Tim Benz stories, Page 64
Steelers’ Dan Moore still preparing for Nick Bosa regardless of holdout
Of all the people in Pittsburgh who have been feverishly tracking news out of San Francisco about Nick Bosa’s contract, you’d figure that Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore would be No. 1 on that list. Bosa is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year after an 18.5-sack season. But the...
First Call: George Kittle’s status in question vs. Steelers; JuJu Smith-Schuster quells concerns about knee injury
Tuesday’s “First Call” has more news about some star San Francisco players who may be out for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Also, JuJu Smith-Schuster responds to reports about his knee problems, an ex-Steeler is in some hot water legally, and a Duquesne football player receives an NEC honor. Kittle...
Madden Monday: While predicting Steelers’ season, don’t overlook other teams’ strengths
Before you make a bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season-win total, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE has some advice. First of all, even if the Steelers look much improved from last year — and they do — that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll have a huge jump in...
Friday Football Footnotes: Kevin Dotson on trade to Rams; ex-Steelers kicker signs with 49ers; Joe Burrow update
The Pittsburgh Steelers open the season next weekend. It’s a game weekend in college football for Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia. And there’s news all over the NFL about ex-Steelers and upcoming opponents for the team. So let’s dive in with our inaugural “Friday Football Footnotes” post for 2023....
First Call: 49ers insist Nick Bosa won’t be traded; Arthur Maulet has Steelers games ‘circled’
Friday’s “First Call” has the latest on Nick Bosa’s contract drama as the Pittsburgh Steelers get ready to play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Former Steeler Kendrick Green may have a quick reunion with his Pittsburgh teammates. Another ex-Steeler, Arthur Maulet, is still touchy about his former team....
Tim Benz: Steelers have used lull ahead of the season to pull off upsets before — time to do it again in 2023
With the notable exception of an 11-0 start in 2020, many recent editions of the Pittsburgh Steelers have needed to scramble late in the year because of rotten starts to seasons. Over the past decade, Mike Tomlin’s teams have had a nasty habit of putting themselves in playoff peril even...
First Call: Steelers minority ownership shuffling; scouting report on CB Desmond King II
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look at Desmond King II, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest addition to the cornerback unit. We also have some news about the franchise on the ownership front. A former Pitt tight end has a new home. And Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson proves how tough of...
Tim Benz: Nick Caserio defends Kendrick Green trade, takes jab at Ben Roethlisberger
Former Steelers offensive lineman Kendrick Green had a really rough go of it during his three years in Pittsburgh. Forced into service prematurely as a rookie starting center in 2021, Green struggled badly to learn the position on the NFL level after playing a lot of guard at Illinois. To...
U mad, bro?: Steelers’ roster cuts; Pirates’ haircuts; Guns N’ Roses at PNC Park
Not to go all Dennis Eckersley on you fine folks, but this week’s “U mad, bro?” is kind of a hodgepodge of nothingness. We’ve got a nutty trade idea for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a worse roster suggestion for the Steelers, a complaint about the Pirates’ hairstyles, and a reference to...
First Call: How Steelers rookies influenced roster cuts; former rival offers advice; predictions for Calvin Austin, Joey Porter Jr.
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some advice for young Pittsburgh Steelers from a former rival of the club. A number of ex-Steelers and Pitt Panthers didn’t survive NFL cutdown day. And we look at how the success of the Steelers draft class ended up influencing the depth chart. Betting on Benton...
AT&T SportsNet changing ownership ‘doesn’t look great’ for Pirates
When word came out that Fenway Sports Group, ownership of the Pittsburgh Penguins, purchased regional Pittsburgh sports channel AT&T SportsNet, three questions went through my mind. • What does this mean for the average Pittsburgh area sports viewer? • What does this mean for the Penguins? • What does this...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey coaches happy to have the coaching ‘stomach acid’ back
Starting this week, Robert Morris hockey coaches Derek Schooley and Logan Bittle are taking on a significant job change. They are actually coaching again. Instructing players. A full team. On the ice. Getting ready for a real season. For the first time in two years. “It’s just a super exciting...
Aaron Donald likely won’t retire with Steelers, in case you ever thought he might
Los Angeles Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald apparently has no intention of returning to his hometown of Pittsburgh and retiring as a Steeler. For anyone who was truly wondering if that was a possibility. “Football Morning in America’s” Peter King broached that topic in his weekly post on Monday...
First Call: Mike Tomlin’s spot among coaches in AP poll; Josh Dobbs’ chances of starting in Arizona
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and his place among other NFL coaches. We also take a look at Josh Dobbs’ chances of becoming a starter in Arizona. And we have some wild stats about Johan Oviedo’s complete game win for the Pirates in Kansas City on...
Tim Benz: ‘We played Wiffle Ball almost every day … When you were pitching, you were Teke’
A young baseball player in the 1970s, John Wehner grew up in Pittsburgh as a massive fan of the Pirates and their 1979 World Series championship team. Now a broadcaster for the Pirates after wearing the uniform himself for nine years, those memories have not faded for the Carrick High...
First Call: ESPN projections for Steelers’ playoff chances; ex-Steeler already trade bait?
Monday’s “First Call” pins a percentage on the Steelers’ playoff chances. A former Steeler may be on the way out with his new team. The Pirates are about to battle one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball, and Robert Morris’ hockey teams are officially back at practice for...
Madden Monday: ‘There’s just not anything to dislike’ about Kenny Pickett’s preseason for Steelers
After a 3-0 preseason for the Steelers, many in Pittsburgh are bumping up their 2023 win total predictions by multiple games. Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X has a more conservative approach. “I might be coerced into 10-7 instead of 9-8. But, for me, there’s still plenty of...
Tim Benz: Reestablishing ‘the standard’ for ascending Steelers — and let’s remember it all the way through January
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers are giddy in anticipation of the opening game for the 2023 season on Sept. 10. Based on how the preseason went, they should be. Not only did the club win all three of its games, but the first-team offense sparkled under the direction of the...
First Call: Ex-Steelers QB could start in Arizona; pricey Roberto Clemente bat auction; Aaron Donald’s new ring trend
Friday’s “First Call” sees a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback on the move. John Lynch’s real opinions on the Nick Bosa situation may be shining through in San Francisco. A piece of Roberto Clemente memorabilia is up for auction. And Penn Hills product Aaron Donald may have started a very unique...
Feats of Strength: Perfect Pickett delivers unbeaten preseason
I’m not going to be the one to remind you that the Steelers went 3-0 in the preseason last year, too, and missed the playoffs. Wait, I did that already. This feels different, though, doesn’t it? The Steelers sparkled in all areas, sweeping through their three-game preseason. It culminated with...
Tim Benz: Fantasy football tips, Steelers projections, as draft season is upon us
The Steelers and the rest of the NFL are wrapping up the preseason this weekend. That means it’s fantasy football draft time. My team, “Hodgepodge of Nothingness” (thanks for the inspiration, Dennis Eckersley), won my league last year. I could offer you some advice. Or I could offer you the...
First Call: 49ers reveal QB depth chart for opener vs. Steelers; new ACC expansion talk; will McCutchen hit 300th vs. Cubs?
Thursday’s “First Call” gets the full breakdown of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback depth chart as they prepare for the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have the network broadcast team for that game, and a little Steelers-Niners history from an opening-day perspective. Plus, we examine the latest...
U mad, bro?: Steelers preseason hype, RB1 debates, SMU in the ACC and lanternflies
There is only one thing that has truly made me mad this week. Lanternflies. Gawd, do I hate those things! I feel like I’m in the Battle of Stirling scene from “Braveheart.” “We’re outnumbered … at least three to one!” Watch the video I posted of the war zone that...
Pumped-up Steelers optimism not yet impacting gambling lines
Two strong preseason results and a training camp free of injuries to star players has yielded wild optimism about the Steelers within the team’s fanbase. On Monday, I was listening to our colleague Mark Madden on his talk show on 105.9 The X. He was taking numerous calls from fans...
First Call: 49ers sign ex-Steeler in advance of opener; Antonio Brown in trouble yet again
The San Francisco 49ers don’t have Nick Bosa in the fold yet, but they do have a pretty good resource for information on the Steelers. Antonio Brown is in hot water again, and the Steelers may be on their way to tackling the NFL’s next marketing genius. All that in...
