, too. LISTEN: Tim Benz, Brian...
Renowned ‘team player’ Reggie Jackson has a message for Steelers’ Antonio Brown
NFL legend Jerry Rice is doing whatever he can to support Antonio Brown and figure out a way top get him into a San Francisco 49ers uniform. However, a legend from another sport is coming out against Brown for abandoning the Steelers. Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson sent out...
Tim Benz: More to Mike Munchak’s departure from Steelers than meets the eye?
There`s an easy way to explain the departure of Mike Munchak. That`s why you shouldn`t accept it. It`s too easy. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their prized offensive line coach to the Denver Broncos. He took the same job there. Perhaps for more money. But from a job title point of...
First call: Antonio Brown axes affiliation with Steelers on Twitter, posts photo in half-49ers jersey
In "First Call" Monday, Antonio Brown unfollowed the Steelers on Twitter, posted a picture of himself in half a San Francisco uniform and is favored to wind up in Atlanta. Aside from that, it was a quiet weekend for ol` A.B. Weird look Since the Antonio Brown trade talk started,...
