Tim Benz: Bubbling opinions on Aaron Rodgers' arrival, T.J. Watt's absence, Paul Skenes' dominance and Penguins' future

My honeymoon in Italy was great. But I’ve had enough pasta, pizza, wine and marble statues for a while. After two weeks away, it’s time to get “Breakfast With Benz” rolling again.

So, let me get caught up on a few things I missed while I was away and didn’t have a chance to get off my chest.

That includes some extended thoughts on Aaron Rodgers’ arrival, Paul Skenes’ dominance, T.J. Watt’s minicamp no-show, talk of the Penguins’ sale, how the U.S. Open at Oakmont wrapped up, and a former Pirate enjoying some well-deserved success.

• The way Aaron Rodgers spoke about how and why he is a Steeler certainly painted Mike Tomlin in a positive light. Whatever Tomlin sold Rodgers about coming to Pittsburgh, the 41-year-old quarterback was buying.

"I think it starts with Mike Tomlin."

Aaron Rodgers on the appeal of playing for Mike Tomlin and the @steelers. pic.twitter.com/XUmSK6I0JW

— NFL (@NFL) June 10, 2025

I can’t imagine team success in recent years was at the top of that sales pitch, though. After all, the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.

Rodgers hasn’t won one since 2020 himself. After two busted years in New York and an 8-9 conclusion to his run in Green Bay, Rodgers may just see the prospect of nine or 10 wins and a return to the postseason as enough.

After the emptiness attached to eight years without a playoff win, hopefully, Tomlin doesn’t.

Rodgers and Tomlin have to make this thing work to the tune of at least 10 wins and a postseason victory. Anything short of that means it wasn’t worth the effort and three months of public flirtation between the two that made the Steelers look like a begging puppy just waiting for a treat at the end of supper.

No amount of public buzz that surrounds the Steelers — or good vibes between Tomlin and Rodgers throughout the rest of the season — will compensate for failing to hit that plateau.

• Everything I heard about the Steelers’ view of T.J. Watt’s situation heading into minicamp is that the front office was very comfortable with the contract offer they made to their star linebacker.

They think it’s fair. They think it’s hefty. They think it is doing right by Watt both in terms of his past accomplishments as a Steeler and in terms of how it stacks up compared to other pass rushers who have gotten big deals of late.

If Watt doesn’t feel that way and refuses to sign for a while, I don’t think the Steelers will play the quiet game of sitting back and letting his absence from training camp (if there is one) do all the talking.

To say nothing of how his brother plans to use his pulpit on the “Pat McAfee Show.”

Either directly through whatever Tomlin and Omar Khan have to say when camp opens or indirectly through leaks to the media, I expect the Steelers to let their stance on these negotiations be known more than they have in other scenarios in years past.

That’s if this situation should carry all the way to Saint Vincent College.

• I’m not certain how the speculation of a potential Penguins’ sale began or where it’s heading. But I am sure Fenway Sports Group can’t be thrilled with the optimism from its fanbase that Mario Lemieux, Rob Burkle and David Morehouse may try to reacquire the team.

Hearing from sources that the group of Ron Burkle, Mario Lemieux and David Morehouse are investigating the possibility of buying back the Penguins from Fenway Sports. Burkle and Lemieux sold the Penguins to Fenway in 2021. Fenway has been looking to sell a partial share. Will be…

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 11, 2025

The employees on the public relations and corporate interaction side of management within that organization despise the public perception that FSG is a faceless corporate entity that merely views the team as nothing more than a piece of its greater portfolio. Nor do they like the idea that the FSG has done little to connect with its fan base.

Yet the immediate clamor from the fans themselves to wish this rumor into taking place is all the evidence those folks should need to understand the perception is very much a reality.

And if FSG really does have every intention of maintaining control of the club, they still have a long way to go to counter that belief within their consumers.

More sports

• Madden Monday: 'Extremely slim' chances of selling Penguins back to Mario Lemieux are 'a tempest in a teapot'
• Oakmont Country Club holds up to reputation at 2025 U.S. Open
• In T.J. Watt's absence, Nick Herbig trying to make most of 1st-team work with Steelers

• The individuals who run Oakmont and the USGA nearly got their wish. The winner of the U.S. Open almost walked away with a score over par. J.J. Spaun claimed the title with a 1-under 279.

Yes, the course proved challenging. But that didn’t exactly make for a lot of highlight moments Sunday. Thankfully, Spaun’s two birdies on holes 17 and 18 made for a memorable ending.

ABSOLUTE CINEMA

J.J.’S PUTT TO WIN THE U.S. OPEN FROM EVERY ANGLE pic.twitter.com/5eKaR9Zali

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2025

I want to see the world’s best golfers challenged too. But scoring and shot-making are what makes for compelling viewing.

Without much of that, a weather delay and a less than star-studded leaderboard resulted in a rather blasé final round.

Well, until Spaun nailed that 64-footer. It’ll be part of U.S. Open lore forever.

• Paul Skenes pitched three times while I was gone. Over those three starts, the Pirates’ hurler logged 20⅔ innings while allowing only one earned run. He totaled 20 strikeouts while yielding just four walks.

The Pirates won two of those games, yet Skenes’ personal record was 0-1 with two no-decisions. Pittsburgh scored just four times during those appearances.

Paul Skenes, Disgusting 99mph Sinker movement. ????

What are you supposed to do with that? pic.twitter.com/RjevCCq3n2

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 4, 2025

Last year’s Rookie of the Year has a meager 4-6 record despite posting a 1.78 ERA. Via CodifyBaseball.com, Skenes is “the first pitcher in MLB history to have an ERA below 1.80 over any 15-start stretch of a season but have fewer than 5 wins in those starts to show for it.”

• While it was unfortunate to see the Pirates bats fall back into being silent during a loss in Chicago on Thursday, I was happy for Jameson Taillon.

The former Pirates first-round pick spun seven strikeouts over 6⅓ innings, giving up just two runs along the way as the Cubs won 3-2. Taillon improved to 7-3 with the win, and he lowered his ERA to 3.48.

Taillon is on his way to a second straight solid season in Chicago after going 12-8 with a 3.27 ERA in 2024. After so many ups and downs with injuries, surgeries, his battle with testicular cancer, taking line drives off the head and anything else that has come his way, the veteran right-hander is finding steady success in his early 30s.

At 33, Taillon has 14 starts under his belt so far with the Cubs after posting between 28-32 each of the past four years with the New York Yankees and Cubs. Given all of his struggles and bad luck, his dedication to the game is to be applauded.

Few Pirates have come through that locker room at PNC Park who are as genuine and accommodating as Taillon. I’m happy to see him doing well.