Steelers/NFL category, Page 331
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster recruiting J.J. Watt to Steelers; Mason Rudolph ‘Instagram official’ with Eugenie Bouchard
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at the latest Steeler to tempt J.J. Watt to Pittsburgh. Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph finds himself in another celebrity romance. The Pirates’ misery loves company. And video of Adam “Pacman” Jones’ barroom brawl video has hit the internet. JuJu woos J.J. Other teams may be courting...
Tim Benz: What a free agent contract for JuJu Smith-Schuster may look like and why the projections make sense
If the Steelers were to prioritize signing receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, what would that contract look like? And what other teams might set the market? As mentioned in a recent edition of “First Call,” NFL insider John Clayton speculated on 93.7 The Fan that the Las Vegas Raiders would be a...
J.J. Watt to Browns instead of Steelers? Signals from Cleveland and Houston lean that way.
Former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt may not join his brothers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he may come to the AFC North. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Watt is “seriously considering” a contract with the Cleveland Browns. Because, according to sources she has, the Browns have salary...
Steelers hire Grady Brown to coach defensive backs
Just like the previous time Mike Tomlin hired a defensive backs coach, he is turning to a long-time college assistant. The hiring of Grady Brown became official Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced. Brown replaces Tom Bradley, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons. Bradley joined the Steelers in 2018...
First Call: Does Steelers RB James Conner need a fresh start?; Penguins TV ratings boost
Tuesday’s “First Call” begins with the prospect of a fresh start for Steelers running back James Conner. More problems for Steelers fan-favorite Adam “PacMan” Jones. Pitt’s basketball team has an all-too-familiar look to it. And Penguins television ratings are off to a strong start. Rejuvenating James Heading into NFL free...
Tim Benz: Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement frames an unfortunate reality for some Steelers stars
The retirement of center Maurkice Pouncey raises an unfortunate reality for this current era of Steelers. We are witnessing a batch of truly accomplished players who may never get to play in a Super Bowl. And that may dilute their position in the pantheon of Steelers legends. Pouncey was on...
Steelers preseason opener set for Aug. 5 in Hall of Fame Game
The Hall of Fame Game, involving the Pittsburgh Steelers, officially has a date and time. The game, which was not played last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, will kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5. The Steelers will play the Dallas Cowboys — the two scheduled participants from...
First Call: Steelers are favorites to sign J.J. Watt; celebrating Jaromir Jagr’s birthday
Monday’s “First Call” looks at who is chasing the Steelers to sign J.J. Watt on the gambling odds boards. A grim assessments of the Steelers by a pair of national outlets. We celebrate Jaromir Jagr’s birthday. Plus a Marc Andre-Fleury shutout. No. 49 for No. 68 Jaromir Jagr’s birthday is...
Madden Monday: Evgeni Malkin’s future; might T.J. Watt eventually follow J.J. instead of the other way around?
Last week on his 105.9 The X radio show, Mark Madden said he was hearing that Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was not going to be traded and that an extension may be looming. But during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, based on some new information, those assertions have been tempered....
Tim Benz: 4 questions to answer before you buy that Steelers J.J. Watt jersey
Now that three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt has been released by the Houston Texans, that news has opened the spigot for speculation that he may join the Steelers to play with his brothers, T.J. and Derek. While such a move would do wonders for social media...
Mark Madden Hot Take: Why would Ben Roethlisberger want to return to the Steelers?
Ben Roethlisberger has made $253.2 million in football earnings. So, take the $19 million he’s due if he plays in 2021 out of the equation. Roethlisberger doesn’t need the money. Maurkice Pouncey retired. He and Roethlisberger are tight. Vance McDonald retired. He and Roethlisberger are tight. Alejandro Villanueva will leave...
Steelers teammates past, present, NFL world react to Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement
Twenty-four members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Five more have been voted into the exclusive Canton, Ohio, club and are due for formal induction later this year. Aside from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, there arguably wasn’t an active Steelers player...
J.J. Watt released by Texans; brother T.J. appears to campaign to bring him to Steelers
The first domino fell in the sequence of events that could unite all three of the NFL’s famed Watt brothers on one NFL team. Plenty of hurdles remain, but T.J. Watt appeared to openly campaign for older brother J.J. to join him with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three-time NFL defensive player...
9-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey retiring from Steelers
Citing the “sacrifice” playing pro football carries on his life, nine-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Pouncey and his twin brother, Mike, made their joint announcement via Maurkice Pouncey’s longtime teammate and friend, Ramon Foster, on Foster’s verified Twitter page. Foster,...
First Call: Penguins may extend Evgeni Malkin; potential destinations for Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Friday’s “First Call” will quell concerns of those who were worried that Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin might get traded. Or, on the other hand, it might anger those who wanted to see him moved. Also, Tom Brady is scheduled for surgery. One outlet predicts that Antonio Brown is staying...
Friday Football Footnotes: Who was the ‘Most improved’ Steeler in 2020? Is Al Villanueva a ‘must keep’?
Pittsburgh Steelers fans, we haven’t done “Friday Football Footnotes” at “Breakfast With Benz” for a while, have we? Well, now is as good a time as any. There are lots of little Steelers nuggets to digest. Plus, I’ve spent way too much time shoveling the snow off my sidewalk and...
First Call: Jets and Raiders for JuJu?; TE draft prospect for Steelers; boozin’ Tom Brady; cussin’ Bruce Arians
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us a potential destination for JuJu Smith-Schuster. Two, actually. And some money projections as well. Also, a tight end draft projection for the Steelers. Remembering the departure of a Steelers legend. And Tom Brady may have been overserved at the Super Bowl party in Tampa. JuJu...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans defend Big Ben, City of Champions rep, rip Tom Brady
So let me get this straight, Pittsburgh sports fans. The Penguins just hired their boogeyman from the 1980s to be their new general manager. His new boss is a guy who openly jabbed the franchise on two different occasions. The power play is a mess. And Tristan Jarry is about...
Remembering Three Rivers Stadium: a Trib roundtable discussion
Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Three Rivers Stadium came crashing down? The stadium on the North Side (now in section called North Shore) was home to the Steelers and Pirates when they made Pittsburgh the City of Champions, the scene of the Immaculate Reception and Roberto Clemente’s...
First Call: Bruce Arians describes dismissal from Pittsburgh; Steelers linked to Bengals free agent
Wednesday’s “First Call” features an interesting free agency theory for the Steelers. Also, Bill Cowher’s goodbye to Marty Schottenheimer. And admission from Bruce Arians about his dismissal from the Steelers. And a new job for Antwaan Randle El. Plus, a former Pitt star earns a Super Bowl ring. And a...
Alan Faneca’s Hall of Fame-worthy account of his signature Steelers moment
As is the case with many Pro Football Hall of Famers, most of the Steelers in Canton, Ohio, delivered a “Hall of Fame moment.” That one iconic piece of video. That one unforgettable highlight which captures the player’s essence. Usually on a big stage like the playoffs or the Super...
Madden ‘Tuesday’: Why Penguins goalies are failing, Super Bowl fallout, Steelers ‘nuclear winter’
Our “Madden Monday” podcast had to wait a day because of Mark Madden’s trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Did Madden’s mini-vacation soften his recent harsh assessment of our three Pittsburgh sports teams, specifically the Steelers? “They are one year away from nuclear winter, which is where the...
First Call: Ex-Steeler says Big Ben must replicate Tom Brady; Kevin Colbert on Antonio Brown’s Super Bowl win
The NFL season may be over, but that doesn’t mean Steelers stories stop. In fact, as Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us, they may be coming in even more frequently now that a busy offseason is upon us. The first post-Super Bowl NFL gambling odds are out for 2021’s Super Bowl...
Tim Benz: Steelers can learn a lot from Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win … beyond just signing Tom Brady
What a world it is, Steelers fans. In our current reality, Tom Brady has been to four Super Bowls since Ben Roethlisberger has won his last playoff game. The Steelers have longer odds at the Super Bowl than the Cleveland Browns or Miami Dolphins. And their “retired” former offensive coordinator...
Penguins’ Mike Sullivan on Steelers’ Mike Sullivan: ‘There are a lot of Mike Sullivans in the world’
Mike Sullivan stands out for a number of reasons. For one, he’s the only active coach in the NHL who has led a team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, having accomplished that feat with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. And there’s his loud booming voice with a hint of...
