Breakfast With Benz category, Page 170
Tim Benz, Mark Madden: Steelers stop Rams, Sidney Crosby’s injury, Bryan Rust’s success
This week’s “Madden Monday” podcast focuses heavily on the Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday. Tim is sold on the Steelers’ defense. But Mark Madden has doubts about the offense. And for good reasons. But those reasons should have little to do with Mason Rudolph. We should...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength from win over Rams not all on defenseVideo
Color me impressed. Shocked. Stunned. I never thought they could do it. Three straight wins out of the bye— all at home — for the Steelers normally isn’t something to make yourself go slack-jawed. But it’s mighty impressive when two of the opponents are still above .500 after losing here...
First Call: Penguins’ schedule eases up; Raiders’ win bad for Steelers; Stephen A. Smith’s huge contract
So when does the load get lighter for the Pittsburgh Penguins? Maybe now. Over the last three games, the Penguins have faced Pacific Division-leading Edmonton, Atlantic Division-leading Boston and the New York Islanders, who were in the midst of a 10-game winning streak entering their game Thursday. And then Bryan...
Fantasy sports podcast: Bye week help; Rams sleepers vs. Steelers
It’s our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. This week is crucial for a lot of fantasy owners. How should they navigate through such a heavy bye week? I know I’m getting pinched. If you are too, Jeff has some advice. Also, it’ll be interesting to see...
Tim Benz: Enjoy this nightmare scenario for Antonio Brown
The NFL is dragging its feet. So Antonio Brown is stomping his. The former Steelers, Raiders and Patriots wide receiver threw a Twitter hissy fit Thursday. He’s mad that the NFL hasn’t given him a clean slate so that a team can sign him without concern that that he may...
First Call: Steelers playoff math not great, Rams’ Brandin Cooks sidelined, Islanders goalies hot
Thursday’s “First Call” shows improving playoff odds for the Steelers. But they still aren’t great. Also, the Rams will be without a valuable weapon Sunday at Heinz Field. Carmelo Anthony needs fashion advice. And I take another swing at the “good goalie jinx.” Don’t get your hopes up The Steelers...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh on Penguins power play, Kris Letang’s absence
TribLive’s Seth Rorabaugh joins the “Breakfast With Benz” podcast for his weekly Penguins chat. And we’ve got a ton of ground to cover. First off, what’s going on with Kris Letang? How bad is his injury? No one seems to have a clear answer there. So we at least try...
U mad, bro? Readers vent about Steelers coaching, NFL officiating, Minkah Fitzpatrick doubtersVideo
Even in the wake of a good Steelers win over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, it appears there’s plenty of venting to be done. And this is the place to do it. Every week. “U mad, bro?” today zeroes in on NFL officials, Steelers coaches, and anyone who has anything short...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer discuss Penguins loss to Bruins, injuries, goaltending, John Marino
Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast is our weekly hockey chat with Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network. We pick apart the Penguins’ 6-4 loss in Boston on Monday. The Bruins got out to a quick 3-0 lead. The Penguins stormed back with a four-goal second period. Then blew that...
First Call: New team for Donte Moncrief. New task for Penguins. New year for Dukes.Video
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Donte Moncrief heads to the NFC. Things stay tough for the Penguins. A curse in New York. Moncrief moves on Donte Moncrief has a new home. It’s in Charlotte. The Carolina Panthers have signed the former Steelers receiver who was troubled by drops during his short...
Tim Benz: Appreciate Steelers winning streak without massaging their slow startVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers started the season 0-3. Then 1-4. Despite numerous injuries and offseason defections, they have scratched their way back to 4-4 and remain within shouting distance of playoff contention. “It’s good to be .500 at the turn,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday. “It’s good to be...
Tim Benz: Plenty of grievances for Steelers even after win over ColtsVideo
A win without the starting quarterback, a starting defensive lineman, a starting offensive lineman and two running backs. Against a first-place team. Yeah. Sure. Take that without complaint, right? Nah! Who are we kidding? Not Steelers fans. Or… me. Especially when there is so much to complain about coming from...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Steelers’ win over Colts, Penguins’ Patric Hornqvist’s injury
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden and I discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at Heinz Field. On the plus side, the Steelers’ pass rush was fantastic, the special teams stepped up, they created turnovers against a club that never gives them away,...
First Call: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin on Le’Veon Bell trade talk; Did Seahawks look at Antonio Brown?
Monday’s “First Call” features rumors about Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Woes for the Browns. Progress for the Ravens. And a problem for the Penguins. Is that a "no?" During his postgame press conference after a 26-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Mike Tomlin was asked if the Steelers inquired...
Tim Benz: Penguins goalies consistent in up-and-down first month
The coach. The quarterback. The offensive coordinator. That’s the “blame game” holy trinity when it comes to the average football fan. Hockey is much easier. Just blame the goalie. For everything. Marc-Andre Fleury can speak to that. Between 2010 and Matt Murray’s emergence in 2016, for an all-too-big and all-too-vocal...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength from crucial win over ColtsVideo
The Indianapolis Colts (5-3) lost Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton and starting cornerback Pierre Desir midweek. Then they lost starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett and starting center Ryan Kelly mid-game. But do you think the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) are going to feel sorry for anyone? Their star running back and wide...
First Call: Antonio Brown responds to Halloween costume jokes; Colts star hurt
In Friday’s “First Call,” Antonio Brown has costume comments. T.Y. Hilton is banged up. Emmanuel Sanders is off to a great start with his new team. Costumes are boomin’ Perhaps the most popular Halloween get-up in Pittsburgh this year was the “Antonio Clown” costume, in honor of departed wide receiver...
Podcast: Where Colts may have an advantage vs. Steelers at Heinz Field
The Steelers’ matchup vs. the Colts at Heinz Field on Sunday could be the most interesting game of the year. The gambling lines are tight. The Colts were a one-point favorite early Friday. And there’s good reason for that. The Steelers’ strengths meet the Colts’ strengths. Both teams are staying...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell says Steelers were interested in trading for him
I’m going to guess that this is a Halloween trick from New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell. But what a treat it would be for those of us in the media if it had actually happened. Who knows. Maybe the Steelers would’ve benefited on the field, too. The former...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh fans should have easy time with ‘scariest sports story’ challenge
SB Nation got this Halloween sports-related thread going on Twitter Thursday. What's the scariest sports story you can tell in 6 words? — SB Nation (@SBNation) October 31, 2019 It shouldn’t be hard for Pittsburgh sports fans to figure out this one. We’ve seen plenty of scary things. And they...
First Call: Oilers’ James Neal is hot, Colts hurting, plenty of Bryce Harper mockery
Thursday’s “First Call” features another goal for James Neal, news from Indianapolis’ training room, Baker Mayfield avoids a fine, and Bryce Harper mockery. New Look Neal James Neal is heating up again. And just in time for his return to Pittsburgh. The high-scoring winger will join the rest of his...
Steelers RB Benny Snell reportedly out 2-3 weeks after knee surgery
It has been known Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Benny Snell suffered a knee injury during Monday’s 27-14 win against the Miami Dolphins. Now details are coming out. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Snell had surgery to repair a meniscus. That could keep him sidelined two to three weeks. #Steelers...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh preview Penguins vs. Oilers, potential Evgeni Malkin return
The Penguins don’t play a lot this week. But what a fun week it is anyway. They have two home games at PPG Paints Arena. They slaughtered the hated Philadelphia Flyers, 7-1, on Tuesday. Now they get Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers at 1 p.m. Saturday for a rare...
U mad, bro? Readers want Evgeni Malkin traded, Joe Haden gone, Bob Nutting exposed
We’re all over the map in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Readers want Bob Nutting exposed, Joe Haden gone and Evgeni Malkin traded. Aside from that, no one has a strong opinion on much of anything, I guess. This week I posted a column featuring my questions and answers with...
Tim Benz: 2 juicy matchups will dictate Steelers-Colts outcomeVideo
Good on good. Strength on strength. Ones on ones. Any phrase the players used Wednesday afternoon to describe the matchups, they were right. Sunday’s Steelers-Colts game at Heinz Field will come down to who wins two specific battles where opposing sides of the ball excel. And one bleeds into the...
