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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
First Call: Aaron Rodgers biographer on QB’s waiting game; free-agent DL wants to join Steelers 
Monday’s “First Call” features a weekend recap of some Steelers notes, including an interesting take on Aaron Rodgers. A veteran defensive lineman wants to join the Steelers. We add some Pitt recruiting news, and we look at Terry Francona’s return to Pittsburgh with the Cincinnati Reds. Rodgers revelations In August...
Madden Monday on Paul Skenes: ‘If I were him, I’d ask out. I’d want a trade right now’
The Pirates’ 1-0 loss in Philadelphia (28-18) on Sunday was their third in a row and 13th in 16 tries this month. The Bucs (15-32) have already been shut out a major-league-leading eight times this season. They were swept by the Phillies, lost five of six games on their road...
Tim Benz: Hall of Famer Mark Recchi endorses Penguins’ approach to coaching search
In his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman outlined his latest information on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ coaching search. The first name he mentioned was Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love. “I think he’s high on their list,” Friedman said (at 1:33:40 of this link). “Other names I’ve kind of...
First Call: Kenny Pickett is the ‘front-runner’ in Cleveland; ex-Steeler DL checks out Cincinnati
It appears that ex-Pittsburgh Steeler Kenny Pickett is in “pole position” up in Cleveland. Another former Steeler may be in line for a job in Cincinnati. The Saints are not part of Aaron Rodgers’ equation. We have Pitt basketball recruiting news and the U.S. Open odds. All that in “First...
1 and done: Mitch Keller the latest starter to be victimized by Pirates’ collective shortcomings
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller gave up just one earned run in six innings against the surging Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. Obviously, that was one earned run too much for these fragile Pirates to handle. Because the typically putrid Pirates’ offense scored just one run. Because the Pirates’...
While managing Reds, New Brighton’s Terry Francona admits ‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care’ about Pirates’ results
According to Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona, Gene Lamont graduated from a very specialized field of study. “He has a degree in baseball,” Francona said Monday before his Reds played the Pirates in the first of their three-game series at PNC Park. The 78-year-old Lamont is continuing his post-grad work...
First Call: Art Rooney II’s lone schedule complaint; NFL scheduling exec denies knowledge about Aaron Rodgers 
Thursday’s “First Call” has a complaint about the Steelers’ schedule from owner Art Rooney II. The NFL wants to add some clarity to the Aaron Rodgers angle. I’ve got an interesting quirk to the schedule that may impact your predictions. We also examine the struggles of Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds....
Neil Walker on becoming Don Kelly’s bench coach with Pirates: ‘Not right now’
There has been some speculation that new Pirates manager Don Kelly may ask his brother-in-law, former Pirate Neil Walker, to be his bench coach. Walker joined me on the “Breakfast with Benz” podcast Wednesday. He acknowledges that the topic has been discussed, but it’s unlikely to happen. “If my brother-in-law...
Tim Benz: As consistently bad as Pirates’ hitters have been, Tuesday night’s failure was surreal
The Pirates’ season-long offensive ineptitude hit a new low in New York during a 2-1 loss to the Mets on Tuesday night. It was the 19th straight game in which the Pirates failed to score more than four runs. That’s a franchise record. Tuesday’s flop may have been the most...
First Call: Steelers’ offense called most ‘depressing’ in NFL; Ben Roethlisberger on George Pickens trade
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Ben Roethlisberger’s reaction to the Steelers trading George Pickens. A former NFL QB says the Steelers’ offense is at the bottom of the NFL barrel. We monitor some potential free agent wide receiver movement. The Duquesne basketball team offers a scholarship to an interesting prospect, and...
For Paul Skenes, latest start consistent with pros and cons of 2025
For Paul Skenes, his latest outing on Monday was emblematic of his overall season. In a 4-3 Pirates loss to the New York Mets, expected dominance wasn’t to be found in a no-decision. Yet, a pretty good line score at the end of the night emerged. Skenes went six innings...
Tim Benz: Can’t hold Steelers fans to a higher standard of QB logic than what the franchise has shown
If the Steelers aren’t going to use logic while building their quarterback depth chart, I suppose I shouldn’t be critical of the team’s fans for how they are responding to the instability at the position. That said, man, this Will Howard phenomenon sure is something, isn’t it? Howard was drafted...
First Call: Former Steelers WR thinks George Pickens is better than DK Metcalf; ex-Steeler DB joins Browns
Tuesday’s “First Call” has a less-than-glowing prediction about how things will go at the Steelers’ wide receiver position from a player who knows that spot well. A former Steeler has latched on with the Cleveland Browns. We track the movements of a potential free-agent target for the Steelers, and we...
First Call: Steelers reportedly make signings on offense; Pirates face top dogs in the NL East 
In Monday’s “First Call,” the Steelers have reportedly made two signings on offense. The Pirates are getting ready for some tough competition on their first road trip under Don Kelly as manager. And the Pacers are on the verge of an upset in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs with some...
Madden Monday on the Steelers: ‘If you don’t care that you’re clueless, you keep on being clueless’
The epitaph on George Pickens’ career in Pittsburgh can’t truly be written until we see how things work out for him in Dallas. And wherever else he may go after that. But in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X says that shipping Pickens...
Tim Benz: Steelers must avoid familiar path at wide receiver
I’m 100% on board with the Steelers’ decision to trade George Pickens, even if they didn’t get the return I was hoping for from the Dallas Cowboys. “We discussed (with his agent) where things have been with George. Where they are, and where things could go with George. And this...
Tim Benz: Pirates made a needed change in firing Shelton, but they didn’t go far enough
Trading Josh Bell on Christmas Eve 2020 was one heckuva news dump by the Pittsburgh Pirates. That was an all-time favorite of mine. But releasing news of a managerial change about 25 minutes after white smoke emerged from the Vatican to announce the election of a new pope is next-level...
Tim Benz: Oakmont, USGA officials prepare U.S. Open ‘stage,’ then hope golfers write a winning script
It’s no secret that things have been tough around the Pittsburgh sports scene recently. The Penguins are bad. The Pirates are worse. And the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the week of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The first one. As a result, if you are feeling like people...
U mad, bro?: Some Steelers fans are mad George Pickens was traded, others wanted to see better return
I’m glad the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday. He was toxic, pouty, overrated and likely asking for too much money. My only complaint is that the Steelers should’ve dealt him before the draft in order to give themselves a chance to have a better No....
Tim Benz: Trading George Pickens is the right move, but it would’ve been a much better move before draft
You can’t fault the Pittsburgh Steelers for trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. You can fault them for the process, though. At least so far. Maybe the Steelers aren’t done. Maybe a move to backfill for Pickens is coming. Then again, we said that from March through November of...
Tim Benz: Our all-Steelers setlist requests for AC/DC at Acrisure Stadium Thursday night
The last time AC/DC played in Pittsburgh was at Mellon Arena on Jan. 7, 2009. The Steelers were about to cap off the 2008 campaign with a trip to Super Bowl XLIII. The Penguins were embarking on a run to the Stanley Cup. Now, they are coming back to Pittsburgh...
First Call: Ex-Steeler says it ‘sounds like they’re tanking’; George Pickens trade produces wild Steelers stat
Thursday’s “First Call” has lots of reaction to the news surrounding the Steelers trade of George Pickens to Dallas. That move resulted in the Steelers stumbling into a wild statistical anomaly. A former Steeler is getting an honor from his alma mater. And former Pitt great Aaron Donald is getting...
Details on Mike Sullivan’s contract in New York; more speculation about Nathan MacKinnon trying to recruit Sidney Crosby
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is adding detail to the speculation over how much former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is being paid by the New York Rangers. In his latest “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman contextualizes previous reports that Sullivan is signing the largest head coaching contract in NHL history. “It’s a...
First Call: More details on Devin Bush’s arrest; 1 name removed as possible Penguins coach
You can cross a name off the list of potential candidates to replace Mike Sullivan as Pittsburgh Penguins head coach. We are getting details about the arrest of former Steeler Devin Bush in Bell Acres. The Steelers have released jersey numbers for the rookie class. And Duquesne’s basketball team has...
Tim Benz: A ‘thank you’ note to sports moments outside of Pittsburgh for filling the void
I turned on the computer to write Tuesday’s posts, and I had nuthin.’ I looked at a blank document, and it looked right back at me and shrugged. “I can’t help you, pal. Just start pounding keys and see what comes ‘aht,” it said. Well, at least that’s what I...


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