Breakfast With Benz category, Page 112
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...
First Call: Terry Bradshaw praises Ben Roethlisberger, offers thoughts on Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers and Mason Rudolph’s outlook
Terry Bradshaw praises Ben Roethlisberger, shares his thoughts on the idea of Aaron Rodgers going to the Pittsburgh Steelers and has opinions on Mason Rudolph. Could the Steelers reunite with former offensive line coach Mike Munchak? An ex-Penguin is making his presence felt in Seattle. Two former Pitt stars are...
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...
Trade rumors have Capitals trying to get Marc-Andre Fleury — unless he stops it from happening
Picture Marc-Andre Fleury back in net for yet another Penguins-Capitals playoff series this spring. No, not as an injury replacement for Tristan Jarry. Not as the starter with Jarry benched either. I’m saying picture Fleury in the other crease. Wearing Capitals red, white and blue. I know. I can’t do...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger was almost traded in 2009? Antonio Brown flirts with Ravens; Vegas interviews Brandon Hunt
Thursday’s “First Call” features a story about a 12-year-old vetoed trade that apparently involved Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Las Vegas Raiders may raid the Steelers front office. Antonio Brown is lobbying to play in Baltimore. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is done with social media. And another ex-Robert Morris...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans do not like the idea of Aaron Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh at all
One thing became clear to me this week given my interactions with Pittsburgh Steelers fans. They don’t want Aaron Rodgers to be the quarterback of their team. Well, let me rephrase that. Steelers fans claim they don’t want Rodgers to be their quarterback. I mean, would you prefer Mason Rudolph...
Tim Benz: Attendance, TV ratings should serve as a wake-up call to Steelers front office
There are a significant number of issues facing the Pittsburgh Steelers beyond just replacing Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. Building an offensive line. Addressing the run defense. Figuring out how to plug holes at wide receiver and in the secondary. That’s just the on-field stuff general manager Kevin Colbert and head...
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...
First Call: A possible free agent destination for JuJu Smith-Schuster; Aaron Rodgers discusses his future; Flyers keep losing
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster may already have a preferred destination in free agency. The USFL will stage an interesting television launch in April. Aaron Rodgers outlines his decision-making process for his future playing career. And while the Penguins just keep winning, the Philadelphia Flyers...
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?...
First Call: The favorite to land Aaron Rodgers; Steelers defensive coordinator plans; Keith Butler on Stephon Tuitt
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at the odds of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We search for an update on defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt. Another defensive coordinator candidate is interviewing with the Steelers for Keith Butler’s old job. A look at Pitt versus...
Chiefs-Bills thriller shows what elite quarterback play is all about, raises overtime questions
When it comes to great endings in Pittsburgh Steelers playoff history, there are plenty to chronicle. • The Immaculate Reception • Santonio Holmes’ catch at the end of Super Bowl XLIII • The comeback against the Browns at Heinz Field • Jim Harbaugh’s near Hail Mary in the 1995 AFC...
Madden Monday: As for Aaron Rodgers coming to the Steelers — ‘He’s a big mouth’
When it comes to how things went in the first non-Steelers playoff weekend of the year, our Mark Madden had one big takeaway during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “It’s a changing the guard at quarterback. You’ve got (Tom) Brady out in the divisional round. You got (Aaron) Rodgers and...
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...
First Call: Antonio Brown mocks Bucs’ defeat; possible candidate for Steelers defensive coordinator; AFC/NFC title game odds
Monday’s “First Call” checks in on Aaron Rodgers’ state of mind as Pittsburgh Steelers fans join the rest of the NFL in wondering what will become of his career after this season. We also give you Antonio Brown’s latest social media hilarity. Some interesting gambling odds for the NFL’s conference...
Penguins yielding consistent results despite inconsistent performance
For the Pittsburgh Penguins of late, the results have been consistent. The way they have gotten to those results within games, though? Well, not so much. Since Dec. 14, the Penguins have won 14 of the last 16 times they have hit the ice. But the quality of play within...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin says ‘all options are on the table’ for a new quarterback. Let’s hope he means it
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is saying that “all options are on the table” for the franchise at quarterback next year. It sure feels like either of the team’s current backups — Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins — will be the man under center to replace Ben Roethlisberger, though. At...
First Call: Former Steeler honors Ben Roethlisberger; T.J. Watt explains how he got the bad news about the sack record
Friday’s “First Call” flashes back to a happy Pittsburgh Steelers memory. A former teammate waxes nostalgic about Ben Roethlisberger. T.J. Watt’s tale of woe about the sack record chase. And the Penguins gear up for the second of back-to-back games. Big props from Big Bud Former Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree...
Duquesne basketball looking to seize a 2nd chance on a big stage at home
Not much had gone according to plan for the Duquesne men’s basketball team (6-9) as the Atlantic 10 conference schedule approached. Coronavirus ran through the team right before the holidays. The whole conference endured a wave of postponements and rescheduled games. And a big chunk of the frontcourt — Tre...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans emote after a bad playoff loss in very different ways
This week we had a life lesson reinforced after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 42-21 loss in Kansas City during Sunday’s playoff game. The truth hurts. People handle that pain differently. Some embrace it and admit it. Then they lash out. Others deflect it and deny it. Then they lash out. We’ve...
First Call: 2 quarterbacks linked to Steelers in early mock drafts; Joe Haden holds out hope to stay in Pittsburgh
Thursday’s “First Call” links the Pittsburgh Steelers to two quarterbacks from different mock drafts. Joe Haden is clinging to hopes that he will stay in Pittsburgh. More positive television ratings from the NFL. And an unlikely ex-Penguin plays the goal-scoring hero in Manhattan. And so it begins Between now and...
Penguins poised for more points as they skate back into the spotlight on home ice
A week ago, I told you the annual “Steelers pass the Pittsburgh sports baton to the Penguins” column was ready to go. Then the Jacksonville Jaguars and a kicker on the Las Vegas Raiders had something to say about that. Now, though, it’s time for Western Pa. fans to tunnel...
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...
