Tim Benz stories, Page 143
Antonio Brown officially signs with Tampa Bay … in forcefully understated fashion
It’s official. A.B. is in T.B. with TB 12. Antonio Brown is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. The former Steelers All-Pro is now on his third team since forcing his way out of Pittsburgh at the end of the 2018 season. It’s been known that the Bucs were planning on signing...
Tim Benz: Ravens defense is biggest challenge yet for Steelers offense
As the Steelers prepare to visit Baltimore Sunday, the Ravens defense of 2020 may not conjure the images of 10 to 15 years ago. It’s still very good, though. And it is the best one this Steelers offense will have faced so far in this season. Denver’s isn’t bad. Philadelphia’s...
First Call: Ravens will have some fans Sunday. Will they have Mark Ingram?
We are caked with Steelers-Ravens nuggets for Tuesday’s “First Call.” Gambling tidbits. Roster and injury news from Baltimore. And a little historical perspective in advance of Sunday’s game. Plus, a former Steeler gets away with a dirty, dirty hit. Do, or don’t, on Dez Well, at least it’s not Antonio...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ projection changed after beating Titans; imagine what beating Ravens would do
Hype has a different tone in 2020. It’s not quite the same because of coronavirus. Is anything? There are no tailgates starting Sunday morn — scratch that — Friday at happy hour. People aren’t pouring out of the bars on Carson Street waving their Terrible Towels after wins. No 1:59...
Derek Schooley talks Robert Morris’ hockey schedule, Pittsburgh ‘Frozen Four’ hopes
Robert Morris men’s hockey coach Derek Schooley must’ve said it three or four times during a recent Zoom conversation. With increasing anticipation each time. “Let’s drop the puck and go.” His Colonials haven’t played since March 8, an elimination game victory over Holy Cross in Round 1 of the Atlantic...
First Call: Bruce Arians denies Tom Brady made Antonio Brown decision; Larry Fitzgerald makes history
Some interesting details about Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Arians has some questionable quotes about how that signing went down. Plus, an eye-popping stat about Le’Veon Bell in his first game with the Kansas City Chiefs. Larry Fitzgerald makes some history. And Tyler Glasnow’s late postseason...
Madden Monday: Why this Steelers offense may be better than Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell editions
The Steelers are 6-0 after a 27-24 win Sunday in Tennessee. And they got there in familiar fashion. Playing one great half and one crummy half. I’m not stunned that was enough to beat the likes of Denver, Houston and the New York Giants earlier in the season. But enough...
Tim Benz: Feats of Strength, Airing of Grievances as Steelers cling to victory in Tennessee
For the first 30 minutes of Sunday’s 27-24 Pittsburgh Steelers victory over the Tennessee Titans, I thought this was going to be a much shorter post than normal. I didn’t have any grievances to air! And the “Feats of Strength” were coming in droves. I thought I’d only be doing...
Tim Benz: We’ve seen ‘typical Pitt’ losses in 2020. Will we see a ‘typical Pitt’ win?
We throw around the phrase “typical Pitt loss” all the time when discussing the football team. Except there are many different iterations of a “typical Pitt loss.” • There is the mind-boggling, creative way of blowing a game late. Like when kicker Alex Kessman bombed a field goal from the...
Sean McDonough on Pitt-Notre Dame, ‘When Sid Slid,’ Mike Emrick’s retirement
In advance of the Pitt-Notre Dame game at Heinz Field on Saturday, ABC broadcaster Sean McDonough has just one request of viewers in Pittsburgh. “Don’t kill the messenger.” Over the last 35 years, McDonough has proven to be one of the most talented and versatile play-by-play announcers in the business....
First Call: Russell Wilson endorses bringing Antonio Brown to Seattle. Interesting Titans injury news.
Friday’s “First Call” has more news about former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown potentially going to Seattle. Interesting injury updates from Tennessee about the Titans in advance of Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Dominik Simon addresses his time playing with Sidney Crosby. And Charlie Morton looks to further entrench his postseason...
Tim Benz: Biggest threats to Steelers — Baltimore, K.C., Titans, and … the Jets?
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, we know the biggest threats between them and a Super Bowl berth. The Ravens, Titans, Chiefs and Bills all leap to mind. But here’s another team of significant concern: the New York Jets. Yes. Those 0-6 New York Jets. A team not even on the Steelers’...
First Call: Jerome Bettis has quarterback idea for Steelers, Odell Beckham Jr. thinks covid-19 can’t ‘enter his body’
For “First Call” Thursday, here’s what I’ve got, Steelers fans. Jerome Bettis wants the Steelers to trade for a quarterback. A punter is making eyes at Pittsburgh. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has reached an “agreement” with coronavirus. And if the Steelers make the Super Bowl, it may...
Antonio Brown to Seahawks talk heats up. And did Le’Veon Bell forget he played for Steelers?
Ah, the good old days for bored Steelers fans. Like way back in … 2019. When you could just log onto the internet and be slapped in the face with five or six different stories, rumors and headlines about former Black and Gold All-Pros Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Well,...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans vent rage for Titans and Ravens, lament losing Devin Bush
Man! Even at 5-0, Steelers fans can find a way to be mad about something. Eh, let me be a little more accurate about that. Man! Even at 5-0, I can find a way to make Steelers fans mad about something. Yeah. That’s more like it. You’ll see that in...
First Call: Ravens already benefitting from bye week before Steelers game, more praise for ‘Mapletron’
More praise for Steelers receiver Chase Claypool. The Baltimore Ravens are already using their rescheduled bye week to their advantage in advance of next week’s matchup with the Steelers. And Patrick Mahomes is endorsing the Le’Veon Bell signing in Kansas City. Plus, Tyler Glasnow is off to a bad start...
Former Steeler linebacker endorses ‘next man up’ approach with Robert Spillane
Former Steelers linebacker Chad Brown knows all about the Steelers’ “next man up” mentality. He was part of it with Bill Cowher. It has continued with current head coach Mike Tomlin. Brown was replaced by Jerry Olsavsky for five games in 1995 when he was injured. The team went to...
Familiar hype-train rolling for Steelers. Will it stay on track for the next 2 weeks?
I wonder if Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is getting a sense of deja vu. Because Year 17 is starting to feel like his rookie campaign of 2004. Roethlisberger took over for an injured Tommy Maddox in the middle of a Week 2 loss to Baltimore. From there, the Steelers won...
First Call: Ex-Steeler rips Baker Mayfield; Steelers favored vs. Titans; Penguins, Primanti Bros. honor Mike Emrick
Tuesday’s “First Call” just keeps piling on the Cleveland Browns after their 38-7 humiliation by the Steelers. Meanwhile, gamblers seem to think the Steelers are getting to 6-0 even against steep competition on the road next week. There is an outpouring of congratulations for Mike “Doc” Emrick from the hockey...
Unbeaten Titans are unapologetic, but hardly unblemished, as they host Steelers
You’d think that after their facility in Nashville became the epicenter of the NFL’s first covid-19 outbreak, the Tennessee Titans may be a bit remorseful. After all, the whole league went into crisis prevention mode, and the schedules of multiple teams got reshuffled as a result. So maybe a sense...
Tim Benz: Steelers ’11/11ths’ pass protection mentality adding up to 5-0
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is fond of talking about “complementary football.” Usually, that’s meant to outline how the defense helps set up the offense in good field position. Or how the offense allows the defense to stay fresh by possessing the ball. Or how the pass rush and pass coverage...
Madden Monday: Should Steelers make a trade to replace Devin Bush? Should they use JuJu Smith-Schuster to do it?
Mark Madden is back from Las Vegas for our Madden Monday podcast. It wasn’t the typical Vegas vacation for Double-M. But at least he had a better time there than the Cleveland Browns had at Heinz Field. Oof! The Steelers thumped the Browns 38-7. Mark and I seem to be...
First Call: OBJ has temper tantrum after loss to Steelers; Titans problems beyond Derrick Henry
It doesn’t appear that the Browns took Sunday’s loss to the Steelers very well. Odell Beckham Jr. had a hissy fit on the sideline toward the end of the game. That’s how we start “First Call” Monday. We also look at how deep the Tennessee Titans are offensively as the...
Tim Benz: ‘Feats of Strength’ abound as Steelers blow out Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers blew out the Cleveland Browns, 38-7, on Sunday at Heinz Field. They improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1978. Helmet-swinging villain Myles Garrett was a minimal factor. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield got benched. The defense bounced back after some shaky moments against the Philadelphia Eagles...
First Call: Ex-Steeler wanted Le’Veon Bell back in Pittsburgh. Ravens mad at Bengals. Aaron Donald’s surprising revelation.
Friday’s “First Call” gives us an ex-Steeler who wishes Le’Veon Bell would’ve come back to Pittsburgh instead of going to Kansas City. Another AFC coach admits his team wanted Bell. Aaron Donald’s surprising quote about his huge game last week. And the Ravens are mad at the Bengals. Better luck...
