Breakfast With Benz category, Page 79
Tim Benz: Tournament expansion is a bad idea — but if the NCAA can’t resist, here’s how to do it
Thursday and Friday mark what many feel to be two of the best days of the sports year: the first two days of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. Perfectly timed on the sports calendar. Perfectly formatted with its fan-friendly three-week-long bracket system. Perfectly packaged with its survive-and-advance drama, and David...
U mad, bro?: Steelers free agency, Pitt coverage, Tristan Jarry, Pens roster decisions put the ‘mad’ in ‘March Madness’
March Madness is upon us, but Pittsburgh sports fans don’t seem that mad about Pitt. They’re mainly mad about the Steelers, the Penguins and my coverage of both teams. OK, and a little mad about Pitt too. Here’s this week’s “U mad, bro?” Tim sent me an email after Penguins...
First Call: Ex-Patriot unhappy with JuJu Smith-Schuster’s signing; colorful assessment of new Steeler Nate Herbig
Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting assessment of new Pittsburgh Steelers guard Nate Herbig. There’s been some shade thrown at the Patriots for signing former Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. What’s the ripple effect of Cincinnati’s big contract for Orlando Brown? The Steelers have scheduled a top-30 visit with a center....
5 things to know about Pitt vs. Iowa State in the NCAA TournamentVideo
We now know that the Pitt Panthers (23-11) are going to be in the field of 64 after their 60-59 First Four victory over Mississippi State on Tuesday night in Dayton. We’ve long known that their potential opponent would be the Iowa State Cyclones (19-13), who finished fifth in a...
First Call: Steelers were reportedly negotiating with a free agent linebacker; ex-Steelers offensive lineman released
The Pittsburgh Steelers were apparently in on the bidding for a free agent inside linebacker. A former Steelers offensive lineman is now on the open market. One interesting possibility for a Steelers signing is off the board, but another may have just become available. And a local hockey standout is...
Tim Benz: Fizzling loss to Canadiens leaves Penguins homestand ‘mission’ unfinished
It kinda felt like the Penguins were saying “mission accomplished” before the job was really done. Anything like that ever happened before? Heading into Tuesday night’s game against the lowly Montreal Canadiens, the Penguins had been riding a hot streak. They had won seven of nine games. They had risen...
Tim Benz: Steelers waiting on ILB market despite manageable deals across the NFL
While most Pittsburgh Steelers fans have their eyes on what the franchise is doing in free agency at cornerback, I’m more interested in what they are going to do at inside linebacker. On Day 1 of the legal tampering period, the Steelers decided to let cornerback Cameron Sutton go to...
Jay Wright on Pitt’s turnaround; Penn State’s NCAA tough opener; West Virginia’s showdown with Maryland
This will be the most exciting week of college basketball in Western Pennsylvania in a long time. Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia have all qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the same year for the first time since 2011. The action gets going Tuesday night as Pitt takes on...
First Call: Patrick Peterson won’t ask for No. 7 with Steelers; Mike Tomlin describes ‘darkest professional day’; Bengals lose DBs
Tuesday’s “First Call” touches on a delicate situation for new Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson. Mike Tomlin opens up about the toughest moment of his Steelers coaching career. We have the latest developments surrounding Lamar Jackson’s contract situation in Baltimore. The Cincinnati Bengals may be weaker in the secondary next...
‘Madden Monday’ on Steelers free agent DBs: ‘I wouldn’t overpay’ for either Cam Sutton, Terrell Edmunds
As NFL free agency approaches this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a choice to make. Do they try to outbid other teams in an attempt to keep cornerback Cameron Sutton, or do they let him go to another franchise willing to pay more? Similarly, are the Steelers willing to outspend...
First Call: Steelers set pre-draft interview with Florida DT; Chase Claypool’s hazy future in Chicago; NFL CB movement
Monday’s “First Call” has movement on the cornerback front that may interest Pittsburgh Steelers fans. A second Steelers draft visit has become public. Chase Claypool’s long-term future is up for debate in Chicago. Plus, an ex-Penguins coach plays the role of good Samaritan upon a nationally televised return to Pittsburgh....
Tim Benz: If Pitt has ‘joy with a mixture of hunger’ conflict over being seeded in Dayton, there’s a way to reconcile it
The NCAA Tournament bracket was released Sunday with Pitt playing against Mississippi State as a First Four team in Dayton on Tuesday. The winner will play Iowa State on Friday. Many Pitt fans seemed to react with equal amounts of relief and outrage. Relief in the sense that Pitt managed...
Tim Benz: Embrace the pitch clock, but pace isn’t MLB’s biggest problem
I used myself as my own baseball-fan guinea pig on Tuesday. I set up as much of a real life, everyday, control environment as I could to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays. I made a turkey sandwich. Brewed a cup of coffee. Opened...
Tim Benz: Repeated blown leads against the Islanders could prove fatal for Penguins
If you really want, you can try to rationalize away the Pittsburgh Penguins’ disastrous results against the New York Islanders this season. You can try to convince yourself that if both teams qualify as the Eastern Conference wild cards, there’s not much difference between being seventh or eighth anyway. That...
First Call: Pitt star lands with Steelers in mock draft; ex-Steeler DB still high on Jordan Addison
A former Pittsburgh Steeler is sticking up for a former Pitt Panther after a rough NFL Combine. Another former Panther is slated to the Steelers in CBS’ latest mock draft. Aaron Donald will remain with the Los Angeles Rams. And there was a big time interconference showdown in the NHL...
Tim Benz: Lamar Jackson is negotiating. He’s not a ‘$32 million victim’
I’m never done being impressed with Twitter’s ability to turn anyone it wants into a victim. Even if that “victim” is getting a pity party for receiving $32 million and reportedly turned down an offer of $133 million guaranteed. This week’s social media poster child for heroism in the face...
U mad, bro?: It’s the ‘March Madness of Mad’ for Steelers, Penguins, Pitt fans
In keeping with the March Madness theme of the week, let me give you my four No. 1 seeds when it comes to agitated Pittsburgh sports fans. •Southside Region: Steelers fans when the team goes 9-8 and fails to win a playoff game •North Hills Region: Penguins fans after the...
First Call: High-end tackle, ILB tied to Steelers in NFL free-agent projections; new Ravens coaches have Pittsburgh ties
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we have some free agency ideas for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens are nabbing coaches with Pittsburgh connections. And some ex-Penguins stood out with highlights across the NHL. Brown in Black and Gold? CBSSports.com posted an AFC “NFL free agency matchmaker” column on Wednesday. The premise...
Tim Benz: For Duquesne, finding defensive consistency is key to a deep Atlantic 10 run
When a college basketball team goes from 6-24 to 20-11 in one year, there shouldn’t be too many complaints from the head coach. Given those enjoyable circumstances for Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot, that has generally been the case this season. But one thing Dambrot has pointed out is that he’d like...
First Call: 3 mock drafts, 3 cornerbacks slated for Steelers; Joe Haden discusses reasons for retirement
Wednesday’s “First Call” features an interesting Pittsburgh Steelers trend in mock drafts. Former Steeler Joe Haden discusses his reasons for retirement. We look at the circumstances for franchise tags on Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley. Plus, Duquesne gets some appreciation from the Atlantic 10 in advance of the team’s first...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ wild comeback over Blue Jackets was entertaining, but first 2 periods were alarming
Something felt familiar about the first two periods of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. There was a certain smell about it. Like if you took a December Steelers’ road trip out to Oakland and put it on skates. A...
Tim Benz: Regardless of Penguins’ additions at trade deadline, it’s high time they play their best hockey
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall is insisting that he helped the team get better with the trades he executed before the deadline. With the club clinging to the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, such evidence needs to be seen starting immediately — as in Tuesday night at...
Despite strong turnaround seasons, Pitt and Duquesne given little chance to win conference tournaments
Even though Pitt (21-10, 14-6) and Duquesne (20-11, 10-8) have had strong bounce-back seasons, they are both relatively long shots to win their conference tournaments. Kenpom.com, a widely used college basketball analytics website, has published its projections for the upcoming conference tournament week. As the No. 5 seed, Pitt has...
First Call: Ex-Steeler about to be released; another big name ILB becomes available; more Tom Brady speculation
Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us about a former Pittsburgh Steeler who is about to be released. Another high-profile inside linebacker is available on the free agent market. The Tom Brady speculation still won’t stop. But he’s not the only big-name NFL player being mentioned in the rumor mill. And in...
Tim Benz: An idea to honor the ‘Miracle’ men with Penguins tiesVideo
Since the (re)retirement of Tom Brady, the notion of retiring his No. 12 across the NFL has been floated on a few occasions. Nah. Brady was greatest. But too many other teams have their own iconic quarterbacks that’ll forever be known as wearing No. 12. The Steelers (Terry Bradshaw), Cowboys...
