Tim Benz stories, Page 102
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s embrace of quarterback hype has many purposes
It’s not in the nature of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to feed media hype. Generally, the more spin a story is getting, the more Tomlin tends to downplay it. Not when it comes to the team’s ongoing study of this year’s draft-eligible quarterbacks, though. During NFL owners meetings interviews, Tomlin...
Tim Benz: Penguins getting Wild at their hottest
Tuesday night’s loss against the New York Rangers began a seven-game stretch for the Penguins exclusively against opponents that are currently in playoff slots. The next such challenge comes against the Minnesota Wild Thursday. And they are the hottest team of the bunch. Under the eye of former Penguin Bill...
First Call: Tyrann Mathieu says he got a call from Mike Tomlin; multiple theories on Bruce Arians’ latest ‘retirement’
A big-name free agent reveals that he has been in touch with the Steelers. We debate the reasons behind Bruce Arians’ latest retirement. Lamar Jackson is getting testy in Baltimore. Alex Goligoski just keeps on playing. And the New York Rangers just keep winning. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”...
U mad, bro?: Football fans attack overtime changes, ‘MNF’ booth; defend Steelers QB strategy; Kenny Pickett’s hands
We have quite the cornucopia of Pittsburgh sports fan complaints this week in “U mad, bro?” Folks are angry about NFL overtime and the new “Monday Night Football” booth. Pitt fans are getting defensive about Kenny Pickett. Steelers fans want to defend the wall when it comes to second guessing...
Specific matchup issues emerging for Penguins in potential playoff series against the Rangers
Even though Tuesday was “Ben Roethlisberger Night” at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins couldn’t finish off a late comeback. The Penguins were beaten by the New York Rangers 3-2 despite a heart-stopping onslaught of 6-on-5 shots against New York goalie Igor Shesterkin. All the while, the Rangers were narrowly missing...
First Call: Steelers scouting under-the-radar QB prospect; Browns holding on Baker Mayfield; Ravens extend coach, not QB
Wednesday’s “First Call” introduces us to an off-the-radar quarterback that may be of interest to the Steelers. We’ve got updates from Baltimore and Cleveland on their QB situations. Eastern Conference chaos wasn’t restricted to the Penguins and Rangers Tuesday. And a familiar football name is coming back to Pittsburgh to...
Tim Benz: Something to love, something to hate about NFL’s overtime rules change
I suppose Steelers coach Mike Tomlin won’t be happy with the NFL rule change altering overtime in the playoffs. Then again, based on his comments Monday, Tomlin wasn’t all that happy with the rule as it stood last year anyway. Tomlin wanted to go back to old-fashioned, pre-2010 “sudden death”...
First Call: Mike Tomlin on his long-term coaching plans; ex-Steeler helps at Sam Howell’s pro day
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Mike Tomlin answers questions about his long-term future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. An ex-Steeler was spotted helping out a potential draft choice at his pro day. A wild game atop the Metropolitan Division. And Chris Archer has a new home. No focus on future For 50...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin makes a good case for a return of old-fashioned, sudden-death overtime
As the NFL seems to be scrambling for a new way to conduct overtime, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has an idea. Make everything old, new again. The current NFL overtime rule is that if the winner of the overtime coin flip goes down the field and scores a touchdown...
Blowout of Red Wings was one thing for Penguins, responding against Rangers would be greater
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust had a succinct assessment of his team’s turnaround from a 5-1 loss in New York against the Rangers on Friday night to an 11-2 drubbing of the Detroit Red Wings at home Sunday. “Tonight was substantially more fun than the other night,” Rust assessed. Indeed....
Tim Benz: Robert Morris trio goes from losing their hockey home to a national championship
For former Robert Morris women’s hockey coach Paul Colontino, the emotions were easy to sort out. It was natural for him to back Ohio State in their 3-2 NCAA championship game win over Minnesota-Duluth on Mar. 20. “You couldn’t be cheering harder. You’re excited and elated for them to have...
First Call: Liberty’s coach thinks Steelers will take Malik Willis if available; Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert say QBs still on table in draft
Monday’s “First Call” checks in on Mason Rudolph’s state of mind as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback position remains up for grabs. One college coach thinks his quarterback could be Pittsburgh bound. Marc-Andre Fleury’s debut in Minnesota was a success. And there was no rest on Sunday for the NHL’s Eastern...
Madden Monday on Evgeni Malkin: ‘This is the best Geno we have seen in quite a while’
Halfway through March, it was shaping up as a forgettable month for Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin. On March 16, Malkin was riding a six-game pointless streak and had just one goal and two assists in the seven games to start the month. But now, Malkin is in the midst...
First Call: Pitt transfer shines in Arkansas’ upset of Gonzaga; high praise for Mitch Trubisky; Deshaun Watson update
Friday’s “First Call” features a Pitt transfer shining in the NCAA Tournament. Deshaun Watson will not face another criminal charge. High praise for new Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky. And the Carolina Hurricanes extend their lead on the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. Hog wild Pitt transfer Au’Diese Toney put his...
Tim Benz: Jacksonville reporter tips us off to a job new Steelers linebacker Myles Jack should avoid
When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired inside linebacker Joe Schobert from the Jacksonville Jaguars for just a sixth-round draft choice last summer, News 4 Jax sports anchor Jamal St. Cyr gave us a good breakdown as to why the Jags were willing to part with him for such a low price....
JuJu Smith-Schuster: ‘I had to choose Chiefs Kingdom’
During an Instagram Live interview with the NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti on Thursday, ex-Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster tried to explain why he left Pittsburgh for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Bisciotti (@taylorbisciotti) “Going with the Steelers and...
First Call: 1 team may have stoked the price on Chuks Okorafor; Steelers attend another quarterback’s pro day
Thursday’s “First Call” tells us which quarterback prospect lured top members of the Pittsburgh Steelers to his pro day. We find out what team may have primed the bidding on Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor. One report suggests the Steelers are keeping an eye on the safety market in free agency....
Tim Benz: What the Tyreek Hill trade means for him, the Dolphins, Chiefs and even the Steelers
It’s often said in professional sports that a good trade helps both teams involved. But what if a deal is bad for all three parties involved? That was my initial reaction to the big NFL trade announced Wednesday, which resulted in Kansas City Chiefs star receiver Tyreek Hill being dealt...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans get feisty about Mitch Trubisky, Tom Brady, and the idea of tanking a season
The hype over newly signed quarterback Mitch Trubisky — and the confidence in him — continues to grow within the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base. That will probably continue until they draft Malik Willis, Matt Corral or Kenny Pickett at No. 20 in the first round. Given the attention being paid...
Tim Benz: Rickard Rakell’s arrival is one of many variables as Mike Sullivan shuffles Penguins line combinations
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t bother being coy with his response about long-term plans for Rickard Rakell Monday night. Some were surprised to see the franchise’s prized trade acquisition on the third line with Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen in his debut game against the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night....
How Pitt, Penn State, WVU played a role in the Fox-ESPN trade for Joe Buck
We just spent the better part of two weeks debating Steelers free agent signings and Penguins trades. So why not kick around another big deal that went down recently: sports broadcaster Joe Buck getting traded from Fox to ESPN in exchange for one college football game. Oh, and, yes, Pitt,...
First Call: Report says Steelers would ‘pounce’ on Baker Mayfield on open market; Mike Tomlin meets with Malik Willis
Wednesday’s “First Call” delves into a report that actually connects the Steelers to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Steelers still seem interested in Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. Even after the signing of Mitch Trubisky. We get an update on Aaron Donald’s contract situation. And the NHL’s Metropolitan Division had a...
Penguins look to soak up points before another wave of playoff-worthy competition
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan says newly acquired winger Rickard Rakell is expected to be available for Tuesday night’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That’s good because the Penguins need to get two points while they’re available. That goes for Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, too. Because...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ trade for Rickard Rakell is more important than Ron Hextall is letting on
Having been in the Stanley Cup playoffs every season since 2007, trade deadline hoopla has become a predictable part of the Pittsburgh Penguins calendar. The fans and media identify a big-name trade target to improve the club for a playoff run. Usually, that happens around the holidays. Those rumors bubble...
First Call: Josh Dobbs works out for Steelers’ AFC rival; NFL QB movement; ex-Penguins prospects find new NHL homes
Tuesday’s “First Call” clues us in on an NFL team who may be after a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. A pair of former Penguins prospects are on the move. A Penn State product just got a big contract. And the NFL quarterback carousel never stops spinning. Even at enormous costs against...
