Tim Benz stories, Page 50

That didn’t take long. One week of Steelers training camp, and “U mad, bro?” is composed almost entirely of frothing Steelers fans. With just enough Pirates grumbling as a garnish. I can’t wait for September. Ken emailed last Monday. It appears he didn’t like something that Mark Madden and I...

The NFL Network visited Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this week. And all the usual preseason optimism at Saint Vincent College seems to have filtered back to the studio. One of the hosts of “Good Morning Football,” Peter Schrager, sang the praises of quarterback Kenny Pickett. Meanwhile, co-host Kyle Brandt was...

By now, every NFL fan has seen some version or another of the Pittsburgh Steelers statistics when T.J. Watt plays and when he doesn’t. They were 8-2 with Watt in the lineup last year. They were 1-6 without him. The defense allowed less than 17 points per game when Watt...

Wednesday’s “First Call” has the Pittsburgh Steelers’ attempts to buffer the loss of Cory Trice at cornerback. We look at grades for the Pirates’ big trade and track a former Bucco’s movement to a new team. And we have to share in the latest laugh at the expense of the...

In the years after leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers, running back Le’Veon Bell has tried his hand at being a boxer, a rapper and even (albeit briefly), a running back for the New York Jets. Now he’s attempting to become an author. As in, he is trying to rewrite history. During...

The scuttlebutt about the Los Angeles Dodgers taking a run at acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller is legit, and the handling of Keller’s contractual future in Pittsburgh may be a factor. That’s according to what “Dodger Talk” host David Vassegh said Monday on AM 570 LA Sports (KLAC). “There’s...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has Cameron Heyward’s ranking in the NFL’s top 100. An ex-Pittsburgh Steeler suffers an unfortunate injury. A former Penguins goalie gets a new contract. And we have new info on the injury to former Pitt star Calijah Kancey. Where’s Cam? The NFL Network is slowly rolling out...

In the wake of signing inside linebacker Kwon Alexander, it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers finally have a strategy when it comes to figuring out their eternal quest to patch over the defense’s hole at that position. Bring in as many free agents as you can. Maybe play five or six...

Monday’s “First Call” has a rumored suitor to land Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Plus, Kwon Alexander’s former head coach is pumping his tires as the linebacker acclimates to the Steelers. We look for updates on Nick Bosa’s contract situation in advance of the Steelers-49ers opener....

Before Saturday’s Pittsburgh Steelers practice at Saint Vincent College, Mike Tomlin addressed the crowd. He took a moment to introduce two-time Super Bowl champion defensive end Aaron Smith on the day it was announced that he was getting inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He also jokingly referred to...

Friday’s “First Call” has comments from Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II on Mike Tomlin’s contract situation. Le’Veon Bell won’t rule out a comeback. A well-known Pittsburgh hockey name explains his a change of heart about his future. Ex-Steeler Chris Hubbard has a new home. And we look at the...

By now, football fans have heard or seen the angry opinions of NFL running backs who believe the league’s cost structure is working against them. Third-year Pittsburgh Steeler Najee Harris is one of those grumbling. The franchise has to determine if they are going to keep Harris through his fifth-year...

When asked for words of advice that he’d pass along to rookie cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice, Pittsburgh Steelers legend Rod Woodson kept it simple. “No seams, no posts, no goes. OK? Don’t get beat deep,” Woodson said Thursday. Those were the words from defensive coordinator Tony Dungy...

Thursday’s “First Call” looks at the Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle position, even though head coach Mike Tomlin is trying to make it a non-story. An NFL signing of note may have some ramifications for a Steelers player next year. A former Steeler is getting a boost for his Hall of...

Even the Pittsburgh Steelers reporting to training camp was dwarfed by the UFO hearings in front of Congress on Wednesday. Not only do I now believe in aliens, I believe they are coming for Christian Kuntz’s massage chair. The Steelers’ specialists massage chair saga continues, but it’s in the dorm...

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has a lot to accomplish between now and the end of training camp. Coordinator Teryl Austin’s unit has to: • Straighten out any communication issues that may result from weaving a fistful of new players into the secondary — many of whom are playing in multiple...

On Monday, Sporting News writer Mike DeCourcy took us for a hike up Pittsburgh’s “GOAT Mountain.” Last summer, the outlet decided on a Mount Rushmore style, greatest-of-all-time list for 13 of America’s cities that have all four major pro sports teams (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL). This year, they expanded the...

There’s no doubt what the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top priority should be for their training camp when it begins Thursday. It has to be expanding the offensive playbook and developing Kenny Pickett as the quarterback. Hopefully, they’ve been working on those matters since the instant last season ended. But there are...

In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Arthur Maulet finishes off the news about him signing with a Pittsburgh Steelers’ divisional rival. The Eagles are looking at two former Steelers. There are some early season complications for two Steelers opponents. And we track what’s going on with Benny Snell. Maulet to Maryland On...

A domino may have fallen in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ pursuit of Erik Karlsson. A former Steelers draft choice has a new home, while another may be closing on a deal with Baltimore. Plus there is trade interest in Pirates closer David Bednar. All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” What does...

A lot has gone wrong for the Pittsburgh Pirates since their 20-8 start to open up the season. By “a lot” I mean pretty much … everything. • As a team, the Pirates have sunk to 44-56, good for a last place in the National League Central division. • Because...

On Sunday, a group of NFL running backs did what a lot of us did during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. They hopped on Zoom with each other and complained. The only difference is, these running backs are griping over how many more millions of dollars they should be...

There’s no doubt what the main topic is heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2023 training camp. It’s tracking the growth of the offense as the franchise embarks on its second year with Kenny Pickett as the quarterback. As Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X said during this week’s...

Steelers running back Najee Harris is part of a group of players at his position trying to influence change in the NFL’s cost structure that is deflating their salaries. There’s news regarding two former Steelers in other cities and surrounding the Cleveland Browns. Plus we see how the Pittsburgh Steeltoes...

We still don’t know if the San Jose Sharks are going to trade defenseman Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But now we do know that he has spoken to the Pens, and we know he doesn’t want to stay with his current franchise. Karlsson confirmed both angles to the...