Tim Benz stories, Page 126

There are many parallels with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers to start their 2020 seasons. • Both are 3-0. • Both have a tremendous pass rush. • Both managed to win a tight game at halftime at Heinz Field last weekend. And both are chasing the perception that...

Thursday’s “First Call” gives us the potential television times — and network — for the rescheduled Steelers game in Nashville. Bryan Reynolds is getting some support from Pirates brass. Ryan Switzer is getting interest from an AFC North rival. And the Cincinnati Bengals are looking out for their quarterback. Who’s...

Even if their game against the Tennessee Titans is rescheduled because of coronavirus concerns, there are lots of key AFC games Sunday with direct implications for the Steelers. With or without the local team in action, it’s going to be an NFL-viewing buffet. If they do move the Steelers’ 1...

Wednesday’s “First Call” puts T.J. Watt’s hot start in a statistical perspective. John Harbaugh doesn’t have answers for his team’s defeat versus the Kansas Chiefs. Gerrit Cole is off to a hot start in the playoffs. And some unbelievable numbers about sports gambling. What’s Watt? How good has T.J. Watt...

Unless we find evidence to the contrary, Steelers fans shouldn’t blame the Tennessee Titans for being the first NFL team to become a covid-19 hotspot. Even if that news results in Sunday’s game between the clubs getting postponed or forfeited. At least three players and five others within the Titans...

The 2019-20 NHL season is over. Thanks to coronavirus, it only took 11 months. But the Tampa Bay Lightning finally pulled the curtain on the campaign by winning Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final 2-0 over the Dallas Stars. For me, that makes the bubble exercise a bit more...

Maybe Troy Polamalu is starting to get sentimental about his Steelers days. The Tennessee Titans have a covid-19 concern in advance of the Steelers visit to Nashville. And a WPIAL star had a premonition about his big play with the New England Patriots. All that and more in Tuesday’s “First...

Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva addressed Pittsburgh media members for the first time since the highly publicized “helmet tape incident” at MetLife Stadium during the season-opening win against the New York Giants. One has to wonder how many more times Villanueva will speak publicly as a member of the Steelers. Not...

If you are a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you can’t complain about being 3-0. However, you can point out that all three of their opponents are 0-3. You can. You don’t have to. But you can. If you do that, though, make sure you point out how the other...

It’s the day after a Steelers home game, so, obviously, Mark Madden and I are talking about their 28-21 win over the Houston Texans to begin our “Madden Monday” podcast. But we dive deep into the Penguins and Pirates as well. There were lots of standouts for the Steelers on...

I think we’ve all gotten used to this “Tale of Two Halves” story with the Steelers offense over the first two weeks of the 2020 season. And it worked to the tune of victories over the New York Giants and Denver Broncos. In Week 1, the offense was sputtering for...

Friday’s “First Call” gives us a fond farewell for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist after the team traded him to the Florida Panthers. The media down in Miami have some thoughts, too. And Steelers rookie Chase Claypool is becoming a star in his home country. Praise for Patric On Thursday,...

The Steelers unleashed an all-out assault on the New York Giants’ running game in Week 1. They attacked the line of scrimmage with seven and eight men at a time. They charged upfield and crashed in from the edges. And it worked. New York left with a 26-16 loss and...

I took a random day off Thursday. Needed a day to clear the mind and come up for air, ya know? So “U mad, bro?” was pushed back a day. Woof! Nothing like erasing the mental health benefits of 24 hours off like opening your email and social media after...

Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Pirates may be in line for Kumar Rocker atop the MLB draft after all. We try to figure out when the NBA and NHL may restart for next season. And the NFL keeps handing out mask fines for coaches. Ready to Rock? ESPN’s...

This team had a generational talent at wide receiver who was suddenly traded during the offseason. Now that franchise is trying to figure out if any of the other receivers on the roster are capable of being a legit No.1 target. No, I’m not flashing back to the 2019 Pittsburgh...

Few athletes had as volatile of an existence in Pittsburgh as former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart. Wild popularity and praise upon his arrival. To scorn, criticism and failure. Then a renaissance. Then he was discarded for Tommy Maddox. Now he’s perhaps better understood nearly two decades after his departure at...

Tuesday’s “First Call” dares to dream big about a Steelers fast start. We also check in on injured Penn State great Saquon Barkley. J.J. Watt identifies a problem for his Houston Texans coming to Heinz Field. And NFL coaches are paying the price if they don’t mask up. Say that...

It feels as if the Penguins’ extension of Jared McCann’s contract has created more questions than answers. But why stop now? That’s been a theme throughout the offseason for general manager Jim Rutherford. For a team he suggested needed changes, the Pens GM sure is going a long way toward...

The Steelers offensive line is already chewed up. But don’t shed a tear for the Black and Gold. Yet. A lot of NFL teams have been bitten much harder by the injury bug. Sunday’s Week 2 led to outright fantasy league carnage. New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley...

Monday’s “First Call” starts with a certain Steeler who isn’t happy with the referees. J.J. Watt isn’t happy with a certain teammate. A WPIAL standout shines in the NFL. And a former Steeler is helping the Ravens — again. Zebras get a zero Steelers linebacker Vince Williams took to Twitter...

Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Pitt fans. I know you enjoy doing that. But I’m not here to offend. I’m not here to make the all-too-easy jokes about attendance at Heinz Field for Panthers football games. “How would Pitt players know the difference if fans were in the...

Steelers fans weren’t allowed in the stands at Heinz Field on Sunday. Yet, somehow, I could sense 68,000 Pittsburghers simultaneously tensing up during the second half against the Denver Broncos. In my mind’s eye, I could see the Terrible Towels being thrown to the ground. I could hear the screams...

On Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense overwhelmed the New York Giants offense en route to a 26-16 victory. Along the way, the defense held New York star running back Saquon Barkley to just six yards on 15 carries. So what does that mean for this Sunday’s game at Heinz...

When it came to offseason NFL coverage, one drum was consistently pounded as a major positive for the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into this odd 2020 campaign. Cohesion on the coaching staff and roster. Simply having more talent than a lot of other teams doesn’t hurt either. However, getting that talent...