Tim Benz stories, Page 18
Madden Monday on the Steelers: ‘If you don’t care that you’re clueless, you keep on being clueless’
The epitaph on George Pickens’ career in Pittsburgh can’t truly be written until we see how things work out for him in Dallas. And wherever else he may go after that. But in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X says that shipping Pickens...
Tim Benz: Pirates made a needed change in firing Shelton, but they didn’t go far enough
Trading Josh Bell on Christmas Eve 2020 was one heckuva news dump by the Pittsburgh Pirates. That was an all-time favorite of mine. But releasing news of a managerial change about 25 minutes after white smoke emerged from the Vatican to announce the election of a new pope is next-level...
Tim Benz: Oakmont, USGA officials prepare U.S. Open ‘stage,’ then hope golfers write a winning script
It’s no secret that things have been tough around the Pittsburgh sports scene recently. The Penguins are bad. The Pirates are worse. And the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the week of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The first one. As a result, if you are feeling like people...
First Call: Ex-Steeler says it ‘sounds like they’re tanking’; George Pickens trade produces wild Steelers stat
Thursday’s “First Call” has lots of reaction to the news surrounding the Steelers trade of George Pickens to Dallas. That move resulted in the Steelers stumbling into a wild statistical anomaly. A former Steeler is getting an honor from his alma mater. And former Pitt great Aaron Donald is getting...
U mad, bro?: Some Steelers fans are mad George Pickens was traded, others wanted to see better return
I’m glad the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday. He was toxic, pouty, overrated and likely asking for too much money. My only complaint is that the Steelers should’ve dealt him before the draft in order to give themselves a chance to have a better No....
Tim Benz: Trading George Pickens is the right move, but it would’ve been a much better move before draft
You can’t fault the Pittsburgh Steelers for trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. You can fault them for the process, though. At least so far. Maybe the Steelers aren’t done. Maybe a move to backfill for Pickens is coming. Then again, we said that from March through November of...
Tim Benz: Our all-Steelers setlist requests for AC/DC at Acrisure Stadium Thursday night
The last time AC/DC played in Pittsburgh was at Mellon Arena on Jan. 7, 2009. The Steelers were about to cap off the 2008 campaign with a trip to Super Bowl XLIII. The Penguins were embarking on a run to the Stanley Cup. Now, they are coming back to Pittsburgh...
First Call: Steelers minority owner comments on Aaron Rodgers situation; potential Pitt hoops recruiting coup
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an interesting characterization of the Aaron Rodgers situation from a Steelers minority owner. Another Pitt player is getting a chance with the Steelers. Pitt also may be getting some good news on the basketball recruiting trail. And Cameron Heyward likes the fit of a fellow Ohio...
Details on Mike Sullivan’s contract in New York; more speculation about Nathan MacKinnon trying to recruit Sidney Crosby
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is adding detail to the speculation over how much former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is being paid by the New York Rangers. In his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman contextualizes previous reports that Sullivan is signing the largest head coaching contract in NHL history. “It’s a...
First Call: More details on Devin Bush’s arrest; 1 name removed as possible Penguins coach
You can cross a name off the list of potential candidates to replace Mike Sullivan as Pittsburgh Penguins head coach. We are getting details about the arrest of former Steeler Devin Bush in Bell Acres. The Steelers have released jersey numbers for the rookie class. And Duquesne’s basketball team has...
Tim Benz: A ‘thank you’ note to sports moments outside of Pittsburgh for filling the void
I turned on the computer to write Tuesday’s posts, and I had nuthin’. I looked at a blank document, and it looked right back at me and shrugged. “I can’t help you, pal. Just start pounding keys and see what comes ‘aht,” it said. Well, at least that’s what I...
First Call: Mason Rudolph calls Pittsburgh a ‘sports town like no other’; ex-Steelers LB arrestedVideo
Mason Rudolph steps out as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers once again. A former Steelers linebacker is facing charges in Allegheny County. The Pirates hit the road to face a division rival. And the Pitt Panthers football team gets some bad luck in the transfer portal. All that in...
Madden Monday: Penguins parting ways with Mike Sullivan ‘highlights how ludicrous it is’ the Steelers keep Mike Tomlin
When Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas discussed Mike Sullivan’s exit as head coach last week, he said, “Sometimes the class needs a new professor, and sometimes the professor needs a new class.” During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive said that’s the...
Tim Benz: Home woes, offensive ineptitude have Derek Shelton searching for answers
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 4-0 shutout loss at home Sunday to the San Diego Padres was notable for a lot of reasons. • It plunged the Pirates to 12-23 (.343). That’s the third-worst record in Major League Baseball. • It’s the Bucs’ fourth loss in a row and their eighth in...
Tim Benz: Latest angle to the Aaron Rodgers waiting game is ‘overthought and overwrought’
At least one outlet is suggesting that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers should wait even longer before announcing their much-anticipated union. Since it has already taken this long, ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio thinks it might be wise for Rodgers to hold off signing until after the NFL schedule is released...
First Call: Reaction in New York to Mike Sullivan’s move; Steelers invite huge offensive lineman to rookie camp
Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has a new job with the Rangers. New York’s media shares its reaction to the news. Marc-Andre Fleury ends his career with the Minnesota Wild. The Steelers are looking at an interesting offensive line prospect. And one analyst thinks it is time for the club...
Among college coaching candidates to replace Mike Sullivan, 1 name makes more sense than the rest
A number of college hockey head coaches have been floated out as potential successors to Mike Sullivan as the bench boss of the Pittsburgh Penguins. One would assume that the money and prestige of coaching in the NHL would make such a move a no-brainer. But during a “Breakfast with...
Tim Benz: ‘Demands’ or not, there are reasons why Mike Sullivan’s relationship with Penguins came to an end
In the wake of Mike Sullivan’s departure as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a lot of people are seizing on some of the alleged circumstances that surrounded it. For instance, there were rumblings that Sullivan had made a list of “non-negotiable demands” that he wanted if he was...
First Call: Ryan Watts discusses medical release from Steelers; Penguins’ coaching job not highly rated
A former Pittsburgh Steeler discusses being forced into early retirement because of injury. Another ex-Steeler is forced to become a free agent once more. Also, the Penguins’ head coaching job isn’t being rated as a highly desirable position. And we check on T.J. McConnell’s contributions to the surging Indiana Pacers...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans irate about NFL Draft coverage; Pens fans sick of Erik Karlsson
I didn’t think it was possible to find anyone who was more upset about the 2025 NFL Draft than Mel Kiper. Then I looked at my social media mentions and my email. Apparently, Mel isn’t alone. Here is this week’s “U mad, bro?” I got this unsigned email from someone...
Paul Skenes enjoying ‘cat-and-mouse game’ of familiarity against MLB opponents in Year 2
For many successful Major League Baseball rookies, Year 2 can be a challenge. The league figures out what you do well and counters it. “There is definitely adjust-and-adjust-back. Year 2 was definitely tougher for me than year Year 1,” Cubs veteran Ian Happ said Tuesday. “Pitchers did a good job...
Tim Benz: On coaches named ‘Mike,’ maybe Art Rooney II should listen to Kyle Dubas’ message
It’s obvious that Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II isn’t influenced by what he reads in columns like this one, or what he hears on sports radio. If that was the case, he probably would’ve fired Mike Tomlin before Maurkice Pouncey’s game-opening snap was done sailing over Ben Roethlisberger’s head...
First Call: Cowboys showed interest in George Pickens; Cleveland confusion about Kenny Pickett’s 5th-year option
Tuesday’s “First Call” features more smoke about how close the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys may have come to a George Pickens trade. A pair of former WPIAL standouts are getting rookie minicamp invites from the Steelers. There was some confusion over Kenny Pickett’s fifth-year option. Duquesne basketball is losing...
First Call: Dino Tomlin, Eddie Faulkner IV get rookie minicamp invites; Shedeur Sanders’ slide boosts TV ratings for NFL Draft
Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us where the sons of Mike Tomlin and Eddie Faulkner will try to latch on in the NFL. The Shedeur Sanders drama boosted NFL ratings significantly. A Duquesne special teams standout is trying to make an NFL roster. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a tall task ahead...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ draft homework before free agency in March paid off in April
If you came up with a list of words to describe the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason in advance of the draft, I don’t think these would have made the cut: Clinical. Crisp. Clean. Coordinated. Procedural. Organized. Well orchestrated. The fact that it’s almost May and the club’s three rostered quarterbacks are...
