Tim Benz stories, Page 141

Monday’s “First Call” features two new Steelers bringing a rare smile to our faces these days. New NFL Draft plans. A former Steeler goes back to the New England Patriots. And the financial woes of the NHL may be worse than we thought after the league-wide shutdown. Now that’s a...

Just about everything else is shutdown these days. But “Madden Monday” is not. Mark Madden of 105.9 the X and I are here to talk about what sports do exist. That includes the Steelers and NFL free agency. We examine the good things and bad things the Steelers did this...

Not only is the NFL free agent madness impacting the actual league, but it’s also having a major impact on the fantasy football world. A ton of skill-position players moved, so Jeff Erickson and I have plenty to discuss for our weekly fantasy sports podcast. Obviously, Tom Brady going to...

Pittsburgh Steelers fans — much like 30 other NFL fan bases — are enjoying a heaping teaspoon of schadenfreude at the expense of the New England Patriots right now. After 19 years of dominance, the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era is over. Brady is going to play his remaining few years...

In Friday’s “First Call,” we look at which Steelers player is a workout pal with Antonio Brown. Mike Sullivan adresses the the idea of Sidney Crosby eventually coaching. Should Jameis Winston go to the Steelers? Also, more bad news in Boston. And “March Madness” replacement brackets. A.B.’s buddy If anyone...

Nope. Sportswise, things aren’t great in Pittsburgh right now. The Steelers are just a .500 team. The Pirates may never sniff .500 again. And the Penguins were barely clinging onto third place in the Metro Division when the coronavirus shutdown hit. Could be worse, though. We could be in Boston....

Once his signing becomes official, future Hall of Famer Tom Brady is heading to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Speculation is rampant that former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown will be joining him. As @TomPelissero and I discussed on TV, the word among teams interested in Tom Brady were among the...

If there is one thing I have learned from all the covid-19 fallout, it is that as Pittsburghers we have come together. We are all linking arms while somehow being six feet apart. We are all pulling on the same rope. Then wiping down that rope with sanitizer. We are...

Usually the idea of missing out on a mid-week, mid-March night in Dayton, Ohio doesn’t sound like something that could plunge you into depression. Right now, Robert Morris basketball players may disagree. That’s where they should have been this week. Playing in an NCAA First Four game to kick off...

In “First Call” Wednesday, people are laughing at New England’s pain. The NHL player proposal to restart the season stinks. And Marc-Andre Fleury looks like he is in the weeds of a quarantine. Now it is our turn No one is making this easy on New England. Legendary quarterback Tom...

On Tuesday, word leaked that the Steelers are set to sign former Los Angeles Chargers fullback Derek Watt. He is the older brother of Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker T.J. Watt and the younger brother of Houston Texans star defensive lineman J.J. Watt. Most fullbacks don’t exactly get a ton of...

It’s not clear where New England Patriots legend Tom Brady is going to play football next season. But it is becoming clear that it will no longer be in New England. Brady posted what appears to be two good-bye tweets to the Patriots organization and fans Tuesday morning. FOREVER A...

Monday was full of major NFL moves on the first day of free agency. Here’s a look at some of the ones that happened late at night that you may have missed. And if you did, I don’t blame you. Based on all the coronavirus news, I would’ve hidden under...

No hockey. No problem for Brian Metzer and me during our weekly hockey podcast! Eh, who am I kidding? It’s a problem. But Metzer — the Penguins Radio Network host on 105.9 the X — and I make the most of it. We pontificate over how the NHL could survive...

We’re used to seeing it. On Day 1 of the NFL’s 2020 free agency period, the rest of the league took a headfirst dive into the deep end of the pool. Meanwhile, the Steelers are simply in a doggy paddle toward cap compliance. That’s the case every year, right? But...

In “First Call” for Monday, we defend the NFL’s decision to move forward with the start of its league year. Coronavirus may impact the Raiders’ ability to move to Las Vegas on time. And potential landing spots for Tom Brady are disappearing. Look a little deeper The NFL took heat...

The coronavirus has stopped sports. But it hasn’t stopped us from talking about them on “Madden Monday.” In this week’s podcast, Mark Madden and I discuss what you can do to occupy your time without sports on television. I suggest “Brockmire.” Listen for Mark’s recommendations. There are also good ESPN...

The coronavirus sports shutdown may be worse than originally thought. On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control recommended “that for the next 8 weeks, organizers … cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” That means sports. All of ‘em. The NCAA...

Sports is a multibillion-dollar business. So is sports gambling. So is the fantasy sports industry. And a lot of people in those lines of work are being impacted by the absence of sports because of the coronavirus outbreak. Much like the casual players and big-money investors. Our friend Jeff Erickson...

I’m not a huge fan of “The Office.” It’s OK. Not great. The humor is forced. The characters became two-dimensional characterizations of themselves after the third season. And I found the plot lines repetitive. There. I said it. Unpopular TV hot take for you. But I ran through five episodes...

In the wake of the coronavirus sports shutdown, sadly, the 2020 NCAA basketball tournament could not be saved. Maybe that could’ve happened with more time to plan. But arena availability is at issue. Many venues are in a state of flux between attempts to reschedule pro sports, events, and shows...

It’s all coronavirus talk in sports. Nothing else. The NBA is done. For now. Many think the NHL and college basketball will soon follow. In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look at how Rudy Gobert’s diagnosis brought down the NBA. What may become of the NFL Draft. And how one college...

Full disclosure. TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh and I taped this podcast before the NBA announcement to suspend its season upon the realization that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had the coronavirus. And by the time you listen to this, 50 more things may change with the NHL and...

The optimistic way to look at the Penguins is to hope that Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils will be the kind of victory that gets this recently rudderless team back on a Stanley Cup course. Unfortunately, their current stretch of losing eight times in 11 games suggests...

Wednesday’s “First Call” features a new gig for Gronk. Is NFL overtime changing again? Gerrit Cole basks in Yankees stardom. The Penguins get some help in the Metro Division. Gronk to wrestling? The Steelers need a tight end. Well, there is a pretty good one from Woodland Hills that’s getting...