Breakfast With Benz category, Page 78
First Call: Ex-Pitt star cuts his NFL Combine workout short; Le’Veon Bell to box again; Kasperi Kapanen scoring with BluesVideo
It wasn’t a great NFL scouting combine for former Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison. Ex-Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is boxing again. Derek Carr may be figuring out his situation. Kasperi Kapanen is making a quick impression with the St. Louis Blues. And Pitt men’s hockey is rolling into its...
Madden Monday: All Ron Hextall accomplished at trade deadline for Penguins was ‘undo his prior mistakes’
When it comes to assessing Ron Hextall’s moves at the trade deadline, I agree with what the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager said Friday evening. I do think he “made the team better” by acquiring Mikael Granlund, Nick Bonino and Dmitry Kulikov. I also think they are better because they cut...
Tim Benz: Underwhelming Penguins moves at deadline say more about missteps last summer
Now that the trade deadline has passed for the 2023 Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s clear that Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson are not skating through that door. There isn’t going to be a Marian Hossa or Bill Guerin kind of arrival either. There won’t even be a Derick Brassard or Jarome...
Tim Benz: As most eyes were on Mikael Granlund’s debut, other Penguins stole the show in Tampa
On Thursday night, all eyes were on who the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired to help them before the trade deadline. Instead, some players who have been asked to step up for a while finally skated into the spotlight. Specifically, some defensemen who need to score more often and depth forwards who...
Pitt star Calijah Kancey sets record at NFL CombineVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2022 draft in need of a quarterback. They looked next door at the UPMC Rooney facility on the South Side and drafted Kenny Pickett out of the University of Pittsburgh. This year, along the defensive line, the Steelers will enter the draft with 33-year-old Pro...
First Call: Antonio Brown buys part of a pro sports team; Eagles CB lauds Steelers WR, jabs JuJu Smith-SchusterVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown is dabbling in pro football ownership. A current Steelers wideout is drawing praise from a Pro Bowl cornerback. A retired Steelers player rep is questioning a NFLPA poll that was critical of the franchise. Also, a Baltimore Ravens wide receiver is...
Tim Benz: Biggest issue with Mikael Granlund trade? Apparently, it’s that he’s not Jakob Chychrun
In theory, newly acquired Pittsburgh Penguin center Mikael Granlund meets the description of what Penguins fans have been asking for over the last few weeks in a pre-deadline trade by general manager Ron Hextall. • Granlund is a third-line forward that can play center or wing. • He had 64...
First Call: Omar Khan admits ‘concern’ over Kenny Pickett’s concussions; Mike Brey goes to campus bar to celebrate win over Pitt
Thursday’s “First Call” has an admission from Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan about Kenny Pickett’s concussions. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey celebrates beating Pitt. Duquesne gets some help. Late-night Metropolitan Division results. And Connor McDavid is just unstoppable. Khan on Kenny’s concussions Appearing on ProFootballTalk’s “PFT Live” at the...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are dubious about free agency; Penguins fans have doubts at the trade deadline
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are tired of free agent speculation. Penguins fans are sick of living in the middle. And college basketball fans don’t want an NCAA Tournament that’s watered down with too many teams. March is coming in like a lion for this week’s “U mad, bro?” This person didn’t...
First Call: Penguins linked to 3rd Vancouver trade rumor; Taylor Lewan may now be targeting Steelers division rival
The Pittsburgh Penguins are being linked to a third Vancouver Canuck trade option. Free agent offensive tackle Taylor Lewan may have moved on from targeting the Steelers. Two former Pirates pitchers have been injured in spring training. And Damar Hamlin is still searching for a way to get back on...
Tim Benz: Steelers GM Omar Khan has tough choices about keeping roster together
The Pittsburgh Steelers are quite the conundrum, aren’t they? It’s a team that seems to have tons of needs every offseason. Yet, at the same time, the front office always seems so desperate to retain as many players on the roster as possible. You know, all those great rosters that...
Tim Benz: For local college basketball teams, it’s a good year to be goodVideo
As Pitt was hanging 99 points on the scoreboard en route to a 17-point win over Syracuse, the Oakland Zoo rooting section was going crazy as former walk-on and one-time team manager Aidan Fisch scored the last basket of the game. The Panthers bench stormed the floor as the final...
First Call: NFL considers onside kick replacement; pitching Tee Higgins to Pats; Connor McDavid pushing Mario-esque pace
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” could Tee Higgins go from one AFC rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers to another? We consider some NFL rules changes. Connor McDavid is on a Mario Lemieux-esque scoring pace. And the Pitt Panthers are enjoying success on the ice as well as the hardwood. Rules are...
Tim Benz: Why gambling on the Pirates has become the most popular bet on MLB boards
Over much of the past 40 years, betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates has been a good way to lose a lot of money. But based on some early movement this season, the Pirates are a popular pick among baseball gamblers. According to Max Meyer of Caesars Sportsbook, no one is...
Tim Benz: Reviewing roughing the passer calls sounds great in theory, until you think about how the NFL would do it
Here’s an idea emerging from meetings at the NFL scouting combine that could make some Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players very happy. Particularly defensive captain Cameron Heyward. I just don’t want Heyward to get too excited too quickly. According to NFL.com’s Judy Battista, one team in the league has proposed to...
First Call: Hines Ward gets 1st XFL coaching win; Marc-Andre Fleury has Sidney Crosby comparison for Wild teammateVideo
Monday’s “First Call” tells you how some former Pittsburgh Steelers are doing as coaches in the XFL. Marc Andre-Fleury has a Sidney Crosby comparison for one of his current teammates. A former Penguins player gets his number retired in his original city. Another former Penguins defenseman is getting traded. And...
Madden Monday: Penguins still need to figure out how to put together their ‘puzzle pieces’
You had to love the irony surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins giveaway for fans attending Sunday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was a puzzle. Yes, a 500-piece “Paint the Ice” puzzle kit. Based on head coach Mike Sullivan’s “our roster is our roster” comment from last week, the...
Jim Boeheim’s comments about Pitt didn’t go over well in Syracuse either
When Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim took a swat at Pitt and a few other ACC schools for “buying a team,” it didn’t go over well in Pittsburgh. It didn’t go over well elsewhere. Like, in Syracuse. Brent Axe is a radio host at ESPN Syracuse and a columnist for...
First Call: Another big name ILB will hit free agency; Taylor Lewan renews interest in Steelers; Alex Ovechkin returns
Friday’s “First Call” looks at two recently released veterans that could fit positions of need for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Alex Ovechkin is back for the Capitals. Aaron Rodgers has left his darkness retreat. And the Duquesne men’s basketball team hunts for win No. 20 on Sunday. Taking another run? The...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ loss to Oilers wasn’t a wake-up call, it was a knockout punchVideo
If it didn’t hit you after the Edmonton Oilers took a 6-1 lead on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period Thursday, it should have hit you when the “Fire Hextall” chants echoed throughout PPG Paints Arena shortly thereafter. #FireHextall Chants at PPG Paints Arena… one the worst games I’ve...
U mad, bro?: Frustration around Mike Tomlin’s ‘standard,’ slumping Penguins, Pitt being unranked, Gerrit Cole’s quip
One thing that is wonderful about Pittsburgh sports fans is that they do not discriminate when it comes to their angst. The Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, Pitt, college basketball … even the XFL! This week’s “U mad, bro?” illustrates how all-encompassing of a community we truly have in this great city....
Source: Mason Rudolph will explore other options, but won’t ‘close door’ on Steelers if team moves on from Mitch Trubisky
There has been a lot of chatter this offseason about the prospect of the Pittsburgh Steelers cutting or trading quarterback Mitch Trubisky. If that were to happen, would the Steelers entertain the prospect of keeping free-agent third-stringer Mason Rudolph? And would Rudolph even entertain that idea after he was bypassed...
First Call: Steelers suggested as landing spot for Eagles LB; Cam Heyward advocates for return of Martavis Bryant to NFL
Thursday’s “First Call” has a free agent name to track at linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cam Heyward kicks around the idea of Martavis Bryant returning to the NFL. More hype for Oneil Cruz. We check in on the Islanders as the Penguins rest up for their game against Connor...
After quirky box score against St. Louis, Duquesne looks for basic improvements against La Salle
Saturday’s 90-85 Atlantic 10 conference loss at St. Louis (18-9, 10-4 conf.) featured some numbers in the box score that are hard to ignore for the Duquesne Dukes. As much as they’d probably like to do so. • At one point, Duquesne (18-9, 8-6) led by 15 in the first...
Tim Benz: No, the NFL shouldn’t adopt the XFL’s goofy, artificial scoring rules
As we outlined in Monday’s “First Call” post, former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler Hines Ward lost his XFL coaching debut over the weekend 18-15 to the St. Louis BattleHawks. Ward’s San Antonio Brahmas blew a 12-3 lead, yielding 15 points in the final 90 seconds of the game. But the...
