Tim Benz stories, Page 36
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin finally cracked the door on a Steelers’ QB debate — let’s have at it
After months of staying cool while the national media was inventing a quarterback controversy that didn’t exist, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has essentially just created one for everybody with a laptop or a microphone. During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Tomlin was directly asked if Russell Wilson would...
First Call: Falcons coach gives perfect assessment of Pittsburgh’s ‘ugly game’; Broncos prep for Steelers’ pass rush
Wednesday’s “First Call” spotlights some names the Pittsburgh Steelers are checking out on the free-agent market. The Denver Broncos are already prepping for the Steelers’ pass rush. Falcons coach Raheem Morris has a fitting assessment of his team’s loss to the Steelers. And the Robert Morris women’s ice hockey team...
CBS NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore comments on questionable officiating in Steelers-Falcons game
During his weekly interview on WDVE radio, CBS NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore (Uniontown, Pa./Washington, Pa.) addressed some of the many controversial calls that occurred during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. • In the second quarter, George Pickens was called for an offensive pass...
Tim Benz: Heather Lyke’s dismissal at Pitt is a case of what we don’t bother to see in the NIL era
When it comes to roster construction for the four major North American pro sports, we care about the process. We care about free agency, trades and drafts. We care about who the general managers are and how they go about procuring talent. On the college sports level, it’s a lot...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s blunt comment about George Pickens; Joey Porter Jr. disses Drake London’s stats
Tuesday’s “First Call” has a harsh but accurate assessment of George Pickens from Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger. Two Steelers mince no words when it comes to evaluating the Atlanta Falcons. And Steelers rookie Beanie Bishop is getting amped for the Backyard Brawl. Need a little more During his “Footbahlin’”...
First Call: T.J. Watt says officials admitted error on flag; Diontae Johnson’s 1st game with Carolina; bad Week 1 for AFC North
Monday’s “First Call” has some background on a blown call against T.J. Watt that could’ve cost the Pittsburgh Steelers their win in Week 1. Donte Jackson got the better of Diontae Johnson in their first games with their new teams after they were traded for one another in March. As...
Madden Monday: ‘If Russell Wilson is 100% next week, or close to it, I go with him’
Justin Fields should be applauded for his winning effort on short notice as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback in Atlanta on Sunday. But should he really be promoted to the starter next week in Denver? I don’t think so. And in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: T.J. Watt, Chris Boswell, Justin Fields drive Steelers’ victory
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had Georgia on their minds since the NFL schedule was released in May. Then everybody’s minds got scrambled late last week. That’s when we found out Russell Wilson’s bothersome calf flared up, and Justin Fields may start in Atlanta to open the 2024 campaign. That’s what...
Duquesne’s big-time football game against Boston College got even bigger after recent upset
It’s not like the Duquesne football team was oblivious to what they were getting in Boston College as a Week 2 opponent when the schedule was released. An ACC school. On the road. Potential NFL players on the other sideline. Former Penn State head coach and New England Patriots offensive...
Football Footnotes: With his Steelers 2024 forecast, Tim Benz looks to copy last year’s spot-on picks (with some improvement)
In our first “Football Footnotes” post to open the 2023 NFL season, I hit a home run with my Pittsburgh Steelers predictions. I said, “The Steelers will go 10-7 and make the playoffs as an AFC wild-card team.” They did exactly that. I also predicted they’d lose their first-round game,...
First Call: Steelers reportedly ‘unsure’ about Russell Wilson’s status for Sunday; NFL explains Steelers-KC matchup
Friday’s “First Call” has a national report on the injury to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. We get an explanation as to how the NFL constructed the Christmas Day game between the Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. An old name from the Steelers wide receiver hunt has resurfaced. Plus, we...
Tim Benz: No room for Steelers to overcome a typical sluggish start in 2024
This is the annual column about the Pittsburgh Steelers that everyone wishes didn’t have to be so annual. The column I feel like I write every year about how the Steelers need to get off to a better start than they have in recent seasons. At least last year, the...
U mad, bro?: Even with the Steelers’ regular season about to begin, Pittsburgh fans need to unload on the Pirates
How do we know that things are going badly for the Pittsburgh Pirates? Well, the Steelers are about to start the 2024 regular season after going 0-3 in the preseason. The team failed to improve the wide receiver position, and the offensive line is a mess. Yet, I’m still being...
First Call: Kyle Pitts vows to play vs. Steelers; Falcons coach ‘won’t let’ T.J. Watt ‘wreck the game’ (but he may anyway)
Thursday’s “First Call” has some quotable lines from Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris in advance of his team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts insists he’ll be ready for the Black and Gold in the season opener. Kirk Cousins is actually looking forward to...
Robert Morris hockey looks to move from back on the ice to back in contention
Robert Morris hockey players took the ice last week to begin practices for the second season of the rebooted program. The sense of being a newly constructed team has faded a bit after 2023-24’s return to the ice. And that’s exactly how the players want it. “Expectations will be a...
First Call: Brandon Aiyuk’s admission about his negotiations; Ben Roethlisberger thanks Denver for Russell Wilson
Wednesday’s “First Call” has former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sharing some thoughts about new Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. We also have an interesting admission from Brandon Aiyuk, news about a pair of former Steelers wide receivers and a health update on Gerrit Cole. No kidding? San Francisco 49ers wide...
Tim Benz: How Mike Tomlin is putting the ‘O’ in the Steelers’ offense — from optimistic to oblivious
While listening to head coach Mike Tomlin describe the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “O” on Tuesday, plenty of “O” words came to mind. When discussing Russell Wilson’s taking over the offense as the new starting quarterback for 2024, Tomlin sounded optimistic. Rightfully so. There is at least some reason to believe that...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ self-created depth chart issues enough to lower regular-season predictions
For much of the offseason, my belief about the Pittsburgh Steelers was that they’d be 10-7. Again. That they’d be the last team in the AFC playoff bracket. Again. And that they’d finish the season without a playoff win. Again. For an eighth consecutive year. I’m modifying that. Now I...
First Call: Steelers work out WR/KR; Falcons get boost in advance of opener
Tuesday’s “First Call” begins with a Pittsburgh Steelers workout of interest. The team’s opponent for the regular season opener got some good news. Paul Skenes is getting ready to see the Chicago Cubs yet again. And Duquesne got a good look at its next football opponent during a nationally televised...
Madden Monday: Between WR, O-line concerns, Steelers fans ‘have every right to be worried’
It’s finally a regular season game week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2024 opener is Sunday in Atlanta. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive says there are plenty of reasons for concern. “You have every right to be worried. I think that’s...
Tim Benz: An all-Pirates setlist request for Green Day’s concert at PNC Park
From a Pirates perspective, the best thing you can say about the month of August is that it’s almost over. At least it is at PNC Park. The beleaguered Buccos don’t return home until Sept. 5 against the Washington Nationals. Between now and then, though, there is one event worth...
U mad, bro?: Oneil Cruz’s move to CF and Steelers’ 0-3 preseason have fans riled up
Two Pittsburgh topics dominated my social media interactions and my inbox this week: • Concern over the Steelers 0-3 preseason. • Oneil Cruz’s move to center field. I assume Penguins fans will start fretting about Sidney Crosby’s lack of a contract extension soon enough. But today is not that day....
Tim Benz: Refuting the idea that Mike Tomlin created an ‘unnecessary distraction’ with his QBs
I recently saw a headline that said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has created an “unnecessary distraction” by not naming a starting quarterback to open the 2024 season as of yet. Near as I can tell, the players on offense don’t seem distracted. “It’s not my decision to make. We’ll find...
First Call: Steelers reportedly adding veteran RB Boston Scott; a new WR idea; Dylan Crews’ first hit off Gerrit Cole
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a potential addition to the Steelers’ offensive backfield. The wide receiver headlines continue to catch attention. We look at Paul Skenes’ next start for the Pirates. And his former LSU teammate, Dylan Crews, gets hit No. 1 of his career off a former Pirates All-Star. Boston...
First Call: Steelers may have interest in a pair of WRs; Mason Rudolph in line for Titans’ No. 2 job after Malik Willis trade
The Steelers are reportedly in contact with teams about two wide receivers who are not named Brandon Aiyuk. Mason Rudolph has won the backup job with the Tennessee Titans. Mike Tomlin’s impact on quarterbacks is being overrated again. A West Virginia quarterback has been cut in Philadelphia while a former...
