Breakfast With Benz category
Madden Monday: Penguins survived without Evgeni Malkin — now he must deliver
When the Pittsburgh Penguins hit the ice against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night, they’ll be getting Evgeni Malkin back from his five-game suspension. Not a moment too soon, according to Mark Madden during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. After all, it feels like the team has been clinging to...
First Call: Steelers’ offseason class rated in ESPN’s top 5; Connor Heyward talks about leaving Pittsburgh
Monday’s “First Call” has a positive spin on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ free-agent class. We say goodbye to Connor Heyward as he leaves the Steelers for an AFC rival. Another ex-Steeler has a new home. The Penguins are set to face a difficult foe, and the Robert Morris hockey team is...
Tim Benz: VCU hoping to benefit from Pittsburgh pixie dust after A-10 Tournament winVideo
The coach from Philadelphia, whose team wears black and gold, beat the Flyers (with a guy named L’Etang) at PPG Paints Arena to win a basketball championship. A lot of that fails to compute, right? But there was no such confusion as to how coach Phil Martelli Jr. and his...
Tim Benz: Duquesne just missed the mesh point in Atlantic 10 tournament loss to VCU
Duquesne head coach Dru Joyce III talked about it after his team’s final road game of the year, a 64-52 loss at Rhode Island. The Dukes’ defense held URI to just 9 of 25 shooting from the floor (1 of 11 from the 3-point arc) and 19 points in the...
Tim Benz: New Steelers free agents open a window into how the new coaching staff may operate
Friday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced a few of their new free-agent signees to the Pittsburgh media. It was a chance to meet running back Rico Dowdle, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and cornerback Jamel Dean. All three of the new players came off as engaging and seem like they...
First Call: Potential Isaac Seumalo replacement available for Steelers; Penguins see Columbus getting closer
A potential replacement for Isaac Seumalo is now available for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Penguins’ loss in Las Vegas was compounded by Columbus’ result. Now they have to head to Utah. Plus, the Robert Morris hockey team is set to open its Atlantic Hockey semifinal in Connecticut. All that in...
Tim Benz: Crucial 2nd-half decision, critical execution help Duquesne stay alive in A-10
It was clear that things were starting to wobble for the Duquesne Dukes in their second-round Atlantic 10 Tournament game Thursday at PPG Paints Arena. And it was clear why. A second-half lead over Rhode Island that was once 12 points had been cut in half with just over six...
Tim Benz: Coaching for an A-10 title in Pittsburgh will be special in many ways for Pitt alum Ricardo Greer
Shortly after Davidson’s R.J. Greer checked into a game at Dayton on Feb. 15, he rotated toward the opposing bench during an offensive sequence. One of the Dayton coaches was quick to yell out to his players on defense to track him into the corner. The Flyers’ coach didn’t need...
First Call: Kyler Murray visiting Vikings; Javon Hargrave won’t return to SteelersVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers fans on the Kyler Murray bandwagon may have to jump off soon. A former Steelers defensive lineman has a new home — and he’s not coming back to Pittsburgh. The Penguins continue their road trip in Las Vegas. And postseason accolades are rolling in for the resurgent Robert...
Blackhawk’s Archie Miller hopes Rhode Island has a long stay in his hometown for the A-10 Tournament
Archie Miller has one goal when it comes to visiting his hometown of Pittsburgh. Someday. “I’ll be honest with you, I’d love to come back one time and never have to coach,” Miller said. Just not this time. This time, the Beaver Falls native wants to coach as many games...
First Call: GM calls out Baltimore ‘bull’ in Maxx Crosby mess; Browns snag potential Steelers OL target
Wednesday’s “First Call” has lots of negative reaction toward the Baltimore Ravens for their role in rejecting the Maxx Crosby trade. The Penguins’ failure to take two points is costly. A potential Steelers’ object of interest along the offensive line is gone. And Pitt hopes to go 2 for 2...
In Michael Pittman Jr., Steelers getting physical receiver who gives off ‘Hines Ward vibes’Video
The Pittsburgh Steelers just picked up Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis in a trade that reportedly involved nothing but late-round draft choices. Then the franchise gave him a three-year, $59 million contract. A year ago, Pittman caught 80 passes, including seven touchdowns. However, he only averaged 9.8 yards per reception,...
First Call: Kenny Pickett leaves Raiders; Patrick Queen may go to an NFC team
Tuesday’s “First Call” has the latest destination for former Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett. Some NFC East teams are showing interest in Patrick Queen. The Penguins face the best in the Metropolitan Division. And we look at the odds for Pitt and Duquesne to stay alive in the postseason. Pickett on...
Tim Benz: Acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. won’t erase the Steelers’ WR depth issue. But he’s a good 1st step toward solving itVideo
In order to fix the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver problem, general manager Omar Khan needed to admit it actually existed. That’s something he was unwilling to do over the last two years. At least trading for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. acknowledges that. According to a report from...
Duquesne players look to defend their (other) home court in A-10 TournamentVideo
When hardwood replaces ice at PPG Paints Arena this week for the Atlantic 10 Tournament, it won’t be Duquesne’s home court. But the goal is to defend that floor as if it is the same one at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse across the street. “We have a Pittsburgh native in...
First Call: Browns meet with potential Steelers draft target; UFA wide receiver may already be gone
Monday’s “First Call” has eyes on wide receivers in the news when it comes to both the NFL Draft and free agency. The Robert Morris basketball team hopes to take another step toward the NCAA Tournament. And the school’s hockey team took another leap back toward the level of success...
Madden Monday: Evgeni Malkin’s slash and suspension is among the ‘most selfish acts in the history of Penguins’Video
The Pittsburgh Penguins managed to get three of a possible four points over the weekend at PPG Paints Arena. The Pens beat the Boston Bruins, 5-4, on Sunday, a day after they picked up a point for a 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia. The last Battle of PA this season...
Beyond the Bylines: Starkey, Benz debate Penguins’ trade deadline strategy; Aaron Rodgers on Pat McAfeeVideo
In this week’s “Beyond the Bylines,” Joe Starkey and Tim Benz talk about the NHL trade deadline and how Pittsburgh Penguins fans are morphing into Pirates fans when it comes to their desire to hoard draft picks and prospects. They also discuss Aaron Rodgers’ appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,”...
First Call: Browns speaking with Ty Simpson; Alex Highsmith pledges more pass rush looks from SteelersVideo
Friday’s “First Call” features some defensive dreams for Pittsburgh Steelers fans to ponder courtesy of Alex Highsmith. The Browns apparently have eyes on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Penguins have a loaded weekend schedule after the trade deadline, and Pitt is in must-win territory for its basketball team. Promises, promises...
Robert Morris has new cast, same director looking to follow a familiar script
The path is very similar, even if the team is not. The Robert Morris men’s basketball team did this a year ago. The Colonials got scalding hot starting the first week of February and didn’t cool off until they won the Horizon League title. A postseason run started with a...
Tim Benz: Kris Letang’s expletives sum up Penguins’ opinions on goalie interference callsVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost yet another goaltender interference challenge Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres. It was their seventh such result in as many tries. After the ruling, ESPN cameras at PPG Paints Arena caught defenseman Kris Letang giving a blunt response to the officials. “Hey! Hey! What the (expletive)...
First Call: Pat McAfee claims Steelers asked for info on Mike McCarthy; Aaron Rodgers pans Acrisure Stadium’s field againVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting anecdote about the Steelers’ hiring process for Mike McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers is still taking shots at the Acrisure Stadium turf. The Penguins have a tough task Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. And the Duquesne women’s basketball team is scrapping until the end in...
Just 3 years after program reboot, RMU hockey is top 3 in the AHA, hosting playoff gamesVideo
It’s not like there is a bronze medal for finishing in third place in Atlantic Hockey’s regular season. Robert Morris’ players and coaches are aware of that. Especially with the conference playoffs coming up this weekend at Clearview Arena. What the Colonials’ program achieved so far isn’t something they’ll hang...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans hate the idea of trading for Vince Trocheck; Steelers’ low NFLPA player gradesVideo
On Wednesday, I wrote a column suggesting that the Pittsburgh Penguins should trade for New York Rangers center Vince Trocheck. To reiterate some of my arguments, the Penguins need a center. He’s great at faceoffs. He’s good in shootouts. The Penguins are deficient in both of those areas. Trocheck was...
Tim Benz: The only thing Aaron Rodgers owes the Steelers is a timely answer. So why not give them one?Video
About 20 minutes into his winding 75-minute conversation on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave us the money quote about his future with the franchise. “I want to say that anybody on here who was expecting me to make some big decision, just turn it...
