Tim Benz: Sorry, Sid, but this time the call is coming from inside the house
Over roughly three decades of covering sports — almost 24 of those years in this city — I’ve never seen a more copacetic relationship between local reporters and a big-time superstar than the one that exists between Sidney Crosby and the media contingent in Pittsburgh. Throughout the vast majority of...
First Call: How this week’s QB injuries impact the Steelers; George Pickens comments on playing with Kenny PickettVideo
“First Call” for Tuesday looks at how all those quarterback injuries over the weekend may impact the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Pitt standout is dealing with an injury of his own. A new Steeler scouts their upcoming opponent in the pocket this week. And George Pickens has a curious quote....
Tim Benz: Broderick Jones’ 4-letter description of loss to Seahawks — and why he’s right
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones summed up his club’s 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. “That game was like a (expletive) show, basically, for us,” Jones said Monday afternoon. Yup. That’s a pretty accurate description of the 2025 Acrisure Stadium season opener. We can come up with...
Madden Monday: ‘I hate this defense’ and ‘I would have cut Kaleb Johnson before he got to the sideline’
The biggest reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss on Sunday afternoon was Kaleb Johnson’s flubbed kick return in the fourth quarter. Down 17-14, the rookie running back allowed a kickoff to drop in the landing zone and skip by him into the end zone. He failed to cover it there,...
First Call: Justin Fields injured; Mitch Trubisky plays; Russell Wilson’s big day
Monday’s “First Call” recaps polar opposite outings from both of the Steelers’ former quarterbacks who are now in New York. We get a look at how Pittsburgh’s next opponent did Sunday. And old friend Mitch Trubisky had some game action for the Buffalo Bills. We’ll tell you how he did....
Airing of Grievances: Kaleb Johnson’s big mistake, defensive deficiencies ruin Steelers home opener
Sunday’s festivities for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ home opener against the Seattle Seahawks began with 1980s metal star Bruce Dickinson singing the national anthem. After that, though, as Dickinson once sang with his band Iron Maiden, the Steelers endured “Hell on Earth.” The Steelers gave up a touchdown on the opening...
First Call: Tyler Kennedy can’t dismiss Sidney Crosby trade talk; car stolen from ex-Steeler involved in high-speed chase
Friday’s “First Call” has a crazy story about someone stealing the car of a retired Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion. Tyler Kennedy thinks there might be some fire to the smoke about these Sidney Crosby trade rumors. We set up the weekend of college football action. A Cleveland Brown may...
Football Footnotes: How the Steelers used DK Metcalf’s yards-after-catch skills in Week 1
One area where the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense was particularly strong Sunday in New York was its ability to exploit the run-after-catch skills of new receiver DK Metcalf. In this Friday’s “Football Footnotes” post, we analyze how the Steelers used Metcalf’s athleticism to turn short passes into big chunk plays in...
Pitt, WVU coaches employing mind games, motivational tactics in advance of Backyard Brawl
The message appeared to have multiple layers in its intent from Pat Narduzzi. As the Pitt football coach stood at his podium to open his Monday morning press conference before this Saturday’s game at West Virginia, he read a list of results from Week 1 of the college football season....
First Call: Examining the Steelers’ alleged interest in Tyreek Hill; more Seahawks secondary issuesVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” follows up on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ alleged interest in Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill. There are two stories of interest surrounding the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary in advance of their trip to Pittsburgh. And an error made by a New York Jet in their loss to Pittsburgh has...
Tim Benz: What might be behind the Sidney Crosby trade conversation — and what isn’t
After years of attempting to dismiss any suggestion that he may want to leave Pittsburgh someday, both Sidney Crosby and his agent fanned the flames of that conversation this week. As recently as June, Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, called rumors of Crosby being willing to accept a trade to Colorado...
U mad, bro?: Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Broderick Jones take heat from Steelers fans even after win
After the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Jets, 34-32, on Sunday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers summed up the victory perfectly. “The best part about Week 1 victories like this is there’s so much correctable tape,” Rodgers said. “It’s like a coach’s dream journal. To win, but also to have some correctable moments?...
First Call: Terry Bradshaw changes his tune on Aaron Rodgers; something to watch with the refs in Steelers-Seahawks
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw is singing a different tune about Aaron Rodgers. The fancy stats seem to like Justin Fields’ performance better than how Rodgers played in the Steelers’ win over New York on Sunday. We know the officiating crew for this week’s...
Tim Benz: The easier the analysis, the harder the answers for Steelers’ run defense
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knows what needs to improve when it comes to his team’s struggling run defense. “I want us to be stouter,” Tomlin said Tuesday. OK. Great. Sounds good. We’ll see everybody Sunday at Acrisure Stadium against the Seattle Seahawks. Problem identified. Problem solved. Of course,...
Did the Steelers get ‘hosed’ by the officials in New York? CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore weighs in
After Sunday’s 34-32 season-opening win in New York, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that he believed the Steelers “got hosed” by the officials on a crucial call late in the game. It turns out he may have been right. With just over a minute remaining in the game, trailing...
First Call: Seahawks injury news; Giants sticking with Russell Wilson; Tyler Glasnow exits during no-hitter
Tuesday’s “First Call” has injury news for the Seattle Seahawks as they get ready to arrive at Acrisure Stadium for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. We check in on Russell Wilson’s status in New York, and we update the health of a former Steeler who was injured for Miami. Plus,...
Broderick Jones, Payton Wilson, Keeanu Benton absorb criticism from ex-Steelers
Some ex-Steelers are unhappy with what they are seeing from a trio of current players in black and gold. Retired Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex has gotten into the media game. He hosts the “Snap Count Show” with former teammate Charlie Batch on the Big Play Sports Network. The two-time...
Tim Benz: Let Aaron Rodgers write the Steelers’ future. He can’t erase the past
Aaron Rodgers was excellent in his debut as the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. He was 22 of 30 (73%) for 244 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 136.7 en route to a 34-32 victory over the New York Jets. That statement and...
First Call: Justin Fields’ comments on the Steelers defense; how Russell Wilson played with the Giants; Pitt-WVU odds
Monday’s “First Call” features Justin Fields’ postgame comments about the Steelers’ defense. We check in on how Russell Wilson did for New York’s other team. Odds are out for the Backyard Brawl, but not yet for Penn State’s next game. And the Pirates head to the Beltway for a week....
Madden Monday: ‘The Steelers can’t play defense, and Aaron Rodgers is really good’
For Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X, the analysis of the Steelers’ 34-32 win over the New York Jets is pretty simple. Aaron Rodgers and the passing game: Thumbs up. Everything else: Thumbs down. “It comes down to the Steelers can’t play defense, and Aaron Rodgers is really...
Feats of Strength: Aaron Rodgers’ stellar return, role player prowess part of exciting Week 1 Steelers win
You might have seen a close Pittsburgh Steelers win coming in advance of their 2025 season opener against the New York Jets. I did. I picked them to win by two points. Unfortunately, I said the final score was going to be 15-13. In the end, the Steelers ended up winning...
Feats of Strength: Aaron Rodgers’ stellar return, role player prowess part of exciting Week 1 Steelers win
You might have seen a close Steelers win coming in advance of their 2025 season opener against the New York Jets. I did. I picked them to win by two points. Unfortunately, I said the final score was going to be 15-13. That’s 28 total points, folks. Most gambling outlets...
Tim Benz: ‘Serial optimism’ may determine the fate of the 2025 Steelers
During a conversation at his locker Wednesday, Steelers safety Miles Killebrew described himself as a “serial optimist.” “I always say, ‘This is our year.’ I don’t see anything that’s telling me otherwise this year. I think we are going to be a great team,” the special teams captain said this...
First Call: Arthur Smith’s cloudy response about Jaylen Warren; George Pickens’ quiet opener for Dallas
Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting interpretation of Jaylen Warren from Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. An often-discussed wide receiver option for the Steelers is retiring. George Pickens played his first game in a Cowboys uniform. A former Steelers offensive tackle is trying to make a comeback with a massive...
Football Footnotes: Annual NFL predictions have Steelers falling back. But how much?
As is tradition at “Breakfast With Benz,” we use our first “Friday Football Footnotes” of the year as the platform to make our season predictions. Ready or not, here we are. • Last year, I had the Steelers at 9-8 and the last team to miss the playoffs. They ended...
