Tim Benz stories, Page 87

It’s not like the boos were raining down from Acrisure Stadium when Mason Rudolph was introduced as the second quarterback during the Steelers preseason opener Saturday night. It was more of a grumbling murmur. A disgruntled undercurrent. Whatever you wanted to call it, it got louder when Rudolph took his...

Friday’s “First Call” has competition for the legendary Honus Wagner baseball card. Saquon Barkley is trying to find his 2018 form. Significant injury news in the NHL. A former Penguin has a new place to play. And the Pirates look to get back on track in San Francisco. Step aside...

This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” has an update on Cleveland’s plans at quarterback if Deshaun Watson’s suspension becomes longer. Malik Willis had some highlights in his NFL preseason debut with the Tennessee Titans. The NFL finally does something right in terms of quarterback contact. And Antonio Brown actually did something...

I’ve been sitting on tickets for the Stadium Tour concert at PNC Park since it was announced in December 2019. Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard and Joan Jett? C’mon! It’s the 1980s and ‘90s soundtrack of my youth. Of course, I’m going. But it’s been delayed twice because of coronavirus....

When former Pittsburgh Steeler Kordell Stewart thinks back to training camp at Saint Vincent College, one word comes to mind. “Hot,” exclaimed Stewart during a phone call Wednesday. “Slash” joined me for Thursday’s Bella Construction “Letters from Camp” podcast to discuss a broadcast venture of his own. Stewart is launching...

You might think that by this point, Pittsburgh Steelers fans would get over their angst surrounding the Heinz Field name change, the Guardian Caps on NFL helmets and Diontae Johnson’s contract. You might think that. You’d be wrong. Way wrong. That’s to say nothing of their opinions surrounding the NFL...

Thursday’s “First Call” wonders if the Pittsburgh Steelers can land Chicago Bears star Roquan Smith in a trade. If they can’t, who will? Also, a former Pirate is shining for his new team. A former Penguin is now a college coach. And a former Steeler may not be able to...

Diontae Johnson’s time with the Pittsburgh Steelers doesn’t have to end when his new contract extension expires following the 2024 season. At least that appears to be the sentiment of the team’s general manager Omar Khan. Last week, Johnson signed a two-year, $36.7 million extension, which gave him a $17...

Wednesday’s “First Call” finds out which Seattle Seahawks quarterback will start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The Jordan Addison transfer is getting more attention. The Browns lost a player thanks to a long-term injury. And we have some hockey news that could drive Penguins fans bonkers. Smith versus Steelers...

If there is a reason to predict optimism about the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line in 2022, it can be boiled down to the simple explanation of, “Well, it can’t be any worse than last year. So I guess it has to be better.” Based on some of the stats from...

A new Steeler provides a highlight at training camp. An IUP player is on the Steelers’ radar. The Baltimore Ravens are already dealing with an injury concern. And Justin Tucker is by himself as the NFL’s highest paid kicker again. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” The new ‘Bus’? Credit...

Post-practice media interviews at Steelers training camp certainly aren’t Mike Tomlin’s favorite part of the day. But after Monday’s workout at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, an ear-to-ear grin slowly crept across Tomlin’s face when he realized one of the questions was about Larry Ogunjobi’s debut. “It didn’t take long for his...

Monday’s “First Call” shows the Pittsburgh Steelers are still attempting to strengthen depth at running back. Some interesting tinkering with the NFL rule book is taking place. And a former Pirates pitcher continues to dominate in the National League West. A little help? The Steelers are still looking to get...

The Pittsburgh Steelers play their first preseason game in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era on Saturday. So far in training camp, the three quarterbacks competing to replace him have done little to inspire much confidence about what the offense will look like in his absence. Not like it looked all that...

Looking at the list of inaugural Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame inductees, my immediate thought was that the decision makers involved got one important name right, one omission glaringly wrong, and there is one debate that could get harder to reconcile the longer the player in question stays out. In...

“Friday Football Footnotes” this week looks at how Ben Roethlisberger’s name is getting dragged into the suspension wrangling of Deshaun Watson. J.K. Dobbins and Saquon Barkley are looking to make big comebacks in 2022. And there are legal problems in Arizona. Watson’s ‘whataboutism’ Apparently, Deshaun Watson’s legal camp is going...

A former NFL star at running back has a favorable view of Steelers’ 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris. Jose Quintana was great in his first start after leaving the Pirates. Another ex-Pirate, Joe Musgrove, is going through tougher times. And a former Penguin is getting a coaching job. All that...

The Steelers’ new contract with wide receiver Diontae Johnson sums up that old adage from business negotiations. A fair deal for both sides probably means that neither side is completely happy with the contract that has been signed. I don’t think that always has to be true. Look at Sidney...

Maybe Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has a different definition of “urgent” than I do. Or the Oxford dictionary does. “Urgent: showing that you think that something needs to be dealt with immediately.” On Tuesday, after the MLB trade deadline passed, Cherington described the Pirates’ action of keeping outfielder Bryan...

In Thursday’s “First Call,” members of the Steel Curtain have been snubbed by ESPN. The Steelers are being connected to an offensive tackle who is potentially getting traded. Ex-Pirate Josh Bell played his first game with his new team. And Gerrit Cole suffers through an unbelievable first inning in Yankee...

The Steelers have a wide receiver staging a “hold-in.” The Pirates just traded their best pitcher and recently endured a seven-game losing streak. And the NFL is making their players wear weird safety cushions on their helmets. Oh, also, you may not have heard about this one. It may have...

During the first week of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, I asked head coach Mike Tomlin about tight end Zach Gentry and the prospect of his development leading to the usage of more two-tight end packages. “We’ve been in that mode,” Tomlin replied. Looking at the numbers, that appears to be...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has an honor for a legendary former Pittsburgh Steeler. We know when Jose Quintana is making his St. Louis Cardinals debut. Jameson Taillon had a rough outing for the Yankees. And what will James Washington’s injury mean for the Cowboys? The GOAT at center ESPN.com revealed a...

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan made his feelings about Diontae Johnson abundantly clear Tuesday. He wants him on the team. This year and moving forward. One thing Khan didn’t make quite as obvious is that he wants Johnson to stay at the franchise’s preferred salary. Not the vastly expanding...

The Steelers may have an interest in a former Pittsburgh Mauler. An ex-Steeler suffers a significant injury setback in Dallas. Another one is heading to Arizona. Ex-Pirate Josh Bell was traded. And a former Robert Morris hockey player is on the move. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Pittsburgh(ish) connection...