Tim Benz Columns category, Page 102
Tim Benz, Matt Williamson’s NFL Draft preview: Steelers’ plan at QB; running back they can’t ignore in Round 1
In advance of the NFL Draft (April 29-May 1), “Breakfast With Benz” is spending this week publishing daily Steelers draft-related previews. We are breaking down the franchise’s needs into five different sections. Monday: Quarterbacks and running backs Tuesday: Receivers and tight ends Wednesday: Offensive line Thursday: Defensive front seven Friday:...
Tim Benz: Returning Steelers should help team’s decision-making during NFL Draft
I can only imagine the emotional swirl within the wave of Steelers players who recently rejoined the team just a matter of weeks after being turned loose. I don’t have to imagine the emotions of the fan base, however. I see them on display constantly on social media and in...
First Call: Could Steelers draft the NFL Rookie of the Year? Strange night in NHL’s East Division
Friday’s “First Call” gives us a medical update on a potential Steelers first-round pick. Odds are out on who might be the NFL Rookie of the Year. We saw a strange night in the NHL’s East Division. And we look at the Pirates weekend tilt in Milwaukee. Weird night The...
Tim Benz: Can the Penguins win the East Division? And how much would that matter?
As the Pittsburgh Penguins enjoy some rare downtime during this grueling covid-19 compressed schedule, let’s take a moment to ponder two looming questions. • Can the Penguins finish first in the NHL’s East Division? • Does it matter at all if they do? I’ll say “yes” to the first question...
Tim Benz: Let’s meet in the middle on this Penguins trade for Jeff Carter
Over the last 30 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins have cobbled together a long history of in-season “swing from the heels” trades. Some with markedly better results than others. Pre-deadline acquisitions of Larry Murphy, Peter Taglianetti, Scott Young, Ulf Samuelsson, Grant Jennings and Ron Francis in 1991. Kjell Samuelsson and Ken...
Madden Monday: Will Jeff Carter be another Patrick Marleau? And what does the trade says about Evgeni Malkin’s injury?
The Pittsburgh Penguins are acquiring veteran forward Jeff Carter from the Los Angeles Kings ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. As our Seth Rorabaugh reports, the deal is in exchange for conditional draft picks and partial retention of Carter’s salary-cap hit. Which is sizable. The 36-year-old is still owed a prorated...
Tim Benz: Kevin McClatchy, former players reflect on PNC Park on the 20th anniversary of its debut
It had been a long time since something went right for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In fact, pretty much everything since the end of the eighth inning in Atlanta on Oct. 14, 1992 had been downhill. They lost their last shot at making the World Series. Their MVP went to San...
Tim Benz: As schedule eases, Penguins can’t afford a slump with points on the table
The Pittsburgh Penguins have nothing to worry about. This is just a little slump with about one-third of the season left. They’ve been playing so well, for so long now, that they are bound to pull out of it. I mean, good teams like this don’t fall in the tank...
U mad, bro?: Steelers, Pirates fans can’t decide if they are madder at teams or media for criticizing them
Steelers fans are mad at the team. Pirates fans are mad at the team. Steelers fans are mad at me for being mad at the team. Pirates fans are mad at me for being mad at the team. And everybody is mad at Skip Bayless. So, you know, a fairly...
Tim Benz: Steelers aren’t becoming Pirates (yet). But there was one familiar theme this offseason.
I watched the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season-opening series at Wrigley Field over the weekend, and it got me thinking about the Steelers. Yikes. If that’s not an alarming open to any column about the local football team I don’t know what else could be. Now before all of you “Defend the...
Tim Benz: In a strange way, a near defeat may actually heighten Gonzaga’s legacy
That Gonzaga-UCLA Final Four game Saturday was the sporting event this country needed. I mean, when was the last time everybody in America on Twitter agreed that something was good? Well, aside from FS1’s Skip Bayless. Generally speaking, though, if he doesn’t like something that’s all the more proof of...
Tim Benz: The harder you look to disqualify Gonzaga as an all-time great, the more you see it belongs
For as many upsets as there were through the first two rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, a lot of chalk made its way into the Final Four. Two top seeds (Gonzaga and Baylor) and a No. 2 seed (Houston) make up three of the Final Four teams, with...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans snarl about Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt hoops, the Pirates and our coverage of it allVideo
This is stunning. I went a whole week with no negative feedback from Steelers or Penguins fans. Nary a complaint from a reader about the Pirates. Not one angry tweet about Pitt. Not a single Facebook post lashing back at one of my columns. It was amazing. Ha! Gotcha! Happy...
Tim Benz: Holes created in free agency leave plenty of options for Steelers in NFL draft
After considering all those holes on the Steelers roster this offseason, one thing struck me about the upcoming NFL draft. Can the Steelers really go wrong addressing any position at any point in next month’s selection process? Because I’m not sure that they can. OK. They decided to retain Jordan...
Tim Benz: Robert Spillane, Cameron Sutton absorbing different tasks as they move up Steelers’ depth chart
On their first day speaking as presumptive opening day starters for the Steelers, linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Cameron Sutton both showed a common trait that appealed to the franchise. They’re both smart. Football smart, sure. But also smart enough to get … it. Smart enough to know their new...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ offseason turning Pittsburgh into ‘Spin City’
The Steelers’ spin cycle is moving so fast this offseason that I get dizzy every time I turn on my computer. No matter the situation, someone is there to spit-shine the prospects for the 2021 campaign, whether it’s the fans, media or team itself. A few examples popped up recently....
‘Dad’s play’: Beyond Big Ben and Santonio Holmes, meet the man who helped make this play part of Steelers Super Bowl lore
I can always tell when the NFL Network is replaying the Steelers’ Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals. My text messages start to ding. I get a random bump in Twitter interactions. “Is that you right behind Santonio Holmes in the end zone during the game-winning catch?!” Yup....
First Call: Penn State prospects have Steelers’ attention; Rangers throttle Flyers again
Friday’s “First Call” shows us NFL Draft prospects from Penn State who have the interest of Steelers brass. Nittany Lions star Micah Parsons impresses at his pro day but has one question hanging over his head. And the Philadelphia Flyers continue to give up goals at a comical rate. I’m...
U mad, bro?: Salty Steelers fans. Mad Mike Tomlin critics. Jacked-up JuJu defenders. Chase Claypool’s angry fan club.
This week’s “U mad, bro?” features some salty Steelers fans. Chase Claypool’s fan club is ready to “fight back.” Mad Mike Tomlin critics. And jacked up JuJu Smith-Schuster defenders. In other words, March is going out like a lion. Speaking of the Lions, who thinks they may have a better...
Tim Benz: Holes on Steelers roster only outnumbered by questions about how to patch them
The latest Steelers free-agent departure is reserve outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi. Like fellow pass rusher Bud Dupree, he went to the Tennessee Titans. Of all the offseason defections thus far, Adeniyi’s pinch will probably be felt the least. He only participated in 14% of the defensive snaps. His 63% of...
Tim Benz: Hope the Steelers enjoyed cornerback depth while it lasted
Remember when the Steelers had cornerback depth? I know, it was a long time ago. Like, December. How ‘bout before then? Go ahead and test your memories. I’ll wait. The Steelers entered 2020 with a starting cornerback tandem that was caked with accolades. Last season wasn’t as good as 2019....
First Call: 17th NFL game progressing. Who will Steelers play?; JuJu Smith-Schuster waits as other receivers sign
Friday’s “First Call” looks at JuJu Smith-Schuster twisting in the free-agent breeze. More details about a likely Week 17 game. And a former Steelers fan (not-so) favorite gets a nice, new contract. Also, we glance at a wild NHL game out west and the odds of some hardware for Marc-Andre...
Brian Burke on Evgeni Malkin’s ‘surge,’ Brandon Tanev’s penalty and tremendous tales of St. Patrick’s Day
New Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke was working on St. Patrick’s Day, something the Irishman hates to do. “My whole career I refused to work on St. Patrick’s Day,” Burke told Josh Getzoff of 105.9 The X on Wednesday. “I usually go to Mass in the morning. Then...
Tim Benz: Want ‘March Madness’? Forget basketball. Track Steelers fans during free agency.
From now on, when I hear the phrase “March Madness,” I will no longer think about college basketball. I’ll think about tracking Steelers news on Twitter during the NFL free-agency “legal tampering” period. Because after what I saw this week, many Steelers fans have actually gone mad. Or somebody “legally...
Tim Benz: Andy Toole looks at this year’s brackets, reflects on RMU’s unfulfilled 2020 NCAA Tournament bid
It was a year ago, but you can tell the wounds are still open for Robert Morris head basketball coach Andy Toole. Like anyone in the college hoops game, Toole is thrilled that the NCAA college basketball tournament is actually getting played this year. But that doesn’t bring back the...
