Tim Benz Columns category, Page 39
U mad, bro?: Pirates’ lineup, Steelers concerns, Skenes’ future
We are taking a few days off here at “Breakfast With Benz.” But even if an off day falls on Thursday, we will make sure “U mad, bro?” gets posted. One can’t keep all that rage pent up for an extra seven days. Especially with so much agitation bubbling up...
First Call: Looming questions about Penguins goalies, Mike Tomlin’s player appeal, Steelers radio play-by-play job
Aside from posting “U mad, bro?” on Thursday morning, “Breakfast With Benz” is taking a quick break for a few days. This will be the final “First Call” for the week. We’ll get back in gear Monday. For Wednesday’s “First Call,” I thought I’d do something different and address a...
Tim Benz: Despite Pirates’ pop vs. Reds, Derek Shelton’s defense of Andy Haines falls short
The Pittsburgh Pirates have posted 14 runs in their first two games at Cincinnati this week, but their season-long offensive woes are far from conquered. During his weekly radio appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Derek Shelton acknowledged the Pirates’ offensive problems in 2024, but stopped short of endorsing the idea...
First Call: NFC team emerges in Brandon Aiyuk trade conversation; ex-Steeler released from Chiefs
There is a twist in the Brandon Aiyuk story that Pittsburgh Steelers fans won’t like. An ex-Steeler is getting cut. An ex-Penguin may be looking for a new team. And a new Ravens QB may get a position change. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Mr. Aiyuk going to Washington?...
Tim Benz: For Paul Skenes, the process has been even more impressive than the numbers
Thus far, the results have been impressive for Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes. Over the first eight games of his career, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick is 4-0 with an ERA of 2.14. Through 46⅓ innings pitched, the LSU/Air Force product has yet to leave a game with...
Tim Benz: Even if it’s an actual Sunday, no more ‘Sunday lineups’ for Paul Skenes, please
Whenever Paul Skenes is pitching, the Pittsburgh Pirates can’t roll out their Sunday lineup. Even if it is actually a Sunday. The Pirates learned that lesson this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays during an afternoon when Skenes allowed a leadoff home run, then nothing else after that. Paul Skenes...
First Call: More Dak Prescott-to-Steelers in 2025 talk; Skenes, Jones may be best ‘1-2 combination’ Tampa manager has seen this yearVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” a second wave of conversation about Dak Prescott joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 is washing ashore. There may be a market for Brandon Aiyuk’s salary demands outside of San Francisco. The Pirates’ pitching rotation left an impression on Tampa Bay’s manager. And Tyler Glasnow keeps...
Madden Monday: No way Najee Harris gets a Rhamondre Stevenson contract from the Steelers or anywhere else
In Friday’s “First Call,” we outlined why Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris should’ve taken acute interest in the contract extension recently signed by New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson. As a refresher, Harris was the first player at the position selected in the 2021 draft. The Steelers picked...
Tim Benz: If Ben Cherington truly wants to help the Pirates ‘stay in it,’ there’s an obvious way to make that happen
The last two times Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has spoken publicly, he’s had a slightly different message about his plans when it comes to potentially adding help to the 2024 roster. Back on June 8, Cherington said, “We want to do everything we can to put our team...
Steelers fans, bettors may not like the new NFL Comeback Player of the Year guidelines
There’s a new framework for how the NFL Comeback Player of the Year is awarded. I expect most Pittsburgh Steelers fans — and bettors — won’t like it. The Associated Press has changed the guidelines of how voting for the annual award should go. Via ProFootballTalk.com, the new language is...
First Call: 2 Steelers lash out at 18-game schedule idea; new RB contract may set bar for Najee Harris; no Maulers return in ’25
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris will definitely take note of a new contract signed by one of his peers in the AFC. Two Steelers defensive backs are lashing out at the idea of an 18-game season. The Pittsburgh Maulers are not coming back into existence just yet. The Pirates...
Tim Benz: Now that the bullpen has caught up to the starters, the Pirates’ hitters need to join the fray
In the final game of their recently completed series against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, the Pirates plated two runs in the top of the seventh to close out their scoring in what would end up being an 8-2 victory in Denver. Since then, the Pirates have come to bat...
U mad, bro?: As the weather heats up, so do the debates over Mike Tomlin’s extension, the Pirates’ offense
We can complain about the heat in Pittsburgh as much as we want, it’s not going anywhere. That hasn’t stopped us the past few days, though, has it? We can complain about the Pirates’ anemic offense and Mike Tomlin’s playoff drought with the Steelers as much as we want too....
First Call: Patrick Queen’s jab at former Ravens teammate; ex-Steelers WR wants NFL comeback; Metro goalie trades
Patrick Queen’s arrival in Pittsburgh is already adding spice to the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. The Pittsburgh Steelers are advancing plans for a game in Ireland. A former Steelers wide receiver is attempting a comeback. Gerrit Cole made his first Major League start of the year. And teams in the Metropolitan Division...
Actor Ed O’Neill shares story of getting cut by Steelers, memories of Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood
In the latest episode of his “Games with Names” podcast, former New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman interviewed actor and one-time Steeler Ed O’Neill. Before making it big as Al Bundy on Fox’s “Married with Children” or Jay Pritchett on ABC’s “Modern Family,” O’Neill was a football player at Ohio...
Tim Benz: After 1-game stumble, Mitch Keller looks to resume hot streak Wednesday
At the end of April, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller was sitting at 2-3 with an ERA of 5.18. The 2023 All-Star was supposed to be the stabilizing presence within a rotation that was otherwise going to be populated by rookies, a few bargain-bin veterans plucked from other teams,...
First Call: Steelers release a receiver; guess who wants Jake Guentzel?
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” we look at an interesting Pittsburgh Steelers roster move. There’s more fallout from the Brandon Aiyuk drama in San Francisco. A former Steelers receiver is looking for work. A predictable target for Jake Guentzel’s free-agent services has come to light. And the Oilers are still alive...
Paul Skenes’ greatest weapon may be what he brings out in his Pirates teammates
Thus far in Paul Skenes’ Major League career, his highlight starts have largely been on the road. • Pulled with a no-hitter going and 11 strikeouts after six innings at Wrigley Field in Chicago. • Posting nine strikeouts in six innings of three-hit ball at Detroit. • Leaving to a...
Tim Benz: Ignore presumptions to the contrary, Mike Tomlin and Steelers will bask in ‘Hard Knocks’ spotlight
As soon as it was announced that the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to be part of an all-AFC North in-season edition of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” a wave of predictable responses emerged. ”Uh, oh! Mike Tomlin is going to hate this! All those extra cameras following him and the team around,...
First Call: Brandon Aiyuk says 49ers ‘don’t want me back’; Netflix still seeking partners on Steelers’ Christmas game
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an interesting nugget about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ gameday television broadcast on Christmas against the Chiefs. San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk seems jaded about his current team. Tee Higgins will at least play for Cincinnati on the franchise tag at least this season. We also give...
Tim Benz: Steelers no longer have to coach away from ‘deficiencies’ at inside linebacker
Pittsburgh Steelers draft choice Payton Wilson is already 24 years old. The first-year linebacker spent six years at NC State, redshirting in 2018 and playing parts of the next five seasons with the Wolfpack. So, Wilson has a bit more polish and perspective than the average rookie. That was evident...
Madden Monday: Support of Mike Tomlin’s contract extension means results don’t matter to Steelers
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lack of playoff success since 2016, the truth hurts. Well, unless you refuse to hear the truth. And a lot of that has been going on in Pittsburgh since news broke last week about head coach Mike Tomlin’s contract extension through 2027. The...
First Call: Cam Heyward has message for Steelers fans; Antonio Brown has new gripe about old number
Cam Heyward has two messages for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Antonio Brown has a new ax to grind with the Steelers. An ex-Steeler is arrested for the second time within a month. Gerrit Cole is well on the way to a comeback, and Tyler Glasnow finally gets back in the win...
First Call: Keeanu Benton loses weight; Cory Trice feels good to go for training camp
Friday’s “First Call” has some encouraging Pittsburgh Steelers tidbits on a pair of last year’s rookies as minicamp wraps up. The Pirates head out to Colorado for a weekend series. And a former Pirates relief pitcher who has had a lot of success in 2024 stumbled on Thursday. Benton’s body...
Translating Omar Khan’s quotes about Cam Heyward, Najee Harris, Justin Fields and Steelers WRs
To wrap up minicamp Thursday, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan conducted an interview on 93.7 The Fan. At times he said a lot without saying very much. Other times he spoke a lot of words without saying anything of substance at all. In other words, Kevin Colbert taught him...
