Breakfast With Benz category, Page 87
First Call: Kenny Pickett emulated this Saints player; bad memories for Steelers against Saints coach
Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting anecdote from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. There is some unfortunate history against the Saints and their head coach that Mike Tomlin is going to have to overcome. Micah Parsons is trying to lure a free-agent star to Dallas. And a few of Duquesne’s former...
Penguins, Capitals seeing similar struggles to start the season
Even skeptics of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ plan to keep its aging core together for 2022-23 could rely on one angle for optimism heading into the season. If you looked at the Eastern Conference in 2021, there was a 16-point gap between the last playoff spot (the Washington Capitals with 100...
First Call: Steelers need to replicate Ravens’ work up front against Saints; JuJu Smith-Schuster pacing for payout in K.C.
Tuesday’s “First Call” sets the stage for the Steelers-Saints game after New Orleans looked overmatched against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have something going for them the rest of the season. The Duquesne men’s basketball team joins a lot of its local peers by starting the 2022-23 season Tuesday night....
Tim Benz: Based on expectations, Najee Harris is Steelers’ biggest disappointment at halfway mark
During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye week, a lot of column space and talk-show air time has been dedicated to conversations about what aspect of the team’s performance has been the most disappointing in 2022. The offensive design, play calling, or quarterback execution? Offensive line play? The defense — especially the...
First Call: Chase Claypool’s first game with Chicago; Pittsburgh native with Bears draw praise; ‘MNF’ game has Steelers ties
In Monday’s “First Call,” we examine Chase Claypool’s first game with the Chicago Bears. Another Bear with Pittsburgh ties is making headlines. We preview a “Monday Night Football” game with lots of Steelers implications. And a former Steeler in Tennessee had a rough week. First outing After last week’s trade...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris’ men’s, women’s hockey teams practicing together for next year’s return
Latrobe’s Serena Slusarczyk clearly remembers where she was when she got the news about Robert Morris University cutting its hockey programs. “I was trying on my high school graduation gown,” Slusarczyk recalled. “I get a text message to get on this Zoom call. And they say the RMU hockey program...
Madden Monday: For scapegoats during Penguins’ losing streak, ‘you have got to start with the Big 3’
At the start of the NHL season, I praised the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning the games they needed to win in an effort to bank points early. In other words, build a cushion before the oldest team in hockey wore down late in the season and suffered too many injuries....
Friday Football Footnotes: Pittsburgh native in charge of Bears’ plans for Chase Claypool; Steelers’ next opponent faces Ravens
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a bye this Sunday. But there is plenty of NFL action to keep you intrigued this weekend. For this week’s “Friday Football Footnotes,” we tell you what the plans are for Chase Claypool’s debut in Chicago. Monday night’s game has lots of Steelers implications. And...
First Call: Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones mocks newest Steeler; Mitch Trubisky backs up Kenny Pickett’s concerns
A hated rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers is mocking their recent acquisition of William Jackson III. One Steelers quarterback is backing up the opinions of the guy who took his job. Speaking of quarterbacks, which one will Pitt see from Syracuse when the Orange visit Acrisure Stadium on Saturday? We...
Tim Benz: Sharper goaltending would help, but Penguins’ pattern of blown leads goes well beyond that
After the Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest loss, a 6-3 defeat in Buffalo on Wednesday night, head coach Mike Sullivan tamped down any suggestion that second-string goalie Casey DeSmith was to blame. As he should have. “I thought Casey competed hard for us tonight,” Sullivan insisted. “I thought the goals they got...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans have their say on Chase Claypool trade, Najee Harris, criticism of Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers got blown out again. They made a trade. Despite being 2-6, head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t making changes to his staff, and the former No. 1 pick running back is struggling and carping about the blocking. So, yeah, I had plenty of material at my disposal for...
First Call: Chase Claypool ‘didn’t have the full opportunity to show what I could do this year’; Ron Rivera on William Jackson III
Thursday’s “First Call” has Chase Claypool’s reaction to being traded away from the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also hear from Aaron Rodgers on the Packers losing out on Claypool. Plus, Ron Rivera discusses what happened to William Jackson in Washington. And Paul Posluszny wonders about what could have been if NIL...
Fixing how the Penguins play with the lead begins with diagnosing the root of the problem
I know what went wrong with the Pittsburgh Penguins en route to blowing a three-goal lead Tuesday night. During their “Pittsburgh Night” festivities, with the team up 5-2 in the second period over the Boston Bruins, the Pens decided to play “Renegade” as an homage to the Steelers. Let’s just...
First Call: 1 team may have helped boost Steelers’ return for Chase Claypool; reported off-field reasons for trade
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at a number of angles surrounding the trade of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool — from reaction in Chicago, to theories as to why the deal was made to depth concerns now that Claypool is gone. All that, plus a team that may have helped...
Tim Benz: Chase Claypool trade is a win for Steelers’ front office, a loss for Steelers’ image
The trade of wide receiver Chase Claypool looks like a win for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ front office. It’s also a loss for the entire narrative surrounding Steelers football. Both outcomes are the result of the same necessary reality check this organization just made at the halfway point of its rotting...
First Call: Jason Kelce addresses Batman mask during blowout of Steelers; NHL honors for Marc-Andre Fleury
Tuesday’s “First Call” gets clarification about a sideline moment from the Steelers-Eagles game. Pitt is getting a watered-down version of Syracuse Saturday. A former Penguin gets NHL honors. And the Penguins are facing two of the Atlantic Division’s best this week. The Dark Knight recognizes Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce...
Tim Benz: Even the most optimistic spin on Steelers after bye rings hollow
There are two main bullet points when it comes to Pittsburgh Steelers fans talking themselves into how their team can be competitive after this bye week. My suggestion is to enjoy the bye while it lasts. At least it’s an entire weekend when you know the Steelers can‘t possibly lose....
Penguins showing Pittsburgh’s offensive woes not limited to Steelers
The Pittsburgh Penguins are struggling so much offensively of late, I think there is only one solution to their problems. They should fire Matt Canada. I mean, it couldn’t hurt. Right? Seriously, I checked this TribLIVE Twitter poll yesterday, and after the first 315 votes, 92.7% of respondents said that...
First Call: Bill Cowher questions Steelers’ use of Kenny Pickett; Najee Harris says, ‘I can’t make a hole. I can’t do everything’
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at how Bill Cowher is evaluating the Pittsburgh Steelers’ usage of Kenny Pickett. Steelers running back Najee Harris is getting edgy. We also recap Malik Willis’ first start with the Titans, Ja’Marr Chase’s injury and that bizarre finish between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta...
Madden Monday: Steelers ‘don’t do anything well’; Kenny Pickett needs to ‘shut up’ when it comes to team criticism
If you are looking for positives when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest loss in Philadelphia, look elsewhere. Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X has none. And that includes the performance of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. “Pickett was awful. The Steelers aren’t improving in any part of...
Airing of Grievances: Steelers standards sink so far that blowout in Philadelphia seems expected
Fortunately for the Steelers, as heavy underdogs, their 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday didn’t go all that much worse than expected. Unfortunately, it just went — well — exactly as expected. That’s how much the Steelers have fallen and how good the 7-0 Eagles have gotten. The...
U mad bro?: Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett shouldn’t worry — Steelers fans are sinking their teeth into other folks instead
When I started covering the Pittsburgh Steelers more than 20 years ago, I learned two things very quickly. 1. Steelers fans bask in criticizing the quarterback and offensive coordinator. 2. The only thing Steelers fans enjoy more than criticizing the quarterback and the offensive coordinator is criticizing the media for...
First Call: Steelers allegedly ‘shot down’ trade inquiry about Cameron Heyward; Eagles add piece before Steelers game
Thursday’s “First Call” shines a spotlight on the Pittsburgh Steelers before the NFL trade deadline. An NFC team allegedly wanted to acquire Cameron Heyward. Meanwhile, finding a match for Chase Claypool may still be hard. Plus, the Penguins’ next opponent is off to a brutal start. No harm in asking...
Tim Benz: Mike Sullivan points out must-fix flaws after Penguins’ losses in western Canada
The Penguins’ hot start to the 2022-23 season quickly brought visions of a Metropolitan Division title and a deep playoff run to the minds of hockey fans in Pittsburgh. A 4-0-1 start. Scoring over five goals a game. The outset of this season felt like the end of 2016 or...
First Call: Tennessee is newest suggested trade spot for Chase Claypool; Phil Kessel, Marc-Andre Fleury make history
Wednesday’s “First Call” reveals the latest trade idea surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. The Browns may deal a skill position player too. We look at the gambling odds for all of the AFC North games this week. And Phil Kessel hits two milestones in one night. Another name...
