Breakfast With Benz category, Page 14
Tim Benz: Why I’m ‘out’ on the ‘all in’ cliché for the 2025 SteelersVideo
Ever since the Steelers-Dolphins trade was consummated Monday morning, I’ve heard this refrain a million times: “The Steelers are all in for 2025!” "The Steelers are going ALL IN..This is AWESOME and this is just what we needed"@ToneDigz #PMSLive #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/VLSRCcqlEV— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 30, 2025 "The Steelers...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans launch opinions on Steelers’ trade, Sidney Crosby’s legacy, Oneil Cruz’s focus
When the Pittsburgh Steelers are involved in one of the NFL’s biggest player-for-player trades in 20 years, you know people are going to have opinions. When Sidney Crosby is rumored as a trade chip on draft night, you know Penguins fans are going to react. And you know that whenever...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas puts emphasis on individual development for Penguins’ 1st round ‘triplets’Video
The last time the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted three players in the first round, it was 1984. Two of those players were Doug Bodger and Roger Belanger. The third guy? I don’t remember. Did he ever amount to much? Oh … right. No. None of the three players Pens general manager...
First Call: Jalen Ramsey hints at Steelers jersey number; Cam Heyward ‘shook’ by trade; Rod Woodson on Ramsey at safety
Wednesday’s “First Call” reveals how Jalen Ramsey is leaking the jersey number he wants with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cameron Heyward is sorting out emotions after the departure of Minkah Fitzpatrick. Rod Woodson has thoughts about Ramsey perhaps moving to safety. And a former Penguins goalie — besides Alex Nedeljkovic — has...
Paul Skenes was overdue for a few good breaks against the Cardinals
Paul Skenes had to know this was coming, right? The notoriously piddly Pittsburgh Pirates’ bats have been the biggest reason why last year’s National League Rookie of the Year is only 4-7 this season. In four of Skenes’ five starts last month, the Pirates plated two runs or fewer. But...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas doesn’t question the strategy of Penguins’ draft pick stockpile
As Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas started to amass draft picks throughout last season in an effort to help rebuild the franchise, few felt all the selections he had for the 2025 entry process would be used as actual picks. After all, as of Friday morning, he had 11...
First Call: How Steelers’ trade may impact T.J. Watt’s contract; Bill Cowher and George Pickens weigh in on deal
Tuesday’s “First Call” examines the ripple effect of the Pittsburgh Steelers trading Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey. Specifically, we gauge the potential impact on T.J. Watt’s contract negotiations. We get trade reaction from George Pickens and Bill Cowher. Plus, a former...
Tim Benz: Details of Steelers-Dolphins trade are easier to figure out than the big picture
If you are trying to wrap your brain around the pros and cons of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ trade with the Miami Dolphins on Monday morning, I don’t blame you. I’ll let you know when I finish doing that myself. Here’s what I do know. I know that Jonnu Smith and...
First Call: Football camp walks back criticism of George Pickens; Tyler Boyd discusses prospect of joining SteelersVideo
There is an odd twist in the story about former Steeler George Pickens bailing on that youth football camp. Pitt product Tyler Boyd discusses the prospect of playing with the Steelers. The Mets are getting ripped for how they played this weekend in Pittsburgh. And there are some local connections...
‘Ohhhh, David Gene’: A picture of Dave Parker tells a thousand wordsVideo
Like a lot of young Pittsburgh Pirates fans who were introduced to baseball in the 1970s, I had a Dave Parker poster on my wall. A shot of him with his massive chest opened toward the camera after a swing — one hand on the bat about to drop it...
Madden Monday: Expect Sidney Crosby to retire a Penguin, but ‘this year will test him’
My anticipation heading into the NHL draft was that the Pittsburgh Penguins would use one of their two first-round draft picks while parlaying the other for a player who could bolster the 2025-26 roster. Instead, they ended up acquiring a third pick in the first round and using all three...
Tim Benz: Daniel Mantenuto becomes 1st RMU men’s hockey Olympian with Team Italy selection
Daniel Mantenuto’s senior year of college hockey at Robert Morris University didn’t conclude in a conventional way. It didn’t culminate with him holding a championship trophy above his head or in a solemn handshake line after a bitter playoff defeat. No, his NCAA career ended at a pregame meal in...
First Call: James Harrison’s revealing quotes about Mike Tomlin; a T.J. Watt contract update; potential NHL CBA detailsVideo
Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting assessment of Mike Tomlin’s coaching style from former Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison. There’s a new slant on T.J. Watt’s contract situation. We have a preview of the upcoming Pirates-Mets series. And some details are leaking out about what could be in the next NHL...
A 6-pack of questions about the Penguins’ draft approach with NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman
The 2025 NHL Draft begins Friday night. NHL.com draft expert Adam Kimelman joined the “Breakfast With Benz” podcast this week to talk about what the Pittsburgh Penguins might do with their back-to-back picks at No. 11 and No. 12 (via the New York Rangers). 1. There’s some belief that the...
First Call: Pat Freiermuth replaces George Pickens after youth camp mess; Penguins reportedly want to move up in draftVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” looks at how Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is stepping in to fill a void created by George Pickens. A former Steelers’ rival is spinning a positive picture about Aaron Rodgers’ final season in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are reportedly sniffing to move up the draft board....
Tim Benz: Rounding out our All-Quarter-Century teams with the Pirates
Over the past two days, our All-Quarter-Century teams almost wrote themselves for the Steelers and Penguins. It’s not quite as clear with the Pittsburgh Pirates. What else is new? It’s not easy to construct a team that appeals to every fan and their specific preferences — especially when 21 of...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans are fed up with Oneil Cruz, Steelers fans miffed at coverage of T.J. Watt and Aaron Rodgers
It’s one thing to stink. It’s something else to stink and be lazy in the process. Pittsburgh Pirates fans are fed up with Oneil Cruz, as he reinforced that notion this week. Meanwhile, I seemed to agitate Steelers fans with my All-Quarter-Century team, my thoughts on Aaron Rodgers and my...
First Call: Steelers reportedly ‘checked in’ on Jalen Ramsey; Diontae Johnson thinks Kenny Pickett will start for BrownsVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Adam Schefter’s update on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ level of interest in Jalen Ramsey. An ex-Steeler thinks Kenny Pickett is going to win the Browns starting QB job. We examine some struggling Pirates. We also advance a highlight moment for the Penn State women’s hockey program. Ramsey...
1 big debate on our All-Quarter-Century Steelers team
We’ve already given you our All-Quarter-Century Penguins team. Now, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers’ turn. With the way this century started for the franchise, who would’ve thought that playoff wins would become so scarce? And who would’ve thought that the replacement for a Hall of Famer at quarterback would’ve been so...
Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers’ public acknowledgment about his future is exactly what the Steelers needed to hear
During Tuesday’s “Pat McAfee Show,” new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced that his first season in Pittsburgh is likely to be his last in the NFL. “I’m pretty sure this is it,” Rodgers said. “That’s why we did a one-year deal. The Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years...
Sorting out the media fumble of Gov. Shapiro’s quotes on publicly funded NFL stadiums in Pa.
The media kerfuffle over what Gov. Josh Shapiro said — or didn’t say — about public funding for football stadiums in Pennsylvania is just the beginning of what will undoubtedly be a hair-pulling, mind-numbing process until the Steelers and Eagles work out their new leases. That’s whether they play in...
Tim Benz: An All-Quarter-Century team for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Since it is 2025, it seems like every sports outlet under the sun is putting together some sort of quarter-century list. ESPN did one for the NFL. The NHL released one of its own and The Athletic pieced together a 40-man Major League Baseball list. At “Breakfast With Benz,” you...
First Call: Steelers sign a long snapper; Russell Wilson on why he joined the Giants
Tuesday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers special teams acquisition. A former Steelers coach shares one big regret, while an ex-Steelers quarterback talks about his new favorite target. We also preview an important start for Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney. Special teams signing It appears the Steelers are signing a long...
Tim Benz: 2 factors may provide leverage, negotiating shift for T.J. Watt
Reporting day for Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is exactly one month away. Aaron Rodgers has finally signed to become the team’s starting quarterback. So the biggest stories hanging in the balance between now and then are: • Is linebacker T.J. Watt going to sign a contract extension? • If he...
First Call: Pa. governor on prospect of state funds for Steelers’ and Eagles’ stadiums; T.J. McConnell’s ups and downs in Game 7Video
Monday’s “First Call” recaps T.J. McConnell’s ups and downs from last night’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals. We remember the life of Arthur Smith’s father, Fred Smith, and his NFL influence. Plus, we get into Jaire Alexander’s arrival in Baltimore and the prospect of public funds for new football...
