Tim Benz stories, Page 101

Duquesne football head coach Jerry Schmitt was very clear in his approach heading into the Dukes’ recently completed 2021 spring mini-season. The games weren’t exhibitions. They weren’t glorified scrimmages. They weren’t warm-ups for the fall. That was the team’s 2020 campaign — just a few pages late on the calendar,...

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us an update on the trade status of Steelers wide receiver James Washington. Changes are afoot for the Steelers special teams. A key piece of the Pirates future is on fire. And the Penguins still have high expectations. Nowhere to run It appears James Washington is...

Steelers and Pirates fans get to sound off early this week. Because Labor Day is looming, “Breakfast With Benz” is ending the week a day early. As a result, everything gets moved up and “U mad, bro?” comes your way on a Wednesday. That’s good because the submission box was...

Monday’s Steelers practice featured a reconfigured offensive line because of a possible injury to right tackle Zach Banner. Even before that news, former pro and college scout and Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson told me the Steelers offensive line was already questionable at best. “It’s just so unproven. There’s...

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” an update on Stephon Tuitt from one of his fellow Steelers defensive linemen. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster couldn’t avoid the milk crate challenge. Fallout continues in Baltimore after the injury to running back J.K. Dobbins. And the Pirates are taking on one of the league’s best...

Quarterback Dwayne Haskins’ stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers has gotten off to a decent start. Most days he looked sharp in training camp. Then, during the first three preseason games, he was a lot better than I expected (28 of 42, 271 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 92.5 passer rating)....

A couple of big signings for NFL safeties may impact the Steelers when it comes to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s thinking on his next contract. Yoshi Tsutsugo’s walk-off homer at PNC Park created some widely varying reactions on Sunday. Joe Burrow’s return in Cincinnati was less than memorable. A couple of ex-Pirates...

TribLIVE’s Mark Madden didn’t have a particularly enjoyable week. The KISS concert got canceled in Burgettstown. The casino he was at in Las Vegas wouldn’t put on the soccer game he wanted. So someone is going to feel his angst. In this case, it’s Steelers backup quarterback Dwayne Haskins. After...

The Steelers appear to have drafted a very productive class of rookies, many of whom could see extensive playing time in high-leverage situations. On offense, first-round pick Najee Harris will be the featured running back. Third-round selection Kendrick Green should start the year at center. Second-rounder Pat Freiermuth already is...

For the most part, the Pittsburgh Steelers appeared to have a very positive training camp and a solid preseason. Friday night’s 34-9 dud of a loss to the Carolina Panthers in the preseason finale aside. It appears as if a lot of questions surrounding the team’s depth — and even...

Friday’s “First Call” shows us what the Pittsburgh Steelers can expect from the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game on Friday night. The Buffalo Bills aren’t exactly having the best training camp in advance of their season opener against the Steelers. There is some ironic injury news surrounding the...

Of course, it went that way for Gregory Polanco and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. Of course, it did. The beautiful irony of sports can even shine on the lowly Buccos from time to time. After struggling outfielder Gregory Polanco had been put on waivers and brought back —...

Thursday’s “First Call” gives us some ballpark numbers on potential Steelers contracts for T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Coordinator Keith Butler reveals some defensive strategy. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett is pushing to get Penn State and West Virginia back on the Panthers schedule. And Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is...

Little should surprise me at this point when it comes to how angsty online dialogue about the Steelers can be. But some of what I’ve seen about the backup quarterback “debate” between Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph is blowing my mind. The funny thing is, both guys have actually been...

All the attention given to T.J. Watt’s non-holdout, partial participation in Steelers training camp has overshadowed a similar practice situation for defensive end Stephon Tuitt. As is the case with Watt, Tuitt has been present at most practices, working individually on the side and doing lots of conditioning. Defensive coordinator...

Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is still in top form as he prepares to join the Chicago Blackhawks. The Paul brothers are trying to suck Cleveland Browns helmet-swinger Myles Garrett into a celebrity boxing match. A potential rookie standout sees his first season end...

When it comes to finding a steady fifth defensive back, the Steelers’ thinking may appear upside down. However, I’d argue that they are actually on the right path. Since he was drafted out of Tennessee in 2017, Cameron Sutton has been a player whose versatility has been the main reason...

This week, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah came out with his “best/worst-case projections for notable rookies.” It was an exercise to show the best possible and worst possible results for a big pack of potential NFL rookie contributor based on several variables for their teams. Of course, on the offensive side, Jeremiah’s...

A lawyer who represents a former Robert Morris hockey player is alleging that a university official ordered an athletic department employee to “get rid of” text messages and emails about the school’s decision to eliminate the men’s and women’s ice hockey programs. In a series of interviews with TribLIVE.com, Cleveland-area...

Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us what’s become of former Steelers cult hero Devlin “Duck” Hodges in Los Angeles. What some thought was a potential trade destination for Mason Rudolph has come and gone. The Yankees and Braves recreated some old time Pirates history. And “Hard Knocks” needs a soft landing...

The big picture on Pat Freiermuth is that the Steelers hope he will be an answer at tight end for years to come. Freiermuth’s measurables are impressive. He’s 6-foot-5, 251 pounds with 9 7/8-inch hands. And with a 4.72 40-yard dash, he’s fast enough for a tight end of that...

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin often says that his team “has no time for hypothetical conversations.” Former head coach Bill Cowher famously stated his disdain for the “what if” game. Well, I have a disdain for the annual fourth preseason game of the NFL season. Yet the Steelers are...

Monday’s “First Call” looks at linebacker Joe Schobert’s first game as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Also, there is a twist that may have had him playing in Baltimore instead. One ex-Pirate shines, and another gets hurt during a battle of American League powerhouses. And Pittsburgh braces itself for the long-awaited, uh,...

This might be a difficult concept for many Pittsburgh Pirates fans to embrace after yet another season of unmitigated failure. Well, failure at the Major League level, anyway. I know that a large chunk of the fan base is chalking up what may become a 100-loss campaign as a raging...

It’s always wise to caution putting any stock in the results of Steelers preseason games. Especially with this 3-0 start in 2021. After all, the Steelers are playing nothing but NFC teams that finished out of the playoffs — and with sub-.500 records — in 2020. Over the first two...