Got to Category

Tim Benz Columns category, Page 4

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
First Call: Finances may be a hold up for Aaron Rodgers; Steelers miss out on depth QB trade target 
Friday’s “First Call” wraps up the week with news that complicates the Aaron Rodgers storyline. The Pittsburgh Steelers missed out on a young, project quarterback they liked. An ex-Steelers receiver is heading to Chicago. The Pirates are bracing for the New York Yankees’ offense on Opening Day, and the Penguins...
3rd time’s a charm: Winding road leads former RMU skater, Wexford native Brian Kramer to Frozen 4 
When the Frozen Four gets underway next week in St. Louis, nine college hockey players with Western Pennsylvania ties will be on the ice. Seven of them will be on Penn State’s roster, as the Nittany Lions have qualified for the national semifinal for the first time in program history....
Tim Benz: Opening Day crowd should open the ears of the Pirates (and the owner) 
Losing is one thing. How you lose and when you lose is another. Ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. For many NFL franchises, a 10-7 record and a playoff berth might sound like a pretty good year. When you lose five poorly played games in a row to close out the season...
First Call: Paul Skenes reacts to his GQ photo spread with Livvy Dunne; Steelers pulled back on Kirk Cousins inquiry 
Thursday’s “First Call” has pictures of Paul Skenes’ GQ photo shoot with Livvy Dunne. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a daunting task in St. Louis. The Steelers apparently pulled back from a quarterback inquiry. Plus, Alex Ovechkin scored again. But now his Washington Capitals are suddenly struggling. Smile pretty for the...
U mad, bro?: Perpetual position problems, Tony Award-level QB drama fatigues fans in Pittsburgh 
It’s Final Four week. But we’ve got many more entries than that for this week’s “U mad, bro?” None of them reference college basketball, though. With so much going on surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB hunt, Penguins goaltending uncertainty and early Pirates woes, our blind rage over Duke making another...
Predictable offensive woes already showing for Pirates
The Pirates have opened their 2025 season at 1-5 in Miami and Tampa Bay. Some preseason warnings have manifested as reasons for the slow start. Through the first six games, we’ve seen the predicted fielding concerns, bullpen issues, and back end of the rotation worries. However, the red flags many...
Tim Benz: There’s 1 clear benefit to Aaron Rodgers’ prolonged decision process
Steelers owner Art Rooney II provided an update on how long his franchise will wait for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide if he wants to join the 2025 roster in Pittsburgh. “Not forever, but a little while longer,” Rooney told reporters in Florida Tuesday afternoon. Gee, Art, I’m sure that’ll...
First Call: Video shows Aaron Rodgers throwing to DK Metcalf; Jets discuss plans for Justin Fields
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at video of Aaron Rodgers’ throwing session with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf. Aaron Glenn discusses the Jets’ plans for former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. Alex Ovechkin’s goal-record chase continues. A pair of former Penguins stand out in Dallas’ latest victory. And the Pirates square...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s latest comments illustrate Steelers’ QB planning problem
Of all the responses Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave about his team’s current quarterback situation during a Q&A with reporters in Florida on Sunday, one resonated with me well beyond the others. “I don’t know if we’re identifying anything as ‘Plan A, Plan B or Plan C.’ We’re just...
Madden Monday: Past Steelers heads ‘would have made the decision by now’ on Aaron Rodgers
On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that he has yet to give Aaron Rodgers any sort of deadline as to when he would need an answer about playing quarterback for the franchise. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X said that’s...
Tim Benz: Pirates already show anything less than elite from starters will get them burned
The Pittsburgh Pirates have enough flaws that they don’t need much help to be highlighted. Less-than-stellar starting pitching will do exactly that, though. As the Pirates limped through a 1-3 start in Miami, the starting pitching offset the rest of the team’s shortcomings to at least make the Buccos competitive...
On Russ, Rodgers, Rudolph: A brief history of the Steelers’ recent QB tragic comedy
Bon voyage, Russell Wilson. We hardly knew ye! Oops, sorry. We hardly knew yinz. The veteran free-agent quarterback signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants on Tuesday. After just one season and 12 games as the Steelers starting quarterback, the Wilson era is over practically before it began....
Tim Benz: A completely logical, totally achievable wish list for the 2025 Pirates
Last year, I ended up being a little too optimistic in my projection for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The BetRivers over-under win total was 78.5. I had them at 81 wins. They came in under with 76. I’m not going to allow myself to be disappointed again. This year BetRivers’ over-under...
Plenty of reasons why Cam Heyward is clarifying his remarks about Aaron Rodgers
Cameron Heyward sure sounds like he is walking back his comments about potential new teammate Aaron Rodgers. During his “Not Just Football” podcast last week, Heyward was asked about the drawn-out discussions regarding the Steelers’ vacant starting quarterback job. “I think, just (sigh) … I want to play football,” Heyward...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers’ decision expected ‘within the next few days’; Steelers talking with a college QB 
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an optimistic spin on the Aaron Rodgers watch for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants. In the meantime, the Steelers are talking to a college quarterback in advance of the NFL Draft. A depth defensive lineman may be on their wish list too. We’ll preview...
Tim Benz: Paul Skenes is right. The Pirates owe the city more. Time to pay up
I’m not exactly sure who Paul Skenes was talking about. Maybe Skenes doesn’t even know. But while the young Pittsburgh Pirates ace was speaking with Alex Stumpf for a recent feature on MLB.com in advance of Thursday’s 2025 season opener in Miami, Skenes made some noteworthy comments about the state...
Steelers’ QB waiting game highlights plenty of other roster issues
The football world is waiting with simmering impatience to see if the Pittsburgh Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers to be their next starting quarterback. But as “Ayahuasca Aaron” ruminates over the decision, by extension another truth has come to light. The Steelers have plenty of other issues besides quarterback — especially...
First Call: Pat Freiermuth contacts Aaron Rodgers; Russell Wilson can still help Steelers from New York
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Aaron Rodgers is making contact with at least one Pittsburgh Steelers target on offense. We investigate how Russell Wilson still may be able to help his now-former team. There is an update on the recovery of ex-Steeler James Daniels. We tell you if Alex Ovechkin is...
Tim Benz: The unfortunate reality of the Steelers’ QB situation
For all the podcast downloads, talk show air time, column space and television segments that have been dedicated toward figuring out what the Pittsburgh Steelers are doing at quarterback, one unfortunate reality exists: None of the feasible candidates that have been discussed offer much hope that the team is going...
Madden Monday: Mike Tomlin’s ‘rep is fading,’ that’s why he wants Aaron Rodgers
On Friday, free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers paid a visit to Pittsburgh. By Sunday night, ProFootballTalk.com was saying that Rodgers was a “safe bet” to become a Steeler. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X, said that the Steelers would be making a shortsighted decision...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers called a ‘safe bet’ for Steelers; Russell Wilson still in the mix with Giants
Monday’s “First Call” passes along a pair of reports involving Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. We look at two defensive linemen that may be on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ radar in the NFL Draft. And Megan McConnell put on another show as Duquesne stayed alive in the WNIT. Is there such...
Tim Benz: Pirates hopes of winning ‘in the margins’ is easier said than done
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton laid out the key to his team’s 2025 improvement on a 76-86 record a year ago. “I think you win in the margins, very much so,” Shelton told reporters in Bradenton, Fla. “We have to win those margins.” Exactly how wide are these “margins” we...
For ‘locked in’ Robert Morris vs. Alabama, the goal is to play like they’ve practiced
When coaches want to get more out of their players in between games they may implore them to practice like they play. For Robert Morris heading into their massive first-round NCAA Tournament challenge against No. 2 seed Alabama, head coach Andy Toole wants them to play like they’ve practiced. “We’ve...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans want more heat on ownership and more optimism about QBs
What did I learn from “U mad, bro?” this week? Hmm. Well, let’s see. I learned that I am too hard on the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I’m not hard enough on the owner. I learned that Steelers fans are somewhere between irrational optimism and hopeless depression. And I learned that...
First Call: ‘Ongoing dialogue’ between Steelers and Aaron Rodgers; team interested in college QBs
Thursday’s “First Call” has the latest spin on the Aaron Rodgers saga from a Pittsburgh perspective. There’s news about some potential college quarterbacks in the draft, as well. The Steelers are lobbying for some changes to free agency. And we have career updates regarding a pair of former Steelers. One...


Editor's Picks

Front Porch Theatricals’ musical ‘Baby’ is a labor of love

Washington townhouse on the market for $1,225,000
Folk legend Bruce Cockburn gives uplifting performance at City Winery
‘Champagne & Chapeaux’: Westmoreland Symphony’s annual soiree for a good cause
Jimmy Stewart’s P-51 Mustang stops in hometown for museum anniversary
More Editor's Picks >