Breakfast With Benz category, Page 131
First Call: Steven Nelson says pay cut was never in play with Steelers; Triple H on idea of Ben Roethlisberger joining WWE
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us some answers about Steelers free agency from former cornerback Steven Nelson. A former WWE star kicks around the idea of a guest spot with Ben Roethlisberger. Ex-Steelers are being considered for the team’s Hall of Honor. And the NHL’s East Division continues to be constantly...
A trade idea for the Penguins — and who they may move in return
By this time next Tuesday, we will know what the Pittsburgh Penguins did — or didn’t do — before the 2021 NHL trade deadline. It’s Monday afternoon, April 12. In our weekly “Breakfast With Benz” hockey podcast, Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network has an idea about who the...
Tim Benz: Steelers aren’t becoming Pirates (yet). But there was one familiar theme this offseason.
I watched the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season-opening series at Wrigley Field over the weekend, and it got me thinking about the Steelers. Yikes. If that’s not an alarming open to any column about the local football team I don’t know what else could be. Now before all of you “Defend the...
First Call: Najee Harris praises meetings with Steelers; Mike Hilton fires back at trolls after signing with Bengals
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Hilton is a little salty about how he has been treated by fans since signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. Alabama running back Najee Harris has some good things to say about his pre-draft interaction with the Steelers. Antonio Brown is openly pleading to stay in Tampa...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Penguins, NHL playoffs, Steelers’ draft, Pirates’ seasonVideo
Tim Benz and Mark Madden return for this week’s edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLive’s Facebook page to talk about the Penguins recent games, NCAA men’s basketball championship, as well as the Steelers and Pirates. After winning in Boston last week, the Penguins lost the second game of the series to...
Madden Monday: A theory on why Penguins’ Kris Letang has been more tempered in his approach
When speaking about Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, his propensity to take chances and gamble at inopportune times is usually only outweighed by his stubborn defense of his own style. Not in 2021, though. At least not since the Penguins have been saddled with so many injuries to their forward group....
First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush uses some furry friends to help his ACL rehab; ex-Penguins get Capitals back atop East
In Monday’s “First Call,” Steelers linebacker Devin Bush has some interesting rehab partners helping him on his way back from a knee injury. Former Penguins are aiding the cause of the Washington Capitals. We look at the recent past and potential future of the Pirates pitching staff. Plus, a little...
Tim Benz: In a strange way, a near defeat may actually heighten Gonzaga’s legacy
That Gonzaga-UCLA Final Four game Saturday was the sporting event this country needed. I mean, when was the last time everybody in America on Twitter agreed that something was good? Well, aside from FS1’s Skip Bayless. Generally speaking, though, if he doesn’t like something that’s all the more proof of...
First Call: Steelers interested in ‘brawler’ of a tackle; A.B. pricing himself out of Tampa? Ex-Pirates shine in Rays’ opener
The Pittsburgh Steelers have their eyes on an interesting tackle prospect. Antonio Brown may be bargaining himself out of Tampa. Money is starting to come in on the red-hot Penguins. Ex-Pirates shine in Tampa Bay’s season opener. Gerrit Cole has a choppy 2021 debut for the Yankees. And we share...
Tim Benz: The harder you look to disqualify Gonzaga as an all-time great, the more you see it belongs
For as many upsets as there were through the first two rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, a lot of chalk made its way into the Final Four. Two top seeds (Gonzaga and Baylor) and a No. 2 seed (Houston) make up three of the Final Four teams, with...
Opening Day Feats of Strength: Pirates did a lot right against Cubs, and managed to avoid what could’ve gone wrong
After that Opening Day victory in Chicago, I suppose I’ll have to adjust my predicted win total for the 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates. All the way up to 58 or 59. My minimal expectations for this club aside, Opening Day is always looked upon as its own entity anyway. Almost as...
Ron Hextall provides update on Tristan Jarry, goals for Penguins before trade deadline
During his 105.9 The X radio show Wednesday night, Penguins general manager Ron Hextall provided an update on injured goaltender Tristan Jarry. He also got very specific about the goals for the team as the trade deadline nears. On the goalie front, Hextall praised the work of both Jarry and...
First Call: Former WVU star visits Steelers; Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert at Notre Dame’s Pro Day; Sabres finally win
The Steelers may try to snag a defensive free agent away from the Cleveland Browns. They are also looking at some draft prospects from Notre Dame and North Carolina. Postseason odds are getting even longer for the Pirates. Plus, the Buffalo Sabres’ losing streak is finally over. And guess who...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans snarl about Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt hoops, the Pirates and our coverage of it allVideo
This is stunning. I went a whole week with no negative feedback from Steelers or Penguins fans. Nary a complaint from a reader about the Pirates. Not one angry tweet about Pitt. Not a single Facebook post lashing back at one of my columns. It was amazing. Ha! Gotcha! Happy...
Penguins could finally snap skid in Boston by taking a page from Bruins’ playbook
Leave it to the Boston Bruins to figure out a few things right before the Penguins come to town. The Penguins haven’t won in Massachusetts since 2015. They are on a 10-game losing streak in the Bay State. Prior to Tuesday night, the Bruins seemed ripe for the picking. And...
First Call: Steelers in touch with another NFL draft QB prospect; East Division update; Duquesne hoops transfer
Wednesday’s “First Call” serves up some interesting names the Steelers are monitoring at pre-NFL draft workouts. This year’s Super Bowl and the 2022 Olympics will now intersect. An update on the East Division standings, as the Penguins prepare for a road trip. And a Duquesne basketball star is transferring. Making...
Tim Benz: Holes created in free agency leave plenty of options for Steelers in NFL draft
After considering all those holes on the Steelers roster this offseason, one thing struck me about the upcoming NFL draft. Can the Steelers really go wrong addressing any position at any point in next month’s selection process? Because I’m not sure that they can. OK. They decided to retain Jordan...
Not so ‘Great Expectations’: Pirates balancing development process and final result as Opening Day nears
Back on March 10, BetOnline.ag posted odds on which Major League manager would get fired first. Pirates manager Derek Shelton was fifth on the list at 9/1. Shelton? Fired as manager of the Pirates? Don’t you have to fail to deserve to be fired from a job? And if you...
First Call: Sam Darnold trade idea tied to Steelers; Ex-Pirates bust tries a comeback; Sabres lose 18th in a row to Philly
Tuesday’s “First Call” features a trade idea for the Steelers to consider. It involves a young quarterback. The Buffalo Sabres found another creative way to lose. Some interesting dirt about the New England Patriots and Jimmy Garoppolo. And an infamous name from the Pirates’ past is trying to make a...
Tim Benz: Robert Spillane, Cameron Sutton absorbing different tasks as they move up Steelers’ depth chart
On their first day speaking as presumptive opening day starters for the Steelers, linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Cameron Sutton both showed a common trait that appealed to the franchise. They’re both smart. Football smart, sure. But also smart enough to get … it. Smart enough to know their new...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Ben Roethlisberger’s conditioning, NFL 17-game schedule, Penguins, moreVideo
Tim Benz and Mark Madden return for this week’s edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLive’s Facebook page to talk about Ben Roethlisberger’s conditioning, the Steelers’ spin game, the likely NFL 17-game schedule, the Penguins’ recent play and more. As the topic of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s commitment to conditioning was again...
First Call: New questions about Ben Roethlisberger’s weight; Penguins player roasts Philadelphia
Monday’s “First Call” revisits the rebooted topic of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s commitment to conditioning. We also get some less-than-happy responses from NFL players to the news about the NFL expanding to a 17th game. PPG Paints Arena is ready to host the Frozen Four. And we now know which...
Madden Monday: Steelers over .500 streak in 17-game season? ‘They’ll be begging for a chance at 8-8-1.’
The Steelers haven’t finished under .500 since Mike Tomlin took over as the head coach in 2007. In fact, they’ve been at or above the break-even mark every year since the start of 2004. In that time, though, they’ve had four 8-8 seasons — three under Tomlin (2012, ‘13, ‘19),...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ offseason turning Pittsburgh into ‘Spin City’
The Steelers’ spin cycle is moving so fast this offseason that I get dizzy every time I turn on my computer. No matter the situation, someone is there to spit-shine the prospects for the 2021 campaign, whether it’s the fans, media or team itself. A few examples popped up recently....
‘Dad’s play’: Beyond Big Ben and Santonio Holmes, meet the man who helped make this play part of Steelers Super Bowl lore
I can always tell when the NFL Network is replaying the Steelers’ Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals. My text messages start to ding. I get a random bump in Twitter interactions. “Is that you right behind Santonio Holmes in the end zone during the game-winning catch?!” Yup....
