Tim Benz stories, Page 72
First Call: T.J. Watt mocks himself with pool mishap video; Pens assistant up for head coaching gig
Friday’s “First Call” features Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt escaping a household injury in an amusing video. Plus, a former Steeler could land in a new city, and a Penguins assistant coach may be trying to move up. And Major League Baseball is getting the best out of its top...
Pirates need to get right as sneaky-good Arizona Diamondbacks slither into town
After the Pittsburgh Pirates won in Detroit 8-0 on Wednesday, there’s some hope that perhaps their bats are finally heating up. And right now, there may be no pitcher in baseball hotter than current Bucs ace Mitch Keller. Both trends will have to continue this weekend as the Pirates welcome...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh sports fans angry over present state of Penguins, past failures of teams, talk of future stadium plans
Pittsburgh sports fans are scarred over something that happened 30 years ago. They are already grumbling about something that may happen seven years in the future. And they are really ticked about some stuff happening right now. That’s the case in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Let’s start with a...
First Call: Antonio Brown plans to play for his arena team; praise for Steelers signing; interesting Pens nuggets in minorsVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has high praise for a Pittsburgh Steelers free agent signing. There are some changes of interest in the Steelers scouting department. Pirates prospect Henry Davis won’t cool down. We have some interesting notes from the Penguins seeping out from the farm club. And then there’s the story...
Tim Benz: Steelers rookies hope to prove they’re as versatile as scouting suggests
When looking at the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers draft class, versatility appears to be one of its biggest strengths. In theory, second-round pick Keeanu Benton (DL/Wisconsin) should be able to move up and down the defensive line of scrimmage, playing nose tackle or end. Third-round pick Darnell Washington (TE/Georgia) is expected...
First Call: Steelers sign XFL star WR; new home for Pat McAfee’s show
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some roster news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, the shenanigans between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays won’t stop. And the “Pat McAfee Show” is heading to a major network. Hello, Hak After the Steelers invited XFL receiving star Hakeem Butler to their rookie...
Tim Benz: If Kyle Dubas is sincere about his intentions, he may be saving himself — and the Penguins — a headache
If Kyle Dubas is sure that he doesn’t want to be an NHL general manager in another city besides Toronto, then the Penguins shouldn’t try to tempt him to Pittsburgh. I’ve heard some fans and media types speculate that Dubas is just negotiating, that he is downplaying any desire to...
Potential return of Mason Rudolph to Steelers makes sense for both sides — even if some refuse to see it
Back in February, I reported that Pittsburgh Steelers free agent quarterback Mason Rudolph would test the market but would also consider a return to the Steelers if the team decided to trade or release second-stringer Mitch Trubisky in advance of the draft. More than a few people told me I...
Le’Veon Bell wants to settle old scores with Vontaze Burfict in boxing ring
The career of former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell was altered by two big hits from former Cincinnati Bengals players. First, there was the blow that hyperextended his knee from safety Reggie Nelson at the end of the 2014 season that caused Bell to miss the playoffs. Then there was the...
First Call: J.J. Watt nixes talk of being a Steeler; team signs top XFL corner, considers former Pro Bowl LB
Tuesday’s “First Call” is loaded with Steelers nuggets, including J.J. Watt’s statement on the notion of him playing in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are also signing an XFL star cornerback, while considering a former Pro Bowl linebacker. Plus, there is more college realignment news, and Major League Baseball’s best were sparkling...
Former Pitt, WPIAL hoops star Cam Johnson using NBA platform, family motivation in Rush to Crush Cancer
While Cameron Johnson was starring in the WPIAL at Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Pitt basketball coach Jamie Dixon wanted to make an in-home recruiting visit shortly before Easter. The way Johnson’s aunt — Gina Caliguire — tells the story, her nephew was looking forward to the visit. But it...
Madden Monday: Not buying into New York rumors about Mike Sullivan going to Rangers
The New York Post’s Larry Brooks sent a tweet last week that kicked up speculation about the Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager search. And about the organization’s current head coach. Brooks says he has heard some scuttlebutt that the Penguins may try to hire Kyle Dubas as GM if he and...
First Call: Is Kyle Dubas now in play for Penguins’ GM search? Steelers allegedly sign rookie tryout RB
The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have added to their running back room. A former Steeler is trying to find a new home in the NFC South. The Pirates got as little help as they should’ve expected from the Kansas City Royals against the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend. A few Penguins...
Penguins reflect on 30 years after David Volek’s goal: ‘His name is scratched in my skull’
When former Pittsburgh Penguin Grant Jennings talks, his voice sounds like hockey. It’s a Western Canadian accent with a tough, low grumble to it. There’s a spirited gravel that sounds like it comes along with 14 professional years — and nearly 1,500 penalty minutes — at all levels of the...
30 years after on-ice collision, former Penguin Kevin Stevens relives that moment and his long comeback
Ask anyone associated with the 1993 Pittsburgh Penguins what they remember about the Patrick Division Final against the New York Islanders. Any player. Any coach. Any fan. Any vendor at the Civic Arena. The responses will be nearly universal. Overtime loss. Game 7. David Volek. 4-3. Strangely, though, the one...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans already turn sour from May slump; Penguins fans grumble about missing playoffs
The honeymoon appears to be over for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And for Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. And for football owner Antonio Brown. Pittsburgh sports fans chime in on all those topics and more in this week’s “U mad, bro?” We begin with “Frogger33” on Twitter. I was on WPXI’s “The...
First Call: Steelers suggested as landing spot for veteran linebacker; Joey Porter discusses Pittsburgh drafting son
Wednesday’s “First Call” takes us inside Joey Porter’s emotions as the Pittsburgh Steelers waited to draft his son. A familiar name is linked to the Steelers in free agency. And the team is giving the once-over to another XFL standout. In baseball, a former Pirate is struggling with his new...
Andy Weidl said ‘It takes a village to do a draft.’ Will it also take a village for Steelers to raise Kenny Pickett?
When Andy Weidl spoke to the Pittsburgh media last week, it was just the second time he had formally done so since becoming the Steelers assistant general manager a year ago. It happened once in training camp, about two months after he was hired. The second time was last Friday...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger asks Bill Cowher about ’04 draft; over-under odds for local college football teams
Tuesday’s “First Call” has quite a personal conversation about Pittsburgh Steelers history between Ben Roethlisberger and Bill Cowher. We have a positive report about one of the Steelers draft choices. The Brewers keep in line with the Pirates atop the NL Central. Duquesne is in the hunt for a big-conference...
For North Hills alum Margo Malone, personal loss inspired ‘an easy 26 miles’ en route to Pittsburgh Marathon win
For even the most competitive marathoners, some runs are far more challenging than others. Oftentimes it’s not the races. It’s the training. North Hills graduate Margo Malone can speak to that. A cross-country runner at Syracuse University from 2012-16, Malone remembers the early wake-up calls and brutal cold of the...
First Call: Steelers get an ‘A’ offseason grade; Omar Khan deflects knowledge of Jets’ draft plans before trade
Pittsburgh Steelers management is still downplaying any prearranged knowledge of how pick No. 14 would work out upon completion of their draft-night trade with the New England Patriots. The Steelers are getting high marks for that deal as well as the rest of their offseason. The Pittsburgh Passion honors Franco...
Madden Monday: On Steelers’ offseason, ‘people act like they have solved all of their problems — they haven’t’
A lot of praise is being thrown at the feet of the Pittsburgh Steelers for their offseason. By most accounts, their haul of draft choices was quite good. General manager Omar Khan appeared to do a solid job during his first run through NFL free agency by beefing up all...
Tim Benz: Pirates doing a lot to prove skeptics right; they better stop the trend this week
A week ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked like a team that could do no wrong. Now, for the Bucs, it’s a case of anything that can go wrong will go wrong. For as good as April was for the Pirates (ending the month 20-9), May has been every bit as...
Ex-Steeler Antonio Brown claims he doesn’t own Albany Empire — and that he’s a ‘foreign national’
If you read the details surrounding former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown’s chaotic ownership of his National Arena League football team, buckle up. Because that news was just scratching the surface. Earlier this week, details emerged that Brown’s franchise, the Albany Empire, was in a state of unrest after coaching changes,...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster explains when mutual interest with Bill Belichick began; an ex-Steeler OT not retiring yet
It’s an all-Steelers Friday “First Call” to wrap up the week. We start by getting new Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s take on when he thinks Bill Belichick started to notice him as a player. A former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman wants to make a comeback. We also see some unfortunate...
