First Call: Eli Heidenreich’s ‘awesome’ start with Steelers; Paul Skenes hopes to bounce back
Thursday’s “First Call” has encouraging words about Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Eli Heidenreich. Paul Skenes looks to stop a short personal slide for the Pirates. Ian Happ helped the Chicago Cubs end an extended team-wide tumble at PNC Park. Gerrit Cole continues to look fantastic in his return. Jordan Staal is...
Beyond the Bylines: Spirited rants about Evgeni Malkin’s contract, Pirates pitching, cafeteria ice cream
“Beyond the Bylines” streamed early this week because Joe Starkey is heading on the road for a few days. So he joined me from the comfort of his car in a high school parking lot before coaching basketball. The two of us got going quickly as we exchanged heated volleys...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans fire back at criticism of Evgeni Malkin’s contract; Steelers fans dubious of QB situation
I felt like I had a pretty good sense of how things were going to go for the Pittsburgh Penguins this offseason. The reality of the playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers was going to hit like a truck. Everyone was going to scream that the team needs to get...
Mark Madden: Bringing back Evgeni Malkin leaves Penguins stuck in no-man’s land
Giving Evgeni Malkin another season in Pittsburgh is what’s right for the fans. It’s what’s right for Sidney Crosby and the locker room. It’s what’s right for the new owners, who won’t be villainized. But it feels wrong for the Penguins. Here’s betting Kyle Dubas retained Malkin through clenched teeth....
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger ‘nervous’ after seeing ‘baby-steps teaching’ of Drew Allar; ex-Steeler couldn’t wait for Aaron Rodgers
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an interesting reaction to Drew Allar’s practice video. One ex-Steeler was impacted by Aaron Rodgers’ long wait to re-sign. The Penguins’ AHL team is ready to fight for a conference title, and the Pirates hope Bubba Chandler can get...
Tim Benz: Evgeni Malkin’s contract is impractical and pragmatic all at once
I’m not sure if there is such a thing as pragmatic impracticality. But if such a concept exists, it could be summed up by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ decision to extend Evgeni Malkin’s contract. On Tuesday, Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas inked the 39-year-old former Hart Trophy winner to...
Tim Benz: Braxton Ashcraft has been the Pirates’ best pitcher, and it’s time for people to noticeVideo
Braxton Ashcraft isn’t the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best pitcher. But Ashcraft is having the best season of any Pirates starter. And it’s time for more people to start acknowledging that. Based on how bumpy things have been for Paul Skenes his last two times out, some folks in Pittsburgh have picked...
Tim Benz: Up-and-down trends made Memorial Day weekend tough to digest for Pirates fans
Coming off of Memorial Day weekend, you might have overdone it with a few too many hot dogs, an extra helping or two of macaroni salad, and maybe you shoulda saved that last slice of cookie cake for one of the neighborhood kids at the cookout. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Madden Monday: Sidney Crosby is ‘going to play his whole career in Pittsburgh’
While in Switzerland for the IIHF World Championships, Pittsburgh Penguins team captain Sidney Crosby told The Athletic that he’d like to play for “as many years as possible.” He also refused to rule out the notion of playing as many as five more years. That would have him playing until...
Mark Madden: Pirates aren’t following Penguins on path to playoffs
The Pittsburgh Penguins were projected to be a non-playoff team before the season, maybe as bad as bottom-five in the NHL. But then a lot went right. Anthony Mantha scored a career-high 33 goals. After two disappointing campaigns in Pittsburgh, Erik Karlsson resurrected his game and earned team MVP. Twelve...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Sidney Crosby, then, now and forever, remains committed to Penguins
The Athletic reported that Sidney Crosby “definitely want(s) to keep playing for as many years as possible.” But Crosby’s contract extensions, he says, will be structured to give the Pittsburgh Penguins salary-cap options: “It just makes sense, whether it’s our cap, who we have coming in and out, just to...
Mark Madden: Aaron Rodgers talk is everywhere and, ultimately, that’s our fault
Aaron Rodgers might now be a meh quarterback, but give him credit: He knows how to refresh the news cycle. For months, Rodgers had locals on the edge of their seats awaiting his decision: To play or not to play? Rodgers got ice cream, signed and showed up at OTAs....
Beyond the Bylines: Sidney Crosby’s future; Steelers expectations; Pirates bullpen questions
Before the holiday weekend, Joe Starkey and Tim Benz hosted “Beyond the Bylines” on Friday morning. Among the topics the guys discussed: Sidney Crosby told The Athletic that he wants to play for “as many years as possible.” So how do the Penguins build their roster with that loose timeline,...
First Call: Taylor Swift learns about Jerome Bettis’ legacy; ex-Steeler joins Vikings; controversy in WBS Pens playoff game
In our final “First Call” before Memorial Day weekend, Taylor Swift figures out what made Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis a legend. Former Pirate Gerrit Cole makes his long-awaited return to Major League Baseball. A former Steeler is heading to a new team. And there was controversy during Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s...
Steelers OL Dylan Cook embraces move to right tackle, even if it means more competition
It doesn’t feel like recent attempts to tinker with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line were done with Dylan Cook’s best interest in mind. That doesn’t mean he’s against them though. “I played a lot of right tackle in my day,” Cook said with a grin Wednesday. That’s good. Because he...
Pirates solved a lot of pesky problems in Wednesday’s much-needed win at St. Louis
Much of what has been going wrong lately for the Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly — and collectively — went right on Wednesday night. And it came at the absolute right time. After losing four straight games, on the verge of giving the Cardinals the first two contests of a three-game series...
First Call: Bonus money for Aaron Rodgers revealed; Mars’ JJ Wetherholt shines vs. Pirates
Thursday’s “First Call” features details about Aaron Rodgers’ new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pirates are getting worn out by a Pittsburgh native during their series with St. Louis. A former Pirates relief pitcher has found new life in Cleveland, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have a chance to advance...
Tim Benz: Bet on ‘old dog’ Mason Rudolph learning some ‘new tricks’
New Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy admitted that he had some preconceived expectations about returning quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. The QB guru said Howard moves better than he expected. “He’s a lot more athletic than I realized in his lower half,” McCarthy said Wednesday. McCarthy also said he...
Tim Benz: No need for Aaron Rodgers to worry. Expectations for Steelers aren’t high enough to be ‘tempered’
Speaking for the first time since re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season, Aaron Rodgers clearly stated that this will be his last year in the NFL. “Yes,” Rodgers said Wednesday afternoon. “This is it. Yup.” "This is it."Aaron Rodgers says he will retire after the 2026 season....
Mark Madden: Pirates need more from well-paid Bryan Reynolds and other sports notes
Just like Aaron Rodgers, refreshing sports notes will eventually show up. But on a haphazard timetable, and who knows if they’re going to be any good? Also like Rodgers. • The Pittsburgh Pirates’ biggest problem is outfielder Bryan Reynolds: He makes $14.25 million, has one home run in 35 games,...
First Call: New Steelers WR recruits JuJu Smith-Schuster via social media; Gerrit Cole’s return set for YankeesVideo
Could JuJu Smith-Schuster have another tour in Pittsburgh? At least one current Steeler is nudging to make that happen. The Pirates are trying to stop the bleeding in St. Louis. Mason Miller had a rare rough night for the San Diego Padres, and Gerrit Cole is coming back for the...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans frothing over early QB pecking order
Due to circumstances beyond our control, “U mad, bro?” is posting a day early this week. Actually, who am I kidding? It’s totally within my control. But with conflicts, partial vacation days, Pittsburgh Steelers press conferences, podcasts, public appearances, radio shows, the Pirates’ schedule and other considerations, our weekly point-counterpoint...
Tim Benz: Teaching the Steelers’ O-line versatility is 1 thing. Messing with a good thing is anotherVideo
At least publicly, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Troy Fautanu isn’t pushing back against the possibility of switching from right tackle to left tackle. Especially with Broderick Jones’ recovery from last year’s neck injury lingering into at least this week’s organized team activities. “Just being ready for whatever happens,” Fautanu said...
First Call: Troy Fautanu makes thoughts clear on possibly playing guard; Ex-All Pro likes Steelers’ chancesVideo
Troy Fautanu has a definitive opinion about potentially playing guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. A former Pitt standout likes the Steelers’ chances in 2026. The Pirates face an intradivisional showdown, and ex-Bucs relievers succeed while the current team’s bullpen has struggled. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Willing,...
Tim Benz: Will Howard as Aaron Rodgers’ backup would be inconsistent with Steelers’ stated goalsVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened Monday’s inaugural organized team activity session of 2026 with recently re-signed Aaron Rodgers taking first-team reps at quarterback. He was followed by untested second-year QB Will Howard, then veteran Mason Rudolph and rookie Drew Allar. If that’s simply an effort to get Howard elevated work with...
