Breakfast With Benz category, Page 97
Tim Benz: Steelers in better position to handle loss of Stephon Tuitt this time around — if they are smart and lucky
The subtraction of Stephon Tuitt from the Steelers depth chart in 2022 doesn’t have to hurt the defense as much as it did last year. If the Steelers address it right. And if they get a little lucky. For as much of a fan as I was of Tuitt as...
First Call: Ex-Pirate flirts with perfect game; David Bednar named a top trade candidate; Steelers linked to free agent tackleVideo
Friday’s “First Call” has a free agent connection to the Steelers. The NFL is shelving covid-19 testing. An ex-Pirate pitcher turned in a fantastic effort Thursday. And is David Bednar destined to be traded off the Pirates roster? Going “Fishing”? ESPN.com published a list of the top 10 remaining free...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pounce on Doug Whaley’s Jack Ham comments; Pirates fans rip roster; reader backs Jacob Trouba hits
Despite a good week out west, fans are still piling on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Criticism of Jacob Trouba’s hits have hockey fans in a snit. And someone was critical of a Super Stiller from the 1970s. Perhaps the ultimate Pittsburgh sin. All that and more in this week’s “U mad,...
First Call: Cameron Heyward’s quote on Aaron Donald comps; Steelers work out pass rushers; Diamondbacks next for hot Pirates
We’ve got a headline-catching quote from Pittsburgh Steelers star Cameron Heyward regarding Penn Hills native Aaron Donald. The Steelers are trying to fill a defensive void. We mix in some soccer talk about Team USA. And we get a scouting report on the Pirates’ next opponent after sweeping the Dodgers....
New Steeler Myles Jack addresses specific concern about his game coming from Jacksonville
After linebacker Myles Jack signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March, a concern emerged from his days with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A few outlets noted that Jack wasn’t particularly effective wearing the green dot communication helmet. Many Steelers fans had hoped Jack would be a natural for...
Tim Benz: Offseason tells us how owner Art Rooney II feels about what will fix Steelers’ postseason slump
In an offseason that could’ve led to significant upheaval for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the franchise instead appears to be an example of “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Actually, they are the very personification of that notion. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert retired. Vice president of...
First Call: Ex-Steelers RB looking for work; red-hot Starling Marte part of viral video moment
Wednesday’s “First Call” checks in on an ex-Steeler who needs a new place to play. A former Pitt Panther has his eyes on the NBA. Starling Marte is on fire with the New York Mets. And a free agent some Steelers fans wanted is heading down south. On the open...
Steelers legend Jack Ham responds to Doug Whaley’s comments about how he’d be a special teams backup today
Former Steelers executive — and recent general manager candidate — Doug Whaley made some headlines recently when he had a less than glowing review of Steelers legend Jack Ham. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan earlier this month, the Pitt grad and former Buffalo Bills general manager said, “Jack Ham would...
First Call: Aaron Donald doesn’t ‘need to play football to be fine’; Jacob Trouba takes out another skater
Pitt Panthers great Aaron Donald continues to leave his future up in the air. A pair of former Pirates exchange big blows at the plate in New York. Jacob Trouba is at it again for the New York Rangers. And a one-time Penguin has a new job with another former...
‘Madden Monday’: Steelers promoting Omar Khan won’t change the way the team operates
On Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers promoted vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan to be the franchise’s new general manager. It’s a move that surprised some because Khan doesn’t have much player scouting or development experience. He’s known more for his acumen on the business side and for...
Tim Benz: Ex-Pirates pitchers shining across MLB
Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, baseball fans can start gauging who will be in the mix for the Major League Baseball All-Star game (July 19 in Los Angeles). One Pittsburgh Pirate who is making an early push is closer David Bednar. His nine saves are eighth in...
Tim Benz: Steelers putting the ‘offensive’ back in ‘offensive line’ when it comes to pass protection
A complaint you often hear from linemen who play in pass-heavy offenses like the Pittsburgh Steelers is that they don’t get to be aggressive enough. If a team doesn’t run the ball very much, the offensive linemen aren’t firing off the line of scrimmage and attacking the defensive lineman on...
First Call: Who is Steelers most underappreciated player; Pittsburgh connections help Hurricanes beat Rangers
Friday’s “First Call” debates the Steelers most “underappreciated player.” We also look ahead to the Pirates game against Joe Musgrove. And some Pittsburgh connections played a role in the Carolina Hurricanes win over the New York Rangers on Thursday night. Plus, a happy anniversary for the Penguins, but a sad...
U mad, bro?: Steelers quarterback carping; Penguins postseason pouting; Pittsburgh postseason pontification
This week’s “U mad, bro?” features clamoring about the Steelers’ quarterback situation. There is much fretting about the future of the Penguins. Fans are pushing back about my concern of recent Pittsburgh playoff incompetence. Plus, my readers are very fired up about a particular movie poll. And, well, I think...
First Call: Jaromir Jagr avoids serious injury in auto crash with tram; Bruce Arians discusses Antonio Brown
In Thursday’s “First Call,” former Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Bruce Arians discusses where things went wrong with Antonio Brown. Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr escapes a frightening auto crash. The Pens are celebrating a pair of anniversaries. And the Pirates did something they rarely do en route to victory Wednesday. Arians...
Tim Benz: Mitch Trubisky navigating choppy waters of Steelers QB situation with ease on Day 1
If Mitch Trubisky can read a defense as well as he can read a room, then maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers really do have a diamond in the rough. Speaking with reporters Tuesday for the first time (in person, anyway) after the first OTA practice, Trubisky appropriately addressed, deftly sidestepped or...
Bryan Rust discusses new Penguins contract, his knee procedure and futures of Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin
Penguins winger Bryan Rust surprised many in the hockey world by getting to the end of the 2021-22 season as a prospective free agent but then signing a deal to stay in Pittsburgh before testing the waters. On Monday, Rust joined TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden on his 105.9 The X...
Tim Benz: Penguins GM Ron Hextall seems to want to keep the band together. I’m still hoping for a few new tunes
Based on what Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said Monday, not only does he want to keep the whole band together, he wants to re-release a greatest hits album. As I listened to Hextall’s comments from his press conference, my mind started to picture Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Evgeni...
First Call: Aaron Donald not at OTAs yet; NFL free agents at positions of need for Steelers; ex-Penguin stays hot in playoffs
Tuesday’s “First Call” updates the Aaron Donald situation in Los Angeles. We check in on potential free agents the Pittsburgh Steelers may want to investigate. A rematch of an ex-Pirate pitching duel takes a turn. And a former Penguin stays hot in the postseason. A.D.’s day Los Angeles Rams star...
Tim Benz: Cardinals vets feasting on Pirates an all too familiar scene
It felt like a turn-back-the-clock kind of weekend at PNC Park for the St. Louis Cardinals. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, meanwhile, time continues to stand still and the calendar never advances to a better year. Adam Wainwright spun a gem. Albert Pujols hit a pair of home runs. Paul Goldschmidt...
First Call: Michael Vick remains retired; Jameson Taillon shines for Yankees; Pirates hope for break vs. Rockies
Monday’s “First Call” debunks the thought that former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick may try a comeback. Jameson Taillon continues to author a fine season in New York. Josh Bell has cooled off in Washington. The Pirates may get a break with the Rockies in town. And Patric Hornqvist is...
Madden Monday: What Bryan Rust’s signing means for Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, Ron Hextall and other Penguins
A lot of questions are popping up in the wake of Bryan Rust’s decision to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins. One thing isn’t up for debate, though. This is a good deal for the Pens. The franchise is keeping a two-time Stanley Cup champion who has 73 goals over the...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Penguins both idling in Pittsburgh playoff purgatory
Pittsburgh once referred to itself as the “City of Champions,” based on the success of its sports teams in the 1970s, 1990s and early 2000s. Of late, though, those franchises have gone from playoff champions to playoff chumps. • The Penguins’ recently completed playoff series loss to the New York...
Struggling Pirates hitters now have to face pitching nemesis
For the Pittsburgh Pirates hitters, coming back to PNC Park on Friday might be a case of getting the wrong guy at the wrong time. The Buccos batters will face a familiar foe in Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals to open a three-game series and a six-game homestand....
First Call: Another in-house candidate gets 2nd Steelers GM interview; Mike Tomlin applauds retiring Raven
Friday’s “First Call” has an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager interviews. We also get a look at the franchise’s offseason “to do” list. Mike Tomlin pays respect to a retiring Baltimore Raven. And an ex-Penguin plays a role in St. Louis’ win in Colorado on Thursday night. Keeping...
