Tim Benz Columns category, Page 97
Former Steelers assistant Kirby Wilson feels special connection to Pittsburgh as he becomes Maulers head coach
As former Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Kirby Wilson began the interview, the first words out of his mouth were “It’s great to be alive to do this.” For Wilson, those words go beyond hyperbole or daily affirmation. They go beyond what is obvious excitement for landing his first head coaching...
As Sidney Crosby nears 500th goal, defining his scoring style is hard to do
As the All-Star break ends and the Pittsburgh Penguins get back on the ice, Sidney Crosby continues his quest for his 500th career goal. He’s currently sitting on 498. During the All-Star break, I gathered some quotes and spoke with a few people that have played with Crosby or covered...
Tim Benz: Tom Brady’s retirement offers more than just memories of bitter defeat for Steelers fans
With Tom Brady’s retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, that assures one thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, two things. First of all, there’s another team that is now thrust into the offseason quarterback carousel (unless head coach Bruce Arians really believes his own Blaine Gabbert hype). Secondly,...
With both coaches in place, Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey can focus on rebuilding rosters
For the recently reinstated Robert Morris University ice hockey programs, maybe these were the last of the first steps toward a return to the ice. With two head coaches now entrenched, the big strides toward rebuilding can truly begin. Both programs were cut by the university in May 2021. But...
Tim Benz: 1 aspect of the Penguins’ game that must be rediscovered coming out of the All-Star Break
After a torrid stretch winning 17 of 19 games between Dec. 4 and Jan. 25, the Pittsburgh Penguins limped into the All-Star break by losing four in a row. All of the games were at home. All of the defeats were against clubs with fewer points than them in the...
Tim Benz: Pacman Jones doesn’t want Steelers fans on the Bengals’ bandwagon. Let’s help calm his concerns
Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Adam “Pacman” Jones says he doesn’t want Pittsburgh Steelers fans glomming on to the Super Bowl success of his former franchise. “We don’t want none of the Pittsburgh fans jumping on the bandwagon,” Jones told 93.7 The Fan this week. I’m pretty sure he has...
Why Pitt’s Kenny Pickett didn’t want his hands measured at the Senior Bowl and what he’s doing about it
Questions over the size of Kenny Pickett’s hands have long been part of his pre-draft conversation. According to the ProFootballNetwork, the former Pitt Panthers quarterback is reported to have hands that measure only 8¼ inches. The standard by which most quarterbacks are measured is 9 inches. The concern is ball...
Madden Monday: Maybe Patrick Mahomes is only a 1-win Super Bowl quarterback
One word to best describe the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game is “arrogance.” To blow off a sure field goal in hopes of scoring a touchdown with just five seconds to go at the end of the first half was pure arrogance....
Tim Benz: Steelers quarterback situation makes it hard to buy what Art Rooney II is selling about Super Bowl goals
During his annual season-ending media session, Art Rooney II made one thing clear. His franchise doesn’t have thoughts of rebuilding. The goal is to have a Super Bowl-winning mentality heading into 2022. “I would never sit here and say that we’re going to change our goal of trying to win...
Mike Sullivan said (almost) everything that needed to be said after Penguins’ loss to Seattle
After the Penguins’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken Thursday night, head coach Mike Sullivan said everything that needed to be said about the third-period sequence that led to the game-tying goal. Well, almost everything. There were roughly four minutes left when Evgeni Malkin tried a drop pass to...
First Call: Antonio Brown on Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement; Steelers work out DB with familiar bloodlines
Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement announcement dovetailed with an ironic anniversary in Steelers history. Antonio Brown reaches out to Big Ben on the day his career officially comes to an end. The Steelers work out a defensive back with an interesting background. And the Duquesne Dukes look to get themselves right on...
Tim Benz: Art Rooney II’s Steelers have been stuck in the middle in recent years. The team’s decision on a new QB can’t be
With Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially announcing his retirement Thursday, attention can focus even more squarely on who his replacement will be. The voices of general manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin will weigh most heavily on the discussions. Perhaps those of Colbert’s potential replacements (Brandon Hunt and...
Antonio Brown accuses Buccaneers of trying to bribe him into ‘the crazy house’
For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, this one has to be interesting to watch from afar. Another day, another chapter in the story of Antonio Brown versus Bruce Arians — aka A.B. versus B.A. The former Steelers wide receiver and the former Steelers offensive coordinator are in a mud-slinging battle that could...
Tim Benz: Penguins living in the comfort of a hot streak — regardless of how it is happening
At the halfway point of the season, if you are a Penguins fan, you have to be saying, “Why ask why?” Follow that advice. Because what if you get an answer you don’t appreciate? You know, like, the truth. As in, this charmed life can’t last forever. Or can it?...
Tim Benz: If quarterback mobility is in question, do the Steelers need to look elsewhere for an answer?
The season-ending press conference for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin featured a moment similar to one we had seen numerous times in that setting throughout 2021. That was Tomlin discussing mobility at the quarterback position. “Quarterback mobility is valued, not only by me but by everyone. It’s just a component...
Tim Benz: For Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are about to become his team even more than they have been in the past
As Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin conducted his season-ending press conference, one thing struck me beyond all else. Now more than ever, this franchise is squarely on Tomlin’s shoulders. When Tomlin arrived in Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger had already been the starting quarterback for three years, played in two AFC...
Stephon Tuitt’s future remains one of the Steelers’ biggest questions heading into 2022
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s season-ending news conferences often go the way this year’s did, especially when the franchise’s season ends before the NFL playoffs or after the first round. That has now happened five years in a row — a first since the end of the 1971 season. The shorter...
Tim Benz: More truth in a Mike Tomlin postgame quote than Steelers fans or organization may want to acknowledge
For as much as the national media loves it when Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spins one of his famous Tomlinisms, I prefer the less-scripted stuff. Not that I dislike “painting the red barn red” and “cutting your eyelids off if you blink” or “jumpin’ on a movin’ train.” Yup....
Penguins, Chatham University bring college hockey to Hunt Armory
With Robert Morris hockey on the shelf until the 2023-24 season, the Chatham Cougars men’s and women’s teams are the new local college hockey teams on center stage. Now the center stage itself is also new. For a few nights anyway. The Cougars men’s team will be playing a game...
Tim Benz: How confident are Chiefs fans for another blowout of the Steelers? Probably too much for Andy Reid’s liking
Exactly how confident are fans of the Kansas City Chiefs as their team (12-5) prepares to host the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) in Sunday night’s AFC playoff game? Well, Soren Petro hosts a talk show in Kansas City on Sports Radio 810 WHB. He joined me for Thursday’s “Breakfast With Benz”...
Flyers exec Bobby Clarke rips Penguins GM Ron Hextall for the job he did in Philadelphia
Here’s some more spice for the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers rivalry. As if more needs to be added. Penguins general manager Ron Hextall is being trashed by his former boss in Philadelphia. That’s Flyers legendary player and team senior vice president Bobby Clarke. Clarke was on “The Cam & Strick Podcast”...
Tim Benz: Steelers-Raiders-Chargers drama raises questions about NFL ties, scheduling reform
The Pittsburgh Steelers organization (and its fans) nervously watched “Sunday Night Football” as a 2021 AFC playoff bid almost evaporated thanks to a near-tie. Two thoughts crossed my mind as the Las Vegas Raiders barely beat the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32, securing the AFC’s fifth seed for themselves and the...
Chargers, Raiders react to the big decision that avoided a tie, and got the Steelers in the playoffs
If the Pittsburgh Steelers have any leftover Christmas cards laying around the team offices, it may be nice to send a few to Las Vegas. Specifically, address a couple to the likes of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, quarterback Derek Carr and running back Josh Jacobs. Those guys were instrumental in...
First Call: Chiefs health update before Steelers game; Jaguars coach congratulates Mike Tomlin; Raven’s respect for Big Ben
Monday’s “First Call” gives us health updates on the Kansas City Chiefs as the Steelers prepare for a postseason trip to Arrowhead Stadium. The Jaguars coach has a shoutout for Mike Tomlin after his team’s surprising playoff assist on Sunday. A Ravens veteran has much respect for Ben Roethlisberger. A...
Tim Benz: ‘Feats of Strength’ and ‘Airing of Grievances’ as Steelers barely keep playoff hopes alive in Baltimore
In a most unlikely turn of events, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense was able to turn around a dreadful day to rally late and win the 2021 season finale in Baltimore, 16-13 in overtime. In an even less likely development, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14) stunned the Indianapolis Colts (9-8), 26-11. That...
