Breakfast With Benz category, Page 26
Proposed changes to ACC championship game create more problems than answers
As the ACC tries to game the system, a question arises: Is the game itself really worth playing? Two days before Ohio State beat Notre Dame, 34-23, to win the first 12-team College Football Playoff, ESPN published a story with quotes from ACC commissioner Jim Phillips about some potential changes...
First Call: Arthur Smith not favored to land Jets’ head coaching job; Patrick Queen takes dig at Ravens
In Monday’s “First Call,” it looks like Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Mike Tomlin. Nor are the Baltimore Ravens going to the AFC Championship game, and Pittsburgh product Damar Hamlin had a hand in that. Patrick Queen seemed happy to catch the final score....
Madden Monday: Art Rooney II is oblivious to, or disinterested in, criticism of Mike Tomlin
At PiratesFest over the weekend, designated hitter Andrew McCutchen told Pittsburgh Pirates fans to “be careful what you wish for,” when it comes to some of their demands of Bob Nutting to sell the team. Funny. That’s a refrain we’ve heard quite a bit this week in the national media...
Tim Benz: Gap between Pittsburgh sports fans and local team owners has never been so vast
I didn’t attend PiratesFest this weekend. I recently finished covering the Pittsburgh Steelers’ disastrous demise and the Penguins’ washout of a homestand. My Pittsburgh sports masochism knows at least some limitations. But, via TribLIVE’s Kevin Gorman, I did read about the ire directed toward owner Bob Nutting at the fan...
Former Pitt Panther Tray Woodall promoted to Fordham head basketball coach — for now
Pitt basketball alum Tray Woodall is going to be a head coach at Fordham. At least for a short time. The former Pitt Panther is going to serve as the interim bench boss for the Rams over the next four games. On Wednesday, the university announced a self-imposed four-game suspension...
First Call: Update on Arthur Smith’s interviews; NFL playoff TV ratings dip; lengthy Pens road trip starts
Friday’s “First Call” provides an update on Arthur Smith’s status as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator as he travels for head coaching interviews. NFL TV ratings aren’t off to a great start in the playoffs. The Penguins are trying to salvage their sinking ship of a season with a long...
Football Footnotes: Let’s pick apart some bogus Steelers myths
There are a number of myths about the Pittsburgh Steelers. We often speak them into reality whether they are true or not. For this Friday’s “Football Footnotes,” let’s deconstruct a few of them. One in particular got my attention late this season. • The Steelers are all about running the...
Tim Benz: If the Steelers go with Justin Fields in 2025, actually treat him like a starter
During his season-ending press conference on Tuesday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the team’s plans at quarterback next season. At no point did he make a strong suggestion that the franchise was intending to retain Russell Wilson as the starter. In fact, his answer sounded like it had...
First Call: Steelers show interest in Pitt safety; Maxx Crosby endorses idea of Raiders signing Najee Harris
Thursday’s “First Call” connects the Steelers to a Pitt defensive back in advance of the NFL draft. A Pro Bowl defensive star is stumping for his team to sign Najee Harris. There is yet another twist in the Diontae Johnson saga. Zay Flowers’ injury status is still murky for the...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are firing back at criticism of Mike Tomlin
Thanks to an eighth straight year without a playoff win, criticism of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been brisk. So you know how that goes. As soon as a push to fire Tomlin starts, there is a big pushback in the other direction. Or, there are some that just try...
‘Still not over it’: 30 years later, some Steelers can’t forget the ’94-’95 AFC Championship GameVideo
Former San Diego Chargers coach Bobby Ross just turned 88 years old last month. He also just went through knee replacement surgery. That didn’t stop him from sharing his memories of Jan. 15, 1995. “So, how can I help you?” Ross said on the other end of the phone. “What...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s answers about George Pickens raise more questions
During Tuesday’s season-ending press conference, I asked Steelers coach Mike Tomlin if it was a priority for the franchise to get wide receiver George Pickens a contract extension in the offseason. He didn’t say, “Yes.” Instead he said: “We haven’t had any conversations about pecking orders or priorities regarding any...
For Duquesne football, challenges of playing Pitt in ’25 opener are well worth the opportunity
Last week’s announcement about Duquesne being Pitt’s season-opening opponent at Acrisure Stadium to start the 2025 college football season generated a lot of buzz on the Bluff. During a halftime interview at the Duquesne-St. Joseph’s basketball game on Wednesday, Dukes athletic director Dave Harper admitted he was hoping to get...
First Call: Steelers LB was hampered during playoff loss; team already looking at RBs in draftVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some background on a Pittsburgh Steeler who was compromised heading into Saturday night’s playoff game at Baltimore. The Steelers are already looking at running backs in advance of the NFL draft. A former Steeler turned in a highlight on defense during the “Monday Night Football” playoff...
Should the Steelers want to keep Russell Wilson? Should T.J. Watt want to stay in Pittsburgh?
Before linebacker T.J. Watt and quarterback Russell Wilson went into meetings at Steelers headquarters Monday, both players told media members they want to stay in Pittsburgh for years to come. For Wilson, that would mean signing here — presumably on a multi-year deal — instead of leaving in free agency...
First Call: Steelers not expected to move on from Mike Tomlin; loss to Ravens panned by Terry Bradshaw, Bill Cowher
In Monday’s “First Call,” don’t expect the Pittsburgh Steelers to make any move at the head coaching position. A pair of Steelers legends are disappointed in their former team’s effort during Saturday night’s playoff loss in Baltimore. A familiar face will be coaching the Patriots when the Steelers visit New...
Madden Monday: Steelers shouldn’t bring Russell Wilson back ‘at any price’
The 2024-25 Pittsburgh Steelers season is over. Now they have to start figuring out what to do for 2025-26. Good luck. Whatever they try to do won’t be dictated until they figure out an action plan at quarterback. They currently do not have a QB under contract for 2025. It’s...
Airing of Grievances: Another hideous start, rotten run defense result in 6th straight playoff loss for Steelers
A Steelers season that had a lot of promise at 10-3 is now over thanks to an all-too-familiar collapse. It was another slide that started in December and ended with a thud in early January. It’s been that way in Pittsburgh pretty much since the end of the 2017 regular...
First Call: John Harbaugh brings up ‘next week’ while discussing Zay Flowers; ex-Steeler up for 49ers’ defensive job
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said something that caught the attention of many Pittsburgh Steelers fans. A former Steeler is making a name for himself on the interview circuit for defensive coordinators. The Penguins have a chance to make some noise in the wild-card race this weekend. And Evgeni Malkin...
Tim Benz: Penguins flip the script to avoid another late-game collapse against Oilers
It’s fitting that the Pittsburgh Penguins’ “Star Wars Night” promotion Thursday evening followed Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. That defeat created a great disturbance in the force at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins blew a 3-1 advantage in the third period, then lost the shootout 2-0,...
Football Footnotes: If the Steelers are to upset the Ravens, here are 3 specific fixes they’ll need
When you lose 34-17, as the Pittsburgh Steelers did in Baltimore in Week 16, that means there are plenty of things to correct. That’s particularly true if you face the same opponent in the playoffs three weeks later, as the Steelers are doing Saturday when they visit Baltimore again to...
First Call: Zay Flowers update; Ravens preparing for Justin Fields to get snaps
Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on injured Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers as the Ravens get ready to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Baltimore is getting ready for both Steelers quarterbacks in the game. The national media spin about Mike Tomlin is in its usual January mode. And we...
U mad, bro?: Fans are either mad at the Steelers or mad at people critical of the Steelers. Pick a side
The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost five of six and are living off of loser points like the raccoons who dig through my garbage can on trash night. Actually, let’s be honest. This year, for the Penguins, every night is trash night. As a result, I’ve gotten quite a few angry...
Tim Benz: Try as he might, Mike Tomlin can’t ‘tote those bags’ of playoff frustration for all of his players
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t want his players carrying the burden of the franchise’s seven-year playoff-win drought. “What you mentioned is my story, it’s not this collective’s story,” Tomlin said Monday. “Many of these guys involved do not tote those bags. I happily tote those bags. It’s not something...
Tim Benz: Pens play ‘points game’ poorly to open crucial 5-game homestand
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust doesn’t care that 40 of 82 games remain on the schedule. The extra point they gave away to a division rival Tuesday night is worthy of some angst. “It’s never too early to play the points game,” Rust said with some agitation. “There’s (nine) points...
