Breakfast With Benz category, Page 12
First Call: Steelers may be scouting a 2026 college QB; Steelers sign another CB with Black and Gold bloodlinesVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed another cornerback named “Porter Jr.” with Black and Gold bloodlines. The team’s scouting department may be getting a jump start on watching one quarterback in particular. Hines Ward is getting a coaching promotion. The Penguins are being tied to a Toronto winger. Jaromir Jagr is...
Report: Lemieux-Burkle group ‘well below what Fenway would want’ to sell Penguins
If Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are going to reclaim the Pittsburgh Penguins, their bid is going to have to increase. That’s the word from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. During his most recent “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman said if Fenway Sports Group wants to sell majority ownership of the Pens...
‘Letters from Camp’ Q&A: Steelers QB coach Tom Arth on coaching Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard behind the scenes
Today’s Bella Construction “Letters From Camp” conversation from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is with quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. The Cleveland native was a teammate of Aaron Rodgers in 2006. Now he is coaching him in Pittsburgh nearly two decades later. During Monday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, I asked Arth about...
First Call: Former Steelers QB still bullish on Aaron Rodgers; ex-Steelers CB signs with Jaguars
Monday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler who may be on the other sideline Saturday night in the preseason opener. A former Steelers quarterback has faith in how Aaron Rodgers might be in Pittsburgh this year. The Pirates come back to PNC Park licking their wounds after an embarrassing...
‘Rock’ bottom: Pirates’ absurd loss to Rockies, Ben Cherington’s comical trade deadline spin plunge team to new depths
Sharky’s Café was still stuffed with Pittsburgh Steelers fans long after the team’s Friday night practice had ended at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. There were T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Pat Freiermuth jerseys as far as the eye could see. By 11:45 p.m., though, the “how do yinz think Will Hahherrrd...
Madden Monday: Steelers could ‘talk themselves into (Will) Howard being the guy’ in 2026
On Saturday night, Pittsburgh Steelers fans will get a good look at rookie quarterback Will Howard during the team’s preseason opener in Jacksonville. Maybe that’s not a good thing. Maybe they are better off with the pristine image they have already created of Howard in their heads. Maybe it’s best...
First Call: ESPN gives Pirates low grade for David Bednar trade; Ke’Bryan Hayes homers in wild 1st game with Reds
Friday’s “First Call” has a potential wide receiver target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pirates aren’t getting rave reviews for the David Bednar trade. Ke’Bryan Hayes had a wild first game in Cincinnati. And as the Pirates head to Colorado, the Rockies are every bit as bad as you think...
Rookie Will Howard embraces Pittsburgh’s QB scrutiny — and its pronunciation of his last name
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard has heard it in casual conversation. He’s heard it from fans on the hill at Saint Vincent College. He has even come across it on social media. The pronunciation of his last name in Pittsburghese. “I think it’s pretty funny. The first time I...
Ex-Steeler Max Starks talks about his radio promotion, Broderick Jones, Aaron Rodgers, and memories of Craig Wolfley
There are few people that I’ve ever worked with in the sports media world who were as kind-hearted, pure of spirit and perpetually well-intentioned as Craig Wolfley. The former Steelers offensive lineman turned broadcaster died in March at the age of 66, leaving a void in the team’s radio broadcast...
First Call: Yankees may be interested in David Bednar; Pirates ‘reluctant to seriously engage’ in Mitch Keller trade talks
There are some interesting developments on the David Bednar trade front. The New York Yankees could be interested. It appears Ben Cherington has had very little motivation to trade Mitch Keller. Justin Fields is dealing with his injury well in New York. And the Baltimore Ravens are bringing an Olympic...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby’s arrival was Pittsburgh’s most consequential sports event of the past 20 years
Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Penguins drafting Sidney Crosby. You could argue (in fact, I think I will right now) that Crosby’s arrival was the single most consequential event in Pittsburgh sports over the past two decades. If the Penguins don’t win the lottery to draft Crosby,...
U mad, bro?: Readers revolt against George Pickens post, Pirates fans grumble over Jack Suwinski and Ben Cherington
I kicked a hornet’s nest with my recent column about former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens. Pirates fans have their usual discontent about team ownership, and there’s already a little concern about Aaron Rodgers. This heat makes everyone agitated. Why don’t we all vent a little steam in “U mad,...
First Call: Broderick Jones expected back at practice; more interest in David Bednar; Ben Cherington ‘in limbo’
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an update on Broderick Jones’ practice status. Trey Hendrickson will report to training camp in Cincinnati. The other two AFC North teams have seen significant players go down with injuries at their camps. And we have more speculation about the futures of David Bednar, Mitch Keller...
Stephen A. Smith’s nuclear rebuke of George Pickens Cowboys-Steelers comp misses 1 small detail
On Monday, wide receiver George Pickens heaped praise on what it is like to be a Dallas Cowboy in the wake of his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I kind of understand the camaraderie more than I did in Pittsburgh,” Pickens said on 105.3 The Fan. “The Cowboys, it’s like...
First Call: Asking price for David Bednar reportedly ‘bananas’; Minkah Fitzpatrick calls Pittsburgh exit ‘very unfortunate’
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Minkah Fitzpatrick’s first quotes since being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Miami Dolphins. We also get updates on David Bednar’s trade stock and Kenny Pickett’s health. Plus, more gambling issues swirl around the Cleveland Guardians. Minkah speaks For the first time since he was...
Tim Benz: Bryce Harper, Rob Manfred confrontation shows cooler heads must prevail in MLB labor talks
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred was reportedly told to “get the (expletive) out” of the Philadelphia Phillies locker room by two-time MVP Bryce Harper last week. As reported by ESPN.com and The Bandwagon, Manfred fired back at Harper with similar language and refused to leave. According to ESPN’s Jeff...
Paul Skenes says Pirates must ‘consciously, intentionally make moves to get us better’
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes tossed six shutout innings Sunday. I thought his second-best pitch was his changeup. I thought his best pitch was the one he made during a postgame interview. While hosting Sunday’s postgame show on 93.7 The Fan, Dan Zangrilli asked Skenes if he felt the...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick’s new money; Kenny Pickett’s injury; a twist on Mitch Keller trade rumors
Monday’s “First Call” features some new money up front for former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. We look at Kenny Pickett’s hamstring injury in Cleveland. There is a new layer to the Mitch Keller trade rumors, and we examine the Pirates’ road trip out west. Pickett’s problem It doesn’t sound...
Tim Benz: Sparkling Sunday from Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz shines light on Ben Cherington
There was some irony to the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting Peanuts Night on Saturday. After all, most of the episodes of Peanuts that involved baseball featured Charlie Brown getting knocked off the mound by line drives, Snoopy being traded for five random prospects, and it rained a lot. Not to mention,...
Madden Monday: ‘At what point are (the Pirates) going to keep their good players?’
As Thursday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline looms, starting pitcher Mitch Keller and closer David Bednar appear to be the Pittsburgh Pirates who would most likely bring a decent return. Keller has a 3.53 ERA. His 15 quality starts are tied for first in the National League. His 125 innings...
Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers is the X-factor in meeting his own ‘expectations’ with Steelers
During his first training camp interview as a Steeler, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked if he had expectations for himself and the team. “I do, yes,” Rogers flatly replied. And they might be? “I’m not telling you,” Rodgers quipped back. Conversely, Steelers general manager Omar Khan didn’t feel the need...
First Call: Mike Tomlin’s early praise for Kaleb Johnson; potential trades for Mitch Keller, David Bednar
Friday’s “First Call” has potential trade destinations for two former Pirates All-Stars. A Steelers rookie turned some heads on Day 1 of training camp. We preview the Pirates’ weekend series against Arizona. And we check in on Russell Wilson’s start in New York. Good start Mike Tomlin isn’t one to...
Steelers defense pledges to create new ways for T.J. Watt, rest of the pass rush to create havoc
A lot is being made of the first 11-on-11 play of the Steelers’ 2025 training camp: Aaron Rodgers intercepted by Patrick Queen on a throw intended for DK Metcalf. Of course that was going to get some buzz. I was kinda intrigued by the third play, though. T.J. Watt was...
First Call: Juan Thornhill pushes back at Cleveland’s portrayal of his skills; viral video of funny Browns photo op goofVideo
A new Pittsburgh Steeler is still unhappy about how he was portrayed in Cleveland. The Browns had an unfortunate viral moment. Another Steeler is in the NFL’s Top 100. And a former Steelers first-round pick may have just suffered a season-ending injury. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.” Not over...
Pat McAfee issues on-air apology to Ole Miss student after spreading false internet rumor
ESPN’s Pat McAfee apologized to a University of Mississippi student Wednesday after he advanced a viral story about the woman’s sex life during an episode of his show in February. The rumor turned out to be untrue. The 19-year-old and her family ended up posting a response to the internet...
