Tim Benz stories, Page 46
Tim Benz: Steelers should address positional priority over bulk needs in draft
Apparently, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin feels properly hydrated heading into the start of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. “We’ve been very active in free agency,” Tomlin said Monday. “That makes you really comfortable as we lean in on draft weekend. We’ve addressed a lot of needs, and you...
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: QB class will impact Steelers even if they don’t take one
After replacing Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen, the Pittsburgh Steelers are unlikely to draft a quarterback of consequence in this weekend’s NFL Draft. However, this doesn’t mean the Steelers are immune from the impact of the quarterback draft market over...
First Call: Levi Wallace leaves in free agency; medical concern for potential Steelers draftee; bizarre MLB ejection
Tuesday’s “First Call” features news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. A potential Steelers draft target may have a medical concern. The Brandon Aiyuk trade conversation has more oxygen. And a Pittsburgh-area native was a star during a crazy day at Yankee Stadium. Losing Levi Cornerback Levi Wallace is...
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: Despite Steelers’ need at center, ‘anomaly’ of elite tackles may be too much to pass up
As we discussed in our NFL Draft preview podcast series with former pro and college scout Matt Williamson, the Pittsburgh Steelers have significant needs at defensive back and wide receiver. But in both cases, the truly top-notch players at those positions are likely to be gone by the time they...
Tim Benz: Pirates should give Jared Jones more pitches if he earns them
Russell Wilson’s first throwing attempt in Pittsburgh was a success. The new Steelers quarterback tossed out the first pitch at PNC Park on Friday night. The former minor league baseball player got a warm ovation as he delivered a strike from the top of the mound. Russell Wilson with a...
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: ‘Awesome’ receiver class awaits Steelers to address significant need
I was never the world’s biggest Diontae Johnson fan. But I still wasn’t wild about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent trade which shipped him off to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson. For all of Johnson’s inconsistencies, I still think he was a better receiver than Jackson is a corner. And, while...
First Call: Steelers may have 1st-round trade-down partner, if they want; another team fends off WR trade rumors
Monday’s “First Call” has a draft day trade idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers. More news on a potential Steelers trade target from the wide receiver talent pool. The Pirates may be facing the wrong team at the wrong time. And an ex-Pirates pitcher is mowing down the National League. Something...
Madden Monday: ‘Unprofessional, inexcusable’ moments that wrecked the Penguins’ season
When the Pittsburgh Penguins cleaned out their lockers Thursday after another failed attempt to make the NHL playoffs, forward Lars Eller was asked where this season went wrong. “I think we had some times during the season where we just got too low — emotionally and quality of play,” Eller...
Tim Benz: Penguins brass whistling a familiar tune when it comes to Tristan Jarry
Here’s a quick synopsis of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltending situation. Stop me if this sounds vaguely familiar to any other recent sports storyline in Pittsburgh. The Penguins invested a lot of faith in Tristan Jarry and positioned him as their goaltender of the future and the present. As the season...
First Call: Steelers QB Russell Wilson to throw out Pirates’ 1st pitch; watch Paul Skenes sparkle again in IndyVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is getting back to his baseball roots. Paul Skenes makes another minor league start. A local pitcher is tearing up the American League in Oakland, and we preview this weekend’s Pirates-Red Sox series at PNC Park. Russ is with us...
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: Front 7 fits and misses for Steelers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were truly elite at team-building, they could afford to spend high draft choices on front-seven defensive players who didn’t necessarily have to come in and start right away but could contribute and evolve into long-term defensive stalwarts. Particularly along the defensive line. Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt,...
Tim Benz: Penguins leave management with one last reality check to end 2023-24
I’ll give the Pittsburgh Penguins this. At least they’ve been consistent. Even in how they ended the 2023-24 season during a 5-4 loss on the road against the New York Islanders. One more blown lead. One more goal allowed just before the buzzer of a period. One more goal was...
Breakfast With Benz Steelers draft preview: Matt Williamson on defensive backs
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the NFL Draft (April 25-27), we are doing the same here at Breakfast With Benz. That means it’s time for our annual draft preview series with pro and college scout Matt Williamson. I’ve worked with Williamson for many years on Fox Sports Radio 970...
First Call: 49ers reportedly dismiss Steelers’ Brandon Aiyuk trade call; Marc-Andre Fleury discusses plan to play next yearVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us San Francisco’s reaction to a Steelers trade inquiry for Brandon Aiyuk. We also have an interesting note about a Steelers draft option. Pirates prospect Paul Skenes gets ready to pitch again in Indianapolis. And Marc-Andre Fleury explains his decision to come back for one more...
First Call: Was Steelers’ top draft choice in town?; another WR trade option could be emerging
Wednesday’s “First Call” takes a look at another potential trade candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the wide receiver position. The Steelers’ top prize in the draft may have been in their building Monday. We get an update on Brian Flores’ coaching situation, and we find out why Penn State’s...
U mad, bro?: Fan anxiety over Penguins’ playoff elimination; doubt about Steelers; pig wrestling
Since we are starting our “Breakfast With Benz” draft previews for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, we had to move up “U mad, bro?” to Wednesday this week. But given that the Penguins were eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, one day shorter on the calendar doesn’t mean we are any...
Tim Benz: Fitting end to playoff hopes as Penguins miss postseason without even playing
It’s only fitting that the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff hopes came to a sudden halt Tuesday, thanks, in part, to a blown third-period lead and an inability to win in overtime. It didn’t matter that — in this case — it wasn’t even the Penguins that blew the lead or lost...
Analytical look at new QBs suggests Steelers may be getting into an NBA approach to NFL offense
This month, the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County sent out a survey asking recent patrons of PPG Paints Arena if they would be interested in an NBA team (and/or a WNBA team) coming to Pittsburgh. I haven’t heard the results of the survey yet. But based...
First Call: 49ers staying out of Brandon Aiyuk trade talks; Steelers looking at CB with Pitt ties
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are keeping their eyes on some big-name NFL wide receivers dealing with contract issues. A former Pitt and WPIAL player is sticking with a Steelers rival in the AFC North. The cousin of a former Pitt standout is getting a look from the Steelers. And we try...
Tim Benz: It only took the Penguins 81 games to perfect a winning formula
For as often as the Pittsburgh Penguins have made life difficult for themselves this season, they earned more breathing room than they were given Monday night. Unfortunately for them, thanks to two first-period disallowed goals on weak goalie interference interpretations, the Pens were forced to sweat out another result. Unlike...
Tim Benz: Ending of Penguins’ point streak illustrates different standards for team’s goalies
Throughout the Pittsburgh Penguins’ recently concluded 10-game point streak with backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic in net, there was a different standard of evaluation for him as opposed to the franchise’s perceived No. 1 netminder, Tristan Jarry. Nedeljkovic backstopped the Pens to a 7-0-3 record in that span, largely by following...
First Call: As Steelers talk swirls, Brandon Aiyuk’s agent denies trade request story; Tee Higgins’ future in Cincy
Pittsburgh Steelers fans interested in their team acquiring Brandon Aiyuk or Tee Higgins at wide receiver won’t be thrilled at news coming out of San Francisco and Cincinnati. We also preview the Penguins’ game against Nashville and the Pirates’ trip to New York. All that in Monday’s “First Call.” San...
Madden Monday: Loss to Boston was ‘chickens coming home to roost’ for Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ recent charge back into playoff contention was fun and unexpected. But the reality check provided by their first loss without a point in three weeks has certainly exposed how wobbly that status truly was. By going 7-0-3 in their previous 10 games, the Penguins woke up Saturday...
Tim Benz: Penguins keep replaying the same game, and I keep replaying ‘Dumb and Dumber’
For a while on Thursday night, it looked like all the Penguins’ old bugaboos would bite them again, ruining a solid effort in a vital game against the Detroit Red Wings. • Giving away momentum as soon as they establish it: Twice in the first period, the Red Wings scored...
First Call: Potential AFC destination for Levi Wallace; Steelers’ draft preference reported; Penguins’ playoff pictureVideo
Friday’s “First Call” takes a look at a Steelers defensive back who could be heading to Denver. We have an interesting report about the Steelers’ draft strategy. It was an impactful night for the Penguins playoff chances. And a Pens prospect had another huge moment at the Frozen Four. Losing...
