Breakfast With Benz category, Page 96
First Call: Steelers’ Cam Heyward unhappy with ESPN poll; interesting odds after Baker Mayfield trade; Pirates trade chip emerges
In Thursday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward is feeling a bit slighted by an ESPN poll. We’ve got a follow-up on a potential free agent acquisition for the Steelers. One Pirate is getting attention on the Major League Baseball trade market. And we check on the adjusted...
Tim Benz: Love or hate the Yankees, they made baseball about baseball at PNC Park again — for 2 nights, anyway
As he came up through the Pittsburgh Pirates system, Clay Holmes had been told how electric PNC Park could be when it was sold out for a big game. He just needed to come back as a New York Yankee on Tuesday night to finally experience it in person. “When...
Derek Shelton acknowledges where Pirates failed to get the most out of Clay Holmes
The Pittsburgh Pirates did a lot right in their 5-2 win against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. • They got out to an early lead against former Pirate Jameson Taillon with a second-inning home run by Daniel Vogelbach. Then they added on with three more in the fourth...
Tim Benz: College football conferences may have to die for the sport to rediscover why they were important
I’ve long had a theory about how the shifting landscape of college sports conferences would end. Pretty close to how it started. I consider the constant conference expansion and contraction to be college football nihilism. The existence of conferences as we know them today is unfounded, senseless and useless. Objective...
First Call: Penguins’ level of interest in Marc-Andre Fleury; Matt Murray trade talk, T.J. Watt rated tops at his position
Wednesday’s “First Call” returns from an extended holiday weekend by looking at a pair of rumors surrounding some former Pittsburgh Penguins goalies. T.J. Watt is deemed to be the best in the business at his position. And Kordell Stewart wants in on a debate regarding his place in Steelers history....
Madden Monday: Excitement over Oneil Cruz is one thing. Anointing him Rookie of the Year is another
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE wants to distinguish between the prospect of what Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz can be and his current production. In other words, let’s appreciate the difference between saying, “This Cruz kid is going to be really good...
First Call: Where Steelers’ Chris Boswell ranks among NFL kickers; Pirates host hot division-leading Brewers
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we find out where Steelers kicker Chris Boswell ranks among the best at his position in the NFL — and within his own division. A former WPIAL star is looking to imprint his team’s NFL success a bit more this season. And the Pirates may be...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans react to Mike Tomlin’s Super Bowl XLV comments; Penguins fans refocus on offseason
Many of our readers did NOT like my column regarding what Mike Tomlin said about the Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers. Others are still upset about Chase Claypool’s recent comments. Some folks are fretting about the Penguins offseason. And then there’s at least one of you...
Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller, Logan Cooley skating in ‘The G.O.A.T League’ in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh hockey fans who want to see J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck skating in their hometown are getting their wish. Just not in Penguins uniforms. At least not yet anyway. The two Western Pa. bred NHL stars are part of the G.O.A.T. League. It takes place Wednesday nights during the...
First Call: Another award nomination for T.J. Watt; Baker Mayfield on prospect of reconciliation in Cleveland
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is up for an ESPY. NFL.com has constructed its perfect team. Baker Mayfield isn’t willing to look back in Cleveland. And Andrew McCutchen is heating up for the Milwaukee Brewers. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” One for Watt? The ESPYs award ceremony is easily dismissed...
Tim Benz: What do big WR contracts mean for the Steelers and Diontae Johnson? Maybe not as much as we think
On Tuesday, the Washington Commanders shelled out $71 million to wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Many are wondering what that means for Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson. He wants a contract extension, too. Personally, I don’t think it means anything. If the Steelers were going to be inclined to sign Johnson, don’t...
Pirates enduring frustrating ‘close but no cigar’ stretch of road games
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ current road trip has been defined by two things. Competitive games and frustrating results. Overall this season, the Pirates are pretty decent in one-run games, 10-9. Of late, though, winning the tight ones have been a problem. That’s unfortunate for a team that also has a propensity...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell favored in boxing match vs. fellow NFL star; ESPN’s ‘surprise offseason standout’ for Steelers
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an off-the-radar offseason star for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We have odds on the Le’Veon Bell-Adrian Peterson boxing match. A Penguins assistant loses out on a head coaching gig. And we tell you about a mammoth gambling payout thanks to the Colorado Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup....
Tim Benz: Watching the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup celebration gives Penguins fans a lot to consider
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby got so much love during the Colorado Avalanche’s championship celebration, I thought he was going to come on the ice and skate a lap with the Stanley Cup. First, Avs star (and fellow Nova Scotian) Nathan MacKinnon told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that he felt destined...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s conversation on Steelers’ Super Bowl XLV loss puts new spin on result
To hear Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talk so openly about the Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers adds a different perspective on that defeat. Tomlin appeared on a recent edition of “The Pivot” podcast with ex-Steeler Ryan Clark and former NFL players Channing Crowder and Fred...
First Call: Could USFL give Steelers OLB depth?; Deshaun Watson update; memorable Pirates anniversary
Monday’s “First Call” suggests an unconventional plan toward finding a solution to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lack of depth at outside linebacker. There is an update on the Deshaun Watson situation. Josh Allen’s interesting angle to the Buffalo Bills playoff loss. We’ve got a look at the next opponent for the...
Madden Monday: Kris Letang and Ron Hextall are ‘further apart on money’ than we’ve been told
During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE provided a less-than-optimistic update for those that want to see free-agent defenseman Kris Letang stay in a Pittsburgh Penguins uniform. “Letang and (general manager Ron) Hextall are further apart on money than what I had originally...
First Call: Contract terms reported for new Steeler Larry Ogunjobi; update on Deshaun Watson situation in Cleveland
Friday’s “First Call” looks at Larry Ogunjobi’s contract. We honor the passing of an NFL Hall of Famer. Jameson Taillon may be losing a little mojo in New York. And we have the latest news on the Deshaun Watson front in Cleveland. Learning about Larry’s money Terms of Larry Ogunjobi’s...
After Pirates’ bats got healthy against Cubs, the challenge will increase in Tampa
Hopefully, Pirates fans got a good look at Oneil Cruz and the rest of the Pirates young guns during their recent series win over the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Because the Pirates are embarking on a weeklong road trip, and they’ll face some pretty good competition over the next...
Tim Benz: Jam-packed half-hour for Michael Chavis ends up telling whole story for Pirates
Michael Chavis seemed disappointed that he hadn’t impacted Thursday’s Pirates-Cubs game much. He was 0 for 3, and over at first base, he hadn’t been given much of an opportunity to impact the game defensively. Yet once the game was over, Chavis was at the center of the three biggest...
First Call: Dan Marino honors Tony Siragusa; Andrew McCutchen’s big night; Pirates position player’s outing on the mound
Thursday’s “First Call” shares memories of former Pitt Panther Tony Siragusa. A Pirates position player has an interesting experience on the mound. Andrew McCutchen has a big night in Milwaukee. And we check in on a few former Pirates who had up-and-down starts with their new teams. Brutal day in...
Tim Benz: Steelers shouldn’t stop adding to defense with Larry Ogunjobi. Another position is in need
Now that the Steelers have spent even more money on the defense by signing Larry Ogunjobi, I’m sure that will regenerate the conversation about the disparity between how much the team is spending on defense versus how little the team is spending on offense. So I have an idea of...
U mad, bro?: Chase Claypool’s bravado, Rashard Mendenhall’s excuses have Steelers fans grumbling
A Steelers wide receiver is making bold predictions. An ex-Steelers running back is making lame excuses. Mike Tomlin is talking about Antonio Brown. And a local university is considering a nickname change. So much for a midsummer swoon for “U mad, bro?” Things are plenty hot this week. Let’s start...
First Call: Mike Tomlin nixes idea of Antonio Brown reunion with Steelers; return of Marc-Andre Fleury ‘possible’
Wednesday’s “First Call” has contract updates on a few big-name Pittsburgh Penguins. Mike Tomlin shoots down talk of Antonio Brown returning to the Steelers. The youth surge continues with the Pirates. And are Steelers fans really going to allow themselves to believe that Rob Gronkowski is retiring? Plenty of Pens...
Tim Benz: Plenty of concerns about the Steelers offense — how much they’re paid shouldn’t be one
In recent weeks, many people have pointed out the disparity in pay between the Steelers offense and the Steelers defense. At $65 million, Pittsburgh’s offense is the cheapest in the NFL. Their $116 million defense is the NFL’s most expensive. That has resulted in criticism from many, including FS1’s Colin...
