Breakfast With Benz category, Page 59
Madden Monday: Steelers’ frequent close wins are ‘mostly just dumb luck’
Like many people who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers, 105.9 The X radio host and TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden is struggling to figure out how the club has gotten itself to 6-3 on the season. After Sunday’s 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers, Madden is resigned to bemusement at the...
First Call: Steelers are early underdogs in Cleveland; Josh Dobbs does it again
In Monday’s “First Call,” we look ahead to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming visit to Cleveland. We get into how some NFL returns could impact the Steelers. And Josh Dobbs flashes his skills in Minnesota. Looking ahead Despite being 6-3 and winning four of their last five, the Steelers (6-3) are...
Feats of Strength: Patrick Peterson’s big plays, resurgent run game overcome Steelers’ shortcomings vs. Packers
I’m not sure how many more weeks the Pittsburgh Steelers can survive on the last defensive possession as the opposing quarterback throws the ball to the goal line with the game in the balance. But they sure seem to be making a habit of it. The Steelers never win pretty....
Tim Benz: California sweep provides some ‘whiteout’ for Penguins after slow start to season
It’s not like the Pittsburgh Penguins’ California sweep this week erased everything that went wrong for the club on their recent four-game homestand. But it’s at least a little hockey whiteout. The Pens headed west, after having dropped three of four games at home in frustrating fashion. They were losers...
Football Footnotes: It’s about to get nuts in the AFC North
Here’s one thing we know about the AFC North heading into Sunday’s schedule for sure. It won’t be another perfect week for the division. After all four teams won last week, that can’t happen again this Sunday because two of the clubs — the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns —...
First Call: No position change coming for Steelers rookie; Duquesne football looks to claim conference crown
Friday’s “First Call” dismisses the idea of a Steelers position change. We also look at this week’s dud of a matchup for the Pitt football team. Plus, we preview what Penn State, Duquesne and West Virginia have on their respective schedules. And the RMU hockey team is already enjoying the...
First Call: Ex-Steeler rips George Pickens; James Conner eyes return; Packers’ injury update
Thursday’s “First Call” has harsh words for George Pickens from a Steelers alum. We get a health update on the Green Bay Packers as they eye a trip to Pittsburgh on Sunday. A former Steeler and Pitt Panther is preparing for a return. And a noteworthy change to the NFL’s...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin called George Pickens issue a ‘pebble in my shoe.’ His players are trying to prevent a rockslide
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin referred to last week’s social media distraction involving George Pickens as “a pebble in my shoe.” Apparently, some of his other players saw it as potentially a large thorn in the side of the team because they felt the need to address it. On...
U mad, bro?: Too much praise for Mike Tomlin. Too much blame for Mike Tomlin. Bad NFL refs and … popcorn balls
Praise for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Blame for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Sports Journalism 101. Steelers roster construction. Bad NFL officiating. And popcorn balls. This week’s “U mad, bro?” has it all. Let’s start with an important matter. In last week’s “U mad, bro?” I took a shot at popcorn...
Mike Sullivan, players praise sparring-match style win for Penguins in Anaheim
After the Pittsburgh Penguins won a close 2-0 contest in Anaheim on Tuesday night, Ducks coach Greg Cronin made a boxing analogy. “There wasn’t a lot of rhythm to the game,” Cronin said via the Associated Press. “There weren’t a lot of scoring chances either way. It was like two...
Tim Benz: ‘4th Quarter Kenny’ is making Pittsburgh smile, but Mike Tomlin can’t laugh off 1st-half concerns forever
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had a smile on his face. There was some levity to his retort. But as is often the case when someone makes a joke, there’s a lot of truth to it. And there’s usually a message to the delivery. During his weekly Tuesday press conference,...
First Call: Martavis Bryant has a new home; Kyler Murray likely to make return ahead of game against Steelers
Wednesday’s “First Call” features familiar Pittsburgh Steelers faces in new places. A big-time offensive tackle reveals how he nearly wound up in Pittsburgh. And the Steelers may be facing a former Pro Bowler at quarterback in a few weeks. Big deal in Big D According to multiple reports, including one...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ run game must seize on rare chance for positive reinforcement
When it comes to the run game, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has finally stumbled into something it can use. Positive reinforcement. Through most of the first seven games of the season, when examining tape, Steelers coaches and players could only walk away from what they witnessed and say, “We’re not...
First Call: Mike Tomlin credited for ‘most impressive coaching job’ in 2023; pending tryouts for Martavis Bryant
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some midseason accolades for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. We also look at the potential return of Martavis Bryant to the NFL, Tuesday’s rematch between the Penguins and Anaheim Ducks, and an AFC North team dealing with an ill-timed run of injuries. Pump the brakes NFL.com’s...
First Call: Steelers’ next opponent grabs victory; entire AFC North wins; wild win for Josh Dobbs with new team
While the Pittsburgh Steelers had Sunday to rest, it was a successful day for everyone else in the AFC North. Next week’s opponent at Acrisure Stadium chalked up a victory too, as did a former quarterback who used to wear the Black and Gold. But one former Steelers receiver found...
Tim Benz: From a ‘dead body’ to a ‘lion,’ Duquesne’s Chabi Barre describes his return after frightening collapse
A dead body. That’s how Duquesne basketball player Halil “Chabi” Barre described himself for the first 72 hours after the incident. “The first two to three days, I felt terrible,” Barre said after practice Friday. “My body felt weak. I couldn’t even lift my arm. l was just laying down...
Madden Monday: George Pickens is upset at Steelers’ offense. ‘In this case, Pickens is right’
A few years ago, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE dubbed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as “A.B. Jr.” and Chase Claypool as “A.B. Jr. Jr.” With all of their antics and quotes, the descriptions fit. So what does that mean for George Pickens in the...
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers ‘staying on schedule’ after win over Titans
In this week’s “Friday Football Footnotes,” we look at the Pittsburgh Steelers in the big picture after Thursday’s win. We lay out the local college football slate of games. There is plenty of good NFL viewing on Sunday. And the Browns-Cardinals game could be quite a quarterback conundrum. • The...
First Call: Gary Bettman on future of fighting in NHL; San Jose welcomes Penguins after humiliating loss
With our “Airing of Grievances” and “Friday Football Footnotes,” we have the Pittsburgh Steelers pretty well covered after the Thursday night game against Tennessee. So this is an all-hockey “First Call.” We’ve got Gary Bettman’s State of the Union on fighting in the NHL. Phil Kessel wants to keep playing....
Feats of Strength: Snapped streaks, ‘weighty plays,’ resurgent run game tell story as Steelers edge Titans
With this year’s Pittsburgh Steelers team, we’ve come to expect the unexpected. Well, except for Diontae Johnson touchdowns and first-quarter scoring drives. But after Thursday’s 20-16 comeback win against the Tennessee Titans, I guess even those items are in play now. Those were just two of the storylines worth recapping...
First Call: DeAndre Hopkins expected to play vs. Steelers; watch Logan Cooley’s first NHL goal
Thursday’s “First Call” has an important injury update for this evening’s Steelers-Titans game. We have more details about that reported Steelers trade with the Bears that never happened on Tuesday. A Pittsburgh-area NHL player just notched his first goal. And we remember a Pittsburgh connection to the late Bobby Knight....
Tim Benz: Applauding the Watt brothers’ rebuke of Jaylen Warren’s fines; concerns about NFL’s increasing flag football approach
On Tuesday, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt lashed out at the NFL for fining teammate Jaylen Warren $48,000 (twice) for lowering his helmet. The second-year running back only makes $870,000 before taxes and fees. That’s 11% of his income. Here are the plays. These two plays got Jaylen Warren fined a...
U mad, bro?: Steelers, Pitt, Penguins are all a mess. The refs stink too. And our readers are fed up
When the NFL referees stink during a Steelers loss, that takes some of the heat off of the Steelers themselves. When the Steelers lose, that takes a lot of the heat off the Penguins if they are struggling. And if the Penguins are struggling, the Steelers are losing, and either...
First Call: Steelers reportedly had interest in trading for Bears CB; news on Steelers ownership; Will Levis likely starter for Titans
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us a Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumor that never panned out. We have a new person interested in buying into the franchise. A former Steelers quarterback has been traded. Will Levis looks good to go as the starter for the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium Thursday. And...
NFL officiating expert echos complaints from Steelers fans on costly penalties
If you were frustrated by the officials in the Steelers-Jaguars game Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, you weren’t alone. And, no, I’m not just talking about Diontae Johnson. CBS NFL officiating analyst Gene Steratore is right there with you. Based on his appearance on WDVE Tuesday morning, it’s clear Steratore, who...
