Tim Benz Columns category, Page 3

Tuesday’s “First Call” has a signing of note by the Pittsburgh Steelers. We pass along an important reminder about the Baltimore Ravens from Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. Mike Sullivan shares his thoughts about coaching against the Penguins. And Duquesne’s football team is honored for its home win last week. Make...

After the Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up the first practice following their bye weekend, they weren’t bashful about acknowledging what they had witnessed within their own division during their downtime. “Every AFC North game, I watched,” linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “It was nice to see those teams lose this week. We’ve...

Monday’s “First Call” features some surprising odds in the AFC North. The amount of money spent in Ireland during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit is through the roof. And there’s lots of college hockey news involving some Penguins prospects, Robert Morris and Penn State. Not believing what they are seeing Despite...

The Pittsburgh Steelers just had a great week, and they didn’t even play. Mike Tomlin’s team was on its bye, and while the players rested following their win in Ireland last week, the rest of the AFC North lost. Cleveland fell to Minnesota in England, 21-17. The Cincinnati Bengals dropped...

Robert Morris hockey coach Derek Schooley has seen the predictions for his team in Year 3 of the relaunched program. The Colonials have been slotted anywhere from second to ninth in the 10-team Atlantic Hockey America conference. “We are somewhere between there on all of it. We’ll find out where...

The Pittsburgh Steelers players won’t be on the field during the bye week. But hopefully the coaches are using the extra time to figure out ways to improve the offense. As good as 3-1 may feel right now, there is plenty of room for improvement, particularly on that side of...

Friday’s “First Call” links Kenny Pickett’s name to trade speculation again. A pair of ex-Pittsburgh Pirates performed well in MLB playoff elimination games. Local college hockey is getting ramped up. And there is a full weekend of bounce-back potential for some regional college football teams. Pickett predicament Could ex-Steeler Kenny...

The Steelers are going into the bye weekend at 3-1 and in first place atop the AFC North. Nothing to complain about, right? Ha! That’s a good one! via GIPHY So long as Mike Tomlin is managing the clock and the Pirates are playing baseball, that’s never going to be...

A little after 7 p.m. I took a break from watching the Yankees-Red Sox playoff game between innings. I walked out on my back deck overlooking the North Side of Pittsburgh. The sunset was coloring the pastel skies over PNC Park, and I thought, “What a great night this would...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. Lamar Jackson could be down for a while in Baltimore. The Atlantic 10’s commissioner wants a bigger NCAA Tournament. And we check in on some former Pirates in the MLB playoffs. Pillaging the practice squad The Tampa Bay...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has more information about Tyreek Hill’s gruesome injury on “Monday Night Football.” The Browns are dealing with wide receiver depth issues as well in advance of their game against the Steelers. The baseball playoffs are getting underway. And there is a quote from an MLB owner that...

As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to hit their bye weekend at roughly the quarter pole of their 17-game regular season, they do so with results outpacing the process. At this point in the calendar — and upon taking a quick glance at the standings — maybe that’s OK. Four games...

Monday’s “First Call” gets us up to speed on Calvin Austin’s injury. Another former Pittsburgh Steeler suffered a scary hit in Buffalo, and we’ll examine how some ex-Steelers did at wide receiver. That includes George Pickens, who had a big game for Dallas. Providing an update Steelers wide receiver Calvin...

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland on Sunday, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X saw some significant holes in the victory. In particular, as he said on this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Madden wasn’t thrilled with many of Mike Tomlin’s fourth-quarter coaching...

For much of their game in Ireland, the Pittsburgh Steelers felt like they were leading the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The Guinness was flowing. The Terrible Towels were waving. Everyone was dancing an Irish jig. Then the fourth quarter happened, and the tone changed. The Steelers hung on to win...

You aren’t going to read this a lot this year. So enjoy it while it lasts. The Pittsburgh Penguins really hit the bull’s-eye on something. Their plan to have 40-year-old goalie Marc-Andre Fleury come back on a one-game professional tryout contract to suit up one last time as a Penguin...

In “First Call” Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have eyes on some skill position players at a school out west. We know the officiating crew for the game in Ireland. The Pirates could deal a painful blow to the Reds. And the Baltimore Ravens are dealing with another big-time problem....

The rapture didn’t happen this week. Some people seem really upset about that. Personally, I’m angry because the Pittsburgh Steelers can’t get off the field on possession downs, and the Pirates never give Paul Skenes any run support. It’s giving me a headache. Anyone got any Tyleno… nevermind. Let’s discuss...

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t hold back when it came to criticism of his old team during his most recent “Footbahlin’” podcast, despite a win over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Specifically, he laid into offensive tackle Broderick Jones for his play in Foxborough. “I assume (Mike)...

Before their showdown in Ireland, the Pittsburgh Steelers may bring back an offensive lineman who was recently with the team, while the Minnesota Vikings are losing a starter up front. Russell Wilson is getting benched in New York. A former Steelers linebacker is switching teams. And Paul Skenes has a...

During his weekly press conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin was asked if injuries in the secondary (DeShon Elliott, Joey Porter Jr.) have resulted in the Steelers “holding back” on defense. “Certainly, but it’s not just the injuries. If you’re coaching and you’re seeing around corners, certainly one injury doesn’t get...