Tim Benz Columns category, Page 12
First Call: George Pickens ‘excited to run better plays’ in Dallas; T.J. Watt on playoff failures being ‘attached to my name’Video
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an interesting quote from former Pittsburgh Steeler George Pickens in Dallas. T.J. Watt speaks in advance of training camp after making his new contract official. And the UFL is going through major changes. Tough to misinterpret George Pickens said something Tuesday that I’m sure will get...
Tim Benz: Going position by position to see if the Steelers will be better in 2025
As the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers report to training camp Wednesday, my preliminary belief is they won’t surpass last year’s record of 10-7. In fact, my initial prediction is that they’ll probably be 9-8, and this may even end up being the year they finish with a losing record for the...
Tim Benz: For Paul Skenes, playing the ‘stopper’ role means something a little different in Pittsburgh these days
After Paul Skenes’ six innings of shutout pitching Monday, Major League Baseball posted a photo of the Pittsburgh Pirates ace with a note about his 1.38 ERA over his past 13 starts. Whoever it was from MLB’s social media department that put the graphic together, I’m sure they were well-intended....
First Call: Pat McAfee to broadcast from Steelers training camp; what T.J. Watt’s contract may do for an AFC North rival
Tuesday’s “First Call” has broadcast information for Pat McAfee’s show at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. We also provide updates on two former Steelers, and we try to figure out if T.J. Watt’s extension has sparked a dialogue surrounding the contract of an AFC North rival. Falling in line Now that...
Madden Monday: As long as the Pirates have this ownership, ‘nothing can be fixed’
To start the second half of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates (39-61) were swept at home by the worst team in the American League. The Chicago White Sox (35-65) won all three games at PNC Park over the weekend by a combined score of 27-7. Here are some numbers to...
After a weekend’s worth of talk, cleaning up some leftovers from T.J. Watt’s new contract
After a weekend’s worth of discussion, analysis and social media chatter surrounding T.J. Watt’s new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, let’s address some of the bigger talking points. And let’s advance some different topics that should be investigated a little bit more. • After T.J. Watt signed his new $123...
Tim Benz: For 2025 Steelers, development of young core outweighs importance of veteran additions
For those who are hopeful about the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers ending the franchise’s current playoff-win drought at eight seasons, much of that optimism is centered around new components on the team. Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith and Kaleb Johnson have been added on offense. Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Brandin...
First Call: Ex-Steeler WR Mike Williams retires; Rowdy Tellez back in MLB
Friday’s “First Call” has developments surrounding two former Pittsburgh Steelers who joined the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. Former Pirate Rowdy Tellez is back in the big leagues. And a one-time Pitt Panther is trying to settle his off-the-field court case. Sudden decision After having to start the 2025 season...
As bad as it has been for the Pirates, the Chicago White Sox are forsaken
It’s bad being the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s worse being the Chicago White Sox. Yes, Yinzers, there are baseball fan bases that are dealing with tougher times than you. Well, a few anyway. The Colorado Rockies are 22-74. By comparison, the Pirates (39-58) have 17 more wins than the Rockies. Did...
Tim Benz: We’ve seen T.J. Watt win contract negotiations. Now let’s see him win a playoff game
T.J. Watt won in his contract negotiation with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also won in his battle to surpass at least some of Myles Garrett’s financial terms in Cleveland. Great. Now go win a playoff game. Yeah, yeah. I know. Playoff records are team results, not individual stats assigned to...
Tim Benz: With the Pirates, we’ll see Adam Frazier again — or at least someone that looks just like him
What do you think the Pittsburgh Pirates will get for Adam Frazier when they trade him a third time? We all know he’s coming back again after being dealt to Kansas City on Wednesday, right? I mean, he’s got the potential to be the Pirates version of what Mark Recchi...
First Call: Surprising Steeler makes NFL Top 100 list; update on Najee Harris fireworks injury
Thursday’s “First Call” has a surprising entry from the Pittsburgh Steelers on the NFL Top 100 list. Cam Heyward comments on T.J. Watt’s contractual situation. We have an update on Najee Harris’ injured eye. And there are long odds facing the U.S. Open champion from Oakmont at this week’s Open...
U mad, bro?: Midsummer cynicism from Pirates fans, preseason sass from Steelers fans
This is the slowest week in sports. The NFL hasn’t started training camps yet. It’s All-Star break time for Major League Baseball. The NHL and NBA are in an offseason lull. You’d think that would lead to a lull in angst from Pittsburgh sports fans too. You’d be wrong. Here’s...
Penn State hockey coach discusses the responsibility, attention that goes with guiding Gavin McKenna
Men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky and his staff got NHL uber-prospect Gavin McKenna to commit to Penn State. Now, Gadowsky has to coach him up. Or does he? 17-year-old hockey phenom Gavin McKenna is heading to Penn State to continue his career ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/qrxxfILu9P— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 8, 2025 The...
Tim Benz: Mario Lemieux can’t be the Penguins’ savior this time, even if he does reacquire the franchise
Mario Lemieux doesn’t need to save the Pittsburgh Penguins this time. That’ll make his possible return to the franchise different from his previous reincarnations with the team. But, oddly, this one could be just as difficult. If Lemieux, Ron Burkle and David Morehouse eventually reacquire the organization (as reports from...
First Call: Arch Manning avoids question about NFL future; surprising Steelers breakout candidate
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Paul Skenes’ response to Oneil Cruz’s big show in the Home Run Derby. Arch Manning eludes a question about his NFL plans. One outlet is pumping up Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Calvin Austin. And a former Pitt player may be suspended until he faces the Steelers in...
Tim Benz: Oneil Cruz’s HR Derby explosion, Paul Skenes’ All-Star start highlight ‘cognitive dissonance’ of Pirates’ fandomVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz may not have won this year’s Home Run Derby, but he may have emerged as the biggest star of the night. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh added another chapter to his magical season by winning the event. The Mariners’ catcher was every bit a worthy champion. The...
Pirates are being leveraged by both sides in MLB’s economics debate
As is usually the case around the All-Star break, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred pops up quite a bit with annual “state of the league” media interactions. Often, his quotes come with some sort of player-salary cost control messaging. Equally as predictable are retorts from the MLB Players Association,...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers wants to ‘finish it the right way’ with Steelers; high school of Pirates’ 1st-round pick sets record
Monday’s “First Call” features Aaron Rodgers’ comments about his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers so far. The Pirates’ first-round draft choice, Seth Hernandez, talks about the idea of eventually pitching with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. Hernandez’s high school made history on Sunday night during the draft. And we catch...
Madden Monday: About the idea of the Penguins tanking for Gavin McKenna; Sunday’s trade for a goalie
If you think that the Pittsburgh Penguins are tanking for newly signed Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X disagrees. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Madden said the Penguins may end up putting themselves in a great draft lottery position for McKenna...
Chris Gotterup outlasts Rory McIlroy to win Scottish Open and head to Portrush
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — Chris Gotterup came up with the clutch shots on the biggest stage he has faced Sunday, taking down crowd favorite Rory McIlroy with a 4-under 66 and a two-shot victory in the Scottish Open that gives him another week of links golf. Gotterup was one shot...
Tim Benz: If the NCAA still wants to expand March Madness, at least fix one flaw along the way
It appears that the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournaments will not expand. For now. Thankfully. Although it does seem like just a matter of time before that happens. “The still viable outcomes include the tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expanding the fields to either 72 or 76 teams in...
First Call: Cam Heyward cracks NFL top 100; Gavin McKenna already shifting NCAA hockey betting
Friday’s “First Call” finds the first Pittsburgh Steeler to make the NFL’s top 100 list. We examine the chances of the Steelers signing a high-profile safety. We take a look at the Pirates-Twins series. And we see exactly how much Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is already impacting the NCAA hockey...
Former Pirates 1st-round pick says Oneil Cruz’s greatest strength may also be ‘his biggest detriment’
If there’s anyone who can empathize with struggling Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz, it’s Cole Tucker. Like Cruz, the former Pirates shortstop was asked to make a move to the outfield early in his Major League career. Like Cruz, the former first-round pick knows the weight of expectation when you...
Tim Benz: Pirates have no one to blame but themselves for newest chapter of ESPN Paul Skenes trade chatter
There were a couple of rounds of media-created Paul Skenes trade talks earlier this season. They were driven by a number of national outlets, baffled by how little the Pittsburgh Pirates had done to surround Skenes with any offensive talent to speak of. Thus, the presumption was that instead of...
