Tim Benz stories, Page 33

Oneil Cruz’s horror show in Houston this week has resulted in a wave of Pirates fans and some in the media calling for him to be moved away from the shortstop position. Is it time to have a discussion on making Oneil Cruz a 1st baseman due to the crazy...

Friday’s “First Call” has a new home for a recently released Pittsburgh Steelers receiver. Another Steelers trade target at the position may be staying put. A new Pirate is off to a strong start in the minor leagues. And the Pirates are getting set for a crucial six-game stretch against...

Outside linebacker Nick Herbig already spent much of his first year as a Pittsburgh Steeler trying to absorb whatever tactics he could from All-Pro starter T.J. Watt. This year at training camp, he’s also getting tips from another former Steelers Pro Bowler: James Harrison. The 2008 Defensive Player of the...

Thursday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler in Baltimore firing back at a current Steeler who used to be a Raven. We also get some speculation on Steelers Hall of Fame candidates and some national reaction to the Pirates’ trade deadline tactics. Plus, a former Penguins fan favorite has...

After a week off from “U mad, bro,” my emails and social media messages were overflowing. Here is what I learned after sifting through them. I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin. I’m not hard enough on Ben Cherington, but I’m too optimistic about the Pirates. I’m too nice to Kenny...

According to a recent story in The Washington Post, the NFL Players Association wants to restrict locker room media access. In advancing the story, ProFootballTalk.com suggested this might be something the players ask for as part of the negotiating process when the league starts to make a strong push for...

Newly acquired Pittsburgh Pirate Isiah Kiner-Falefa explained his family ties to former Bucs legend Ralph Kiner back in 2022. “It’s from my mom’s side,” Kiner-Falefa told NJ.com when he was a member of the New York Yankees. “Fourth cousin. I have all the paperwork. I tell people, but I’m brown...

We have an injury update on Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver Roman Wilson. A former Steeler has joined the Baltimore Ravens. Another NFL receiver is getting paid. A Staal brother is retiring from the NHL. And an ex-Pirate is coming back to PNC Park this weekend in the other team’s uniform....

Tuesday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers roster news. The team’s first opponent just signed a former Steelers pass catcher. One of Brandon Aiyuk’s teammates is holding out hope for a contract resolution with the 49ers in San Francisco. We also have an interesting scouting report on a specific attribute...

When it came to evaluating the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary heading into training camp, here is what was known: • Minkah Fitzpatrick is a three-time All-Pro at one safety spot. They are fine there. • Damontae Kazee is back. When he’s not hurt or suspended, he’s a capable veteran at...

Through his first 11 starts as a Pittsburgh Pirate, a lot went right for rookie right-hander Paul Skenes. He was 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and was named as the National League starter for the All-Star Game. For a while on Monday night, though, Skenes looked like he was about...

At Pittsburgh Steelers training camp over the weekend, wide receiver George Pickens tried to downplay his verbal dust-up with new position coach Zach Azzanni on Wednesday. During the first full practice, Pickens missed a block that blew up a run play, and Azzanni got on him about it. “I welcome...

Monday’s “First Call” features some mutual respect between Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt. Kenny Pickett appears to be working out well in Philadelphia so far. Chase Claypool had an eventful day in Buffalo Bills camp. We will also preview Paul Skenes’ latest start in Houston. Props from Cleveland Fans of...

Friday’s “First Call” removes one name from the Steelers wide receiver rumor mill. There’s lots of information from the team’s rivals in the AFC North and one headline from a Penguins rival within the Metropolitan Division. And we’ve got odd injury news for Bethel Park’s Mason Miller in Oakland. Bad...

On Thursday at Steelers training camp, general manager Omar Khan was asked if the team was in the midst of pursuing a pass catcher for the thin wide receiver room. “There’s nothing going on right now,” Khan said. That’s probably accurate only insofar as at the literal moment Khan was...

How good is Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes? He’s so good that, on the eve of the Steelers reporting to training camp, he had all of Pittsburgh buzzing about baseball for a change. How bad is the Pirates lineup, though? It’s so bad that it couldn’t muster more than...

Something just doesn’t add up with Najee Harris’ explanation as to why he didn’t get a fifth-year option from the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m not suggesting that Harris is the one blurring the lines. If I’m him, I’d be confused too. The 2021 first-round draft choice spoke with media members Wednesday...

Thursday’s “First Call” struggles to find any Steelers on that ESPN.com list of top NFL players of this century. We have lots of wide receiver news for Steelers fans to track. Lamar Jackson had an abbreviated debut at Ravens training camp. And a former Pirate is well aware that his...

Steelers training camp 2024 is upon us at Saint Vincent College. The team reports on Wednesday. You know what that means. Innumerable stories of who brought the biggest TV into the dorm rooms. Which player is rooming with which teammate? Who showed up in the flashiest car (or helicopter/fire truck)?...

We’ve found something Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes can’t do. Be his own offense. Actually, based on some of his hitting numbers as a college batter, theoretically, he could do exactly that. Certainly more effectively than many of the guys who were in the lineup to “support him” Tuesday night. Skenes...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has news about the Steelers working out a quarterback with local ties. The team is checking out a few wide receivers as well. The Cleveland Browns have reworked the contract of their top pass-catcher. And the NFL is barreling toward an 18-game regular season. Steelers bringing in...

During his Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday, Jim Leyland perfectly encapsulated the memories left by the Pittsburgh Pirates teams he managed in the early 1990s. “I never felt like ‘manager and fans’ in Pittsburgh,” Leyland said. “It felt more like ‘manager and friends.’ I know we made you happy,...

After his team’s 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Monday night, Pirates manager Derek Shelton was asked if he believed the “clutch gene” existed in baseball. “If you talk to anybody who is an analyst, they will tell you, ‘No.’ If you talk to anyone who has ever put...

In advance of training camp, the Steelers appear to be checking out depth along the defensive line and at fullback. An ex-Steeler is getting a look from the Carolina Panthers. A former Pitt Panther is putting himself in a tough spot with his new team. And we examine Tuesday’s Pirates-Cardinals...