Breakfast With Benz category, Page 126
Tim Benz: No Penguins panic yet, but reasons to grouse
I suppose if you predict a series to go seven games, the team you predict to win is going to have to lose three times. I said the Pittsburgh Penguins would beat the New York Islanders in seven games in their opening-round playoff series. So, at 2-2 after four games,...
First Call: Early hype for young Steelers; Derek Shelton on run of no-hitters; another Penguins classic moment
Friday’s “First Call” gives us some praise for a pair of young Pittsburgh Steelers skill-position players. Pirates manager Derek Shelton wonders why we are seeing so many no-hitters this year in Major League Baseball. We have another reason why Friday is special in Penguins history. And Bruce Arians said he...
Ulf Samuelsson reflects on Penguins’ 1991 Stanley Cup as 30th anniversary approaches
As the 2021 Penguins attempt to fight their way through the first round of this year’s NHL playoffs against the New York Islanders, Tuesday will mark the 30th anniversary of the franchise’s first championship. On May 25, 1991, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Minnesota North Stars...
Tim Benz: It’s not just that the Penguins won Game 3. It’s how they did it.
Not only did the Penguins need to win that game, they needed to win that game that way. They needed to win a game where they had to score a lot to do it. They needed to win a game where the offense carried the day. They needed to win...
First Call: Injury preventing Antonio Brown from finalizing Tampa contract; trio of dominance from ex-Pirates pitchers
Thursday’s “First Call” features a snag in Antonio Brown’s contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We celebrate a happy anniversary with Evgeni Malkin. You can already bet on who may be next year’s Trevor Lawrence in the NFL Draft. And a trio of former Pirates dusted their competition. A.B.’s knee...
U mad, bro?: Fans take swings at JuJu Smith-Schuster, Devin Bush, Barry Trotz, Penguins goalies and … this column
Steelers. Penguins. Players. Coaches. Sportswriters. None of us are spared from angry readers in the latest blood-thirsty edition of “U mad, bro?” Wait. Did someone even take a shot at … David Byrne? Wow! We are “burning down the house” this week. Kevin starts by taking a swat at Islanders...
Tim Benz: Evgeni Malkin’s health, Islanders goaltending just scratch the surface for Game 3 topics
Many thoughts are sticking with me from Game 2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins East Division playoff series against the New York Islanders. I’m wondering how much of that result will carry over to Game 3 on Thursday night after the Penguins evened the series at a game apiece with a...
First Call: Steelers’ Cameron Heyward says Ben Roethlisberger can still get it done; Tom Brady getting a reality show?
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Steelers captain Cameron Heyward is throwing his support behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Rick Tocchet may go to work for a former teammate. A rival quarterback will be back against the Steelers early in the 2021 season. We’ve got an update on former Pirate Jameson Taillon. And...
Kiawah Island’s record length won’t be only challenge at PGA Championship
Most of this week’s conversation leading up to the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort has been about the length of the course. It’ll play at 7,876 yards, the longest PGA Championship — and major championship — in terms of scorecard yardage. Naturally, a lot of people are predicting...
Tim Benz: Tristan Jarry’s bounce-back win wasn’t the only important Penguins rebound in Game 2
The turnaround performance by Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry wasn’t the only bounce-back storyline between Game 1 and Game 2 of the East Division first-round series. Let’s talk about Jeff Carter’s, too. I won’t put Carter’s rebound effort during the Penguins’ 2-1 win over the New York Islanders Tuesday in the...
First Call: Eagles nab free agent rusher Steelers may have wanted; big salary projections for T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick
Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us about a potential Steelers free-agent signee that went down the turnpike instead. Also, some eye-popping projections for what T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick may command on their next contracts. Former Pirate Gerrit Cole has a mixed night. And former Penguin Jordan Staal comes up clutch...
Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth can help quickly on offense; how other Steelers will see snap counts impacted
Sure, it’s great that the Steelers got Ben Roethlisberger some new toys by spending their first two draft choices on Alabama running back Najee Harris and Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth. Unfortunately for Big Ben and new offensive coordinator Matt Canada, NFL rules still dictate that there can only...
Tim Benz: Penguins too dismissive of 3rd-period struggles in Game 1 loss to Islanders
Tristan Jarry’s goaltending issues and Evgeni Malkin’s health weren’t the only concerns coming out of the Penguins’ Game 1 loss to the New York Islanders Sunday afternoon. So was the way the whole team finished that game. Despite leading 2-1 after the second intermission, the Penguins found themselves scrambling to...
First Call: Free agent idea for Steelers; John Harbaugh praises Al Villanueva; Marc-Andre Fleury, McCutchen flash in defeat
Monday’s “First Call” has an idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers to investigate when it comes to bolstering its offensive line. The Ravens are excited about adding a former Steeler. Marc-Andre Fleury and Andrew McCutchen flash in defeat. OK with Okung? Free-agent tackle Russell Okung is still without an NFL team....
Madden Monday: Penguins’ opening game against Islanders ‘looked like a loss out of the 2019 sweep’
Yes, Tristan Jarry had a rough day in net for the Pittsburgh Penguins during their 4-3 playoff-opening loss to the New York Islanders. But their problems didn’t begin and end with goaltending. • The Penguins blew a 2-1 lead in the third period before losing in overtime. • The Pens...
Tim Benz: Islanders goal-scorers were on point while Penguins’ Tristan Jarry was off the mark
When New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz casually described the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending as “inexperienced” in the week leading to the playoffs, it was an easy critique to dismiss. While Trotz was accurate — given the combined one playoff appearance between Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith — the easy response...
Robert Morris women’s lacrosse team looks for huge upset at Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament debut
According to Robert Morris women’s lacrosse coach Katrina Silva, you can’t see Notre Dame’s “Touchdown Jesus” from Arlotta Family Lacrosse Stadium. And she’s glad. “I don’t think they need any more luck,” Silva insisted during Friday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. Based on how the Fighting Irish handled Silva’s Robert Morris...
First Call: Steelers assign rookie jersey numbers; more spice for Tom Brady’s return game in New England
Friday’s “First Call” tells you what number to order for your favorite Steelers rookie jersey. JuJu Smith-Schuster reveals his list of circled games for 2021. Jameson Taillon gets touched up by an ex-Pirates teammate. And even more spice has been added to Tom Brady’s return to Foxborough. Got the digits?...
Tim Benz: This version of Penguins may have changed more than Islanders expect
Interesting comments about the Penguins from New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz didn’t stop with his noteworthy quote regarding their inexperience in net. During his postgame remarks Monday night after his team lost to the Boston Bruins in its final regular-season game, Trotz was asked what might be different about...
First Call: Steelers already underdogs in opener; ex-Penguin in mix for Rangers coaching job?
Thursday’s “First Call” shows little faith in the Pittsburgh Steelers to start 2021 on the right foot. A former Pitt Panther basketball player is getting his coaching start in the Bronx. Meanwhile, a former Penguin is hoping to continue his coaching career in Manhattan. And the Pirates need to get...
JuJu Smith-Schuster says he’ll be outside more often in Steelers offense this season
On Wednesday, we mentioned how JuJu Smith-Schuster voiced his displeasure with a 17-game season during a recent Adam Schefter ESPN podcast. Here’s another nugget from that conversation. Smith-Schuster said he is going to play outside more often in 2021. Schefter asked Smith-Schuster what NFL observers can expect out of him...
U mad, bro?: Some Steelers fans still prickly about draft, catering to Ben Roethlisberger; hockey fans hated Caps-Rangers fiasco
Touchy members of Steelers nation. Disgusted hockey fans. And irate Iron Maiden enthusiasts. Yup. It’s quite a collection in this week’s “U mad, bro?” A variety of venom. A prickly potpourri. A bundle of bile! So let’s get to it. “LR” took me to task for my column on T.J....
Robert Morris men’s lacrosse embraced ‘gift’ of challenging independent season; relishes new conference in 2022
If there is one thing every D-1 college coach wants right now, it’s a return to normalcy. Perhaps none more than Robert Morris men’s lacrosse coach Drew McMinn. The last time his Colonials finished a season in a pre-pandemic world, they were taking on Virginia in the 2019 NCAA tournament...
First Call: Ravens star heard Ben Roethlisberger give plays to receivers; JuJu Smith-Schuster against 17-game schedule
Wednesday’s “First Call” informs us that the Pittsburgh Steelers were giving away their plays at the line of scrimmage last year. And, no. Before you ask, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots video crew were not involved. Also, James Conner is taking advantage of a new league rule in...
Tim Benz: Is Barry Trotz already playing mind games with Penguins’ goalies? Or just telling the truth?
I don’t think what New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said about the Pittsburgh Penguins exactly qualifies as “trash talk.” Hardly “straight fire” as you kids say on the Twitters and the TikToks. But it’s worth noting. During his postgame comments following New York’s overtime loss in Boston on...
