First Call: Kenny Pickett leaves Raiders; Patrick Queen may go to an NFC team
Tuesday’s “First Call” has the latest destination for former Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett. Some NFC East teams are showing interest in Patrick Queen. The Penguins face the best in the Metropolitan Division. And we look at the odds for Pitt and Duquesne to stay alive in the postseason. Pickett on...
Tim Benz: Acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. won’t erase the Steelers’ WR depth issue. But he’s a good 1st step toward solving itVideo
In order to fix the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver problem, general manager Omar Khan needed to admit it actually existed. That’s something he was unwilling to do over the last two years. At least trading for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. acknowledges that. According to a report from...
Duquesne players look to defend their (other) home court in A-10 TournamentVideo
When hardwood replaces ice at PPG Paints Arena this week for the Atlantic 10 Tournament, it won’t be Duquesne’s home court. But the goal is to defend that floor as if it is the same one at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse across the street. “We have a Pittsburgh native in...
First Call: Browns meet with potential Steelers draft target; UFA wide receiver may already be gone
Monday’s “First Call” has eyes on wide receivers in the news when it comes to both the NFL Draft and free agency. The Robert Morris basketball team hopes to take another step toward the NCAA Tournament. And the school’s hockey team took another leap back toward the level of success...
Madden Monday: Evgeni Malkin’s slash and suspension is among the ‘most selfish acts in the history of Penguins’Video
The Pittsburgh Penguins managed to get three of a possible four points over the weekend at PPG Paints Arena. The Pens beat the Boston Bruins, 5-4, on Sunday, a day after they picked up a point for a 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia. The last Battle of PA this season...
Beyond the Bylines: Starkey, Benz debate Penguins’ trade deadline strategy; Aaron Rodgers on Pat McAfeeVideo
In this week’s “Beyond the Bylines,” Joe Starkey and Tim Benz talk about the NHL trade deadline and how Pittsburgh Penguins fans are morphing into Pirates fans when it comes to their desire to hoard draft picks and prospects. They also discuss Aaron Rodgers’ appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,”...
First Call: Browns speaking with Ty Simpson; Alex Highsmith pledges more pass rush looks from SteelersVideo
Friday’s “First Call” features some defensive dreams for Pittsburgh Steelers fans to ponder courtesy of Alex Highsmith. The Browns apparently have eyes on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Penguins have a loaded weekend schedule after the trade deadline, and Pitt is in must-win territory for its basketball team. Promises, promises...
Robert Morris has new cast, same director looking to follow a familiar script
The path is very similar, even if the team is not. The Robert Morris men’s basketball team did this a year ago. The Colonials got scalding hot starting the first week of February and didn’t cool off until they won the Horizon League title. A postseason run started with a...
Tim Benz: Kris Letang’s expletives sum up Penguins’ opinions on goalie interference callsVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost yet another goaltender interference challenge Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres. It was their seventh such result in as many tries. After the ruling, ESPN cameras at PPG Paints Arena caught defenseman Kris Letang giving a blunt response to the officials. “Hey! Hey! What the (expletive)...
First Call: Pat McAfee claims Steelers asked for info on Mike McCarthy; Aaron Rodgers pans Acrisure Stadium’s field againVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting anecdote about the Steelers’ hiring process for Mike McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers is still taking shots at the Acrisure Stadium turf. The Penguins have a tough task Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. And the Duquesne women’s basketball team is scrapping until the end in...
Just 3 years after program reboot, RMU hockey is top 3 in the AHA, hosting playoff gamesVideo
It’s not like there is a bronze medal for finishing in third place in Atlantic Hockey’s regular season. Robert Morris’ players and coaches are aware of that. Especially with the conference playoffs coming up this weekend at Clearview Arena. What the Colonials’ program achieved so far isn’t something they’ll hang...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans hate the idea of trading for Vince Trocheck; Steelers’ low NFLPA player gradesVideo
On Wednesday, I wrote a column suggesting that the Pittsburgh Penguins should trade for New York Rangers center Vince Trocheck. To reiterate some of my arguments, the Penguins need a center. He’s great at faceoffs. He’s good in shootouts. The Penguins are deficient in both of those areas. Trocheck was...
Tim Benz: The only thing Aaron Rodgers owes the Steelers is a timely answer. So why not give them one?Video
About 20 minutes into his winding 75-minute conversation on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave us the money quote about his future with the franchise. “I want to say that anybody on here who was expecting me to make some big decision, just turn it...
Tim Benz: Don’t overthink it. Yes, the Penguins should try to acquire Vince Trocheck
The idea of the Pittsburgh Penguins trading for New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck was a hot debate on local sports talk radio Tuesday. I don’t see a reason for the debate. If the Pens can do that, they should. In his recent “32 Thoughts” podcast, SportsNet insider Elliotte Friedman...
First Call: High profile training partner with Will Howard; huge money coming in on Pirates win totalVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” has a big name training partner (and tutor) for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard. Gambling money is pouring in on the Pirates. Pitt needs to close the college basketball season strong, as Robert Morris is ready to start tournament play. Plus, postseason accolades for Duquesne women’s basketball,...
First Call: Steelers alumni pile on reports of bad NFLPA grades; Maxx Crosby to Baltimore?
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some validation for those bad NFLPA grades for the Steelers, and it’s coming from some alumni of the team. Also, a fierce AFC pass rusher may wind up in the Steelers’ division. Pitt’s former athletic director, Heather Lyke, is wrapped up in a negative story at...
Tim Benz: We can talk about Malik Willis and the Steelers. But let’s have the entire conversationVideo
The dialogue about the Steelers potentially being interested in free-agent quarterback Malik Willis seems to have cooled. The Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns appear to be the teams most commonly linked with the current Green Bay Packers backup. That doesn’t break my heart. I’m certainly not sold on...
First Call: New spin on QB Malik Willis’ price tag; Goalie fight for ex-Penguin; Vince Trocheck trade rumors
“First Call” opens the week with a different twist on the Malik Willis conversation. A former Steelers defensive lineman will be leaving his current team soon. Pittsburgh native Vince Trocheck could get traded before Friday’s deadline in the NHL. An ex-Penguin got into a goalie fight. And the Robert Morris...
Madden Monday: Bad NFLPA grades come from ‘spoiled brat prima donna’ Steelers
Last week, it was revealed that the Pittsburgh Steelers ranked last among the NFL’s 32 organizations in the NFL Players Association’s annual report cards. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 the X wondered if that may motivate Art Rooney II to pay big once...
Tim Benz: Penguins handling life without Sidney Crosby as trade deadline approachesVideo
It wasn’t the most obvious path to a hot start after the Olympic break. But you can’t argue with the results. Knowing that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be without Sidney Crosby for four weeks because of his injury suffered in Italy, there was a reason to worry that their status...
Beyond the Bylines: Bad Steelers NFLPA grades, Malik Willis’ price tag, Jack Hughes wins the crowd at PPG Paints Arena
In this week’s “Beyond the Bylines,” Joe Starkey and Tim Benz discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ poor showing in the NFLPA grades. What does this say about the players’ perception of the franchise in the post-Mike Tomlin era? We also investigate Malik Willis’ price tag and the importance of toilets in...
USA Olympic star Jack Hughes: ‘Every time I come back to Pittsburgh, I’ll really appreciate what they did for me’Video
The last guy with a similar smile to get an ovation that big in Pittsburgh might have been Jack Lambert after Super Bowl XIV. Some of Jack Hughes’ teeth are still chipped from a stick to the mouth he endured during Team USA’s gold medal win over Canada last weekend....
First Call: There’s ‘momentum’ for Steelers using an early pick at safety; Malik Willis’ reported asking price
Friday’s “First Call” suggests that the secondary could be a primary point of interest in the draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite a high asking price, a former Pitt legend loves what Malik Willis could bring at QB to the Steelers — or anyone else. Duquesne takes on the best...
Tim Benz: Offensive tackle has entered the Steelers’ draft chat … againVideo
After Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan addressed media members at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, most of the headlines were centered on what he said about the team’s plans at quarterback. Naturally. Why should this year be any different than the previous four in the wake of Ben...
U mad, bro?: Aaron Rodgers, the unearthed Steelers-Ravens officiating debate, 3-on-3 Olympic hockey all take shots from fansVideo
This week’s “U mad, bro?” goes from Milan to the North Side Notch. Hockey in the Summer Olympics to the reconstruction of PNC Park. Three-month-old football games to WWE wrestling. In other words, just a typical week. Here’s the latest edition. I took a jab at Team Canada coach Jon...
