Breakfast With Benz category, Page 55
Feats of Strength: Running backs, Rudolph-to-Pickens, Nick Herbig’s huge play help Steelers to rare win in Seattle
The Steelers ended 2023 in style, winning in Seattle for the first time since 1983. The victory keeps the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive going into the final week of the season. Plus, the franchise extends its streak of seasons at .500 or better to 20 with a 30-23 decision over...
First Call: Browns fans troll Pittsburgh during win; Devin Bush on emotions toward Steelers
The final “First Call” of 2023 gives us some AFC North trash talk from Browns fans toward the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cameron Heyward shares his thoughts on Joe Flacco’s success in Cleveland. Hines Ward is done as an XFL head coach. Devin Bush discusses the prospect of playing the Steelers. And...
Football Footnotes: Examining the scenarios for the Steelers to avoid AFC playoff elimination
There are a lot of confusing AFC playoff scenarios afoot this weekend, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are involved in many of them. For the Steelers, a few things are clear. They can’t clinch anything with a win in Seattle on Sunday. And they can’t be eliminated strictly by losing to...
Tim Benz: While the NFL celebrates parity, Pittsburgh shouldn’t applaud Steelers’ mediocrity
NFL parity is nearing historic levels. As you could probably guess, the league is basking in it. Here is a social media post from NFL senior vice president of football and international communications Michael Signora. 24 teams are still in contention for a trip to the Super Bowl, which ties...
Tim Benz: Tristan Jarry’s ‘key saves at key times’ turned a potential shootout into a Penguins rout
It’s not often a goaltender’s shutout gets lost in the mix during a hockey game. But given how the Penguins’ 7-0 romp over the New York Islanders took place Wednesday, you can see how Tristan Jarry’s name may have been buried a bit in the headlines. • The Penguins managed...
U mad, bro?: Readers want more rah, rah, rah for Steelers, their defense, Mike Tomlin
According to Steelers fans in my email, I completely messed up by forgetting to wish for something I sorely needed at Christmas: a pair of Black and Gold pom-poms. Because based on the tone of some of the interactions I got this week, you’d prefer I cheerlead instead of giving...
First Call: James Harrison, Hines Ward snubbed for Hall of Fame again; did Mason Rudolph jab Big Ben?
Thursday’s “First Call” has some unfortunate news for Steelers Super Bowl heroes James Harrison and Hines Ward. There are some key injury updates for the Seahawks as they prepare to play the Steelers on Sunday. Ex-Steeler Devin Bush could start against his old club. Mason Rudolph appears to take a...
Penguins need to quickly find traction coming out of Christmas break
When the Pittsburgh Penguins hit Thanksgiving, they were 9-9-0, and no one was feeling great about it. Now, coming out of Christmas, the Pens have won 15 games and lost 17 (15-13-4). The sentiment about the team is pretty much the same. The club’s 34 points are the second-lowest total...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s advice for Joey Porter Jr.; Seahawks injury news
After a few days off for Christmas, “First Call” is back with a stuffed stocking of Pittsburgh Steelers tidbits. The Seattle Seahawks are getting good news on the injury front in advance of their game against the Steelers on Sunday. However, a Steelers’ AFC rival may not be so lucky...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett’s injury provides cover more than it does strategy for Mike Tomlin
There is no tactical reason for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to announce his starting quarterback this early in advance of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. So he didn’t. Not completely, anyway. All Tomlin said of his QB situation Tuesday is that the team is adopting the same stance...
Madden Monday (early Christmas edition): ‘I’d definitely start Mason Rudolph next game’
With Christmas on Monday, we decided to post this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s 34-11 Steelers win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive wants to make one thing abundantly clear. There is no controversy surrounding what the Steelers should...
Feats of Strength: ‘It’s a Festivus Miracle!’ Steelers break 30 points in a win over Bengals
Apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) were tired of giving out lumps of coal to their fans during the Christmas season. After losing three in a row to the Cardinals, Patriots and Colts, the club felt it was time to shower all the good little boys and girls at Acrisure Stadium...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr. dismisses Tyler Boyd’s criticism; Bill Cowher encourages 1 specific Steelers change
In our final “First Call” before Christmas weekend, Pittsburgh Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr. didn’t have a lot of holiday cheer after hearing Tyler Boyd’s comments this week. Bill Cowher has some advice for the Steelers offense. We look at the full slate of games that impact the AFC wild-card...
Football Footnotes: Who could the Steelers get to replace Mike Tomlin? Let’s try Santa
I feel strongly that Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II is going to keep Mike Tomlin as head coach beyond this season. Yes, even if they lose out and wind up 7-10. That said, the conversations about firing or trading Tomlin sure have picked up as the 2023 campaign has...
U mad, bro?: Plenty of Christmas jeer for George Pickens, Steelers coaches and yours truly
It’s always a sad feeling when Steelers-related depression grips Pittsburgh. It’s especially sad around the holidays. This week’s “U mad, bro?” entries run a wide gamut. George Pickens gets a lump of coal. The coaching staff gets quite a few. And I’m placed on Santa’s naughty list a few times....
First Call: Tyler Boyd knocks George Pickens; T.J. Watt puzzled why some Steelers don’t respond to Mike Tomlin
Pitt alum Tyler Boyd takes a swipe at Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens as his Bengals prepare to visit Acrisure Stadium. Damontae Kazee’s suspension is upheld for the remainder of the regular season. T.J. Watt seems baffled that some Steelers aren’t responding to Mike Tomlin. Jaromir Jagr is still playing...
Tim Benz: September mistakes in December? Welcome to a winter of discontent for Steelers fans
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin often says that he does not like to “paint with a broad brush.” After losing a third straight game Saturday in Indianapolis, though, Tomlin understood it was time to use a few wide strokes when describing what is wrong with his team. One of them...
First Call: Ex-NFL, Pitt player calls out George Pickens’ effort; Pat Freiermuth owns bad play vs. Colts
If Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens thinks that only non-athlete media types are criticizing his lack of effort, then he is sorely mistaken. Pat Freiermuth is taking the blame for a bad play in the Steelers’ most recent loss. The officiating crew has been revealed for this week’s Steelers-Bengals...
First Call: Ja’Marr Chase may miss Steelers game; surprising support for Damontae Kazee; Rashard Mendenhall mocked for ‘Race Bowl’ idea
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have to contend with Cincinnati’s top pass catcher on Saturday. Damontae Kazee is getting some support from interesting places. Rashard Mendenhall can’t help making himself look dumb. And a former WPIAL basketball star shows a little brotherly love. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Bengals...
Marc-Andre Fleury appreciative of love from Penguins fans even while sitting out Monday’s game
Don’t take this the wrong way, Pittsburgh Penguins fans. But Marc-Andre Fleury was trying to avoid hearing you chant for him to get into the game Monday night at PPG Paints Arena. “I didn’t want to hear it,” Fleury said after his Minnesota Wild lost to the Penguins 4-3. “Because...
Tim Benz: Making Mason Rudolph the Steelers’ starter has already helped Mike Tomlin
During Monday’s press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin summed up his feelings about the club’s three-game losing streak. “One week, you’re drinking wine, then next week you’re squashing grapes. Obviously, we’ve squashed a lot of grapes of late. I’m interested in a little wine,” Tomlin said. After the...
Madden Monday: There’s only 1 scenario that would see Mike Tomlin gone as Steelers’ coach
Despite a lot of speculation about the future of Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, odds are that he’ll be back as the Steelers’ head coach next year. The franchise has had only three coaches since 1969. Plus, team owner Art Rooney II has so often publicly aligned himself with Tomlin despite...
First Call: Terry Bradshaw pans Steelers’ offensive line; Shannon Sharpe questions Mike Tomlin’s recent resume
Monday’s “First Call” paints a less-than-pretty picture of the AFC wild-card race for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Terry Bradshaw has some thoughts on the Steelers’ offense. Shannon Sharpe has thoughts on Mike Tomlin. We look at Marc-Andre Fleury’s return to Pittsburgh, and it was a rough weekend against a tough opponent...
Airing of Grievances: Turnovers, flags, bad defense, worse offense … Aside from that, Steelers were great in Indy
With a 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers have now lost three in a row and have fallen to 7-7. That’s good for just 11th in the conference. They now are last in the AFC North. The Steelers blew an early 13-0 lead. From that...
First Call: Cam Heyward disagrees with Ben Roethlisberger’s ‘Steelers Way’ take; Tyler Glasnow reportedly heading west in trade
Friday’s “First Call” features Cameron Heyward rebuffing Ben Roethlisberger’s assessment of Pittsburgh Steelers culture. An ex-Steeler is upset with the state of the team. A former Pirate is about to be part of a big trade. And a local hoops star just set a record at Duquesne. Dissenting opinion Ben...
