Tim Benz stories, Page 115

The injury to Penguins wing Jason Zucker is a blow to the roster at a time when things have been going well. Head coach Mike Sullivan’s team has won five of six and has another important game looming against the Washington Capitals Thursday night. Plus, with Evgeni Malkin finally showing...

Thursday’s “First Call” finds JuJu Smith-Schuster beaming with hope about staying with the Steelers. A few destinations are emerging for J.J. Watt, and Pittsburgh isn’t on the list. An AFC playoff suitor is mentioned for Alejandro Villanueva’s services. The Flyers are back on track. And it seems like big money...

This week’s “U mad, bro?” turns ugly for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and owner Art Rooney II. Penguins fans take a little slap. We get a 2021 Pirates reality check. There’s a thorough examination of Cold War-era Europe. And I call out one of my TribLive...

For years, every game day at Clearview Arena, we had the same routine. About 90 minutes before faceoff, my broadcast partner Mike Prisuta and I would head down from the broadcast deck and make our way to ice level and go through the team entrance. On the way to the...

For Wednesday’s “First Call,” we take a look at Doug Whaley’s comments about Ben Roethlisberger’s future with the Steelers. There are Steelers aplenty on an all-time historically Black colleges and universities list. Bruce Boudreau may want to get back into coaching. A former Penguin is getting back in gear. And...

On Feb. 22, 2022, I’m going to start a new sports tradition at my house. On 2/22/22, I’m going to play the movie “Miracle” on a loop. Kinda like “A Christmas Story” on Christmas Day. Corny as it may sound, I try to watch that movie on the anniversary of...

I’m looking forward to Sidney Crosby’s 1,169th game as the Penguins play in Washington Tuesday night. Wait. What? I’m sure you’re wondering how I came up with that number, seeing as how we just witnessed Crosby’s 1,000th game Saturday against the New York Islanders. I just happen to think that...

Tuesday’s “First Call” wonders why the NFL Network is overlooking Steelers pass rusher Bud Dupree. Tyler Glasnow dishes on the difference between the Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays. We check in on the Eastern Division standings. Marc-Andre Fleury pitches another shutout. And we recall the “Miracle on Ice.” Tampa...

This week’s CBSSports.com mock draft has the Steelers making a big trade up the board to nab Alabama quarterback Mac Jones. Why not, right? He piloted the Alabama Crimson Tide to the 2020 College Football Playoff championship. And if Ben Roethlisberger is cut, the Steelers will be looking for their...

In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive is unyielding in his critique of struggling Penguins center Evgeni Malkin. “He’s just useless,” Madden declared. “He has 10 points on the season. That’s as many as Teddy Blueger. Teddy Blueger makes $750,000 whereas Geno makes...

In Monday’s “First Call,” we caution you from getting too excited about a Steelers free agent rumor. We wonder about Alejandro Villanueva’s future. You get an update on the NHL’s Eastern Division. And a thoroughly bizarre goalie box score in Pittsburgh over the weekend that you may have missed. Packer...

If we want to be honest, Ben Roethlisberger’s Steelers career effectively ended as the opening snap of this year’s wild-card game sailed over his head. All the discussion since then has essentially been nothing more than figuring out how both sides can best accept that reality. Frankly, it’s already become...

When I read Kevin Colbert’s quote on Wednesday about the status of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s future, my antenna went up. “As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.” Well. That came off as, um, non-committal, to say the least. But when I saw the video...

Friday’s “First Call” has a look at the offensive tackle draft class Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert seems to like so much. Another AFC playoff team admits to kicking J.J. Watt’s tires. We saw a full slate of games for the Penguins and the rest of the NHL’s Eastern Division....

If the Pittsburgh Steelers eventually decide to release Ben Roethlisberger, the question remains if he would want to continue his career in a new city or retire. Should such a scenario develop, the most likely destination appeared to be the Indianapolis Colts. But then the Colts decided to make a...

Thursday’s “First Call” speculates about the future of Steelers running back James Conner. We celebrate Steelers greats, Jack Ham and Jerome Bettis. A candidate has emerged on the Deshaun Watson trade block. And yet another AFC franchise wants to be a part of the J.J. Watt conversation. Shufflin’ off to...

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is a big hockey fan. A regular at Penguins games. He’s into Robert Morris’ program at the college level, too. Colbert said something Wednesday about his own team that I think translates quite nicely into a discussion about the Penguins. He answered a question about...

This week’s “U mad, bro?” has Steelers fans popping off about J.J. Watt and Maurkice Pouncey. Penguins fans speak up about Jim Rutherford. And cancel culture wants a piece of William Shakespeare. Lord, what fools these mortals be. We start with Tony. He hated last week’s “U mad, bro?” “All...

Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at the latest Steeler to tempt J.J. Watt to Pittsburgh. Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph finds himself in another celebrity romance. The Pirates’ misery loves company. And video of Adam “Pacman” Jones’ barroom brawl video has hit the internet. JuJu woos J.J. Other teams may be courting...

If the Steelers were to prioritize signing receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, what would that contract look like? And what other teams might set the market? As mentioned in a recent edition of “First Call,” NFL insider John Clayton speculated on 93.7 The Fan that the Las Vegas Raiders would be a...

Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt may not join his brothers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he may come to the AFC North. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watt is “seriously considering” a contract with the Cleveland Browns. Because, according to sources she has, the Browns have salary...

Here’s one thing the Penguins may have going for themselves as the 2021 NHL season rolls along. They have yet to play what appear to be the two weakest teams in the tightly compacted Eastern Division. And they won’t do so until March 11. That’ll be the Penguins’ first game...

Tuesday’s “First Call” begins with the prospect of a fresh start for Steelers running back James Conner. More problems for Steelers fan-favorite Adam “PacMan” Jones. Pitt’s basketball team has an all-too-familiar look to it. And Penguins television ratings are off to a strong start. Rejuvenating James Heading into NFL free...

The retirement of center Maurkice Pouncey raises an unfortunate reality for this current era of Steelers. We are witnessing a batch of truly accomplished players who may never get to play in a Super Bowl. And that may dilute their position in the pantheon of Steelers legends. Pouncey was on...

Monday’s “First Call” looks at who is chasing the Steelers to sign J.J. Watt on the gambling odds boards. A grim assessments of the Steelers by a pair of national outlets. We celebrate Jaromir Jagr’s birthday. Plus a Marc Andre-Fleury shutout. No. 49 for No. 68 Jaromir Jagr’s birthday is...