Breakfast With Benz category, Page 108
First Call: Chiefs encouraged to rest stars vs. Steelers; Ben Roethlisberger rated worst QB in playoffs
Apparently, the postseason means open season on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because everybody is taking pot shots. Meanwhile, ex-Steeler Melvin Ingram III is getting praise from his new Kansas City Chiefs teammates. And the Robert Morris women’s hockey team can add a third Olympian to its list of alumni. All that...
First Call: Steelers are record-setting underdogs against Chiefs; K.C. injury update; a Marc-Andre Fleury trade idea
Thursday’s “First Call” shows us just how big of an underdog the Pittsburgh Steelers truly are this weekend in Kansas City. The Chiefs are getting healthier, too. Fire up the Marc-Andre Fleury trade rumors again. And an honor for a former Robert Morris Colonial. More truth than you thought? When...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans get snippy over NFL ties, criticism of Mike Tomlin, Raiders-Chargers result
It’s Pittsburgh Steelers playoff time for “U mad, bro?” Emotions are raw. The emails are snippy. The tweets are more contentious. And errors in judgment are more costly. Just ask Brandon Staley. Buckle up. This week is going to be a bumpy ride. In my column on Wednesday, I wrote...
Tim Benz: How confident are Chiefs fans for another blowout of the Steelers? Probably too much for Andy Reid’s liking
Exactly how confident are fans of the Kansas City Chiefs as their team (12-5) prepares to host the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) in Sunday night’s AFC playoff game? Well, Soren Petro hosts a talk show in Kansas City on Sports Radio 810 WHB. He joined me for Thursday’s “Breakfast With Benz”...
Flyers exec Bobby Clarke rips Penguins GM Ron Hextall for the job he did in Philadelphia
Here’s some more spice for the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers rivalry. As if more needs to be added. Penguins general manager Ron Hextall is being trashed by his former boss in Philadelphia. That’s Flyers legendary player and team senior vice president Bobby Clarke. Clarke was on “The Cam & Strick Podcast”...
First Call: Video of Ben Roethlisberger watching Chargers-Raiders finale; Antonio Brown hangs with Kanye West
Wednesday’s “First Call” has a tremendous video of Ben Roethlisberger watching the end of the nail-biting Sunday night game that sealed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff berth. Chiefs coach Andy Reid talks about the upcoming rematch with the Black and Gold. He also signed a former Steeler. NFL television numbers are...
Tim Benz: Feeling uncomfortable with Mike Tomlin’s level of comfort about Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said something that stood out to me during his Tuesday press conference in advance of his team’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, two things. First of all, Tomlin claimed that he “dozed off” during the nail-biting overtime game between the Las Vegas...
Tim Benz: The timing of Evgeni Malkin’s return may be just right
I’ll admit that I had the annual “Steelers are passing the baton to the Penguins” column ready to go in my head. At some point this week, I expected to dust off the once-a-year missive about the Steelers’ season ending, and how that was meshing with the state of the...
First Call: Steelers fans flood charities of Raiders kicker; Sunday night football chaos yields big TV ratings spike
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are showing their appreciation for what the Las Vegas Raiders did to help the Black and Gold playoff cause Sunday night. The television ratings for the Raiders-Chargers “Sunday Night Football” game were through the roof. Jerome Bettis has some unfinished business. And we have an honor for...
Tim Benz: Steelers-Raiders-Chargers drama raises questions about NFL ties, scheduling reform
The Pittsburgh Steelers organization (and its fans) nervously watched “Sunday Night Football” as a 2021 AFC playoff bid almost evaporated thanks to a near-tie. Two thoughts crossed my mind as the Las Vegas Raiders barely beat the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32, securing the AFC’s fifth seed for themselves and the...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers getting into the playoffsVideo
What a stunning turn of events. The Jacksonville Jaguars upset the Indianapolis Colts Sunday afternoon, helping the Steelers fall in line for a playoffs spot. And then in the last game of the weekend, the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Los Angles Chargers in overtime to cinch a playoff spot...
Chargers, Raiders react to the big decision that avoided a tie, and got the Steelers in the playoffs
If the Pittsburgh Steelers have any leftover Christmas cards laying around the team offices, it may be nice to send a few to Las Vegas. Specifically, address a couple to the likes of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, quarterback Derek Carr and running back Josh Jacobs. Those guys were instrumental in...
First Call: Chiefs health update before Steelers game; Jaguars coach congratulates Mike Tomlin; Raven’s respect for Big Ben
Monday’s “First Call” gives us health updates on the Kansas City Chiefs as the Steelers prepare for a postseason trip to Arrowhead Stadium. The Jaguars coach has a shoutout for Mike Tomlin after his team’s surprising playoff assist on Sunday. A Ravens veteran has much respect for Ben Roethlisberger. A...
Madden Monday: ‘Raiders did themselves a grave disservice’ by kicking the Steelers into the playoffs
It’s obvious the Pittsburgh Steelers got an enormous amount of help to qualify for the playoffs Sunday. From the Jacksonville Jaguars’ massive upset of the Indianapolis Colts to the Chargers and Raiders avoiding a tie on “Sunday Night Football” to the Baltimore Ravens gifting the Steelers three turnovers. But as...
Tim Benz: ‘Feats of Strength’ and ‘Airing of Grievances’ as Steelers barely keep playoff hopes alive in Baltimore
In a most unlikely turn of events, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense was able to turn around a dreadful day to rally late and win the 2021 season finale in Baltimore, 16-13 in overtime. In an even less likely development, the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14) stunned the Indianapolis Colts (9-8), 26-11. That...
First Call: Todd Haley’s new head coaching job; Lamar Jackson still not practicing during Steelers week
Friday’s “First Call” doesn’t paint a rosy picture for Lamar Jackson as we wait to see if the Ravens quarterback is going to play against the Steelers. Todd Haley has a new coaching job. We look at the Penguins’ next opponent. And the Duquesne men’s basketball team may finally be...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh-trained ice dance team competing at nationals with Olympic dreams
Let’s say you are a defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins. You’ve never played on the NHL stage before. Neither has your partner on the blue line. Your first game together is going to take place in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Let that sink in for a minute....
In 1 day, Antonio Brown was released, trashed his ex-coach, posted his bank account info, wound up in the tabloids
Former Steelers All-Pro Antonio Brown is now officially a former Tampa Buccaneer, too. Tampa Bay terminated his contract Thursday in the wake of Brown’s decision to storm off the sideline shirtless during Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Within their press release announcing the move, the Bucs countered Brown’s...
First Call: Health updates for Evgeni Malkin, Lamar Jackson; Antonio Brown’s statement on why he bailed on the Bucs
Thursday’s “First Call” has a health update on Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson as we prepare for the latest chapter of Steelers-Ravens. A loss in the football world is felt by a former Steeler. Evgeni Malkin is on the doorstep of a return for the Penguins. And Antonio Brown is telling...
U mad, bro?: Readers ramp up emotion over coverage of T.J. Watt’s sack record quest; Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement; Steelers’ future
Glad tidings from Steelers fans coming off the holidays and Ben Roethlisberger’s goodbye party lasted only briefly. Given their unfortunate playoff predicament, my inbox was sour like three-week-old eggnog and saltier than that holiday nut-mix grandpa likes. If somehow the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Indianapolis Colts and the Steelers manage...
Tim Benz: Fans staging ‘Clown out’ protest in Jacksonville as Steelers need Jaguars to beat Colts
For Steelers fans who consider the Jacksonville Jaguars to be a clown show, apparently you were even more accurate than you may have believed. By now, most of Pittsburgh is aware that if the Steelers are to make the playoffs, they need to beat the Ravens on Sunday in their...
First Call: Betting on Ben Roethlisberger’s post-NFL job; legal issue for Bud Dupree; debating records for T.J. Watt, Cooper Kupp
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at Ben Roethlisberger’s life after the NFL. We get some bad news on Bud Dupree, an interesting opinion on NFL records in a 17-game season and a look at what may go down as the goal of the year in the NHL. Guess who was in...
Tim Benz: NFL set itself up for ‘worst nightmare’ Week 18 tie scenario that could impact Steelers
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for their regular-season finale in Baltimore on Sunday, we all know the likelihood of them making the playoffs is slim. Sure, they could beat the Ravens for a second time this year. Even though the game is on the road and the Steelers are a...
Blues a tough test as Penguins look to extend ‘lengthy’ win streak to 9
When is an NHL eight-game win streak longer than an eight-game win streak? Probably when it lasts a full month. The Penguins’ lengthy eight-game unbeaten jaunt began back on Dec. 4 in Vancouver. So between the holiday break and a covid pause, you’ve got to go back to before you...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s surprising message about Ben Roethlisberger; Baker Mayfield’s complaints after loss to Steelers
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some negative fallout for the Browns after their loss to the Steelers Monday night. A stunning turn from Antonio Brown regarding Ben Roethlisberger. And Aaron Rodgers is talking about Pittsburgh again. Miffed Mayfield Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield wasn’t happy with his team’s offensive approach as...
