Tim Benz stories, Page 74
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...
Tim Benz: Pirates need bounce-back effort against Toronto after big thud in Tampa
You can call the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three-game series in Tampa whatever you want. A reality check. A step back. A wake-up call. A litmus test. However you want to phrase it, one thing is definitely true: It was a giant disappointment. The Pirates were swept by the Rays in their...
First Call: XFL TD reception leader to join Steelers’ rookie camp; ex-Steeler with blunt words for Devin White
Thursday’s “First Call” introduces us to a new pass catching target with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the XFL. General manager Omar Khan reveals some details about trade discussions for the second-round pick that ended up being used on Joey Porter Jr. A former Steeler has little sympathy for one...
NFL GM on Steelers-Patriots trade: ‘Belichick did it just to (expletive) the Jets’
The “did they or didn’t they” saga surrounding the Steelers-Patriots trade during Round 1 of the NFL Draft took a few more turns Wednesday. Like many nationally, I assumed that Patriots coach Bill Belichick took particular joy in greenlighting a trade with the Steelers to move back from No. 14...
U mad, bro?: Fans agitated over too much early Pirates hype, too much heat on Mike Sullivan, too many dirty NHL hits
OK, so maybe we took the Steelers’ draft-night conspiracies a little far. I don’t think so. But some of you do. Maybe, just maybe, we started talking up the Pirates too much before the Rays stomped them down. And perhaps the NHL playoffs have degenerated into “West Side Story” gang...
Tim Benz: Challenge gets tougher for Pirates in Game 2 with Rays
It was a bad night for the Pittsburgh Pirates to endure a few bad breaks. A lot has gone right for manager Derek Shelton’s team in 2023. But that wasn’t the case Tuesday in Tampa Bay. The Pirates lost Game 1 of their much anticipated three-game showdown against the American...
Antonio Brown’s National Arena League team ‘in chaos’: nonpayment for players, coaching changes, team bus incident
Not long ago, we told you that former Steeler Antonio Brown was being sued by a celebrity jeweler over issues of non-payment. A former live-in chef once made a similar claim. He’s also allegedly failed to pay doctors, trainers and artists. So should we be surprised that the players on...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr. picks jersey number with history in mind; ESPN praises late-round Steelers draft choice
Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick Joey Porter Jr. has a sense of tradition with his choice of jersey number. Meanwhile, one of his fellow draft class members is getting some props in the national media. Also, an ex-Pirate assists his old team. There’s some news on the NFL television front. And...
Tim Benz: NHL dealing with fallout from wild Round 1 upsets
We’re heading to the second round of the NHL playoffs, and I have two questions. 1. Is Florida Atlantic’s goaltending good enough to hold up against the Toronto Maple Leafs? 2. Are Fairleigh Dickson’s second and third lines deep enough to handle the Dallas Stars? Because the NHL postseason is...
Pirates vs. Rays: The series we all predicted could be a World Series preview
It’s the interleague showdown everyone around Major League Baseball has been eagerly anticipating since … well … maybe the third week of April. Sure, Pittsburgh Pirates versus Tampa Bay Rays in Florida starting Tuesday probably wasn’t circled on a lot of calendars to start the season. It’s getting lots of...
First Call: Ex-Pitt, Duquesne players earn shot with Steelers; any truth to Patriots-Jets subplot before Broderick Jones pick?
Tuesday’s “First Call” gives us players from Pitt and Duquesne who will have rookie minicamp tryouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We get a little intel on that Steelers-Patriots trade in Round 1 of last week’s draft. A former Steeler decides to revisit the coaching path. And a high grade for...
First Call: National outlet gives Steelers highest NFL draft grade; flying prank mocks Penguins’ ownership in England
Monday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers star-studded night at the Luke Combs concert. The Steelers won the NFL Draft according to one national outlet. It looks like we have a schedule-release date from the NFL. Fenway Sports Group got called out during a Liverpool game. The Pirates and Rays...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ draft class should prove versatile
If there is one trend to notice about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft class, it’s versatility. Multiple guys who can do multiple things. The top two picks are pretty clear-cut. Broderick Jones is going to play tackle. Which side? That’s to be seen. He could play either side. But the easiest...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ draft ‘filled need, after need’; Penguins’ GM search off to slow start
When it comes to evaluating the NFL Draft, many who covered the event — locally and nationally — gave high marks to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their additions to the team. Speaking on this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X dished out some praise...
Tim Benz: Annual ‘What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft’ column has very different tone this year
My annual “What the Steelers didn’t get in the NFL Draft” column is going to take on a different tone this year. That’s because a quote from coach Mike Tomlin before the draft actually resonates more now than it did Monday. “We’ve been able to do some things in free...
Tim Benz: Slipping to Steelers in 2nd round will be a blessing in disguise for Joey Porter Jr.
New Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. might not see it like this right now. But the fact that he slipped to the second round is going to wind up being a blessing in disguise. For him and for the Steelers. C’mon. We all heard it. I admit it. I thought...
First Call: Examining AFC North draft picks; a look at the NHL goalie market for the Pens and Tristan Jarry
Friday’s “First Call” looks at what the other AFC North teams did in the NFL Draft after the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Broderick Jones. We also preview the Pirates next series, look at Gerrit Cole’s latest strong start and check in on the free agent goalie market in the NHL. Once...
In just 1 inning, the Pirates exemplified what MLB is going for with its new rules
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ agenda to be aggressive on the bases in 2023 has already been well chronicled. If you needed a clear example of how much that dedication to the run game is paying off, it crystalized in the first inning of the Pirates’ 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles...
Tim Benz: Broderick Jones is great for the Steelers. The trade to get him was even better
Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones is the guy I wanted the Pittsburgh Steelers to select in the first round. I wasn’t sure he’d still be on the board when the team was originally supposed to pick at No. 17, and I wasn’t sure that they’d be able to trade up...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr. on prospect of falling to Steelers — or beyond; 40 years since Steelers passed on Dan Marino
Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. seems to have the Pittsburgh Steelers in mind as a potential end to his NFL Draft wait Thursday night. Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of an infamous Steelers draft memory. The Pirates look to take a third straight series from the Los Angeles Dodgers. And...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans still frothing, Steelers fans show little faith ahead of the draft
The Pittsburgh Pirates really must be playing well. A month into the season and not even a mention in this week’s “U mad, bro?” If you just read that after waking up from a month-long nap, you must then assume that the Buccos are in first place — or the...
ESPN reporter says this pass rusher ‘won’t make it past’ Steelers’ 1st-round draft pick
Want a late-to-the-party, out-of-nowhere prediction for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft pick? ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has one for you. Fowler, who now covers the NFL league-wide for ESPN after being on the Steelers beat for multiple years, told 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday that Georgia pass rusher Nolan Smith “won’t...
