Tim Benz Columns category, Page 31
Mike Tomlin says NFL office told him Minkah Fitzpatrick’s blocked kick was legalVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says the NFL officiating office told him that Minkah Fitzpatrick’s blocked extra point against the New York Jets on Sunday night was legal and shouldn’t have been flagged for leveraging. “I did talk to New York,” Tomlin said at Tuesday’s press conference. “They did...
Tim Benz: Steelers on cusp of ‘dream scenario’ to wrap up 1st half of season
For NFL fans, it’s human nature. We all love to do the “Win, loss, win, win, loss, loss, win, loss, win” routine the moment our favorite team’s schedule is released. That’s a fruitless endeavor. Given the NFL’s injury rate and massive allowance for change week-to-week, predicting games that are scheduled...
First Call: Steelers, Giants make moves before ‘MNF’ game; Mason Rudolph won’t keep Titans’ QB job long-term
Tuesday’s “First Call” features the Pittsburgh Steelers adding to the secondary. Meanwhile, the New York Giants add to their defensive line as the two teams prepare to face one another Monday night. It sure sounds like Mason Rudolph is heading back to the bench soon in Tennessee. The Penguins have...
Madden Monday: Biggest thing the Steelers gain with Russell Wilson at QB is ‘George Pickens isn’t wasted’
After the Pittsburgh Penguins looked rough against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon, the Steelers offense looked invigorated against the New York Jets on Sunday night. So let’s begin with the good before we get to the bad as we dive into this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast with Mark Madden...
First Call: Mason Rudolph starts; Kenny Pickett plays; a story behind Beanie Bishop’s picks; Brandon Aiyuk’s injury
Monday’s “First Call” has an interesting angle to Beanie Bishop’s big night for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We recap Mason Rudolph’s first start with the Tennessee Titans. Kenny Pickett saw some game action with the Philadelphia Eagles. Brandon Aiyuk suffered what is expected to be a serious knee injury. And a...
Feats of Strength: Mike Tomlin’s ‘Lone Ranger’ decision to start Russell Wilson; Beanie Bishop comes up bigVideo
According to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin “went Lone Ranger” on the decision to pull the plug on quarterback Justin Fields and replace him with Russell Wilson. If that’s what really happened, then, “Hi-Yo, Silver,” Coach T. Well played. Wilson is now 1-0 when it...
Tim Benz: Duquesne QB Darius Perrantes emulates Russell Wilson’s playmaking style — and it’s paying off
Many in Pittsburgh are anxiously awaiting Russell Wilson’s debut as the Steelers quarterback. That’s expected to happen this Sunday at Acrisure Stadium against the New York Jets. One of those who will be watching closely is Darius Perrantes. The Duquesne senior has crafted much of his game in the mold...
First Call: Steelers 1 of 3 teams in mix for WR Mike Williams; Terry Bradshaw thinks Steelers should stick with Justin Fields
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be finally closing in on wide receiver help. A Steelers legend is weighing in on the quarterback debate. West Virginia is in the spotlight for local college football fans. And the Robert Morris hockey team has to be pleased with its first outing of the year....
Football Footnotes: Steelers are 4-2 — but are they in a better spot than a year ago?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4-2 through six games so far in 2024. They were 4-2 through six games in 2023 as well. Before we knew it, though, the Steelers were 6-4 and eventually 7-7 and fighting for their playoff lives. On the surface, my hunch is that the Steelers are...
Tim Benz: 45 years later, remembering how the potent 1979 Pirates pitched their way to a World Series comeback
Thursday marks the 45th anniversary of the 1979 World Series championship for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The franchise hasn’t won one since. In the second half of our two-part series remembering that title run, we flashback to an overlooked aspect of that Fall Classic. When most baseball fans think back to...
First Call: Bill Belichick wonders about Steelers’ QB decision; Steelers RB wants Jets WR
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson is pumping the well again when it comes to fishing for help at the wide receiver position. A former Super Bowl winning coach isn’t convinced that going to Russell Wilson is the right move for the Steelers. We have updates on a pair of...
U mad, bro?: Steelers QBs, Pirates ownership, Penguins goalies — the holy trinity of Pittsburgh sports fan angst
A Pittsburgh Steelers win when they score more than 30 points is pretty rare. What’s even more rare is when that happens, and half the fan base still wants to change quarterbacks. But that’s what we have this week in Pittsburgh. So, despite a successful Vegas vacation, there is still...
Quest to replace goalies is key to RMU hockey in Year 2 of relaunch
For the Robert Morris men’s hockey team, very little was known going into the program’s relaunch of a season last year. One thing the players and coaches did know is that they had Chad Veltri in the net. The Niagara transfer goalie from Fox Chapel came back to Pittsburgh to...
First Call: Update on Davante Adams’ hamstring and what the Steelers may do now that he’s a JetVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives an update on Davante Adams’ health as he prepares to play a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also try to figure out what the Steelers may do at wide receiver now that Adams is going to the New York Jets. Plus, we look at a...
Tim Benz: Potential Russell Wilson-Aaron Rodgers matchup illustrates Steelers’ QB struggles post-Ben Roethlisberger
When Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, a lot of us in Pittsburgh had plenty of opinions about what the Steelers should do to replace him. Here’s one thing none of us are saying today: “I told you so.” That’s because none of the available options has...
Tim Benz: Steelers need more than just Russell Wilson to fix the passing game
During Tuesday’s press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin suggested that the door is being left open for Russell Wilson to start Sunday night’s game at quarterback against the New York Jets instead of Justin Fields. “We’re looking hard at it this week,” Tomlin said of starting Wilson. Fields...
First Call: Report on Zach Frazier’s ankle; Aaron Rodgers rips roughing the passer callsVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an update on Zach Frazier’s injury. Aaron Rodgers obliterates NFL officiating. T.J. Watt is now the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. And Ben Roethlisberger is dropping the puck at Robert Morris’ hockey opener. Finding out about Frazier If a report from Fox Sports’...
Tim Benz: If Mike Tomlin is going to stick with Justin Fields, 2 things must happen
If Mike Tomlin is going to stick with Justin Fields as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback, then he needs to do two things this week. First of all, he has to finally officially name Fields the starter. Tuesday at his press conference Tomlin needs to simply say, “Justin Fields will...
First Call: Cordarrelle Patterson still pitching Davante Adams; Raiders coach pans his team after loss to SteelersVideo
Monday’s “First Call” has some grumbling from the Las Vegas Raiders’ coach after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The Steelers are an early favorite to win next week as well. One Steelers’ veteran is still recruiting Davante Adams. And a former Penguins goalie impresses his new team...
Madden Monday: A play from the win over Raiders that may change the course of Steelers’ seasonVideo
For Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X, picking a Pittsburgh Steelers hero from their 32-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon isn’t easy. But he is going with running back Najee Harris. NAJEE HARRIS ARE YOU SERIOUS!?????: #PITvsLV on CBS/Paramount+????: pic.twitter.com/6uP3rKdzdD— NFL (@NFL) October...
Feats of Strength: Timely T.J. Watt turnovers, Najee Harris’ breakout day lead Steelers to win in Las VegasVideo
When a guy lands big punches in Las Vegas, usually it’s during a championship boxing match. On Sunday, though, it was T.J. Watt throwing haymakers for the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2). When they landed, the football popped loose from the Las Vegas Raiders (2-4). Those plays from Watt were the knockout...
Tim Benz: A chance to celebrate Maz and Franco on the same day
Whether it’s on television or social media Sunday, you’ll probably be hit with a few reminders of the greatest moment in Steelers history. The Steelers are playing the Raiders. Any time that happens — even if they aren’t in Oakland anymore — you are going to see some highlights of...
Tim Benz: Nothing was working for the Penguins in their season openerVideo
With Pittsburgh Steelers players Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth in attendance at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins had more of a George Pickens kind of night in their season opener. Their net was “Open (Bleepin’) Always.” The Penguins lost 6-0 at home to the New York Rangers in their first...
U mad, bro?: George Pickens, Pete Rose, Pirates, county taxes — Pittsburgh frustrations go beyond Steelers’ loss
You’d think that after a blown lead on primetime to the Dallas Cowboys, angry Pittsburgh Steelers fans would overload my inbox and my social media mentions. You’d be wrong. Oh, don’t misunderstand. There was plenty of bile and venom for me to read about the how the Steelers played. But...
First Call: Dallas’ Jourdan Lewis backs off heat on George Pickens; where Steelers stand on Davante Adams
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us a Dallas Cowboy who is changing his tune about George Pickens. We examine the Pittsburgh Steelers’ place in the trade derby for Davante Adams. A former Steelers defensive back got a workout with the Cleveland Browns. And there are some theories about Russell Wilson’s future....
