Tim Benz stories, Page 30
First Call: NFL reviewing George Pickens’ scrum in Cleveland; thoughts on Russell Wilson staying in PittsburghVideo
Monday’s “First Call” has some potential fallout from the end of Thursday’s Steelers-Browns game. There’s some forecasting about the future of Pittsburgh’s quarterback position. We preview the “Monday Night Football” game and its implications for the Steelers. And the Duquesne basketball team continues its tournament in the Cayman Islands. League...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ weekend on center stage shows how bad things have gotten
In the not-too-distant past, a pre-Thanksgiving mini-bye for the Steelers would’ve been the perfect time for many Pittsburgh sports fans to shelve their NFL obsessions and take in a little Penguins hockey for a few days. Not only were the Steelers off this past weekend because of their Thursday night...
Madden Monday: ‘We’ll know instantly’ if Steelers’ loss to Browns will result in long-term damages
In the days since the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) fell to the Cleveland Browns (3-8) on Thursday night, many Steelers fans have had the same concern. Was that just one bad night? Or was that a harbinger of things to come? Was that the 2024 version of losing to Washington after...
Football Footnotes: Refs got the ‘illegal touching call’ in Cleveland right; Bengals LB predicting victory over Steelers
Usually, our Friday “Football Footnotes” post previews everything coming up on the local football scene. We’ll still do some of that on both the NFL and college levels this time. But with the Pittsburgh Steelers losing in Cleveland on Thursday night (again), this is more like a Friday “Football Fallout”...
First Call: Browns DB calls George Pickens ‘fake tough guy’ after skirmish; Penguins host best team in NHLVideo
A Cleveland Browns defensive back is not pleased with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. The Penguins face a stiff test amid an early season slump. The Duquesne men’s basketball team enjoys a pre-Thanksgiving getaway. And the Robert Morris hockey team is heading out to play a true college hockey...
Airing of Grievances: Odd coaching decisions, anemic start, leaky defense means another Steelers loss in ClevelandVideo
I don’t want to hear the Pittsburgh Steelers’ excuse machine Friday morning. I don’t want to hear about a short week on the road. I don’t want to hear about the weather. I don’t want to hear how tough it is to play in Cleveland. I don’t want to hear...
Tim Benz: It’s not ‘How do the Steelers keep losing in Cleveland?’ It’s ‘Why haven’t they been able to fix the problem?’
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent failures in Cleveland, the question shouldn’t be, “How does this keep happening?” The question should be, “Why do the Steelers constantly let this happen?” Because the “how” part is clear. There has been an obvious formula that the Browns have followed to...
First Call: Would Andy Weidl leave for New York? Bad weather predicted for Steelers-BrownsVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” examines the prospect of Andy Weidl potentially leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers to assume the vacant general manager’s job with the New York Jets. The weather is supposed to be lousy for Thursday night’s Steelers-Browns game. A quintet of former Penguins find the back to the net with...
U mad, bro?: The Steelers are 8-2, but readers still have plenty of complaints
These days, I find that a lot of people are mad about the election, political appointments, inflation, taxes, border security, international conflict and a few other weighty topics. Like how Netflix streamed the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight and why the Pittsburgh Penguins can’t hold a two-goal lead. But my readers...
First Call: Myles Garrett on Browns injury report; Mike Tomlin atop NFL Coach of the Year odds
Wednesday’s First Call has injury news surrounding Myles Garrett in advance of Thursday’s Steelers-Browns game. We look at the officiating crew for that contest. Mike Tomlin is now atop the NFL’s Coach of the Year gambling odds. There’s an update on Alex Ovechkin’s injury. And the son of a former...
Tim Benz: Skeptical of the Steelers’ 8-2 start? If they are phony, who is for real?
During his six years with the Carolina Panthers, new Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson never enjoyed a season above .500. As a result, he admits that he may not be the greatest judge of what a Super Bowl-caliber team looks like on the inside. But he also knows how different this...
First Call: Steelers LB Patrick Queen fires back at Bart Scott; Justin Fields ready if needed in ClevelandVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen has some beef with former Baltimore Raven Bart Scott. Justin Fields is ready for an expanded role if called upon in Cleveland. The Penguins are preparing for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. And Alex Ovechkin scores twice more before getting hurt. All that...
Tim Benz: Steelers have to improve upon recent checkered history in Cleveland
It’s not just Steelers players and coaches who need to turn the page on a win over the Baltimore Ravens as quickly as possible. Fans and those of us in the media have to as well. It’s tempting for fans to bask in the afterglow of an eighth win in...
First Call: Justin Tucker says playing surface not ‘ideal’ after missed kicks; Bill Cowher breaks Buffalo tailgating tableVideo
Monday’s “First Call” shows former Steelers coach Bill Cowher smashing a table in typical Buffalo tailgating fashion. Baltimore’s Justin Tucker tries to explain away his missed kicks at Acrisure Stadium. John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson look for reasons as to why the Ravens can’t get out of their own way...
Madden Monday on Mike Sullivan: ‘His situation would have gotten any coach in any sport in history fired by now’
On Saturday night, the Penguins blew a 3-0 lead to one of the worst teams in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks (5-10-4, 14 points). Fortunately, though, the Penguins ended up winning 4-3 in a shootout. By their standards in 2024, for these Penguins, that’s a pretty good night. What...
Feats of Strength: Timely turnovers, perfect kicking, George Pickens’ prowess lead Steelers over Ravens
Ten weeks of anticipation for the Pittsburgh Steelers were well worth the wait. That’s how deep we have gotten into the NFL season before seeing the Steelers play an AFC North foe. That’s what they did in Week 11, though, Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, hosting the Baltimore Ravens with the...
Tim Benz: Familiar rivals, different expectations for Steelers-Ravens in 2024
Few things in the NFL are as predictable — and anticipated — as a Steelers-Ravens game with significant stakes and AFC North title implications. The latest chapter of this rivalry is taking on a decidedly different type of anticipation — the expectation of points actually being scored. Usually, the gravitational...
Football Footnotes: Steelers-Ravens part of top-heavy NFL viewing slate full of AFC playoff implications
Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) and Baltimore Ravens (7-3) is one of a few excellent contests across the NFL this week. A few. Things are kind of top-heavy in the NFL these days. There are 11 teams with only two or three wins. Then, a big, mushy middle...
First Call: Russell Wilson wants to play at least 5 more years; framework disclosed for NFL’s 18-game scheduleVideo
Friday’s “First Call” has Russell Wilson’s projection for how much longer he wants to play in the NFL. There’s a road map for how — and when — the NFL plans to get to an 18-game season. We examine the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl as well as the...
First Call: Steelers reportedly found a snake in their Washington locker room; DeShon Elliott jabs Ravens, Dolphins
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Williams is clearing up a perceived shot at former teammate Aaron Rogers. The Steelers apparently had to deal with a pregame locker room distraction in Washington. Safety DeShon Elliott is taking swipes at multiple AFC teams at the same time. And a former Steelers receiver is...
Steelers CB Donte Jackson provides health update, funny interaction with refs after blatant missed holding callVideo
Donte Jackson provided a health update after practice Wednesday as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for this weekend’s pivotal AFC North game against the Baltimore Ravens. The former Carolina Panther has provided a significant upgrade at the cornerback position since coming on board via trade for wide receiver Dionate Johnson in...
U mad, bro?: Failed fake punt debate; criticism of Steelers media; putrid Penguins failures adding up
What a difference a year makes! Right about this time in 2023, the Steelers were 6-3, but no one was happy because we were all in full-blown “FIRE CANADA” mode. Now the Steelers are a mere one game better at 7-2, yet it feels 180 degrees different around the city....
First Call: Pens have a chance to heat up; Steelers work out former DB; will T.J. Watt get a few calls this week?Video
The Pittsburgh Steelers may be interested in bringing back a familiar face. There’s an interesting trend about the officiating crew for the team’s game against Baltimore on Sunday. The Penguins’ schedule is about to play into their hands. Now, can they actually do something with it? That’s a different conversation....
While Mike Tomlin downplays return with Ravens, Diontae Johnson is ready for any increased snaps against Steelers
Former Steeler Diontae Johnson is coming back to Pittsburgh this Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens. And the veteran wide receiver knows it is going to be a little bit awkward getting around Acrisure Stadium. “Just being back in that stadium where it all started, it’s going to be different,” Johnson...
Tim Benz: Turns out the NFL may have done the Steelers a favor with their back-loaded schedule
When the NFL schedule was released in May, we all wondered what state the Pittsburgh Steelers would be in by the time the crucial AFC North games finally started in Week 11. “I’ll play (the divisional games) whenever they schedule us,” head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “We’ve got no...
