First Call: Goalie fight in NHL outdoor game; Pitt’s Alex Van Pelt lands new coaching job
Monday’s “First Call” sees a familiar Pittsburgh name getting a coaching job in the NFL. But it’s not on the Steelers staff under Mike McCarthy. There was a goalie fight in Tampa Bay’s Stadium Series game against Boston. Former Penguin Colby Armstrong sees his longtime NHL record tumble. And the...
Tim Benz: Does it really matter that Mike McCarthy is from Pittsburgh? Right now it does. Check back in September
Ever since Greenfield native Mike McCarthy got hired as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the question has been asked: “How much does it really matter that he is from Pittsburgh?” Right now it does. Based on the initial reaction when McCarthy was named as Mike Tomlin’s replacement, the...
Madden Monday: If Mike McCarthy thinks the Steelers’ defense is top 5 worthy, he’s in for a rude awakening
During his first press conference as Pittsburgh Steelers coach, Mike McCarthy admitted something noteworthy. “I’ve been a head coach for 18 years. I’ve had one top 5 defense,” McCarthy said of his 2010 team. “We won the Super Bowl that year.” The implication seemed to be that there was enough...
Tim Benz: Dan Muse shrugs off ‘surprise’ of some Penguins depth scoring
I guess Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse saw this output coming from Connor Dewar. A career high 13 goals … before Super Bowl Sunday. “He’s a really good hockey player. He plays the right way,” Muse said Thursday night. “For me, it’s not surprising.” It sounds like Muse also had...
First Call: Andy Weidl passed over for Falcons job; an Aaron Rodgers favorite reportedly en route to Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers is a big fan of someone who is in line to join the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new coaching staff. Andy Weidl won’t be moving on to Atlanta. Mike Sullivan makes a return to PPG Paints Arena, as Archie Miller makes a return to Pittsburgh. And it’s a huge weekend...
Football Footnotes: Mike McCarthy on calling plays, the 3-4 defense, WRs and more
Tuesday’s press conference to introduce Mike McCarthy as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new head coach generated two main topics for discussion. 1. His statement that he’d be interested in Aaron Rodgers returning as the team’s quarterback. 2. How much he loves Pittsburgh. I’m pretty sure you can guess which one of...
First Call: Competition for potential Steelers OC; LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier’s interest in playing for Mike McCarthy
“First Call” for Thursday has an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator search. A quarterback draft candidate has an interest in Pittsburgh’s new head coach. The Penguins return home. And we compare Pitt’s recent attendance restrictions at Acrisure Stadium with other moves by ACC schools. Shopping in the same...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are angry over the hiring of Mike McCarthy, media coverage of the hire — or both
Everybody in Pittsburgh has been in a snit over one big topic all week. Snow removal. That’s right. I’m right there with you. I live on the North Side, and I haven’t seen a single snowplow since at leas…. … OH! Oh, that other thing. The Steelers’ new head coach....
30 after 30: After 3 decades, Larry Brown recalls how his ‘scissorhands’ sliced the Steelers’ Super Bowl XXX dreams
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Larry Brown was so bad at catching footballs as a rookie, his teammates called him “Edward Scissorhands.” “Emmitt Smith gave me that name,” Brown said through a chuckle from his home in Texas last week. “They throw that ball very hard. I think people underestimate the...
First Call: Offensive coordinator prospect emerges for Mike McCarthy’s staff, ex-Steeler in defensive coordinator mix
Wednesday’s “First Call” has names to watch for both of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ open coordinator positions. We also look at a busy night of local college basketball for both Robert Morris and Duquesne. Plus, RMU’s hockey team gets some well-earned recognition after an important series sweep over the weekend. Looking...
Tim Benz: Mike McCarthy’s first step with Steelers shouldn’t be backward with Aaron RodgersVideo
Many in Pittsburgh have been critical of the Steelers’ process en route to hiring Mike McCarthy as the new coach of the franchise. A seemingly rushed decision to give McCarthy the job prevented the front office from conducting in-person interviews with any of the candidates employed by teams that were...
First Call: Teryl Austin misses out on Washington job; another Steelers assistant interviews in Dallas
A former Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach is eyeing a new NFC East job, while another is still hunting for an opportunity. A Steelers player is pulling out of the Pro Bowl. His replacement is ironic. And the Pitt basketball team is trying to get back on the winning track. All...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s comments about Mike McCarthy are revealing in spots, frustrating in others
Before Mike McCarthy speaks for the first time as Pittsburgh Steelers coach on Tuesday afternoon, we really need to go over some of the things team president Art Rooney II said about him over the weekend. Instead of just a quick comment in a press release, Steelers.com posted a full...
Madden Monday: Some quiet, underlying reasons why Mike McCarthy got hired
On the topic of the Pittsburgh Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy to be their new head coach, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X shared an opinion similar to one that I advanced on Sunday. The gripe is more about the process than the person. “I don’t get why they...
First Call: Mike McCarthy ‘very intrigued’ by Will Howard; predictions for Steelers’ coaching staff hires
Monday’s “First Call” has Bill Cowher’s endorsement of Mike McCarthy being hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers new head coach. Will Howard appears to be an early favorite of McCarthy on the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart. There are rumblings about who might round out McCarthy’s coaching staff. And the Cleveland Browns...
Tim Benz: Hiring Mike McCarthy a tone-deaf, uninspired move by Steelers
The Steelers’ decision to hire Mike McCarthy as the franchise’s new head coach is every bit as uninspired as it is tone-deaf. Those are two of the nicest phrases I can use to describe it. Owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan couldn’t have waited until after Sunday’s...
