Tim Benz stories, Page 49
Madden Monday: Steelers ‘did themselves a favor’ by trading Kenny Pickett to Philadelphia
The Steelers have been criticized at times for simply releasing or trading players who were pouty and didn’t want to be in Pittsburgh anymore. Specifically, guys like Melvin Ingram, James Harrison and LeGarrette Blount weren’t happy with their roles and just wanted out of town. The same could potentially be...
First Call: Steelers have interest in veteran receiver; Kenny Pickett posts farewell to Pittsburgh
Monday’s “First Call” features Kenny Pickett’s farewell to Pittsburgh. Jerome Bettis’ son has made his college football destination known. It looks like the Steelers want to add another veteran wide receiver. Jake Guentzel has scored his first goal for the Carolina Hurricanes. And Duquesne had a rough trip back to...
Tim Benz: Selection Sunday results are an ultimate contrast for Duquesne and Pitt
Duquesne freshman Jakub Necas slipped behind his school’s Atlantic 10 championship backdrop away from the rest of his celebrating team and sat down in a bed of confetti on the Barclays Center floor. The 20-year-old hung up the FaceTime call with his parents back home in the Czech Republic, bowed...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett trade shows Steelers’ trust in Russell Wilson … and why we should never trust what they say
On Feb. 29, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said he has “full faith” in Kenny Pickett. Steelers GM Omar Khan says he has "full faith" in Kenny Pickett pic.twitter.com/p3Ooefacoi— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) February 29, 2024 Now it’s March 15, and last year’s starting quarterback is a Philadelphia Eagle. If...
A Yinzer list of suspects in the Jaromir Jagr bobblehead heist
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ stolen Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, the No. 1 suspect in the case has already claimed responsibility. pic.twitter.com/URnlHouZIu— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) March 14, 2024 However, that just seems too obvious. The Flyers already stole the real Jagr once in 2011. Do they really need to...
First Call: Devin Bush back in AFC North; other AFC teams battling Steelers for Tyler Boyd
Friday’s “First Call” features a new home for ex-Steeler Devin Bush, the prospect of Tyler Boyd returning to Pittsburgh, Jake Guentzel’s first point in Carolina, and a pair of huge wins for Pitt and Duquesne. See you soon Devin Bush is coming back to the AFC North. The ex-Steelers linebacker...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas’ comment about Mike Sullivan may be more revealing than he realizes
The Steelers’ signing of quarterback Russell Wilson seems to have made a lot of folks in Pittsburgh very happy. Perhaps the two people who are the most excited about it are Penguins coach Mike Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas. Because with everyone talking about Wilson coming to Pittsburgh,...
First Call: Steelers advance rule change idea; Armon Watts now a Patriot
Thursday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman defecting to the New England Patriots. The Steelers are making a rules change proposal. A former Pitt star is returning to a familiar NFL destination. And an AFC North rival is trying to wedge his way out of town. No Wattage...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans love the Russell Wilson signing (and hate me because I don’t love it as much as they do)
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers signing quarterback Russell Wilson, two things are clear: • Almost everybody in Pittsburgh seems to love it. • Almost everybody in Pittsburgh seems to hate me because I don’t love it as much as all of they do. It’s not like I’m opposed...
Tim Benz: Diontae Johnson trade reconfigures Steelers’ priorities
The trade of wide receiver Diontae Johnson has refocused the list of needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out of the first wave of free agency. Like many Steelers fans, I was fixated on the center position because last year’s starter, Mason Cole, was let go in advance of free...
First Call: Ravens CB hurt by Patrick Queen’s exit for Pittsburgh; Steelers visit top center in NFL Draft
Wednesday’s “First Call” features Baltimore’s reaction to Patrick Queen’s departure for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Patrick Peterson is angling for a return. The Steelers are looking at potentially the top center in the draft. And the Yankees are worried about Gerrit Cole’s arm. Ruffling Raven feathers Apparently Patrick Queen’s decision to...
Tim Benz: A 6-pack of reasons to love the Steelers’ signing of Patrick Queen
I certainly thought that there was a lot to like about Patrick Queen when he entered the league in 2020. There is still a lot to like now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly signed him away from the Baltimore Ravens four seasons later. Yes, even though the Steelers had...
Keith Dambrot hoping to ‘protect’ his Duquesne team from distractions about his future ahead of A-10 tournament play
There was nothing out of the ordinary about Saturday’s postgame press conference for Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot. It was a pretty basic Q&A about the events that led to his team’s 67-65 win over George Washington. But by the end of the press conference, Dambrot did seem a bit...
First Call: Cam Heyward stumped for Russell Wilson signing; Steelers checking out Top 10 draft tackle
Tuesday’s “First Call” clues us in as to who was pushing to get Russell Wilson signed in Pittsburgh. The former Denver Broncos quarterback was angling for a wrinkle in his contract that he couldn’t get. The Steelers are hunting for tackle prospects in the draft but are missing out on...
Tim Benz: Russell Wilson is better than Kenny Pickett. But is he good enough to win in the playoffs?
Upon further review, I made a mistake in how I interacted with many Pittsburgh Steelers fans online in the wake of the team signing former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday night. I repeatedly said that he’ll probably — probably — be a better option this year than Kenny...
Conflicting reports about Mason Rudolph staying with Steelers despite Russell Wilson’s arrival
More Mason Rudolph with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024? I’m not quite sure how or why Rudolph would want to do this, but at least one report is suggesting that he may want to come back to Pittsburgh even if both Russell Wilson and Kenny Pickett are on the Steelers...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ tailspin provides familiar look at an unfamiliar time of year
Watching the Pittsburgh Penguins in March this year has been like watching the Pirates in August most years. They are bad. They are out of it. And they are playing like they know it. What’s next at PPG Paints Arena? It’s probably too dangerous to shoot off Zambelli fireworks displays...
First Call: Former Bronco rips Russell Wilson, praises his fit in Pittsburgh; rumored Steelers’ DL free agent target retires
Monday’s “First Call” has a scathing review of quarterback Russell Wilson. He reportedly agreed to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night. The trade market is soft for Bears quarterback Justin Fields. A potential veteran addition along the Steelers defensive line is off the table. And we look at the...
Madden Monday: Steelers had a better option at QB than Russell Wilson
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly signing former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE said that the organization should have gone in a different direction. “They should be getting Kirk Cousins right now,” Madden said. “If you get...
Tim Benz: Jake Guentzel trade, Steelers’ QB quandary shine light on difficult Pittsburgh sports reality
Jake Guentzel was traded away from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. In return, general manager Kyle Dubas got one established NHL forward in Michael Bunting. The rest of the return was three prospects (Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev and Cruz Lucius) and conditional first-round...
Keith Dambrot noncommittal on future as Duquesne enters home finale
As the Duquesne basketball team prepares for its regular-season finale against George Washington on Saturday, head coach Keith Dambrot is not yet ready to say if it will be his last home game as the leader of the Dukes’ program. Dambrot is 65 years old and has won 523 NCAA...
First Call: Details from Jake Guentzel’s trade; Mitch Trubisky discusses leaving Pittsburgh; Chuks Okorafor’s new team
In Friday’s “First Call,” we have some fallout on the Jake Guentzel trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Carolina Hurricanes. We also have comments from Mitch Trubisky on his departure from Pittsburgh, news of Kevin Dotson’s whopper of a new contract in Los Angeles, and details of Chuks Okorafor’s...
U mad, bro?: Readers are fed up with the Penguins, but starting to stick up for the Steelers
When it comes to fan reaction to the Steelers and Penguins, just by the tone, you can always tell which team is in season and struggling versus which is in the offseason and preparing to reboot. Based on the feedback I’m getting, hockey fans are fed up with the Pens...
Tim Benz: Steelers coaches can be upset about criticism of Kenny Pickett, but be aware of who is being critical
Based on what NFL on CBS reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala said on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday, the Steelers coaching staff is taking all the criticism of Kenny Pickett to heart. “There was a lot of chatter at the Combine doubting Kenny Pickett,” Kinkhabwala told hosts Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller. “And,...
First Call: A team that may be in the lead for Jake Guentzel; Mitch Trubisky signs elsewhere; ex-Pitt Panther released
We begin Thursday’s “First Call” the same way we ended Wednesday night. That’s waiting for the Penguins to trade Jake Guentzel. At least there is an update on that front. We get into some recent struggles for Sidney Crosby. Mitch Trubisky has a new home. A former Pitt Panther is...
