Tim Benz stories, Page 38
First Call: Retired Steelers rival rips Justin Fields; Steelers’ Week 1 opponent gets Pro Bowl pass-rush boost
To the surprise of no one, Bart Scott is taking jabs at the Pittsburgh Steelers on television again. This time, he is going after one of the team’s quarterbacks. A former Steeler defensive lineman keeps finding work. The Steelers’ Week 1 opponent just got a Pro Bowl jolt on defense....
Tim Benz: An early tinfoil hat conspiracy theory for the new kickoff rule
Here’s a warning for fans attending NFL games this year. The new kickoff format looks really weird in person. Not bad. Just … weird. Watching the new kickoffs on television or via video clips, the change wasn’t all that jarring to me. However, when you are in a stadium, and...
Tim Benz: I’m not upset at what Derek Shelton said about the Pirates, I’m just upset he keeps having to say it
Given this month’s collapse of the Pittsburgh Pirates, many people were put off by what manager Derek Shelton had to say Tuesday during his most recent weekly radio show. Speaking about his team’s extended losing streak, Shelton tried to tamp down their recent troubles by pointing out how many one-run...
First Call: 49ers making late push to extend Brandon Aiyuk; injured Chase Claypool’s spot filled by another ex-Steeler in Buffalo
Wednesday’s “First Call” attempts to surf through the Brandon Aiyuk saga and whether or not he is going to become a Pittsburgh Steeler. We also get into a messy wide receiver situation in Cincinnati. The Steelers are making moves at that position down the depth chart. The Bills are bringing...
Tim Benz: Wasted Jake Woodford start is latest example of how it’s gone so wrong, so fast for Pirates
It was the kind of start that the Pittsburgh Pirates got so often over the first four months of the season. The kind of start from a pitcher that was good enough to overcome whatever struggles the offense, bullpen or defense had been going through at the time. And it...
First Call: Former Pitt QB joins Bills before practices against Steelers; Martavis Bryant gets another workout
Tuesday’s “First Call” has news of a former Pitt Panther suiting up with the Buffalo Bills in advance of their joint practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday. An NFC team is taking a second look at former Steeler Martavis Bryant. There is some health news surrounding Cleveland Browns quarterback...
Steelers’ financial offer to Brandon Aiyuk reported; Arthur Smith discusses team’s WR position
Albert Breer of SI.com has the Pittsburgh Steelers’ contract offer to San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. “The Steelers’ offer was around (the) $28 million per year that several other receivers (DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Amon-Ra St. Brown) got this offseason,” Breer reported Monday. Keep in mind that Aiyuk...
How Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs performed in their debuts with new teams this weekend
As Pittsburgh got its first look at Justin Fields in a Steelers uniform Friday night, local fans also saw some very familiar faces at quarterback with their new teams over the weekend. Kenny Pickett made his preseason debut with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night. Meanwhile, ex-Steelers Mason Rudolph and...
First Call: Kirk Cousins declares himself ready for Week 1 vs. Steelers; why JuJu Smith-Schuster was let goVideo
Monday’s “First Call” has an update on Kirk Cousins’ status as he gets set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. There’s some news about Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson too. Plus, a former Steeler signs with the Baltimore Ravens, and we get an explanation...
Madden Monday: Stalled Brandon Aiyuk trade typical of Steelers because they seek reasons to avoid big deals
As we all wait for a resolution to the Brandon Aiyuk trade drama, during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X is starting to wonder if maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers just got played. After all, if a trade was going to happen for the...
‘Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances’ after Steelers’ scattered loss in preseason opener
If anyone is looking for a way to positively spin the performance of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-team offense in the preseason opener, look at it this way: In last year’s preseason debut, Kenny Pickett marched the first team right down the throats of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the opening...
First Call: Brandon Aiyuk trade talks may need 3rd team; former Steeler DL joining Bengals; 49ers sign Pressley Harvin III
The Brandon Aiyuk saga is taking a twist. We look at the Pirates’ upcoming series in Los Angeles. An ex-Steeler is joining an AFC North foe. And the club’s first opponent suffers a significant injury loss on offense. All that in Friday’s “First Call.” Now it gets complicated As we...
Tim Benz: Why is everyone so mad at the Pirates? Can’t you tell they are doing us a favor?
Based on everything I’ve read online, seen on social media, and heard on sports talk radio, local sports fans are infuriated with the Pittsburgh Pirates lately. I can’t understand why. They did their part for the Western Pa. sports scene. Our beloved Buccos walked us right up to the start...
First Call: Mike Tomlin’s quote about Brandon Aiyuk last year; still no contract extension for Sidney Crosby
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look back on what Mike Tomlin said about Brandon Aiyuk after he scorched the Pittsburgh Steelers last September. We are still waiting for a Sidney Crosby contract extension. A former Steeler in Baltimore is dealing with a knee injury. And the picture is getting awfully...
U mad, bro?: Colin Holderman can’t pitch; Oneil Cruz can’t field; Steelers can’t get Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers can’t pull off a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, and fans can’t escape me discussing it. Colin Holderman can’t pitch, and Oneil Cruz can’t get out of his own way. Also, readers apparently can’t find our Olympics coverage, and I apparently can’t find my dictionary. It’s the dog...
If Steelers offer only picks and no players to 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk, ‘the deal is dead’
According to some reports out of Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon, a long-discussed trade that would send San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to the Steelers was practically a done deal. John Lund of KNBR in San Francisco says that’s not the case, because the Steelers are only offering draft...
Tim Benz: Make the Brandon Aiyuk decision about Brandon Aiyuk, not Van Jefferson
Here’s a friendly exchange I overheard between a fan and a media member during Tuesday’s Steelers training camp practice. I didn’t want to jump into someone else’s conversation. But I will in my own column. Fan: “When are the Steelers going to get Brandon Aiyuk?” Reporter: “I don’t know. But...
Tim Benz: Few debatable points from the Steelers’ initial 2024 depth chart
The Pittsburgh Steelers released their first depth chart of 2024 on Tuesday. Very few spots were surprising. But there is still plenty to discuss. Quarterback Much to the dismay of many national media outlets who are trying to invent a quarterback controversy in Pittsburgh for the sake of content, Russell...
First Call: Christian McCaffrey’s ‘former teammate’ slip about Brandon Aiyuk; former Steeler DL has new AFC homeVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers fans may want to take note of something Christian McCaffrey said about 49ers teammate Brandon Aiyuk. Fantasy football players may want to take note of some injury news for McCaffrey. Plus, there is some clarity about the passing of former Steeler Jacoby Jones. And Ex-Steeler Jonathan Marshall has...
First Call: Steelers to see 1st-team offense from Texans Friday; Pirates get stiff test in series opener vs. Padres
The Steelers will get a strong challenge at Acrisure Stadium in Friday’s preseason opener, and the Pirates will get one on the mound Tuesday night. Also, a Steelers division rival is dealing with an injury issue along the defensive front, and a former Steeler loses out on a shot to...
Pirates’ Colin Holderman on ‘weird’ struggles: ‘I haven’t had this happen to me in my career’
Not only are things going badly for Pirates relief pitcher Colin Holderman, he’s also not completely sure what’s going on, or how to fix it. As recently as June 29, Holderman was 3-1 with a 1.21 ERA. After being tagged with a blown save and a loss while giving up...
Tim Benz: If Brandon Aiyuk really wants to become a Steeler, now is the time to play that card
If San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk really wants to play for Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s got the rarest of opportunities to do so. Right now. Aiyuk is in the unique position of essentially being a free agent while under contract with his original team. Normally, the...
First Call: Steelers working out a WR; No. 3 QB pushing Kenny Pickett in Philly; Brandon Aiyuk trade talk in Cleveland, New EnglandVideo
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at a wide receiver the Pittsburgh Steelers are checking out. A few teams may be in a better position for a Brandon Aiyuk trade than the Steelers are at this point. We examine Kenny Pickett’s progress (or lack thereof) in Philadelphia. And Gerrit Cole...
Madden Monday: Expect a Sidney Crosby contract soon — but if it doesn’t happen this week ‘we can start wondering’
Many National Hockey League observers assume that Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will sign his contract extension this week. After all, the notoriously superstitious No. 87 has his 37th birthday coming up on Aug. 7 (8/7). During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes had ‘one of those days’ … as did many other Pirates in a costly loss to Arizona
Paul Skenes’ latest outing was his least impressive since his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs on May 11. That day, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation yielded three earned runs in four innings while allowing six hits, a hit batter and two walks. On Sunday against Arizona, Skenes struggled...
