Breakfast With Benz category, Page 171
First Call: Hilarious first pitch, Bengals’ Andy Dalton benched, Arena Football League may foldVideo
In Wednesday’s “First Call” we look at some strange home run celebrations. The Arena Football League may be in trouble. And one of the worst first pitches you’ll ever see. "Ohh"lajuwon Justin Verlander had a few bad pitches in Houston Tuesday night, as the Astros lost Game 6 of the...
Tim Benz, Kevin Gorman break down Steelers-Colts, Mason Rudolph’s play, Pirates’ Bob Nutting interview
The Pittsburgh Steelers managed to put away the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Eventually. Now they have a much tougher task looming as the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts come to Heinz Field Sunday afternoon. I talk about that matchup with fellow TribLive columnist Kevin Gorman in our weekly podcast following...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell preaches calm to Jets fans after trade rumorsVideo
Before the NFL’s trade deadline hit on Tuesday, rumors surfaced that teams may be trying to acquire New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell. Wow! It didn’t happen. But what a move that would have been. After all, Bell leaving the Steelers to sign with New York was one of...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances after Steelers slow start in win over DolphinsVideo
Even in the wake of victory, it’s never hard to construct an “Airing of Grievances” after a Steelers game. Especially when they trailed the woeful (0-7) Miami Dolphins into the third quarter. So let’s get to it. The first quarter It wasn’t pretty. Miami is believed to be one of...
First Call: Steeler fans rejoice over Mike Tomlin’s challenge win, Heinz Field’s new heroVideo
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Steelers fans go wild over Mike Tomlin winning a challenge and Zach Banner getting announced. Ken Whisenhunt got fired. And Bill Belichick won’t leave. Much rejoicing! Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was on a streak of losing 11 straight challenges dating back to 2017. That changed last...
Tim Benz, Brian Metzer preview Penguins-Flyers, Malkin getting healthy
The Pirates cleaned out the whole front office. The Steelers needed to fight and claw to beat the awful Miami Dolphins. Pitt did yet another Pitt thing against the Miami Hurricanes. And the ground beneath Pittsburgh’s city streets is literally trying to swallow us whole. Therefore, maybe the news that...
Tim Benz: Pirates owner Bob Nutting responds to 3 questions that had to be askedVideo
On Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting held multiple media gatherings to address the firing of Neal Huntington as general manager and the hiring of Travis Williams as team president. In advance of those discussions, I wrote on Monday morning that there were three specific questions I wanted to...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength in hard-fought ‘MNF’ win over DolphinsVideo
As expected, the Steelers easily dismissed the hapless Miami Dolphins (0-7) by shutting them out 27-0. Well, over the last three quarters anyway. After the first quarter, the Steelers appeared to be en route to become Miami’s first victim, trailing 14-0. And the town was ready to burn. But the...
First Call: Ike Taylor listened to music during games? Antonio Brown a screenwriter?Video
In Monday’s “First Call,” Ike Taylor’s head-scratching revelation about listening to music during games. Antonio Brown wants to be a movie screenwriter when he grows up. And a preview of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers game Tuesday. This is what they teach you at "Swaggin` U?" Former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Steelers, Penguins, Pitt loss, Pirates’ new president
Mark Madden makes his triumphant return to the “Madden Monday” podcast. After a week off, “Double-M” joins me to look at the state of the Pittsburgh Steelers as they get ready for the hapless Miami Dolphins Monday night at Heinz Field. The terrible AFC is keeping the Steelers mathematically alive....
Tim Benz: Most pressing questions that need to be asked of Pirates’ Bob Nutting
The belief within the Pittsburgh media is that the Pirates will have a press conference of some sort Monday to introduce Travis Williams as the team’s new president. If that happens, it is also anticipated that owner Bob Nutting may be on hand to answer questions. That’s rare. If this...
Tim Benz: If Steelers lose on ‘MNF,’ turn out the lights. The party’s over.Video
To borrow a phrase from “Monday Night Football” lore, if the Steelers lose to the Dolphins Monday at Heinz Field: “Turn out the lights. The party’s over.” To be honest, the party should’ve broken up the minute JuJu Smith-Schuster fumbled in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens. Maybe it did. But...
Tim Benz: Randy Fichtner gives us one way Dolphins could upset SteelersVideo
Whether Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner meant to, he essentially told us the only way the Miami Dolphins could possibly pull off an upset in the “Monday Night Football” game at Heinz Field. Before the bye weekend hit, Fichtner was asked about improvements that the Steelers’ offense could make. “We’ve...
Tim Benz, Seth Rorabaugh on Penguins slump, injuries, Stars rematch, Lightning loss
It’s the final “Breakfast With Benz” podcast of the week. I’m joined by TribLIVE Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh. He’s on the road, covering the team in Dallas. The Penguins play the third leg of their road trip against the Stars on Saturday night. After a five-game winning streak, Mike...
First Call: Antonio Brown’s movie ‘teaser’; Jarvis Landry walks back Patriots prediction
In Friday’s “First Call,” Antonio Brown’s movie “teaser” is a hit. Jarvis Landry may regret a comment he made about the New England Patriots. And an update on the “Trump Ump.” `May the 84th be with you` Pfft! And you thought the new “Star Wars” movie trailer release was huge?...
Tim Benz: Travis Williams needs more than Penguins pixie dust to fix Pirates
“Welcome back, Travis! Now how long before you fix everything? It’s been 40 years since the Pirates’ last World Series. I’m starting to get a little antsy.” Of course, I’m exaggerating about how some Pittsburgh sports fans are reacting to the hire of Travis Williams as the new team president...
Fantasy sports podcast: Helping owners through a QB crisis
There’s no doubt what the major talking point is in fantasy football this week. Quarterbacks. Quarterbacks. Quarterbacks. That discussion occupies the bulk of this week’s fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. Yup. I’m one of those people. I’ve got Patrick Mahomes on my team. I’m replacing him with...
First Call: Would Steelers trade Artie Burns?; Eddie Olczyk takes a jab at PiratesVideo
In Thursday’s “First Call,” the “Trump Ump” has local ties. Artie Burns is a potential trade target. And even Eddie Olczyk takes a jab at the Pirates during a hockey broadcast. Why bother? NFL.com has a list of trade ideas for each team before the deadline hits on Oct. 29....
U mad, bro? No Steelers game? No less anger. Most of it about Gerrit Cole.
No Steelers game, no anger in “U mad, bro?” this week, right? Not so fast. There are plenty of other things to get upset about. And this week, most of them apparently have to do with the Pirates. Specifically, an ex-Pirate name Gerrit Cole. Oh, and an ex-Penguin named Marc-Andre...
First Call: Hockey coach threatens to burn ref’s car; Le’Veon Bell mad at NFL broadcastVideo
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Le’Veon Bell is defending his struggling quarterback. Some rumblings about that Emmanuel Sanders trade. And a hockey coach may have gotten a little too mad at a referee. Strange sense of humor Remember when Bill Cowher stuffed a photograph in a referee’s pocket? Yeah. This is...
Tim Benz, Joe Rutter discuss Steelers’ issues at outside linebacker, potential return of Tuzar Skipper
Wednesday’s “Breakfast with Benz” podcast features TribLive Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter. He joined me as I hosted Adam Crowley’s show on ESPN Pittsburgh. Joe and I attended Tuesday’s Mike Tomlin press conference. And both of us are trying to figure out what the Steelers will do at outside linebacker...
Tim Benz: Steelers vs. Eagles annually at State College in 17-game NFL season? MaybeVideo
Roger Goodell reignited the conversation about a 17-game regular season this week. At the conclusion of the fall owners meetings, the NFL commissioner admitted that angle is part of the collective bargaining agreement conversations. How will that happen? Who knows. An unbalanced, 8-9/9-8 rotating road-home split per season is an...
Tim Benz: Gerrit Cole finally derailed in Game 1 of World SeriesVideo
He’s not a machine. He’s a man! After winning 19 straight decisions (counting the playoffs) since May 22, that was becoming a debate when examining former Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole. But Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series, the Washington Nationals proved that if he bleeds… Washington beat...
First Call: Pirates manager rumblings; Discipline coming for Dolphins starter
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” some Pirates managerial talk. The Steelers have an off-field issue with the Anthony Chickillo situation. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have a problem, too. Also, Sam Darnold’s Monday Night Football disaster impacts Le’ Veon Bell. Mutual interest One name floated as a potential candidate for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Robert Morris women’s Olympian now coaching goalies on men’s hockey team
The Robert Morris men’s hockey team made a little history recently. By adding a woman to its coaching staff. Based on information released by the RMU Department of Athletics website, Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle “is believed to be the first female assistant coach in the history of NCAA men’s hockey, Division I...
