Breakfast With Benz category, Page 11
Madden Monday: Kaleb Johnson ‘would still be my guy’ despite underwhelming debut
There was a lot to like from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason game Saturday night. It was a 31-25 victory in Jacksonville. The most obvious positives were the two quarterbacks, as Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson threw a total of four touchdowns and posted a combined 135.5 passer rating. In...
Feats of Strength: Stellar QBs, kicking game, depth playmakers lead Steelers to preseason win
We all hoped that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback play would improve with Aaron Rodgers on the roster. I don’t think any of us expected that would happen on a night when he didn’t even play. That was the case, though, in the Steelers’ preseason opener in Jacksonville. They beat the...
Tim Benz: A 6-pack of players who need to shine in the Steelers preseason opener
Saturday night marks the preseason opener for the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers. They are visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here’s a six-pack of players to watch. 1 & 2. The two tackles: I’m not pretending to break new ground for myself or anyone else in the media or in the fanbase. Troy...
First Call: Jaguars will play starters vs. Steelers; Travis Hunter to play both WR and CB; Justin Fields starting for Jets
We know the Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting lots of players for Saturday’s preseason opener in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are not. In Friday’s “First Call,” we hear from Jags coach Liam Coen about why his team is putting its starters on the field. The Jets are doing the same thing in...
Tim Benz: Steelers need strong seasons from 2 ‘redshirt freshmen’
As Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Troy Fautanu was walking into the players’ dorm at Saint Vincent College to start the team’s 2025 training camp, he vividly flashed back to a single snap during spring workouts. The first play of the “Seven Shots” red zone drill. Day 1 of organized team...
Tim Benz: Can’t get optimistic about Paul Skenes contract rumors? Embrace your own cynicism first
A lot of Pirates fans and media members have been quick to dismiss this week’s “rumor” via 93.7 The Fan that the Pirates have “tried to make some headway” on a contract extension with star pitcher Paul Skenes. Most folks have been dubious of that prospect for many reasons. •...
U mad, bro? Rotten trade deadline, monumental collapse in Colorado have Pirates fans seething
A comically bad loss in Denver. A tragically mangled trade deadline. And some remarkably ill-phrased quotes from a general manager grasping at straws. I’ll hand it to the Pirates. Even now that Steelers training camp has started, they keep finding ways to stay in the headlines. I’ll hand it to...
First Call: Watch David Bednar’s first save as a Yankee; Art Rooney II on Ireland travel plans
Thursday’s “First Call” features Art Rooney II’s travel plans for the Steelers when they head to Ireland. We look at the Browns quarterback situation for their preseason opener and Travis Hunter’s chances of playing on both sides of the ball against the Steelers on Saturday in Jacksonville. Plus, you can...
First Call: Ex-Steelers LB still ‘hurt’ over Pittsburgh exit; Justin Fields’ rough start in New York
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” one Steeler is “heartbroken” after getting a diagnosis on his injured knee. Another former Steeler is still unhappy about his departure from Pittsburgh. It’s been a bumpy ride for Justin Fields in New York so far. And three Robert Morris hockey players are continuing their careers...
What’s surprising, likely to change from the Steelers’ 1st preseason depth chart
The Pittsburgh Steelers published their first depth chart of training camp on Tuesday. You can reference it here. As preseason game No. 1 approaches on Saturday in Jacksonville, let’s examine any surprises or glaring omissions. We’ll also predict how this first template will look by the start of the regular...
Tim Benz: Steelers secondary has the ultimate ‘act now, answer questions later’ approach
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Brandin Echols was asked about the trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in exchange for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. “I just didn’t understand the trade. It was confusing. I was trying to understand it,” Echols said. “But it’s really not my place to understand....
First Call: Steelers may be scouting a 2026 college QB; Steelers sign another CB with Black and Gold bloodlinesVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed another cornerback named “Porter Jr.” with Black and Gold bloodlines. The team’s scouting department may be getting a jump start on watching one quarterback in particular. Hines Ward is getting a coaching promotion. The Penguins are being tied to a Toronto winger. Jaromir Jagr is...
Report: Lemieux-Burkle group ‘well below what Fenway would want’ to sell Penguins
If Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are going to reclaim the Pittsburgh Penguins, their bid is going to have to increase. That’s the word from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. During his most recent “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman said if Fenway Sports Group wants to sell majority ownership of the Pens...
‘Letters from Camp’ Q&A: Steelers QB coach Tom Arth on coaching Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard behind the scenes
Today’s Bella Construction “Letters From Camp” conversation from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is with quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. The Cleveland native was a teammate of Aaron Rodgers in 2006. Now he is coaching him in Pittsburgh nearly two decades later. During Monday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, I asked Arth about...
First Call: Former Steelers QB still bullish on Aaron Rodgers; ex-Steelers CB signs with Jaguars
Monday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler who may be on the other sideline Saturday night in the preseason opener. A former Steelers quarterback has faith in how Aaron Rodgers might be in Pittsburgh this year. The Pirates come back to PNC Park licking their wounds after an embarrassing...
‘Rock’ bottom: Pirates’ absurd loss to Rockies, Ben Cherington’s comical trade deadline spin plunge team to new depths
Sharky’s Café was still stuffed with Pittsburgh Steelers fans long after the team’s Friday night practice had ended at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. There were T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Pat Freiermuth jerseys as far as the eye could see. By 11:45 p.m., though, the “how do yinz think Will Hahherrrd...
Madden Monday: Steelers could ‘talk themselves into (Will) Howard being the guy’ in 2026
On Saturday night, Pittsburgh Steelers fans will get a good look at rookie quarterback Will Howard during the team’s preseason opener in Jacksonville. Maybe that’s not a good thing. Maybe they are better off with the pristine image they have already created of Howard in their heads. Maybe it’s best...
First Call: ESPN gives Pirates low grade for David Bednar trade; Ke’Bryan Hayes homers in wild 1st game with Reds
Friday’s “First Call” has a potential wide receiver target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pirates aren’t getting rave reviews for the David Bednar trade. Ke’Bryan Hayes had a wild first game in Cincinnati. And as the Pirates head to Colorado, the Rockies are every bit as bad as you think...
Rookie Will Howard embraces Pittsburgh’s QB scrutiny — and its pronunciation of his last name
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard has heard it in casual conversation. He’s heard it from fans on the hill at Saint Vincent College. He has even come across it on social media. The pronunciation of his last name in Pittsburghese. “I think it’s pretty funny. The first time I...
Ex-Steeler Max Starks talks about his radio promotion, Broderick Jones, Aaron Rodgers, and memories of Craig Wolfley
There are few people that I’ve ever worked with in the sports media world who were as kind-hearted, pure of spirit and perpetually well-intentioned as Craig Wolfley. The former Steelers offensive lineman turned broadcaster died in March at the age of 66, leaving a void in the team’s radio broadcast...
First Call: Yankees may be interested in David Bednar; Pirates ‘reluctant to seriously engage’ in Mitch Keller trade talks
There are some interesting developments on the David Bednar trade front. The New York Yankees could be interested. It appears Ben Cherington has had very little motivation to trade Mitch Keller. Justin Fields is dealing with his injury well in New York. And the Baltimore Ravens are bringing an Olympic...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby’s arrival was Pittsburgh’s most consequential sports event of the past 20 years
Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Penguins drafting Sidney Crosby. You could argue (in fact, I think I will right now) that Crosby’s arrival was the single most consequential event in Pittsburgh sports over the past two decades. If the Penguins don’t win the lottery to draft Crosby,...
U mad, bro?: Readers revolt against George Pickens post, Pirates fans grumble over Jack Suwinski and Ben Cherington
I kicked a hornet’s nest with my recent column about former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens. Pirates fans have their usual discontent about team ownership, and there’s already a little concern about Aaron Rodgers. This heat makes everyone agitated. Why don’t we all vent a little steam in “U mad,...
First Call: Broderick Jones expected back at practice; more interest in David Bednar; Ben Cherington ‘in limbo’
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an update on Broderick Jones’ practice status. Trey Hendrickson will report to training camp in Cincinnati. The other two AFC North teams have seen significant players go down with injuries at their camps. And we have more speculation about the futures of David Bednar, Mitch Keller...
Stephen A. Smith’s nuclear rebuke of George Pickens Cowboys-Steelers comp misses 1 small detail
On Monday, wide receiver George Pickens heaped praise on what it is like to be a Dallas Cowboy in the wake of his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I kind of understand the camaraderie more than I did in Pittsburgh,” Pickens said on 105.3 The Fan. “The Cowboys, it’s like...
