Breakfast With Benz category, Page 71
Tim Benz: If we are going to take the Pirates seriously, then we should be seriously ticked about that series vs. the A’s
Well, that was an awful series for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They just dropped two of three at home and were nearly swept by the hideous Oakland A’s (14-50). What’s next? Are they going to lose back-to-back games to the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets? Come on, Penguins fans. Don’t...
U mad, bro?: Some Penguins fans are dubious of Kyle Dubas; Pirates fans getting fussy
Here’s how I can tell that NFL OTAs happen too early for us to really care. I didn’t get a single Pittsburgh Steelers complaint this week. Not one “I don’t care that Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season.” Nary a “Kenny Pickett is never gonna be all that...
First Call: Steelers’ preseason kickoff times set; Oneil Cruz has a Statcast challenger in the division; wildfires cancel games
Thursday’s “First Call” has the remaining details about the Steelers preseason schedule. The teams directly in front of and behind the Pirates in the standings lit it up on Wednesday. Plus some eerie photos of Yankee Stadium as the Canadian wildfires are forcing Major League Baseball cancellations. Now it’s known...
Reconfigured Steelers secondary preaching versatility, communication as keys to improvement
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost some familiar names from the secondary this offseason. Cameron Sutton, Terrell Edmunds, Arthur Maulet and Ahkello Witherspoon are all gone. However, the franchise attempted to offset those departures by acquiring the likes of Patrick Peterson, Joey Porter Jr., Cory Trice, Keanu Neal and Chandon Sullivan through...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ loss to A’s was bad enough — how it happened, who was pitching made it worse
Of course, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew their winning streak was going to end at some point. But it didn’t have to be at six games Tuesday night. Against the rancid Oakland A’s. At home. With their best pitcher on the mound. No, theoretically, the Pirates could’ve put off a correction...
First Call: Ex-Steeler, former Pitt Panther in mix for big media gig; lots of local ties to College Football Hall of Fame nominees
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler and an ex-Pitt Panther who may be in line for a big-time media job. Lots of Pittsburgh ties are on the list of College Football Hall of Fame nominees. Some NHL free agent projections seem funky. And the Milwaukee Brewers slipped through...
Tim Benz: For Pirates, wins don’t have to be pretty against ugly teams like the A’s
If the Pittsburgh Pirates are truly going to contend for the National League Central crown, games like the one they played Monday night are ones they absolutely have to win. Mainly because games like the one they played Monday night are absolutely ones that the Oakland A’s are fully capable...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas’ ‘2-pronged’ goal for Penguins sounds familiar, but we know which ‘prong’ really matters
Former Penguins executives Ron Hextall and Brian Burke are two of the easiest punching bags in the history of Pittsburgh sports. They were both widely disliked by the fanbase before they got hired by the organization for things they did against — or said about — the Penguins in the...
First Call: Longtime member of Steelers franchise retires; Penguins on fringes of potential goalie trade derby
The Pittsburgh Steelers are saying “thank you” to a longtime member of the organization. Some moves are being made in the AFC North. The Penguins are on the fringes of a potential offseason goalie derby. The Pirates got a little help in the standings. And tracking the San Francisco 49ers...
First Call: National pundit unsure about Steelers starting Broderick Jones; more Antonio Brown drama in Albany
In Monday’s “First Call,” there are some doubts about Broderick Jones starting as a rookie for the Pittsburgh Steelers. No doubts about more drama surrounding Antonio Brown. The NHL’s salary cap is only bumping up a little bit. And Pitt product Damar Hamlin is looking to pay it forward after...
Madden Monday: On Penguins’ goalie situation, ‘this might be the year where the goalie contracts go down’
One of Kyle Dubas’ first big decisions as Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations is what to do with the franchise’s goaltending situation. Specifically, with regard to free agent starter Tristan Jarry. Jarry’s checkered history of ill-timed injuries and postseason slumps have left Penguins fans wanting more from the goalie...
Tim Benz: As the Oakland A’s visit the Pirates, are they really as bad as we think? No. They are worse.Video
As the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have righted their ship, their next opponent continues to head straight for Niagara Falls in a barrel. The Bucs’ weekend sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals extended their winning streak to five games. That’s a great way to start June after an 8-18 record...
First Call: ESPN projections for Steelers WRs; Antonio Brown insists he’ll play again; Tom Brady insists he’s retired
In Friday’s “First Call” we have some surprisingly low projections for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens and some better ones for Diontae Johnson. Antonio Brown is insisting that he is coming back to play. Tom Brady is insisting he won’t. And we have some gambling odds for the Stanley Cup...
With disappointing May behind them, Pirates look to improve on mediocre home record to begin June
The month of May couldn’t have gone much worse for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They were 8-18 and didn’t win a single series until the last one of the month when they took two of three from the San Francisco Giants. Now they are back at PNC Park for a nine-game...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas has front office control with Penguins — will he have it over the locker room and bench?
In the weeks between leaving the Maple Leafs as general manager and becoming the president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins, one thing became clear about Kyle Dubas’ exit from Toronto. He wanted a clearer path toward decision-making and control within his front office. That apparently became muddled over...
Tim Benz: The gap between a better Steelers team in ’23 and a better win total
Watching a lot of football in shorts over the past two weeks at Pittsburgh Steelers’ OTAs, I find myself daydreaming about football when it actually means something. In September. In pads. When the guy on the other side of the ball is actually trying to knock your block off. When...
U mad, bro?: Readers are grouchy about George Pickens’ quote, Mike Sullivan, Guns N’ Roses and ‘Succession’ spoilers
We start June with a lot of manufactured outrage in this week’s “U mad, bro?” Distaste over comments from Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens to my “Succession” spoilers to the Guns N’ Roses concert at PNC Park. Don’t you folks have anything legit to be mad about? After all, it’s...
First Call: A new team for former Steelers TE; news surrounding 49ers QBs ahead of season opener in Pittsburgh
Thursday’s “First Call” has a new home for a former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end. We also have a reward for a former Penguins great, news on the Steelers’ opposing QB for Week 1, and some Pirates trade speculation. New home in New Orleans Former Steelers tight end Jesse James has...
Having the Pirates bullpen work with a lead was a rare luxury
At this point in May, any win is worth celebrating for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night was just their seventh this month against 18 losses. How manager Derek Shelton’s team got to that result Tuesday was a reminder of how underutilized...
Tim Benz: If George Pickens felt ‘snubbed’ by the Pro Bowl last year, there are ways to fix that
Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens told College2Pro.com that he felt “snubbed” by failing to make the Pro Bowl. Seeing as how Pickens had a modest four touchdowns, was 38th in the NFL in receiving yards (801), 72nd in receptions (52) and 61st in targets (84), that claim...
First Call: Steelers’ offseason ranked among NFL’s 10 best; Brian Burke gives opinions on Kyle Dubas
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting praise for their offseason approach. We check in on a former Pitt standout in the AFC North. The DeAndre Hopkins-to-Cleveland talk is gaining steam. A former coach in the Penguins system is looking for work. And Brian Burke is letting his...
Madden Monday: Mike Sullivan doesn’t deserve a buffer between himself and the new GM
Most hockey insiders seem to think that the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager job will belong to former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas. If he wants it. And that “if” appears to be linked to the Ottawa Senators. Pierre Dorion is the franchise’s current GM. But there is some belief...
First Call: Antonio Brown fails to play for his own Arena League team; update on Kyle Dubas and Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” recaps a holiday weekend full of notes from the football world, including some nuggets about a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North rivals. We find out what went wrong with Antonio Brown’s National Arena League comeback. And we get an update on the Penguins’ general manager search....
Tim Benz: Steelers’ additions are nice, but Kenny Pickett’s development, offensive growth are what matters
When Kenny Pickett’s car was stolen last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s playbook was in it. If it’s similar to last year’s playbook, no one in Steelers Nation has much reason to be concerned. Based on what Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt was saying, opposing defenses didn’t need the playbook...
Tim Benz: Steelers players say ‘critical’ offensive approach has ‘totally changed from last year’
The plan for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is clear in 2023: Be more explosive. Score more points. That’s not hard to figure out. Coordinator Matt Canada’s group managed just 29 touchdowns in 2022. The only team with fewer was the Indianapolis Colts at 28. No team in the NFL had...
