Breakfast With Benz category, Page 132
‘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....
First Call: Penn State prospects have Steelers’ attention; Rangers throttle Flyers again
Friday’s “First Call” shows us NFL Draft prospects from Penn State who have the interest of Steelers brass. Nittany Lions star Micah Parsons impresses at his pro day but has one question hanging over his head. And the Philadelphia Flyers continue to give up goals at a comical rate. I’m...
First Call: Questions about Al Villanueva’s status, Chase Claypool’s discipline, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s knee
Thursday’s “First Call” is caked with Steelers conversation. We look at Alejandro Villanueva’s future. Steven Nelson’s possible suitors. Potential discipline for Chase Claypool. And concerns about JuJu Smith-Schuster’s knee. And for hockey fans, a forecast of how Pittsburgh’s “Frozen Four” may turn out. Doubling down? It’s been a week on...
How did your March Madness bracket get busted? One coach explains the path to all those upsets
Is your March Madness bracket busted? Yeah. Mine, too. Whose isn’t? If ever there was a year to “expect the unexpected” in the NCAA tournament, this is it. After all, with the odd circumstances affecting almost every conference — and nearly every team that qualified for the tournament — it...
U mad, bro?: Salty Steelers fans. Mad Mike Tomlin critics. Jacked-up JuJu defenders. Chase Claypool’s angry fan club.
This week’s “U mad, bro?” features some salty Steelers fans. Chase Claypool’s fan club is ready to “fight back.” Mad Mike Tomlin critics. And jacked up JuJu Smith-Schuster defenders. In other words, March is going out like a lion. Speaking of the Lions, who thinks they may have a better...
First Call: Steelers eyeing corner and tackle draft prospects; Flyers lose again
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives Steelers fans some college prospects to keep in mind before the draft. The Philadelphia Flyers continue to struggle. And the Duquesne football team is making the most out of the short spring season. Sounding the Horn South Carolina had its pro day for NFL teams Tuesday....
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s new contract: Was it a good decision? Or just a good deal?
At least one national outlet is spit-shining the Steelers’ retention of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster during the NFL’s free-agency period. NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal called the decision “one of the best contracts given out so far.” “…the Steelers know better than any team the 24-year-old receiver is more than worthy...
Tim Benz: Biggest hurdle to overcome for Penguins — and every other East Division contender
The Penguins aren’t the only team in the NHL’s East Division with some major hurdles to overcome if they are to qualify for the playoffs. The other contenders in the division are flawed as well. Which four of the current top six will end up making the cut is a...
First Call: Steelers in touch with 2 draft targets; tempers flare after former Penguins goalie prospect gets 1st win
Tuesday’s “First Call” features some national media types who aren’t high on the Steelers offseason. We track some Steelers scouting efforts in advance of the draft. The Baltimore Ravens aren’t giving up on their quest for a free-agent wide receiver. And a new definition of “puck battle” emerges to help...
Penguins need sweep of woeful Sabres after yielding points to Devils last week
As the 2021 Penguins know by this point, you can’t take goals out of your own net. Just ask goalie Tristan Jarry following that overtime wrap-around score by the New Jersey Devils Sunday afternoon, courtesy of Jesper Bratt. Jesper Bratt’s beautiful OT winner #NJDevils: @NJDevils pic.twitter.com/zSKfFVodeU— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio...
Tim Benz: Holes on Steelers roster only outnumbered by questions about how to patch them
The latest Steelers free-agent departure is reserve outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi. Like fellow pass rusher Bud Dupree, he went to the Tennessee Titans. Of all the offseason defections thus far, Adeniyi’s pinch will probably be felt the least. He only participated in 14% of the defensive snaps. His 63% of...
Madden Monday: Idea that JuJu Smith-Schuster took less money to stay with Steelers is fiction
If you are someone who is excited about JuJu Smith-Schuster returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers for one more year in 2021, I’m happy for you. He’s a good receiver. The offense is better with him than without him. If you are someone who thinks it’s better to have him than...
First Call: Was Philadelphia trying to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster or not?; Pirates said to have ‘top 10’ farm system
Monday’s “First Call” examines the alleged level of interest in Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster before he decided to stay in Pittsburgh. Specifically, from the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. Alex Highsmith has a plan to replace Bud Dupree at outside linebacker. And at least one outlet seems to think that...
Tim Benz: Hope the Steelers enjoyed cornerback depth while it lasted
Remember when the Steelers had cornerback depth? I know, it was a long time ago. Like, December. How ‘bout before then? Go ahead and test your memories. I’ll wait. The Steelers entered 2020 with a starting cornerback tandem that was caked with accolades. Last season wasn’t as good as 2019....
First Call: 17th NFL game progressing. Who will Steelers play?; JuJu Smith-Schuster waits as other receivers sign
Friday’s “First Call” looks at JuJu Smith-Schuster twisting in the free-agent breeze. More details about a likely Week 17 game. And a former Steelers fan (not-so) favorite gets a nice, new contract. Also, we glance at a wild NHL game out west and the odds of some hardware for Marc-Andre...
Brian Burke on Evgeni Malkin’s ‘surge,’ Brandon Tanev’s penalty and tremendous tales of St. Patrick’s Day
New Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke was working on St. Patrick’s Day, something the Irishman hates to do. “My whole career I refused to work on St. Patrick’s Day,” Burke told Josh Getzoff of 105.9 The X on Wednesday. “I usually go to Mass in the morning. Then...
After playing Bruins and limping Sabres, Penguins get their crack at scuffling Devils
For weeks, Penguins fans eagerly anticipated the team’s first crack at the lowly Buffalo Sabres. Just about everybody else in the East Division had a chance to beat up on them. And the Penguins needed their turn. Well, they got it, and the Pens went two-for-two late last week, beating...
Former Penguins goalie Johan Hedberg reflects on the 20th anniversary of ‘Moose mania’
Two decades after it happened, former Penguins goalie Johan Hedberg still remembers the support he got from team legend Jaromir Jagr as he was about to take the ice for his NHL playoff debut. “He said, ‘Don’t worry, kid. If you give up seven, I’ll score eight,’” Hedberg recalled. At...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are brash despite offseason concerns. So are … Pirates fans?
I expect Steelers fans to get froggy with me this time of year. I’m used to it. Every March, I tell you the Steelers roster is in decline. You call me “hater” and say Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season. I tell you they’ve gone eight out of...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster waits; Zach Banner will play right or left tackle; humiliating loss for Flyers
As Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster waits for a new contract, another one of his receiver peers found one in Washington. Offensive tackle Zach Banner talks about the process that kept him in Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia Flyers suffered humiliation while the New York Islanders absorbed an injury. And the ties between...
Penguins podcast: Sidney Crosby is right to ask about NHL ‘gray’ area after controversial hit
If you are a Penguins fan, there wasn’t much to like in the wake of the team’s 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins. It seemed to be a great chance to snare two more points away from a struggling East Division rival. After all, the Penguins had won six in...
Tim Benz: Want ‘March Madness’? Forget basketball. Track Steelers fans during free agency.
From now on, when I hear the phrase “March Madness,” I will no longer think about college basketball. I’ll think about tracking Steelers news on Twitter during the NFL free-agency “legal tampering” period. Because after what I saw this week, many Steelers fans have actually gone mad. Or somebody “legally...
First Call: Bud Dupree once wanted to fight one of his new Titans teammates; Cam Sutton on why he’s staying
Bud Dupree has left the Steelers for the Tennessee Titans. It turns out he and ex-teammate T.J. Watt had a dust-up with one of Bud’s new pals in Nashville. Steelers captain Cameron Heyward is sad to see Dupree leave. Meanwhile, Cameron Sutton is happy to stay. And some spring training...
As Penguins stars were shining, there’s plenty you may have missed in the NHL
As a Penguins fan, you may have been distracted by the stars on display Monday night at PPG Paints Arena during a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Sidney Crosby scored from an impossible angle, to go along with two assists. No angle? No problem.Just Sidney Crosby things. pic.twitter.com/sZkfu7ydRx— Pittsburgh...
First Call: T.J. Watt on Bud Dupree’s departure; JuJu Smith-Schuster tells Steelers players he’s gone; Philly for Mike Hilton?
Steelers free-agency headlines dominate Tuesday’s “First Call.” It sounds like JuJu Smith-Schuster is halfway out the door. T.J. Watt bids adieu to Bud Dupree. Teams are eyeing up Mike Hilton. And there’s plenty of news surrounding the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, too. See ya’ around Where wide receiver JuJu...
