Breakfast With Benz category, Page 17
Paul Skenes trade talk ‘an utterly illogical premise’ born from a ‘completely logical conclusion’: It’s the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington appeared to be somewhere between annoyed and bemused by the very question. Is trading Paul Skenes — less than two full years into his career — a genuine consideration? “No,” Cherington said Thursday afternoon, “it’s not at all part of the conversation.” Would #Pirates...
Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers situation is now more about saving face for Steelers than it is the football calendar
I want to thank ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. He sat through an entire three-hour appearance by Aaron Rodgers on Joe Rogan’s podcast and took notes. So we don’t have to. I don’t always agree with Florio’s opinions or presentation. But that’s doing God’s work, my friends. Thanks, Mike. Furthermore, Florio endured...
First Call: Art Rooney’s insight on ‘heated’ debate over tush push; new NFL postseason award
Thursday’s “First Call” has quotes from Steelers owner Art Rooney II about how things went down in a prickly meeting surrounding the idea of eliminating the tush push. We also have a new award in NFL circles, recruiting information from Pitt and Duquesne and a look at the Pirates’ next...
U mad, bro?: NFL fans angry about failed playoff changes; Pirates fans hate Paul Skenes trade talkVideo
For “U mad, bro?” this week, we’ve got a lot of people who are angry that the NFL ended up keeping its current playoff format in place. We’ve also got folks all tied up about the idea of trading Paul Skenes, and some guy is ticked about the use of...
Tim Benz: Starters diluting Pirates’ historic futility at the plate
How good has the Pirates’ starting pitching been of late? Good enough that on a day when the franchise’s anemic offense tied an MLB record for run scoring futility, the Pirates still managed to win. For a second game in a row. Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Reds marked the...
Pirates take different fork in a very familiar road to break losing skid
In many respects, Tuesday’s game was very similar to most of the ones that the Pittsburgh Pirates have played recently. They got great starting pitching while the hitting was almost entirely absent. In some other key areas, however, the latest contest against the Cincinnati Reds was extremely different. First and...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s 2025 Steelers predictions; early reviews of George Pickens in Dallas
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers predictions from Ben Roethlisberger. He and Cameron Heyward also have a warning about going over to Europe this season. We get an update on George Pickens in Dallas. Plus, we preview T.J. McConnell’s chances of advancing to the NBA Finals with the Indiana...
Tim Benz: Proposed NFL playoff changes are unnecessary, reactionary, shortsighted
This week’s vote at the NFL owners meetings as to whether or not the league should adopt a playoff format change is typically stupid, prisoner-of-the-moment, 2025-style overreaction. Mark Maske of the Washington Post is reporting that the proposal is unlikely to pass. Let’s hope he’s right. As of now, winners...
While managing Reds, New Brighton’s Terry Francona admits ‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care’ about Pirates’ results
According to Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona, Gene Lamont graduated from a very specialized field of study. “He has a degree in baseball,” Francona said Monday before his Reds played the Pirates in the first of their three-game series at PNC Park. The 78-year-old Lamont is continuing his post-grad work...
First Call: Kenny Pickett is the ‘front-runner’ in Cleveland; ex-Steeler DL checks out Cincinnati
It appears that ex-Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett is in “pole position” up in Cleveland. Another former Steeler may be in line for a job in Cincinnati. The Saints are not part of Aaron Rodgers’ equation. We have Pitt basketball recruiting news and the U.S. Open odds. All that in “First...
1 and done: Mitch Keller the latest starter to be victimized by Pirates’ collective shortcomings
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller gave up just one earned run in six innings against the surging Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. Obviously, that was one earned run too much for these fragile Pirates to handle. Because the typically putrid Pirates’ offense scored just one run. Because the Pirates’...
Madden Monday on Paul Skenes: ‘If I were him, I’d ask out. I’d want a trade right now’
The Pirates’ 1-0 loss in Philadelphia (28-18) on Sunday was their third in a row and 13th in 16 tries this month. The Bucs (15-32) have already been shut out a major-league-leading eight times this season. They were swept by the Phillies, lost five of six games on their road...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers biographer on QB’s waiting game; free-agent DL wants to join SteelersVideo
Monday’s “First Call” features a weekend recap of some Steelers notes, including an interesting take on Aaron Rodgers. A veteran defensive lineman wants to join the Steelers. We add some Pitt recruiting news, and we look at Terry Francona’s return to Pittsburgh with the Cincinnati Reds. Rodgers revelations In August...
Tim Benz: Hall of Famer Mark Recchi endorses Penguins’ approach to coaching search
In his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman outlined his latest information on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ coaching search. The first name he mentioned was Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love. “I think he’s high on their list,” Friedman said (at 1:33:40 of this link). “Other names I’ve kind of...
Tim Benz: Our all-Penguins setlist requests for Pearl Jam’s concerts at PPG Paints Arena
I really enjoyed the AC/DC concert at Acrisure Stadium last week. Well, except for Angus Young’s guitar solo. It lasted so long I heard that Aaron Rodgers actually signed his contract, played four games behind the Steelers’ offensive line, got injured and retired before it finally ended. Of course, as...
Neil Walker on becoming Don Kelly’s bench coach with Pirates: ‘Not right now’
There has been some speculation that new Pirates manager Don Kelly may ask his brother-in-law, former Pirate Neil Walker, to be his bench coach. Walker joined me on the “Breakfast with Benz” podcast Wednesday. He acknowledges that the topic has been discussed, but it’s unlikely to happen. “If my brother-in-law...
First Call: Art Rooney II’s lone schedule complaint; NFL scheduling exec denies knowledge about Aaron RodgersVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has a complaint about the Steelers’ schedule from owner Art Rooney II. The NFL wants to add some clarity to the Aaron Rodgers angle. I’ve got an interesting quirk to the schedule that may impact your predictions. We also examine the struggles of Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds....
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans angry about George Pickens coverage, lack of Will Howard support
This happens every May. We are about four months removed from the conclusion of the previous Steelers season. That’s long enough to forget how badly it ended. We are four months removed from the start of the next Steelers season. That’s well in advance of the panic that usually precedes...
Tim Benz: As consistently bad as Pirates’ hitters have been, Tuesday night’s failure was surreal
The Pirates’ season-long offensive ineptitude hit a new low in New York during a 2-1 loss to the Mets on Tuesday night. It was the 19th straight game in which the Pirates failed to score more than four runs. That’s a franchise record. Tuesday’s flop may have been the most...
First Call: Steelers’ offense called most ‘depressing’ in NFL; Ben Roethlisberger on George Pickens trade
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Ben Roethlisberger’s reaction to the Steelers trading George Pickens. A former NFL QB says the Steelers’ offense is at the bottom of the NFL barrel. We monitor some potential free agent wide receiver movement. The Duquesne basketball team offers a scholarship to an interesting prospect, and...
For Paul Skenes, latest start consistent with pros and cons of 2025
For Paul Skenes, his latest outing on Monday was emblematic of his overall season. In a 4-3 Pirates loss to the New York Mets, expected dominance wasn’t to be found in a no-decision. Yet, a pretty good line score at the end of the night emerged. Skenes went six innings...
Tim Benz: Can’t hold Steelers fans to a higher standard of QB logic than what the franchise has shown
If the Steelers aren’t going to use logic while building their quarterback depth chart, I suppose I shouldn’t be critical of the team’s fans for how they are responding to the instability at the position. That said, man, this Will Howard phenomenon sure is something, isn’t it? Howard was drafted...
First Call: Former Steelers WR thinks George Pickens is better than DK Metcalf; ex-Steeler DB joins Browns
Tuesday’s “First Call” has a less-than-glowing prediction about how things will go at the Steelers’ wide receiver position from a player who knows that spot well. A former Steeler has latched on with the Cleveland Browns. We track the movements of a potential free-agent target for the Steelers, and we...
First Call: Steelers reportedly make signings on offense; Pirates face top dogs in the NL EastVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” the Steelers have reportedly made two signings on offense. The Pirates are getting ready for some tough competition on their first road trip under Don Kelly as manager. And the Pacers are on the verge of an upset in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs with some...
Tim Benz: Steelers must avoid familiar path at wide receiver
I’m 100% on board with the Steelers’ decision to trade George Pickens, even if they didn’t get the return I was hoping for from the Dallas Cowboys. “We discussed (with his agent) where things have been with George. Where they are, and where things could go with George. And this...
