Tim Benz stories, Page 67

This week’s “U mad, bro?” comes on the heels of a season-defining loss by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Baltimore Ravens. So I figured the blame was going to be spread throughout the entire organization. You all lived up to my lofty expectations. Doug is fed up with Steelers coach...

Wednesday’s “First Call” features a familiar face potentially rejoining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Alex Ovechkin hits a major milestone. And Duquesne’s basketball team wants to find its early season form. Plus, Robert Morris University formalizes another step toward its re-entry to the college hockey world. Help up front The Steelers...

Once it was clear that Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett was injured during a sack from Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith on Sunday afternoon, the inevitable Twitter-victimizing began. “Why wasn’t that a penalty? Aren’t they supposed to be protecting the quarterbacks? I’ve seen hits less forceful than that get flags! He’s just...

With the injury status of Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett up in the air, a conversation happening this week is also bound to be had frequently this offseason. Who is the best option to backup Kenny Pickett? As I feared last offseason, the Steelers coaching staff and front office...

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a Carolina Panthers team that has a very specific playoff path. And they are looking to get there by staying on the ground. Carolina may also have dodged an injury concern at wide receiver. A pair of former Penguins helped...

Steelers guard Kevin Dotson knew he had gotten the play wrong immediately. “After I took my set, I saw (left tackle) Dan (Moore) coming my way. So I was like, ‘Dang, they must’ve said the other digit. Once I knew what it was, I knew where I messed up,” Dotson...

If you watched the Steelers-Ravens game on Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium, you probably noticed Baltimore’s 16-14 win was missing something. Offense. But, hey, that’s nothing different from when these two franchises usually face one another. This rivalry is rooted in a history of hard-hitting, defensive wars of attrition. Unfortunately,...

The lowest of low-hanging fruit is available for Steelers analysis in the wake of the team’s 16-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky entered the game for an injured Kenny Pickett and threw three interceptions. End of story. But if you do that, it would be...

Despite a loss, the Steelers’ wide receivers are forcing a Ravens Pro Bowler to do some introspection. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is gushing about his team’s game-sealing drive at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers are already underdogs for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. The Penguins have a stiff test at...

I guess the Pittsburgh Steelers only ordered a short stack of wins. After weeks of discussing “stacking victories” down the stretch of this rudderless season, the Steelers only could manage two in a row against equally listless foes in the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons. That winning streak ended Sunday...

This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” takes a look at some dueling views on the state of the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin’s place in it. The team is 5-7 with five games left. It needs to win at least four (or go 3-1-1) to avoid Tomlin’s first losing season...

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers getting a second straight win for the first time all year, the temperature is hot in Steelers Nation. Lots of folks are taking heat. George Pickens. Mike Tomlin. Diontae Johnson. Me! Even Kasperi Kapanen of the Penguins is getting dragged. And he just had his best...

In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Ben Roethlisberger gives his reaction to the sideline histrionics of Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens. ESPN is calling Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt overrated. And while one former Pirates star has a new home, another may be on the move once again. Seen this fish before...

I’m sure Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin thought he was simply supporting George Pickens by turning a deaf ear to criticism of the rookie wide receiver. But in doing so, Tomlin also turned a blind eye to the needs of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickens took some fan and media...

As a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers approaches, the Ravens are stocking up at quarterback in case Lamar Jackson is sidelined. Teams are lining up to take a run at acquiring Bryan Reynolds from the Pirates. Duquesne’s men’s basketball team is getting some national attention. Logan Cooley is back on...

Now that we know what to complain about regarding this year’s College Football Playoff, let’s compare that to what we’ll be griping about in 2024 — when the format expands from four to 12 teams. Oh, because, trust me, we’ll still be complaining. The only question is, will the complaints...

Monday’s “First Call” has John Harbaugh’s murky forecast for Lamar Jackson as “Steelers week” looms in Baltimore. A former Penn State standout stars in the NFC East. So does a former WPIAL great. Plus, we give you some Bryan Reynolds trade talk, and we consider Meg McConnell’s latest accomplishment at...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have their first winning streak of the season. It’s now … well … two games long. But they’ll take it. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, though, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X said don’t get too fired up about it. “They are 5-7,” Madden...

Friday’s “First Call” previews the next opponent for the Pittsburgh Penguins. We check out the hottest player in the NHL. Lamar Jackson is trying to stay healthy in Baltimore as a game against the Steelers looms. Also, the Pitt and Duquesne men’s basketball teams look to keep their winning ways...

For the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, it was their work beneath the goal line that eventually resulted in pucks crossing it. The Pens came back from a 3-2 third-period deficit to grab a 4-3 decision from the Las Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena. Their work beyond the...

Atlanta Falcons return specialist (and second-leading rusher) Cordarrelle Patterson returned to practice Thursday. He was given a rest day Wednesday. That’s unfortunate news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A rested Patterson sounds like a nightmare scenario for Danny Smith’s special teams unit. The 31-year-old recorded his NFL-record ninth kickoff return touchdown...

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming opponent got some bad news. Aaron Donald is injured. Phil Kessel is slumping. Joey Porter’s son is going pro. And could Tom Brady really go back to New England? All that and more in Thursday’s “First Call.” Donald down Former Pitt Panther Aaron Donald is going...

Troy Aikman returned to the same conversation with Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett multiple times throughout the broadcast. During the “Monday Night Football” game between the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts, the ESPN analyst frequently referenced how Pickett had a different take than what the usual rookie QB has to...

The Pittsburgh Steelers won a game. Kenny Pickett and the offense actually looked capable. The defense turned in a few clutch plays. And the other team’s coaches were the ones who mangled the clock at the end of the game. I bet you think that means my “U mad, bro?”...