Tim Benz stories, Page 68

In one sense, it’s a sign of real progress for the Duquesne basketball team. In another, it’s a reminder of how far the program needed to come. “It means we (stunk) last year,” coach Keith Dambrot said. “Six wins. What the heck?” No. Six wins don’t sound like a lot....

Indianapolis Colts coach Jeff Saturday is second-guessing a decision he made during Monday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, a Colts defensive player sounds like he is echoing something one of the Cincinnati Bengals said last week about the Steelers offense. Also, we have info about some Atlanta Falcons injuries...

For months, part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive agenda has been to get running back Najee Harris in a rhythm. Now the agenda is to keep the run game in rhythm overall, regardless of who is carrying the ball. After back-to-back games with 90-plus yards, Harris appeared to enter Monday’s...

Every year, hockey outlets love to throw out the stats about how much the season-ending playoff bracket tends to mirror what we see by the time the calendar hits “American Thanksgiving.” That one was for you, Sportsnet and TSN.Ca. Last week, former Penguin Mark Recchi penned a piece as a...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has the early line for the Steelers-Falcons game on Sunday. We also have some injury news about former Pitt star Aaron Donald. A former Steeler is out in Cleveland. We take a look at Tuesday night’s game for the Penguins, and Duquesne’s seventh game of the season...

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did what he needed to do. Maybe better said, he avoided doing what he couldn’t allow himself to do. That would have been losing to the Indianapolis Colts (4-7-1) and their human publicity stunt of an interim head coach, Jeff Saturday. It was just Saturday’s...

Monday’s “First Call” has a story about the Browns that Steelers fans will enjoy. Thanksgiving Day NFL ratings were through the roof. We check in on Marc-Andre Fleury and Chase Claypool. Plus, we preview Pitt’s next basketball opponent. Turkey Day TV TD Thanksgiving Day football on national television was a...

Coming out of their Week 9 bye at 2-6, there was a path toward postseason contention that the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise had walked in the past. In 2013, the team began 2-6 and ended up 8-8, staying alive for the playoffs until the final week of the regular season. By...

For Mark Madden of 105.9 The X, there is only one true angle to track the rest of the way as the Pittsburgh Steelers take their 3-7 record through the last seven weeks of the regular season. “I think the overriding story for the Steelers the rest of this year...

Covering the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, you may assume I’m not feeling particularly thankful this Thanksgiving. Au contraire, mon frère! I needed to bang out a super-quick “U mad, bro?” post before scampering off to visit family for the holiday. The Steelers are 3-7. They just blew a second-half lead...

The Cincinnati Bengals certainly had a lot to say after they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 37-30 on Sunday. They questioned the depth of the Steelers’ playbook, the extent of Diontae Johnson’s target share and how much one star player was complaining to the officials. On Tuesday, Steelers head coach Mike...

For local football fans, the anticipation of Sunday’s Steelers-Bengals game felt like a scene out of the new Star Wars series “Andor.” Specifically, the one from an episode when everyone on planet Aldhani is looking to the heavens for “The Eye.” It’s a beautiful celestial event that is the equivalent...

Late Sunday night, WPXI-TV ran a poll asking which side of the ball was more disappointing in Sunday’s 37-30 Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Cincinnati Bengals — the offense or the defense. The correct answer to the question is, obviously, “both.” But since that was not an option, 77% of...

Monday’s “First Call” has Joe Burrow’s assessment of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt after yet another eye-popping interception. Next week’s game for the Steelers no longer appears to be the joke people were making it out to be two weeks ago. A former Pitt Panthers star is getting a well-deserved...

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to get those pigeons back at Acrisure Stadium. Seriously, there were at least 30 of them out there last week. The Pittsburgh Pigeons have the best seat in the house pic.twitter.com/GTkO9qg1tn— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 13, 2022 Maybe if the Steelers had 41 defenders on the...

It’s a hockey heavy “First Call” for this Friday, as we remember a banner day in Penguins history. We preview the team’s next opponent, who is on fire at the moment. Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel are taking some steps up the historic scoring ladders. Some former Penguins contributed to...

As the Steelers get ready for a rematch against the Bengals, “Friday Football Footnotes” features some scouting on T.J. Watt from Joe Burrow. The Bengals QB also has advice for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Derrick Henry has tricks on “Thursday Night Football.” We study that venue change for the Browns and Bills....

During the recent bye week, Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin went to the other side of the ball to best illustrate what the return of T.J. Watt could mean to his unit. “I put it similar to a great receiver. If you don’t take care of him and let him...

While the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has received praise for improved run blocking since Sunday’s win against the Saints, now the pass blocking has come under scrutiny. For good reason. In both regards. The Steelers are coming off a game in which they ran the ball for a season-high 217...

For Thanksgiving, I like variety. Turkey. White meat. Dark meat. Maybe some ham. Mashed potatoes and stuffing. Carrots and peas. Apple and pumpkin pie. Just no sweet potatoes. I hate sweet potatoes. I hate the way they taste. I hate the way they smell. I don’t even wanna look at...

Thursday’s “First Call” features the latest attempt to reignite the football career of former Steelers project Martavis Bryant. Antonio Brown is back performing in Pittsburgh. Ja’Marr Chase may not be back against the Steelers. But next week is a possibility. The Penguins aren’t done facing old teammates in goal. And...

Ben Roetlisberger is talking about life after football. The Steelers are considering making another move to bolster their defensive backfield. The Prime Video ratings for “Thursday Night Football” are a struggle. And Duquesne’s next men’s basketball game looks like it could be a real test. All that in Wednesday’s “First...

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin staunchly endorsed the development of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett during his Tuesday press conference. “It’s been really impressive,” Tomlin said. “If you ask me to summarize the rate of growth and the range of growth, it’s been really impressive in all areas. I think it’s...

Matt Murray has seen that kind of push from the Penguins in that building many times. He knows what it looks like — and what it sounds like — when Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and company decide it’s time to put the pedal down. It’s just that when...

It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins have themselves a Najee Harris-esque injury situation developing with goaltender Tristan Jarry. Jarry is saying that he is playing through injury while the head coach is downplaying it. That hasn’t worked out great for Harris and the Steelers much of the year at Acrisure Stadium....