Tim Benz stories, Page 56

When Andy Weidl spoke to the Pittsburgh media last week, it was just the second time he had formally done so since becoming the Steelers assistant general manager a year ago. It happened once in training camp, about two months after he was hired. The second time was last Friday...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has quite a personal conversation about Pittsburgh Steelers history between Ben Roethlisberger and Bill Cowher. We have a positive report about one of the Steelers draft choices. The Brewers keep in line with the Pirates atop the NL Central. Duquesne is in the hunt for a big-conference...

For even the most competitive marathoners, some runs are far more challenging than others. Oftentimes it’s not the races. It’s the training. North Hills graduate Margo Malone can speak to that. A cross-country runner at Syracuse University from 2012-16, Malone remembers the early wake-up calls and brutal cold of the...

Pittsburgh Steelers management is still downplaying any prearranged knowledge of how pick No. 14 would work out upon completion of their draft-night trade with the New England Patriots. The Steelers are getting high marks for that deal as well as the rest of their offseason. The Pittsburgh Passion honors Franco...

A lot of praise is being thrown at the feet of the Pittsburgh Steelers for their offseason. By most accounts, their haul of draft choices was quite good. General manager Omar Khan appeared to do a solid job during his first run through NFL free agency by beefing up all...

A week ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked like a team that could do no wrong. Now, for the Bucs, it’s a case of anything that can go wrong will go wrong. For as good as April was for the Pirates (ending the month 20-9), May has been every bit as...

If you read the details surrounding former Pittsburgh Steeler Antonio Brown’s chaotic ownership of his National Arena League football team, buckle up. Because that news was just scratching the surface. Earlier this week, details emerged that Brown’s franchise, the Albany Empire, was in a state of unrest after coaching changes,...

It’s an all-Steelers Friday “First Call” to wrap up the week. We start by getting new Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s take on when he thinks Bill Belichick started to notice him as a player. A former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman wants to make a comeback. We also see some unfortunate...

You can call the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three-game series in Tampa whatever you want. A reality check. A step back. A wake-up call. A litmus test. However you want to phrase it, one thing is definitely true: It was a giant disappointment. The Pirates were swept by the Rays in their...

Thursday’s “First Call” introduces us to a new pass catching target with the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the XFL. General manager Omar Khan reveals some details about trade discussions for the second-round pick that ended up being used on Joey Porter Jr. A former Steeler has little sympathy for one...

The “did they or didn’t they” saga surrounding the Steelers-Patriots trade during Round 1 of the NFL Draft took a few more turns Wednesday. Like many nationally, I assumed that Patriots coach Bill Belichick took particular joy in greenlighting a trade with the Steelers to move back from No. 14...

OK, so maybe we took the Steelers’ draft-night conspiracies a little far. I don’t think so. But some of you do. Maybe, just maybe, we started talking up the Pirates too much before the Rays stomped them down. And perhaps the NHL playoffs have degenerated into “West Side Story” gang...

It was a bad night for the Pittsburgh Pirates to endure a few bad breaks. A lot has gone right for manager Derek Shelton’s team in 2023. But that wasn’t the case Tuesday in Tampa Bay. The Pirates lost Game 1 of their much anticipated three-game showdown against the American...

Not long ago, we told you that former Steeler Antonio Brown was being sued by a celebrity jeweler over issues of non-payment. A former live-in chef once made a similar claim. He’s also allegedly failed to pay doctors, trainers and artists. So should we be surprised that the players on...

Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick Joey Porter Jr. has a sense of tradition with his choice of jersey number. Meanwhile, one of his fellow draft class members is getting some props in the national media. Also, an ex-Pirate assists his old team. There’s some news on the NFL television front. And...

We’re heading to the second round of the NHL playoffs, and I have two questions. 1. Is Florida Atlantic’s goaltending good enough to hold up against the Toronto Maple Leafs? 2. Are Fairleigh Dickson’s second and third lines deep enough to handle the Dallas Stars? Because the NHL postseason is...

It’s the interleague showdown everyone around Major League Baseball has been eagerly anticipating since … well … maybe the third week of April. Sure, Pittsburgh Pirates versus Tampa Bay Rays in Florida starting Tuesday probably wasn’t circled on a lot of calendars to start the season. It’s getting lots of...

Tuesday’s “First Call” gives us players from Pitt and Duquesne who will have rookie minicamp tryouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We get a little intel on that Steelers-Patriots trade in Round 1 of last week’s draft. A former Steeler decides to revisit the coaching path. And a high grade for...

Monday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers star-studded night at the Luke Combs concert. The Steelers won the NFL Draft according to one national outlet. It looks like we have a schedule-release date from the NFL. Fenway Sports Group got called out during a Liverpool game. The Pirates and Rays...

If there is one trend to notice about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft class, it’s versatility. Multiple guys who can do multiple things. The top two picks are pretty clear-cut. Broderick Jones is going to play tackle. Which side? That’s to be seen. He could play either side. But the easiest...

When it comes to evaluating the NFL Draft, many who covered the event — locally and nationally — gave high marks to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their additions to the team. Speaking on this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X dished out some praise...

My annual “What the Steelers didn’t get in the NFL Draft” column is going to take on a different tone this year. That’s because a quote from coach Mike Tomlin before the draft actually resonates more now than it did Monday. “We’ve been able to do some things in free...

New Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. might not see it like this right now. But the fact that he slipped to the second round is going to wind up being a blessing in disguise. For him and for the Steelers. C’mon. We all heard it. I admit it. I thought...

Friday’s “First Call” looks at what the other AFC North teams did in the NFL Draft after the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Broderick Jones. We also preview the Pirates next series, look at Gerrit Cole’s latest strong start and check in on the free agent goalie market in the NHL. Once...

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ agenda to be aggressive on the bases in 2023 has already been well chronicled. If you needed a clear example of how much that dedication to the run game is paying off, it crystalized in the first inning of the Pirates’ 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles...