Breakfast With Benz category, Page 94
First Call: Steelers signee at OLB provides spark at practice; clarity on injury for Ravens rookie; Justin Tucker’s new contract
A new Steeler provides a highlight at training camp. An IUP player is on the Steelers’ radar. The Baltimore Ravens are already dealing with an injury concern. And Justin Tucker is by himself as the NFL’s highest paid kicker again. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” The new ‘Bus’? Credit...
Tim Benz: Larry Ogunjobi shows Steelers — and himself — that his injured foot is ready to go
Post-practice media interviews at Steelers training camp certainly aren’t Mike Tomlin’s favorite part of the day. But after Monday’s workout at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, an ear-to-ear grin slowly crept across Tomlin’s face when he realized one of the questions was about Larry Ogunjobi’s debut. “It didn’t take long for his...
First Call: Steelers still look to improve RB depth; NFL tweaks helmet rule; ex-Pirates pitcher continues to shine out west
Monday’s “First Call” shows the Pittsburgh Steelers are still attempting to strengthen depth at running back. Some interesting tinkering with the NFL rule book is taking place. And a former Pirates pitcher continues to dominate in the National League West. A little help? The Steelers are still looking to get...
Madden Monday on Kenny Pickett: ‘I’m told he may not be ready to play exhibitions yet’
The Pittsburgh Steelers play their first preseason game in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era on Saturday. So far in training camp, the three quarterbacks competing to replace him have done little to inspire much confidence about what the offense will look like in his absence. Not like it looked all that...
Tim Benz: 1st Pirates Hall of Fame class has an important inclusion, a glaring omission and a contentious debate
Looking at the list of inaugural Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame inductees, my immediate thought was that the decision makers involved got one important name right, one omission glaringly wrong, and there is one debate that could get harder to reconcile the longer the player in question stays out. In...
Friday Football Footnotes: Ben Roethlisberger’s name dragged into Deshaun Watson mess; J.K. Dobbins, Saquon Barkley making comebacks
“Friday Football Footnotes” this week looks at how Ben Roethlisberger’s name is getting dragged into the suspension wrangling of Deshaun Watson. J.K. Dobbins and Saquon Barkley are looking to make big comebacks in 2022. And there are legal problems in Arizona. Watson’s ‘whataboutism’ Apparently, Deshaun Watson’s legal camp is going...
First Call: Najee Harris called top-10 in NFL; Jose Quintana shines in Cardinals debut; Joe Musgrove’s struggles mount
A former NFL star at running back has a favorable view of Steelers’ 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris. Jose Quintana was great in his first start after leaving the Pirates. Another ex-Pirate, Joe Musgrove, is going through tougher times. And a former Penguin is getting a coaching job. All that...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Diontae Johnson had to give up a lot to settle on contract
The Steelers’ new contract with wide receiver Diontae Johnson sums up that old adage from business negotiations. A fair deal for both sides probably means that neither side is completely happy with the contract that has been signed. I don’t think that always has to be true. Look at Sidney...
Tim Benz: If Ben Cherington is feeling ‘urgent’ about the Pirates, let’s see proof beyond keeping guys he already has
Maybe Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has a different definition of “urgent” than I do. Or the Oxford dictionary does. “Urgent: showing that you think that something needs to be dealt with immediately.” On Tuesday, after the MLB trade deadline passed, Cherington described the Pirates’ action of keeping outfielder Bryan...
First Call: Steelers floated as trade partner for Bears’ tackle; Steel Curtain snubbed on ESPN list; Josh Bell’s Padres debut
In Thursday’s “First Call,” members of the Steel Curtain have been snubbed by ESPN. The Steelers are being connected to an offensive tackle who is potentially getting traded. Ex-Pirate Josh Bell played his first game with his new team. And Gerrit Cole suffers through an unbelievable first inning in Yankee...
U mad, bro?: Readers have helmet-cap hysteria, Steelers ‘hold-in’ sanctimony, Pirates trade deadline depression
The Steelers have a wide receiver staging a “hold-in.” The Pirates just traded their best pitcher and recently endured a seven-game losing streak. And the NFL is making their players wear weird safety cushions on their helmets. Oh, also, you may not have heard about this one. It may have...
Plenty of reasons for Steelers to embrace multiple-tight end ‘mode’ even more in 2022
During the first week of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, I asked head coach Mike Tomlin about tight end Zach Gentry and the prospect of his development leading to the usage of more two-tight end packages. “We’ve been in that mode,” Tomlin replied. Looking at the numbers, that appears to be...
First Call: ESPN calls a former Steeler the best ever at his position; Jose Quintana debut date for Cardinals
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an honor for a legendary former Pittsburgh Steeler. We know when Jose Quintana is making his St. Louis Cardinals debut. Jameson Taillon had a rough outing for the Yankees. And what will James Washington’s injury mean for the Cowboys? The GOAT at center ESPN.com revealed a...
Tim Benz: It’s what Steelers GM Omar Khan did not say about Diontae Johnson’s contract that matters most
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan made his feelings about Diontae Johnson abundantly clear Tuesday. He wants him on the team. This year and moving forward. One thing Khan didn’t make quite as obvious is that he wants Johnson to stay at the franchise’s preferred salary. Not the vastly expanding...
First Call: Steelers work out Maulers QB; ex-Steeler suffers long-term foot injury; Josh Bell traded with Juan Soto
The Steelers may have an interest in a former Pittsburgh Mauler. An ex-Steeler suffers a significant injury setback in Dallas. Another one is heading to Arizona. Ex-Pirate Josh Bell was traded. And a former Robert Morris hockey player is on the move. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Pittsburgh(ish) connection...
Tim Benz: Good luck to what remains of Pirates roster after trade deadline passes
The trade deadline for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the rest of Major League Baseball is Tuesday evening. Whatever the Pirates do, it’ll no doubt make their Major League roster even less competi— Uh, I mean … it’ll no doubt stock their farm system with even more pieces for the inevitable...
Steelers linebacker speaks cautiously, but he’s clearly not a fan of NFL’s protective Guardian Caps
When it comes to the NFL’s new “Guardian Caps,” Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack is at least trying to be more diplomatic than, say, for instance, Green Bay’s De’Vondre Campbell. “I just think it’s stupid, to be honest,” Campbell said via Packers Wire. “You say you’re doing it to protect...
Tim Benz: Pirates may not know how to win, but they sure have figured out when to lose
I’ll give the 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates credit for one thing. They sure do know how to bury a losing streak. The current slide for the Buccos started July 24, just before Steelers training camp opened. So no one in Pittsburgh noticed. Now it’s up to seven games, in advance of...
Madden Monday on Kenny Pickett’s 3rd-team status with Steelers: ‘It’s just how life is for rookie quarterbacks’
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett is being relegated to third-team duties to begin his first NFL training camp. Because of that, he hasn’t been working with a lot of veterans or top-of-the-depth-chart talents. As a result, a lot of the team drills have been a struggle for Pickett. The...
First Call: Settlement talks broke down before Deshaun Watson suspension; Bryan Reynolds trade talks quiet
In Monday’s “First Call,” reports are that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is getting suspended for six games. Details have emerged about failed negotiations to settle the matter in advance of that decision. It sounds like Bryan Reynolds is staying with the Pirates, but a Pittsburgh native may be on...
Friday Football Footnotes: Another big-money receiver contract; Baker Mayfield doesn’t want to see his old Browns jersey
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering their third day of training camp. The rest of the National Football League’s teams are wading into preparations as well. So, let’s find out what’s happening across the rest of the NFL in our first “Friday Football Footnotes” of 2022. Eyes on the prize Every...
First Call: Checking the Jose Quintana trade watch; former Pirates pitchers shine; ex-Penguin gets an honor
An ex-Pittsburgh Penguin is getting a special night. A bunch of ex-Pirates stepped up on the mound Thursday. And Jose Quintana may be an ex-Pirate soon. All of that in Friday’s “First Call.” Marleau’s moment An ex-Penguin is getting quite an honor. Patrick Marleau’s No. 12 will be retired by...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin may not be re-evaluating Steelers QB battle ‘after every throw,’ but it feels like everyone else is
Mike Tomlin has said that the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff won’t be reshuffling the quarterback depth chart on a daily basis. “We’re not going to micromanage, or overmanage, this quarterback competition,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “The depth chart is not going to rest on every throw.” He didn’t say anything about...
First Call: Mitch Trubisky gets 1st public razzing from Steelers fans; Tyson Alualu happy to come back at nose tackle
Mitch Trubisky gets his first public razzing from Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Nose tackle Tyson Alualu is on board with his new teammate’s hope for a restructured defensive line. The Pirates and Phillies match up for a long weekend at PNC Park. And the Penguins are going to be part of...
Tim Benz: No comparison between Diontae Johnson’s ‘hold-in’ and T.J. Watt’s — beyond the action itself
While discussing the state of his contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers during a training camp media scrum Wednesday, wide receiver Diontae Johnson admitted that he was frustrated by some of the public reaction to his financial requests. Specifically, those in fan and media circles who don’t believe he is...
