Breakfast With Benz category, Page 57
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger says Steelers’ clock management issues are result of ‘bad coaching,’ quells talk of comeback
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tamps down any questions of a comeback. He also fans the flames of criticism when it comes to the coaching staff’s clock management. In hockey, the Penguins welcome Logan Cooley for the first time. And two other local skaters are shining...
Tim Benz: If Steelers ‘ills’ are fixable, prove it this week — or start planning for 2024
There are two constants in Pittsburgh. The first is citywide angst whenever the Steelers go into a slump. The second is road construction. Let’s bring those two unavoidable eventualities together. Let’s say the Hot Metal Bridge near the Steelers’ facility needs repairs — again. Construction crews can make the decision...
First Call: Steelers open as underdogs in Indy, somehow still in playoff spot; Joe Flacco shining in Cleveland
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a train wreck right now. But, somehow, in the wake of all the other NFL results in Week 13, they are still in a playoff position. In Monday’s “First Call,” we get into how that’s possible. Plus, we look at the Steelers’ opponent next week. We...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ back-to-back losses made history, but we’ve seen this before
It felt stupid, didn’t it? Tracking all those AFC games Sunday to see how they would impact the Steelers and the playoff standings. What a fruitless endeavor after how the Steelers performed in their last two games, losing both at home against teams (the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots)...
Madden Monday: There’s a difference between firing Mike Sullivan and firing Mike Tomlin
Everything is bad with the Pittsburgh Steelers right now. Losing back-to-back home games against two-win teams (the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots) has sapped any enthusiasm moving forward for the rest of the season. What’s even worse is that whenever the team is eventually eliminated from the playoffs —...
Tim Benz: Kareem Rozier’s maturity, leadership keys to Duquesne’s early success
Duquesne sophomore point guard Kareem Rozier turned 19 right before Thanksgiving. But if you meet him, talk to him, or just see him run the Dukes on the floor, you might say to yourself, “Are we sure he isn’t 29? Or 39? And is he really running the point? Or...
First Call: Steelers’ upset losses result in historically bad stat; ex-ref disagrees with Christian Kuntz penalty
Friday’s “First Call” puts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ egregious losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots into a historical context. At least one former NFL official thinks the Steelers got jobbed on the Christian Kuntz call Thursday night. The rest of the teams in the AFC playoff picture will...
Airing of Grievances: Impotent offense, disappointing defense, scattered coaching as Steelers gag against Patriots
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t bat an eyelash at the Pittsburgh Steelers getting dusted at home by the New England Patriots. During the height of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick years, that was a common occurrence. However, Brady is long gone and so is that era of Patriots football. They entered...
Football Footnotes: Is this the end for Bill Belichick in New England?
Two things seem pretty obvious heading into the latest edition of Steelers-Patriots on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium: 1. There won’t be many points on the scoreboard at the end of the night. 2. No one is going to be confusing this game with any one of the classics involving...
U mad, bro?: Awful Arizona loss, Diontae’s dancing have Steelers fans in a Grinchy mood
The Pittsburgh Steelers just suffered one of the franchise’s worst losses ever at Acrisure Stadium. Diontae Johnson celebrated a meaningless touchdown. The Penguins look as old as we feared that they would. And Sports Illustrated is rewarding empty hype in college football. All we need now is the annual December...
First Call: ‘Optimism’ for Najee Harris vs. Patriots; Micah Parsons on T.J. Watt’s holding complaints
Thursday’s “First Call” has a hopeful health update for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris. T.J. Watt is getting lots of Pro Bowl votes and support from a fellow pass-rushing star in their battle against holding calls. We also recap a busy night of college basketball action, and Robert Morris’...
First Call: Steelers veteran says ‘we sure can’t lose’ to another 2-win team; Patriots’ top RB out multiple weeks
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” a Pittsburgh Steelers veteran is drawing a line in the sand in advance of the team’s game against New England on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Patriots will have to get over the loss of an important contributor to their already anemic offense. An upcoming opponent for the...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett’s latest injury shows how rough QB life may get in Pittsburgh
Kenny Pickett’s latest injury — on top of his overall lack of progress this year — is starting to make people wonder if the Steelers got it wrong in their first attempt to replace future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The fact that Pickett is being replaced by Mitch...
Ugly loss to Cardinals changes perspective on game vs. Patriots, rest of Steelers’ season
Thursday night’s Pittsburgh Steelers game against the New England Patriots was setting up to be something completely different than what it has become. Prior to Sunday’s hideous home loss to the Arizona Cardinals, that game was lining up as the third consecutive win for the Steelers in the post-Matt Canada...
First Call: Ex-Steeler rips goal line sequence; Bill Belichick on Steelers’ QBs; former Colts Pro Bowl ILB signs with Eagles
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Bill Belichick’s view of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB situation as his Patriots prepare to visit Acrisure Stadium on Thursday. We get a health update on a Patriots starter on offense. A former Steeler is unhappy with the team’s game-changing sequence at the Arizona goal line Sunday....
Tim Benz: Frustration mounts for players on Penguins’ power play
After the Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest loss, a 2-1 overtime defeat in Philadelphia on Monday night, a friend shot me a sarcastic text. “What happens first? Pens score a power play goal? Or Steelers score more than one touchdown in a game?” I sent a sincere reply. “Pirates win NLCS.” OK....
Madden Monday: Steelers ‘a bad team that thinks they’re good’; Penguins’ power play stinks and may get worse
Simply put, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 24-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals was horrible. Top to bottom. Mike Tomlin’s team played poorly at home against a lousy team and damaged their playoff hopes as a result. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive suggests...
First Call: James Conner had vision of big return to Pittsburgh; Jim Leyland moments
Monday’s “First Call” captures James Conner’s successful return to Pittsburgh as his Cardinals upset the Steelers 24-10 on Sunday afternoon. Another former Steeler had a big game in the NFC South. And we look ahead to what could be an ugly game between the Patriots and Steelers on Thursday night....
Airing of Grievances: Offense, defense flop as Steelers suffer dreadful upset loss to CardinalsVideo
Sunday was as bad of an afternoon as I can ever remember at Acrisure Stadium for a Steelers game day. There were two weather delays for high winds, lightning, heavy rain and hail. In December. In Pittsburgh. On top of that, the Steelers (7-5) lost a 24-10 slopfest to the...
Tim Benz: Adjustments to Steelers’ offense helps Kenny Pickett in many ways
Much has been made about how the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense improved in Week 1 under new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner and recently promoted play-caller Mike Sullivan. Getting the offense to over 400 yards for the first time in 58 games was a pleasant departure from the slog that unit had...
Football Footnotes: Steelers are a surprise in only 1 way
At 7-4, some are suggesting that the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers are an overachieving surprise. That’s usually being done by way of advancing Mike Tomlin’s Coach of the Year candidacy. If you judge by the preseason NFL over-under win totals, I suppose you could make that argument. Like many sportsbooks at...
First Call: Maulers eliminated; Joe Flacco may start for Browns; Pro Bowl TE to Ravens?
The Pittsburgh Steelers may miss a key member of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Lots of nuggets are coming out of the AFC North. The Penguins are getting set to face the Flyers. We check in on RMU hockey. And RIP Pittsburgh Maulers … again. Hollywood’s heel As the Steelers...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger on Matt Canada’s coaching style, 3rd down approach; James Conner discusses return
Thursday’s “First Call” has some insights about Matt Canada and the Steelers offense from Ben Roethlisberger. James Conner looks ahead to his return to Pittsburgh Sunday as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. We take a look at the injury report for the Steelers-Cards game. And the Penguins take on...
U mad, bro?: Sounding off on Matt Canada’s dismissal, NHL refs, Clark Griswold, Jimmy Buffett
In the height of Steelers season, this week’s “U mad, bro?” post involves both Jimmy Buffett and Clark W. Griswold. I mean, how can anyone be mad about that?! Then again it also includes references to Matt Canada, the Diontae Johnson non-touchdown, the Predators’ overtime pick play against the Penguins...
First Call: Steelers may miss another opponent’s injured star; Ben Roethlisberger stumps for teammates to make Hall of Fame
Wednesday’s “First Call” features Ben Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fame campaign for two former teammates. We also discover another star player who may miss a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, we get a look at Sunday’s Steelers-Cardinals officiating crew. And we preview the college basketball night ahead for Duquesne and...
