Tim Benz stories, Page 18
Tim Benz: Latest angle to the Aaron Rodgers waiting game is ‘overthought and overwrought’
At least one outlet is suggesting that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers should wait even longer before announcing their much-anticipated union. Since it has already taken this long, ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio thinks it might be wise for Rodgers to hold off signing until after the NFL schedule is released...
First Call: Reaction in New York to Mike Sullivan’s move; Steelers invite huge offensive lineman to rookie camp
Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has a new job with the Rangers. New York’s media shares its reaction to the news. Marc-Andre Fleury ends his career with the Minnesota Wild. The Steelers are looking at an interesting offensive line prospect. And one analyst thinks it is time for the club...
Among college coaching candidates to replace Mike Sullivan, 1 name makes more sense than the rest
A number of college hockey head coaches have been floated out as potential successors to Mike Sullivan as the bench boss of the Pittsburgh Penguins. One would assume that the money and prestige of coaching in the NHL would make such a move a no-brainer. But during a “Breakfast with...
Tim Benz: ‘Demands’ or not, there are reasons why Mike Sullivan’s relationship with Penguins came to an end
In the wake of Mike Sullivan’s departure as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, a lot of people are seizing on some of the alleged circumstances that surrounded it. For instance, there were rumblings that Sullivan had made a list of “non-negotiable demands” that he wanted if he was...
First Call: Ryan Watts discusses medical release from Steelers; Penguins’ coaching job not highly rated
A former Pittsburgh Steeler discusses being forced into early retirement because of injury. Another ex-Steeler is forced to become a free agent once more. Also, the Penguins’ head coaching job isn’t being rated as a highly desirable position. And we check on T.J. McConnell’s contributions to the surging Indiana Pacers...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans irate about NFL Draft coverage; Pens fans sick of Erik Karlsson
I didn’t think it was possible to find anyone who was more upset about the 2025 NFL Draft than Mel Kiper. Then I looked at my social media mentions and my email. Apparently, Mel isn’t alone. Here is this week’s “U mad, bro?” I got this unsigned email from someone...
Paul Skenes enjoying ‘cat-and-mouse game’ of familiarity against MLB opponents in Year 2
For many successful Major League Baseball rookies, Year 2 can be a challenge. The league figures out what you do well and counters it. “There is definitely adjust-and-adjust-back. Year 2 was definitely tougher for me than year Year 1,” Cubs veteran Ian Happ said Tuesday. “Pitchers did a good job...
Tim Benz: On coaches named ‘Mike,’ maybe Art Rooney II should listen to Kyle Dubas’ message
It’s obvious that Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II isn’t influenced by what he reads in columns like this one, or what he hears on sports radio. If that was the case, he probably would’ve fired Mike Tomlin before Maurkice Pouncey’s game-opening snap was done sailing over Ben Roethlisberger’s head...
First Call: Cowboys showed interest in George Pickens; Cleveland confusion about Kenny Pickett’s 5th-year option
Tuesday’s “First Call” features more smoke about how close the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys may have come to a George Pickens trade. A pair of former WPIAL standouts are getting rookie minicamp invites from the Steelers. There was some confusion over Kenny Pickett’s fifth-year option. Duquesne basketball is losing...
First Call: Dino Tomlin, Eddie Faulkner IV get rookie minicamp invites; Shedeur Sanders’ slide boosts TV ratings for NFL Draft
Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us where the sons of Mike Tomlin and Eddie Faulkner will try to latch on in the NFL. The Shedeur Sanders drama boosted NFL ratings significantly. A Duquesne special teams standout is trying to make an NFL roster. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a tall task ahead...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ draft homework before free agency in March paid off in April
If you came up with a list of words to describe the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason in advance of the draft, I don’t think these would have made the cut: Clinical. Crisp. Clean. Coordinated. Procedural. Organized. Well orchestrated. The fact that it’s almost May and the club’s three rostered quarterbacks are...
Tim Benz: For Penguins, ‘moving forward’ with Mike Sullivan would’ve meant staying stagnant
To use one of Mike Sullivan’s favorite verbal crutches, he and the Penguins will both be “moving forward.” They just won’t be doing so together. That’s the right decision. Frankly, it’s overdue. Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager, announced Monday that Sullivan and the team...
First Call: More Mel Kiper criticism of Steelers’ draft; son of NFL assistant coach behind Shedeur Sanders prank
Monday’s “First Call” features more ire in the direction of the Pittsburgh Steelers from ESPN’s Mel Kiper. The Atlanta Falcons are responding to the story about one of their coach’s sons prank-calling Shedeur Sanders. The Steelers turned heads with an undrafted free-agent signing. And a Pitt baseball alum picked up...
Madden Monday: 2 Steelers draft choices to love — and 1 that was ‘a wasted pick’
In his evaluation of the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers draft, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X likes most of the picks. But one specific selection stands out. “The pick I find in particular to be intriguing is Jack Sawyer — The Modern Day Warrior — from Ohio State, the...
Tim Benz: Ava Leroux, daughter of former Penguins enforcer, continues inspiring recovery at Robert Morris
Robert Morris women’s basketball coach Chandler McCabe admits she has a bit of a hang-up when it comes to recruiting. “I’ve never really recruited height, because I’m really tall, and I really hated contact,” the 6-foot-3 McCabe said with a laugh. “My nose got broken three times. I was a...
Tim Benz: Our annual ‘What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft’ recap
At the end of every NFL Draft, anyone who covers the Steelers puts together a recap of the franchise’s selections. I like who the Steelers picked. I advocated for a defensive lineman in Round 1. That’s what they did by drafting Oregon’s Derrick Harmon. Then the team added on by...
Tim Benz: With Kaleb Johnson, Steelers go for ‘perfect fit’ as Shedeur Sanders’ slide continues
When it comes to Shedeur Sanders, the NFL hasn’t seen a drop this bad since … well, Mark Andrews in Buffalo wasn’t all that long ago, I guess. MARK ANDREWS DROPPED THE GAME-TYING PASS ????(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/dGHC30xxun— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2025 But Sanders’ tumble down the draft board has...
First Call: Mel Kiper rips Steelers for passing on Shedeur Sanders; Steelers tied to Kirk Cousins trade reports
Friday’s “First Call” wraps up Day 1 of the NFL Draft with some additional Pittsburgh Steelers rumblings after they passed on Shedeur Sanders in Round 1. The Steelers are being linked to a veteran QB not named Aaron Rodgers. Joe Flacco discusses his desire to continue playing in Cleveland. And...
Tim Benz: Blissfully boring Steelers pick the right draft to play it straight with Derrick Harmon
When it comes to the first round of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 NFL Draft, not since “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults” has so much pre-event suspense resulted in such limited surprise on live television. Unlike how things turned out for Gerlado Rivera, though, that’s probably a good thing for...
First Call: Packers reportedly show interest in George Pickens; Penguins may have path to trade Erik Karlsson
The Pittsburgh Steelers may be shopping George Pickens as a trade chip more actively than they are letting on. One ex-Steeler is blasting the idea of selecting Shedeur Sanders. Todd McShay isn’t sure the Steelers will take him if he is there at No. 21 anyway. And the Penguins may...
Tim Benz: What the Steelers will do — and what they should do — in the 2025 NFL Draft
We’ve finally reached the 2025 draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the rest of the NFL. Here’s our “Breakfast With Benz” analysis of what the Steelers should do — and what they will do — this weekend. First round: Pick No. 21 What the Steelers should do: Draft a defensive...
U mad, bro?: Aaron Rodgers agitation, putrid Pirates offense fill venomous pre-draft void
By this time next week, everyone will be mad about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 draft class. If they take Shedeur Sanders, then they should’ve taken Jaxson Dart. If they take Jaxson Dart, then they should’ve taken a defensive lineman. If they take a defensive lineman, then you can bet that...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers reportedly wants ‘red carpet’ treatment; Ben Roethlisberger mulls scouting for Steelers
Wednesday’s “First Call” features some future plans for former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He also gives us some personal favorites among the draft crop of quarterbacks. We get a glance behind the curtain at what Aaron Rodgers might be thinking. The Steelers are looking at a complicated draft prospect...
Tim Benz: As Steelers smother George Pickens trade talk, others give it oxygen
As the NFL draft approaches Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are tamping down any conversation about attempting to trade George Pickens so that the club may be able to move into the second round. Last month, the Steelers gave their 2025 second-round pick to Seattle in exchange for fellow wide receiver...
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: Little reason to think secondary will be primary target for Steelers
For the finale of our pre-NFL Draft podcasts with former pro and college scout Matt Williamson, we didn’t exactly save the best for last by waiting until Wednesday to discuss the secondary. That’s true both in terms of the depth of talent available at the position and the likelihood of...
