Tim Benz stories, Page 86

When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired inside linebacker Joe Schobert from the Jacksonville Jaguars for just a sixth-round draft choice last summer, News 4 Jax sports anchor Jamal St. Cyr gave us a good breakdown as to why the Jags were willing to part with him for such a low price....

During an Instagram Live interview with the NFL Network’s Taylor Bisciotti on Thursday, ex-Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster tried to explain why he left Pittsburgh for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Bisciotti (@taylorbisciotti) “Going with the Steelers and...

Thursday’s “First Call” tells us which quarterback prospect lured top members of the Pittsburgh Steelers to his pro day. We find out what team may have primed the bidding on Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor. One report suggests the Steelers are keeping an eye on the safety market in free agency....

It’s often said in professional sports that a good trade helps both teams involved. But what if a deal is bad for all three parties involved? That was my initial reaction to the big NFL trade announced Wednesday, which resulted in Kansas City Chiefs star receiver Tyreek Hill being dealt...

The hype over newly signed quarterback Mitch Trubisky — and the confidence in him — continues to grow within the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base. That will probably continue until they draft Malik Willis, Matt Corral or Kenny Pickett at No. 20 in the first round. Given the attention being paid...

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t bother being coy with his response about long-term plans for Rickard Rakell Monday night. Some were surprised to see the franchise’s prized trade acquisition on the third line with Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen in his debut game against the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night....

We just spent the better part of two weeks debating Steelers free agent signings and Penguins trades. So why not kick around another big deal that went down recently: sports broadcaster Joe Buck getting traded from Fox to ESPN in exchange for one college football game. Oh, and, yes, Pitt,...

Wednesday’s “First Call” delves into a report that actually connects the Steelers to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Steelers still seem interested in Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. Even after the signing of Mitch Trubisky. We get an update on Aaron Donald’s contract situation. And the NHL’s Metropolitan Division had a...

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan says newly acquired winger Rickard Rakell is expected to be available for Tuesday night’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That’s good because the Penguins need to get two points while they’re available. That goes for Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, too. Because...

Having been in the Stanley Cup playoffs every season since 2007, trade deadline hoopla has become a predictable part of the Pittsburgh Penguins calendar. The fans and media identify a big-name trade target to improve the club for a playoff run. Usually, that happens around the holidays. Those rumors bubble...

Tuesday’s “First Call” clues us in on an NFL team who may be after a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. A pair of former Penguins prospects are on the move. A Penn State product just got a big contract. And the NFL quarterback carousel never stops spinning. Even at enormous costs against...

Whenever March rolls around I love talking about college basketball with Mike DeCourcy. An alum of Elizabeth Forward, Point Park and The Pittsburgh Press, DeCourcy now covers the sport for Sporting News, Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network. Assuming a few six-packs will be consumed around our region during...

In Thursday’s “First Call,” it’s clear that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has eyes for at least one Georgia Bulldog in the draft. Josh Allen is giving an emphatic thumbs up to Mitch Trubisky. JuJu Smith-Schuster is getting some advice about how to angle his free agency. Jaromir Jagr congratulates...

I know, Steelers fans. You now love Mitch Trubisky. The very thought of him replacing Ben Roethlisberger would’ve turned your stomach two years ago. But it’s easy to pretend you never thought that way now. In fact, let’s just say it. Getting Trubisky will work out better for the Pittsburgh...

The Steelers surfaced as a rumored trade destination for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson last week. A frequent and immediate response from many who cover the team or root for it was that the franchise couldn’t make such a deal “because it would be a public relations nightmare.” The Steelers...

In “First Call” for Wednesday, Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is still looking for work. And he may not find it anywhere else in the state of Pennsylvania. Baker Mayfield is acting like a quarterback who knows he may be traded, even if the Cleveland Browns don’t get Deshaun Watson....

Former Steeler Jim Miller knows about quarterbacking in both Pittsburgh and Chicago. He knows what a cluttered QB room is like, having been in that situation with Neil O’Donnell, Kordell Stewart and Mike Tomczak. And he knows the game of new Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky pretty well, too. Miller is...

Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us where former Pirates star Andrew McCutchen will play baseball next season. Le’Veon Bell still has fond things to say about Mike Tomlin and Antonio Brown. The Bengals have bolstered their offensive line. And James Conner appears to have found a long-term home. Familiar surroundings Andrew...

The Penguins managed to get four of a possible six points during their tough three-game homestand that featured games against the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers, the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes, and the currently playoff bound Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Pens beat Vegas 5-2 and the Hurricanes 4-2, after losing...

Here’s a little historical reference before dissecting the Steelers’ decision to sign quarterback Mitch Trubisky. On March 4, 2021, the Steelers reworked Ben Roethlisberger’s contract for one final season in the fall. On March 18, Trubisky signed a contract to be the Buffalo Bills backup quarterback after getting no offers...

Often after Penguins games, head coach Mike Sullivan seems to draw a pretty thick line between the process and the result. The Penguins may win a game but not necessarily play well en route to victory. Under those circumstances, Sullivan has a hard time hiding his agitation. After other games,...

Monday’s “First Call” has some possible destinations for Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. If quarterback Deshaun Watson doesn’t come to Pittsburgh, he may wind up elsewhere in the AFC North. An ex-Penguins star is part of a milestone. Former Penn State basketball coach Pat Chambers has a new job. Plus,...

Tom Brady spent the better part of two decades dominating Sundays in the NFL. Now he just dominated Selection Sunday, too. Yup. The future Hall of Fame quarterback managed to steal the spotlight from college basketball on the sport’s biggest day of the year. Within an hour of the bracket-reveal...

Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke is doing a really hard sell on not buying at the trade deadline. So much, in fact, that every time he addresses the topic, I now find myself more convinced that the Pens are going 180 degrees the other way toward being the...

Friday’s “First Call” connects the Steelers to a pair of defensive standouts once free agency starts next week. Meanwhile, a Pitt product may be “Plan B” in case the Steelers can’t keep a current starter. It looks like the Penguins will face a backup goalie in their next game. And...