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Tim Benz Columns category, Page 98

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Tim Benz: More grievances to air about Steelers’ bad defense 
Hey! Get back here! I’m not done berating you yet. Something struck me when I finished my “Airing of Grievances” post Sunday night. I was almost 800 words into excoriating the Pittsburgh Steelers for their awful, season-opening loss to the New England Patriots, and I hadn’t even mentioned the defense...
How did Steelers fall so flat vs. Patriots? Tim Benz, Mark Madden analyze
Who’s to blame for the Steelers’ season-opening blowout loss to the Super Bowl champions? A little bit of everyone. TribLIVE columnists Tim Benz and Mark Madden break down Sunday night’s Steelers disaster in Foxborough, laying blame on everything from the game plan, to the inexperience on defense, to a lack...
Tim Benz: First airing of grievances is deep after Steelers debacle vs. Patriots 
We pick up where we left off in 2018 at Breakfast With Benz. Whenever the Pittsburgh Steelers lose — and even sometimes when they win — we post our “Airing of Grievances.” It was easier than ever to construct after Sunday’s season-opening 33-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Well,...
Tim Benz: Give it time. Antonio Brown will blow up in New England, too 
One thing is obvious with this whole Antonio Brown saga. It’s all Derek Carr’s fault. Hey, if it was all Ben Roethlisberger’s fault in Pittsburgh — as the national media kept telling us over and over again — it must have been all Carr’s fault in Oakland, right? Knock on...
Tim Benz: Some Steelers actually enjoy playing in New England
The 2016 AFC Championship Game. Giving up 55 points in 2013. Anthony Smith’s guarantee in 2007. Getting smoked the night the building opened its doors in September 2002. Yeah. Gillette Stadium has pretty much been a house of horrors for the Steelers. The franchise is just 1-5 there and 0-5...
Tim Benz: How Steelers should prepare for post-Gronkowski Patriots
It’s … what? What word would you use? Ironic? Typical? Funny? Unfortunate? No. Not unfortunate. No matter how you slice it, be glad that the Steelers don’t have to deal with Rob Gronkowski anymore. Even if they are probably better suited to do so right now than they have ever...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Javon Hargrave could be a ‘Blockbuster’ vs. Patriots
It isn’t the most obvious Mike Tomlin analogy of all time. But I see where he is going with it. At his weekly press conference on Tuesday, I asked Tomlin about nose tackle Javon Hargrave. In my mind, if the Steelers pull off an upset against the New England Patriots...
Tim Benz: Steelers want a win over Patriots to matter this time
It meant nothing. Oh, sure. For a few hours on December 16, 2018, it was a lot of fun. To borrow a phrase from Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, his team had finally managed to “be the dragon” by slaying the dragon. The dragon that usually flies into Pittsburgh...
Tim Benz: Pitt is stuck in the middle with Pat Narduzzi
One of the easiest things to do in sports is throw dirt on a college football team if it loses its opener. Especially if that loss is at home, in conference and against a beatable opponent. With only 12 games on the schedule, if a team drops a contest like...
Tim Benz: Can we start talking about the New England Patriots now?
The goal was to hold this one until after Labor Day weekend. You know, squeeze in one more preseason column after the Steelers’ 25-19 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Bang out one more thought-provoking deep-dive as to who the 53rd versus 54th guy on the roster should...
Tim Benz: 3 guarantees for Steelers-Panthers preseason game
On our WDVE Steelers pregame show, my co-host Dale Lolley and I always make our “Three Guarantees.” Three things we guarantee will happen in the game. OK, maybe guarantee is a strong word. But it rhymes. It’s catchy. And it gives us a chance to say, “I told you so”...
Tim Benz: Steelers running backs only thing worth watching in preseason finale
If you are looking for something of substance to track Thursday night in the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason finale, I’ve got two pieces of advice. 1) Find something else to do with your time. 2) If you can’t, watch the running backs. There may be some practical application to doing so....
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown rips Ben Roethlisberger on Twitter, then deletes it
How do you shame a guy who knows no shame? Twitter. That’s how. Former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Antonio Brown sent out the tweet below. Then he deleted it. Antonio Brown deleted this tweet. pic.twitter.com/fyo1RTcXEr— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 27, 2019 That was Brown’s response to Ben Roethlisberger’s halftime interview Sunday...
Tim Benz: If you want to see Carli Lloyd kick in NFL, make her earn it
I was going to leave this alone. I really was. I swear. When I first saw the video of Carli Lloyd kicking a field goal at a Baltimore Ravens-Philadelphia Eagles joint practice, I knew what was going to happen. .@CarliLloyd from distance. Love to see it. pic.twitter.com/FW8iZlzGCG— U.S. Soccer WNT...
Tim Benz: Former Pirates kill their old team. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
In the latest “just laugh because, if you don’t, you’ll just cry” moment of the 2019 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night. How? Glad you asked. Because former Pirate Corey Dickerson homered to give the Phillies a lead in the eighth inning. COREY DICKERSON JUST...
Tim Benz: MLB mercy rule debate masks greater problem
Give Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play man Greg Brown credit for self-awareness. He’s right. No one wants to be “that guy.” The old guy yelling “get off my lawn” at any new idea that comes along. That’s how an aghast Brown couched his commentary against the suggestion of a Major League Baseball...
Tim Benz: What Andrew Luck’s retirement means … for the Steelers
For Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, his career was cut short by injury at the age of 29. For the Colts franchise, it has been thrust into a state of uncertainty. For Colts fans, their season of Super Bowl aspirations now appears destined for non-playoff failure. So let’s get to...
Tim Benz: Steelers tempt fate, escape unscathed in Tennessee
The Pittsburgh Steelers played Russian roulette with their veteran starters and won. For the most part. Let’s see how bad safety Sean Davis’ ankle injury is. And linebacker Bud Dupree’s thumb. At least Mike Tomlin didn’t give a dire diagnosis about either player after the Steelers beat the Tennessee Titans...
Tim Benz: How Pirates might deal with Chris Archer conundrum
When the topics of the Pirates roster and finances intersect, we can often make the mistake of addressing the decision from the view of what should be done. Instead, it’s far more practical to simply address it from the standpoint of what they will likely do. In other words, don’t...
Tim Benz: The Penguins’ Mount Rushmore of Hate
Here’s one I haven’t been able to shake for about a week. While I was pinch hitting for Mark Madden on 105.9 the X last week, I was joined by Pittsburgh-born comedian Joe Bartnick. He’s excellent. If you saw him open for Bill Burr a few months ago here in...
Tim Benz: ‘Duck Dynasty’ is a great story, but Steelers’ 3rd QB isn’t great concern
My email inbox. Phone calls on TV and radio. Conversations with friends and family. The contractors at my house. Apparently, the two most important, crucial, pressing questions within Steeler Nation are: 1. How can the Steelers keep fourth-string quarterback Devlin “Duck Dynasty” Hodges? 2. Will he get to four Super...
Tim Benz: ‘The Sports Chef’s’ hilarious explanation as to why Antonio Brown didn’t pay him
Of all the antics surrounding Antonio Brown in recent months, this may be the most amusing. Better than the frozen feet, the blonde mustache and the “ugly” helmet. As we told you a few days ago, Brown is in a legal entanglement with a celebrity chef named Stefano Tedeschi. He...
Tim Benz: For Steelers fans, Browns hype replacing Patriots obsession 
For almost two decades, Pittsburgh Steelers fans have had an unhealthy, but necessary, obsession with the New England Patriots. How could it be avoided? If you support an AFC contender, New England has always been the team standing in the way. As we’ve discussed here, however, the unfortunate truth for...
Tim Benz: Antonio Brown’s latest grievance is his latest indictment
Remember all those gushy stories from Oakland in the weeks after the Antonio Brown trade? You know the ones. About coach Jon Gruden trying to get cell phone reception in the Red Rock Mountains to talk to Brown. He and general manager Mike Mayock sneaking away from a swanky reception...
Tim Benz: Fans should hold Pirates’ Neal Huntington to his word after this quote
After a while, it gets tuned out. When Pittsburgh Pirates management waxes optimistic about good times ahead, it turns to white noise. With only four winning seasons since 1993, you build a filter. But please jot down this pearl from general manager Neal Huntington so you can have it ready...


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