Breakfast With Benz category, Page 59

Heading into the 2022 offseason, of all the permutations that could’ve aligned for the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback room in 2023, the least likely appeared to be that it would come back in full. One thing was clear. Kenny Pickett was going to be locked in as the starter after the...

Here’s a classic case of “listen to the message, even if you don’t like the messenger.” Rick Pitino has certainly done a lot to make many college basketball fans dislike him during his highly successful yet highly checkered coaching career. But on the topic of nonstop conference realignment chaos, Pitino...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has updates on which quarterbacks the Pittsburgh Steelers will face in both their preseason and regular season openers. A Steelers legend is going to be the subject of an upcoming documentary. The Steelers are taking a look at a former Baltimore Ravens offensive line prospect. And an...

Now that Erik Karlsson is finally a Pittsburgh Penguin, Sunday’s trade shines the spotlight even brighter on head coach Mike Sullivan. That’s the assessment of 105.9 The X host and TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. Sure, Sullivan has two Stanley Cup rings. And on the...

In Monday’s “First Call,” former Pittsburgh Steelers rival Vontaze Burfict fires back at Joey Porter Sr. and Jr. Another ex-Steeler signs in Philadelphia. The Pirates are about to take on Major League Baseball’s best team. And we have some reaction to the Erik Karlsson trade from San Jose’s point of...

Speculation surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins’ attempts to acquire San Jose Sharks Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson lasted more than a month. Initially, I wondered how good of an idea that really was. Especially if the Penguins ended up having to give away multiple first-round draft choices. Thankfully, they didn’t once...

There has been no greater talking point this offseason surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers than the conversation about how to make the offense more explosive. Coordinator Matt Canada’s 2022 unit was fifth in the NFL when it came to time of possession at 31:18 per game, fifth in most offensive snaps...

Friday’s “First Call” showcases a Pitt alum opening eyes in the Hall of Fame game. The Steelers need a little help at defensive back. Austin Hedges still has some ties back to Pittsburgh. And a former WPIAL standout is getting back to practice in the NFL. Izzy to the Hizzy...

It could’ve been just a throw-away line from Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington after a long day of working the phones in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Maybe he didn’t even know the significance of what he said. Significant, that is, if we are to take him at his...

A former Pittsburgh Steeler is starting to emerge in his new city. We are going to see an NFL replay rules change. We might see an expansion of the NFL Guardian Caps into game day. And Damar Hamlin is starting to shine in Bills’ practices. All that in Thursday’s “First...

That didn’t take long. One week of Steelers training camp, and “U mad, bro?” is composed almost entirely of frothing Steelers fans. With just enough Pirates grumbling as a garnish. I can’t wait for September. Ken emailed last Monday. It appears he didn’t like something that Mark Madden and I...

The NFL Network visited Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week. And all the usual preseason optimism at Saint Vincent College seems to have filtered back to the studio. One of the hosts of “Good Morning Football,” Peter Schrager, sang the praises of quarterback Kenny Pickett. Meanwhile, co-host Kyle Brandt was...

By now, every NFL fan has seen some version or another of the Pittsburgh Steelers statistics when T.J. Watt plays and when he doesn’t. They were 8-2 with Watt in the lineup last year. They were 1-6 without him. The defense allowed less than 17 points per game when Watt...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has the Pittsburgh Steelers’ attempts to buffer the loss of Cory Trice at cornerback. We look at grades for the Pirates’ big trade and track a former Bucco’s movement to a new team. And we have to share in the latest laugh at the expense of the...

In the years after leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers, running back Le’Veon Bell has tried his hand at being a boxer, a rapper and even (albeit briefly), a running back for the New York Jets. Now he’s attempting to become an author. As in, he is trying to rewrite history. During...

The scuttlebutt about the Los Angeles Dodgers taking a run at acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller is legit, and the handling of Keller’s contractual future in Pittsburgh may be a factor. That’s according to what “Dodger Talk” host David Vassegh said Monday on AM 570 LA Sports (KLAC). “There’s...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has Cameron Heyward’s ranking in the NFL’s top 100. An ex-Pittsburgh Steeler suffers an unfortunate injury. A former Penguins goalie gets a new contract. And we have new info on the injury to former Pitt star Calijah Kancey. Where’s Cam? The NFL Network is slowly rolling out...

In the wake of signing inside linebacker Kwon Alexander, it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers finally have a strategy when it comes to figuring out their eternal quest to patch over the defense’s hole at that position. Bring in as many free agents as you can. Maybe play five or six...

Monday’s “First Call” has a rumored suitor to land Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Plus, Kwon Alexander’s former head coach is pumping his tires as the linebacker acclimates to the Steelers. We look for updates on Nick Bosa’s contract situation in advance of the Steelers-49ers opener....

Before Saturday’s Pittsburgh Steelers practice at Saint Vincent College, Mike Tomlin addressed the crowd. He took a moment to introduce two-time Super Bowl champion defensive end Aaron Smith on the day it was announced that he was getting inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He also jokingly referred to...

Friday’s “First Call” has comments from Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II on Mike Tomlin’s contract situation. Le’Veon Bell won’t rule out a comeback. A well-known Pittsburgh hockey name explains his a change of heart about his future. Ex-Steeler Chris Hubbard has a new home. And we look at the...

By now, football fans have heard or seen the angry opinions of NFL running backs who believe the league’s cost structure is working against them. Third-year Pittsburgh Steeler Najee Harris is one of those grumbling. The franchise has to determine if they are going to keep Harris through his fifth-year...

When asked for words of advice that he’d pass along to rookie cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice, Pittsburgh Steelers legend Rod Woodson kept it simple. “No seams, no posts, no goes. OK? Don’t get beat deep,” Woodson said Thursday. Those were the words from defensive coordinator Tony Dungy...

Thursday’s “First Call” looks at the Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle position, even though head coach Mike Tomlin is trying to make it a non-story. An NFL signing of note may have some ramifications for a Steelers player next year. A former Steeler is getting a boost for his Hall of...

Even the Pittsburgh Steelers reporting to training camp was dwarfed by the UFO hearings in front of Congress on Wednesday. Not only do I now believe in aliens, I believe they are coming for Christian Kuntz’s massage chair. The Steelers’ specialists massage chair saga continues, but it’s in the dorm...