Tim Benz stories, Page 124

We throw around the phrase “typical Pitt loss” all the time when discussing the football team. Except there are many different iterations of a “typical Pitt loss.” • There is the mind-boggling, creative way of blowing a game late. Like when kicker Alex Kessman bombed a field goal from the...

In advance of the Pitt-Notre Dame game at Heinz Field on Saturday, ABC broadcaster Sean McDonough has just one request of viewers in Pittsburgh. “Don’t kill the messenger.” Over the last 35 years, McDonough has proven to be one of the most talented and versatile play-by-play announcers in the business....

Friday’s “First Call” has more news about former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown potentially going to Seattle. Interesting injury updates from Tennessee about the Titans in advance of Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Dominik Simon addresses his time playing with Sidney Crosby. And Charlie Morton looks to further entrench his postseason...

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, we know the biggest threats between them and a Super Bowl berth. The Ravens, Titans, Chiefs and Bills all leap to mind. But here’s another team of significant concern: the New York Jets. Yes. Those 0-6 New York Jets. A team not even on the Steelers’...

For “First Call” Thursday, here’s what I’ve got, Steelers fans. Jerome Bettis wants the Steelers to trade for a quarterback. A punter is making eyes at Pittsburgh. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has reached an “agreement” with coronavirus. And if the Steelers make the Super Bowl, it may...

Ah, the good old days for bored Steelers fans. Like way back in … 2019. When you could just log onto the internet and be slapped in the face with five or six different stories, rumors and headlines about former Black and Gold All-Pros Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. Well,...

Man! Even at 5-0, Steelers fans can find a way to be mad about something. Eh, let me be a little more accurate about that. Man! Even at 5-0, I can find a way to make Steelers fans mad about something. Yeah. That’s more like it. You’ll see that in...

More praise for Steelers receiver Chase Claypool. The Baltimore Ravens are already using their rescheduled bye week to their advantage in advance of next week’s matchup with the Steelers. And Patrick Mahomes is endorsing the Le’Veon Bell signing in Kansas City. Plus, Tyler Glasnow is off to a bad start...

Former Steelers linebacker Chad Brown knows all about the Steelers’ “next man up” mentality. He was part of it with Bill Cowher. It has continued with current head coach Mike Tomlin. Brown was replaced by Jerry Olsavsky for five games in 1995 when he was injured. The team went to...

I wonder if Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is getting a sense of deja vu. Because Year 17 is starting to feel like his rookie campaign of 2004. Roethlisberger took over for an injured Tommy Maddox in the middle of a Week 2 loss to Baltimore. From there, the Steelers won...

Tuesday’s “First Call” just keeps piling on the Cleveland Browns after their 38-7 humiliation by the Steelers. Meanwhile, gamblers seem to think the Steelers are getting to 6-0 even against steep competition on the road next week. There is an outpouring of congratulations for Mike “Doc” Emrick from the hockey...

You’d think that after their facility in Nashville became the epicenter of the NFL’s first covid-19 outbreak, the Tennessee Titans may be a bit remorseful. After all, the whole league went into crisis prevention mode, and the schedules of multiple teams got reshuffled as a result. So maybe a sense...

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is fond of talking about “complementary football.” Usually, that’s meant to outline how the defense helps set up the offense in good field position. Or how the offense allows the defense to stay fresh by possessing the ball. Or how the pass rush and pass coverage...

Mark Madden is back from Las Vegas for our Madden Monday podcast. It wasn’t the typical Vegas vacation for Double-M. But at least he had a better time there than the Cleveland Browns had at Heinz Field. Oof! The Steelers thumped the Browns 38-7. Mark and I seem to be...

It doesn’t appear that the Browns took Sunday’s loss to the Steelers very well. Odell Beckham Jr. had a hissy fit on the sideline toward the end of the game. That’s how we start “First Call” Monday. We also look at how deep the Tennessee Titans are offensively as the...

The Pittsburgh Steelers blew out the Cleveland Browns, 38-7, on Sunday at Heinz Field. They improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1978. Helmet-swinging villain Myles Garrett was a minimal factor. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield got benched. The defense bounced back after some shaky moments against the Philadelphia Eagles...

Friday’s “First Call” gives us an ex-Steeler who wishes Le’Veon Bell would’ve come back to Pittsburgh instead of going to Kansas City. Another AFC coach admits his team wanted Bell. Aaron Donald’s surprising quote about his huge game last week. And the Ravens are mad at the Bengals. Better luck...

No. Your commissioner wasn’t mining for your data. It wasn’t a weird computer virus to worry about along with coronavirus. It wasn’t a hack of your fantasy football league from Russia or China. It was an error from your platform’s service provider that kept you in fantasy-limbo throughout Sunday afternoon....

I feel bad for Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. During a week where he has to relive every image of Myles Garrett clonking him on the head with his own helmet, the NFL rumor mill is kicking him in the crotch. OK, maybe not that directly. No one is writing that...

Thursday’s “First Call” gives us the odds of the Steelers signing Le’Veon Bell. A former Steeler gives Bell some advice. A Cleveland Browns player steps out on behalf of Myles Garrett. We mourn a painful Pirates anniversary. And “Pittsburgh South” isn’t moving on just yet. Been there, done that If...

In advance of his team’s game against the Steelers this week, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield made one thing clear. “Mama didn’t raise no wuss.” Fair enough. Even if Mayfield is unable to play through his rib injury Sunday at Heinz Field, I wouldn’t have made that kind of judgment...

When is a 4-0 start in the NFL not good enough? When you live in Pittsburgh and root for the Steelers. That’s how we start “U mad, bro?” this week. We also hear from persnickety Pitt fans, bummed-out Buccos backers and stubborn New England Patriots conspiracy theorists. After the Steelers...

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives you the wide range of reactions to Le’Veon Bell’s release from the New York Jets. Who might sign him? The Steelers? The Patriots? We look at the latest chapter in the Pirates’ quest to help the Tampa Bay Rays win the American League Championship Series, a...

Speaking about Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett on Tuesday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said you have to be “mindful of his location.” I’m particularly mindful of Garrett’s last location versus the Steelers. That was at the end of Cleveland’s 21-7 win on Nov. 14 when he was standing near...

“How do you like Chase Claypool now???!!!” Um, I like him. A lot. How could anyone have a different reaction after Claypool put up four touchdowns in one game against the Philadelphia Eagles? Just the beginning ?? FOX ? pic.twitter.com/fEzTUM6BvN— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 11, 2020 But, in typical Twitter...