Breakfast With Benz category, Page 110
Madden Monday: Steelers’ win over Titans was ‘discouraging’; Penguins’ Teddy Blueger shines
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to grind out a 19-13 victory against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Heinz Field. But it did little to impress Mark Madden from a big-picture point of view. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark said don’t let the victory fool you into thinking...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Steelers defense manages to make both during nail-biting win over Titans
As we told you Friday at “Breakfast With Benz,” Sunday’s showdown against the Tennessee Titans (9-5) lined up as exactly the kind of game the Steelers (7-6-1) always win. Well, they did. By a final score of 19-13. But, wow, did they try hard to get in their own way...
Robert Morris plans to reinstate men’s, women’s hockey teams for 2023-24 season
“Hockey is the Goal” has been the rallying cry for fundraising efforts to reinstate the Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey teams. On Friday afternoon, men’s coach Derek Schooley gave the slogan a new twist. “Hockey is the goal. And the goal was just scored.” Seven months after the Colonials...
Confidence, opportunity leading to success for Penguins’ Evan Rodrigues
For Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues, explaining his success this season is a series of progressions. “Opportunity and confidence,” Rodrigues said Tuesday when asked about why he’s been so productive this season. “I got off to a pretty good start early in the year. I got a lot of opportunities to...
First Call: Mike Vrabel shares fond memories of Steelers days; Chiefs offense flashes; RMU hockey’s decision day is here
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel shares his fond memories of being a Steeler in advance of his team’s game at Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. The Steelers game next week against the Kansas City Chiefs looks like it will be a monumental task. The Penguins are catching the Buffalo Sabres as...
Tim Benz: Sunday’s game against the Titans sets up better for Steelers than what standings may suggest
Wanna know how Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has avoided having a losing season all these years, even with lesser incarnations of his team? Like, for instance, the current one? He’s won games like the one his team has Sunday afternoon against the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans. That’s how. Late in...
Tim Benz: ‘Mean’ Joe Greene hits hard with guilt trip about Steelers’ play, Chase Claypool’s celebration
It was one thing to have the likes of Steelers alumni such as Ryan Clark and Rocky Bleier ripping the current team. But when the legendary “Mean” Joe Greene does it — and does it like this — it should resonate even more. Appearing on CBS Sports Radio, Greene told...
First Call: Bud Dupree may return in time for game against Steelers; Aaron Rodgers, LeBron James wear Pittsburgh attire
Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on the health of former Steeler-turned-Tennessee Titan Bud Dupree. LeBron James and Aaron Rodgers both grab our attention with Pittsburgh-themed clothing choices. And a strange “man-bites-dog” kind of story from the NFL involving a former Steeler. Will Bud be back? The Steelers are hosting...
U mad, bro?: Fans bash Chase Claypool, Pat Freiermuth, Pressley Harvin and just about anyone else in a Steelers uniform
It’s awfully hard for Pittsburgh to get into the Christmas spirit when the Steelers are playing this badly. They are 6-6-1, winners just one time in their last five games and occupying last place in the AFC North. So, I’m sure you’ll understand if “Joy to the World” isn’t echoing...
Tim Benz: Bad starts have become a big problem for Steelers on both sides of the ball
One of the biggest issues facing the Pittsburgh Steelers — emphasis on “one” of — is their recent propensity to get off to awful starts and get down big in games. • In each of their last three contests, the Steelers have allowed their opponent to score first. It’s more...
Pitt alumni shine on ‘Monday Night Football’: Aaron Donald, James Conner turn in huge games
Former Steelers running back James Conner had a huge game on “Monday Night Football.” Now with the Arizona Cardinals, Conner got his night going against the Los Angeles Rams with this filthy one-handed catch. That's just James ️@JamesConner_ x #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/FXxglxouAH— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 14, 2021 The ex-Pitt Panther...
Tim Benz: Penguins need to accept holiday gifts from NHL schedule maker
As Christmas approaches, the NHL schedule makers have already sent the Penguins a few early presents. Let’s hope the Penguins graciously accept them. The next five games for the Penguins, between Tuesday and Christmas, are all extremely winnable contests. • A Tuesday, Dec. 14 home game against the Montreal Canadiens....
Tim Benz: As decision day looms for Robert Morris hockey, fundraising efforts approach goals
Most hockey teams go into extra skater mode in the final minutes of a game. For the Robert Morris Colonials, they’ve been living in that world since May. That’s when university President Dr. Christopher Howard blindsided both the men’s and women’s hockey teams with the news that the programs would...
Madden Monday: ‘I don’t think (the Steelers) will go QB in the 1st round. They’ll let Mason Rudolph start and see how he does’
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X has a warning for you: Don’t get fooled again! After what we saw against the Los Angeles Chargers earlier in the year, don’t get tricked by that failed fourth-quarter comeback from the Steelers against the Minnesota...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick sounds off about officiating; Steelers among favorites to land Russell Wilson; T.J. Watt fined
No Steelers game this weekend. No problem for Monday’s “First Call.” A bunch of Steelers news nuggets cropped up in the days after their Thursday night loss in Minnesota. So we mined them for you. Among the headlines, Minkah Fitzpatrick is mad at NFL officials. T.J. Watt got fined. The...
First Call: Stats indicate Steelers’ run defense against Vikings was worse than we thought, Marc-Andre Fleury wins No. 500
Friday’s “First Call” shows us exactly how easy it was for Dalvin Cook to race all over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night in Minnesota. We preview the latest edition of Penguins-Capitals on Friday night. Marc-Andre Fleury reaches a milestone. And a former NFL Pro Bowl player dies far too...
Airing of Grievances: Anemic offensive line, putrid defense stand out in Steelers’ 1st-half fiasco in Minnesota
The first grievance I want to air after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-half Minnesota meltdown Thursday night is about … me. Hey, this column is nothing if not transparent. I’m an idiot. As I wrote Thursday, I circled the game in Minnesota on the day the schedule was released as a...
Tim Benz: Thursday’s game vs. Vikings is a microcosm of contradictions for 2021 Steelers
On one hand, I’ve found 2021 to be perhaps the hardest season to prognosticate in terms of picking the Steelers. Week to week, I’m not sure I’ve ever struggled as much to get a handle on whether the Steelers will win or lose — let alone if they’d cover the...
First Call: Oddsmakers favor Mason Rudolph as Steelers’ starting QB in 2022; unhappy Pirates anniversary remembered
Thursday’s “First Call” looks at the future of the Steelers’ quarterback position and a page from the Pirates checkered past. A Western Pennsylvania product with major influence in the college sports world is getting a new gig. And the Philadelphia Flyers are just a mess. Isn’t it great? Money on...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans still wound up after win over Ravens; Pitt fans in a snit over Kenny Pickett ‘fake slide’ criticism
With the Steelers playing Thursday night, part of me considered holding “U mad, bro?” until Friday morning. You know, just in case the Steelers lost. As you will soon read, though, between the Kenny Pickett slide debate and the tense Steelers-Ravens game last Sunday, I wasn’t exactly lacking for material....
Penguins goaltenders fending off concerns about their potential
It took until early December, but Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith finally got his first win of the year Monday night in Seattle. “It feels great,” DeSmith said after the 6-1 victory over the expansion Kraken. “Mentally that was big for me to go out there and get a solid win...
Tim Benz: Coaching will prove to be more important than ever for Steelers, rest of the AFC
Pittsburgh Steelers fans can take comfort in at least one thing during this maddeningly inconsistent 2021 season. They aren’t alone. Just about every fan base is asking the same question about their own favorite team: “Are these guys any good or not?” We always hear that the NFL is a...
First Call: John Harbaugh grumbles about officiating after loss to Steelers; Vikings star may try to play Thursday
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some agitation from Baltimore in the wake of the Ravens’ loss at Heinz Field Sunday. The Steelers are working out some special teams players. The Vikings might get a star player back before the Steelers visit Thursday night. There was a little ripple effect from the...
Football rules experts agree: Controversy over Kenny Pickett’s fake slide needs to be addressed ‘effective immediately’
Former NFL referee and current CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore is weighing in on the fake slide controversy surrounding Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett caused Wake Forest defenders to ease up during an open field run in the first quarter of Saturday’s ACC championship game when it appeared he was...
First Call: 2 Vikings stars sit out practice before Steelers game; Rick Tocchet may fill open Flyers coaching job
The Minnesota Vikings are dealing with significant injury issues as the Steelers get set for a visit Thursday night. A former Penguins fan favorite may be in line to become the Philadelphia Flyers next head coach. Robert Morris is having basketball problems. And some stunning numbers from Monday night’s NFL...
