Tim Benz Columns category, Page 2
First Call: Another former Steeler has a gripe with Ben Roethlisberger; Chargers snag 2 coaches with Pittsburgh ties
Monday’s “First Call” includes the latest former Pittsburgh Steeler to take a swat at Ben Roethlisberger. The Los Angeles Chargers are bringing two familiar names with Pittsburgh backgrounds onto their coaching staff. And Sidney Crosby wasn’t the only player with Pittsburgh Penguins ties on the scoresheet in the Olympic hockey...
Madden Monday: Art Rooney II may not be able to resist the temptation of drafting a QB in Pittsburgh
Ty Simpson’s name is frequently brought up when conversations about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft strategy take place. The Alabama quarterback might be available at or around pick No. 21 when the Steelers are on the clock. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 the X...
Tim Benz: Recent squabbles between former Steelers highlight a deeper issue
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark spoke for a lot of Steelers fans last week when he called for a halt to the negative banter between former teammates. Retired Steelers linebacker Joey Porter recently panned fellow Steelers Hall of Honor inductees James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger for having critical things to...
‘Beyond the Bylines’ with Tim Benz and Joe Starkey — Feb. 13, 2026Video
Go “Beyond the Bylines” with Tim Benz and Joe Starkey as they cover the latest sports talk in Pittsburgh — digging deeper on the subjects — from Steelers to Penguins to Pirates, and beyond. Watch the Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, show:...
Duquesne’s players will study scouting report harder before rematch against St. Bonaventure
Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams didn’t hesitate when asked a question about what his team needs to focus on to be better against St. Bonaventure this time around. “The scout,” Williams said instantly. No. Not the scouting report itself, put together by the coaching staff. Williams said that was spot on,...
Renowned Penguins killer and Team USA hockey legacy Brock Nelson off to a hot start at the OlympicsVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins fans have gotten used to gritting their teeth and muttering Brock Nelson’s name under their breath. The Colorado Avalanche forward has 40 points in 46 games against Pittsburgh, the most of any team he faced over his 13-year NHL career. He also has nine points (six goals) against...
First Call: Ex-Steeler supports Ben Roethlisberger; former Steelers coach up for Las Vegas OC gig
Friday’s “First Call” finds a former Pittsburgh Steeler willing to back up Ben Roethlisberger. An ex-Steelers coach is trying to find a new job with a promotion in Las Vegas. Pitt basketball is staring another significant challenge in the face. Robert Morris and Duquesne hoops are looking to continue their...
First Call: Cam Heyward addresses ‘closing the book’ post; ex-Steeler says Neil O’Donnell ‘threw’ Super Bowl XXX
Thursday’s “First Call” clears the air about Cam Heyward’s cryptic social media post. A former Pittsburgh Steeler is accusing Neil O’Donnell of “throwing” Super Bowl XXX. Michael Vick is still living down one aspect of his days in Pittsburgh and New York. Plus, an ex-Steeler receiver has decided to retire....
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger was the QB. But it’s Joey Porter who is throwing stones from a glass house
When it comes to any off-the-field or personality-related debates, it would take a lot for me to side with Ben Roethlisberger over Joey Porter Sr. Unfortunately, Porter just said a lot. As he so often did. On the field, or off of it. I really enjoyed covering Porter. Roethlisberger was...
U mad, bro?: Prickly Pittsburgh fans snipe about Aaron Rodgers reports and Pirates’ spending history
It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Need proof? Take a look at my social media mentions. It’s pretty obvious. Steelers and Pirates fans are flat-out gushing over everything I have to say about their teams. Enjoy our heartfelt love letters to one another in this week’s “U...
Strong week for Robert Morris athletics continues with men’s and women’s hockey recognition
On Monday, Robert Morris found out two of its basketball players earned Horizon League recognition. DeSean Goode was named Player of the Week, and Darius Livingston earned Freshman of the Week. ???? We swept the @HorizonLeague awards this week. @goode_desean is the Player of the Week and @DariusLjr is the...
First Call: Steelers reportedly interested in Malik Willis; odds for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown to make Hall of Fame
Malik Willis’ name is coming up with the Pittsburgh Steelers again. Odds are out on Ben Roethlisberger’s chances to make the Hall of Fame next year. We know where Tiger Woods’ son will be golfing in college. The American women’s hockey team at the Olympics stays red hot. And the...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ offseason spending should be embraced, even if cynical explanations are accurate
With spring training getting underway, a lot of Pittsburgh Pirates fans are eagerly debating how much the club’s offseason moves will improve 2026 results from a year ago. Did you catch those words I just tied together in that sentence? “Fans.” “Eagerly.” “Improve.” “Pirates.” Yeah. Uncharted waters around these parts...
First Call: Calvin Austin on his uncertain future with Steelers; Marcell Ozuna’s PNC Park struggles
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some revealing quotes from one of Pittsburgh’s top wide receivers. We look at a challenge facing Marcell Ozuna now that he is a Pittsburgh Pirate. Pitt gets good news about a Panthers basketball alum in advance of the club’s big game against Duke on Tuesday night....
Tim Benz: We may already be looking at an Aaron Rodgers decision deadline
According to what ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting, we may be coming up on a soft deadline from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Aaron Rodgers regarding a decision about his playing status next year. During an appearance Monday on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter told the program that many on the...
Even with Marcell Ozuna, Pirates’ offseason moves are tough to evaluateVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates made some national headlines Monday by signing former Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. Even before that acquisition, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently released his grades for how Major League Baseball organizations performed this offseason. The former Cincinnati Reds general manager...
Tim Benz: Are Steelers fans playing the wrong ‘what-if game’ after Seattle’s Super Bowl win?
My Super Bowl gathering Sunday night couldn’t have been the only one in Pittsburgh that had this kind of conversation. “What if the Steelers had been willing to outbid Seattle for Sam Darnold?” There were plenty of reports that the Steelers made an offer for his services. To what extent...
Madden Monday: The Seahawks are ‘worthy winners,’ but Super Bowl LX ‘a fitting cap to a really bad NFL season’
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X doesn’t mince words when it comes to discussing Seattle’s 29-13 win over New England in Super Bowl LX. “I think it was a fitting cap to a really bad NFL season. I thought this was one...
First Call: ‘Odds are increasing’ that we’ll see a 2nd year of Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh; George Pickens status update in Dallas
Monday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers news about Aaron Rodgers that may have been buried by Super Bowl Sunday festivities. A former Steeler is getting the franchise tag. A retired Steelers coach likes the decision to hire Mike McCarthy. And I pat myself on the back for some wise...
Tim Benz: A New England Super Bowl win wouldn’t be a wake-up call for the Steelers
I was listening to my TribLive “Beyond the Bylines” colleague Joe Starkey on his 93.7 The Fan radio show Friday. He mentioned that some callers to the station stated that they were actually rooting for the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Their theory was that if...
First Call: Jay Glazer rips Aaron Rodgers; former Steeler sounds off about Tom Brady
Fox’s Jay Glazer doesn’t hold back when talking about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A new Steelers coach gets some bad news from the Hall of Fame. A former Steeler speaks his mind when it comes to ex-New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. And we outline a busy weekend of...
Football Footnotes: Our annual season-ending Super Bowl betting edition
Last year’s Super Bowl was 24-0 Philadelphia before halftime. How did I stay interested in the game? Gambling, my friends. Gambling. I had bets all over the board. Big ones, little ones. Hefty ones. Mini ones. From conventional to exotic. From basic to bananas. I did all that … to...
For RMU hockey coach Derek Schooley, watching his daughters play each other on home ice will be a ‘full-circle moment’
Hopefully, Robert Morris University hockey defenseman Kaitlyn Schooley of Moon has plenty of meals on her university dining card. Maybe she can just pick up a pizza on the way back to her apartment, or grab a sandwich at the rink. But if she had any notion of swinging by...
First Call: Jay Glazer offers new layer to Mike Tomlin’s resignation; Andy Weidl’s name floated for NFC job
Thursday’s “First Call” advances some new talking points about Mike Tomlin’s resignation. Another NFC team is being linked to Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl. The Penguins have a tough game to close out their schedule before the Olympic break. And a very familiar name may be making a...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans angry about a lack of faith in Mike McCarthy and Will Howard
Here’s what I’ve learned over the past week: • I need to give Aaron Rodgers another chance to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback. • I also need to give Will Howard a chance to be the Steelers’ quarterback. • I’m being too hard on the Mike McCarthy hire. • I’m...
