Tim Benz Columns category, Page 113
U mad, bro? Readers seething over Steelers’ elimination, Mike Tomlin, ‘Hard Knocks’ prospect
Whenever the Steelers get knocked out of the playoff race, you know things are going to get spicy. This week’s “U mad, bro?” lives up (or is it down?) to expectations with heat coming from all directions. No one is safe. Not Mike Tomlin. Not the organization. Not HBO. Not...
Tim Benz: Don’t inflate Steelers’ mediocre 8-8 finish
If you looked skyward in Pittsburgh around 2:45 p.m. Monday, you saw a gorgeous double rainbow over the city. I was heading to the North Side at the time, and I felt like I was driving right into it. Both arches appeared to end directly in Heinz Field’s parking lot....
First Call: Browns’ Baker Mayfield barks at fans; Bengals RB takes out ref; Blue Jackets’ John Tortorella epic rantVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” another epic postgame rant from John Tortorella. Another Saquon Barkley highlight. More comedy from the Bengals. And more yapping from Baker Mayfield. ‘Torts-ing’ it up one more time in 2019 Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella went on one of his classic postgame tirades after a...
Tim Benz: Let’s not be too accepting if Steelers miss playoffs
I saw way too much of this on Twitter during the Steelers’ loss to the New York Jets Sunday. Well it all comes down to next weekend. If the Steelers don’t find any semblance of an offense, why would you want them in the playoffs? The best we could hope...
With Bill Hillgrove out, AT&T SportsNet’s Rob King prepares to step in to Steelers broadcast
Longtime Steelers radio play-by-play voice Bill Hillgrove will not call the last two games of the regular season. He is having back surgery. It’s unclear if he will be able to call playoff games if the Steelers make it that far. So Rob King of AT&T SportsNet will be filling...
Tim Benz: Steelers are stuck with ‘Duck’ for now. Starting him Sunday is right call.Video
I started drinking coffee when I was 13. I’ll say it before you do. Yes, that’s what stunted my growth. It was usually instant coffee. I stole it from my father every morning. He always seemed to have Folgers Instant Crystals or Taster’s Choice in the pantry. Gross. The grounds...
Tim Benz: Pirates need to let manager Derek Shelton truly be in charge
A frequent criticism of the Pittsburgh Pirates in recent years has been that the franchise employed one of the most expensive managers in Major League Baseball but had one of the lowest payrolls. In August 2018, USA Today published a deep dive into why managerial contracts were dipping. Clint Hurdle’s...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Bills do it differently on defense, but see same stellar results
When I look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Buffalo Bills, I keep seeing the numbers “10” and “9” flashing in my head. As in the final score. I just wish I had a clearer picture of which team’s logo was next to the bigger number. Then I pause...
Tim Benz: Young Jedi Tristan Jarry should rebound after Penguins’ ‘Star Wars’ night loss
AT&T SportsNet’s Penguins reporter Dan Potash got into the mood for “Star Wars” night at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday. The Force is with me...how about you?? Puck drop is seconds away! -DP #StarWarsThemeNight @penguins @NHLNetwork pic.twitter.com/QaAPxD9Yqk— AT&T SportsNet™ PIT (@ATTSportsNetPIT) December 11, 2019 Unfortunately for the Pens, the Montreal Canadiens...
Tim Benz: Duck, Diontae, defense lead Steelers’ feats of strength in win over CardinalsVideo
It all makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? An undrafted rookie quarterback from Samford beating back-to-back No. 1 overall picks. Well, that’s what it has come down to for Devlin “Duck” Hodges. The Steelers fourth-string quarterback has managed to beat both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray in back-to-back weeks. And he...
U mad, bro? Readers sound off on Steelers QBs, NFL refs; Browns fans can’t let it go
I know why you are mad. You are mad because I skipped “U mad, bro?” on Thursday when I took a personal day. That’s fair. You should be. You need it. You love it. You missed it. Let me fix this and make you whole again. Here’s a special Friday...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin needs to believe in own praise for ‘Duck’ HodgesVideo
Mike Tomlin is in on his own joke. So, let’s let him have fun with it. To a point. The theme expressed by the Steelers head coach going into his team’s game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday was that he simply didn’t want new starting quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges to...
Tim Benz: Feats of strength as Steelers finish it against the BrownsVideo
Despite what they’ve been saying in Cleveland since Myles Garrett attacked Mason Rudolph with his own helmet, Pittsburgh didn’t “start it.” Pittsburgh Started It Shirt pic.twitter.com/UWrwOK6wXR— Sinbadtee (@Sinbadtees) November 23, 2019 But on Sunday at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh finished it anyway. (And they made T-shirts.) Don't look now Browns...
Tim Benz: It’s time for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to support Devlin HodgesVideo
This isn’t a change Mike Tomlin wants to make. He has to make it. On Tuesday, the Steelers head coach couldn’t have made that sentiment more clear if he tried. Come to think of it, he basically did. In describing why he made the decision to replace struggling quarterback Mason...
First Call: Baker Mayfield’s skills, ruffled Raven, Casey DeSmith highlightsVideo
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at what Baker Mayfield is doing right lately for the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens and Rams weren’t happy with each other after their Monday night game. And Casey DeSmith sparkles in the AHL. Keep an eye on it Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield got...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances after all-too-difficult Steelers win over BengalsVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers won a divisional road game with their third-string quarterback to move back into a playoff position. So what’s to complain about, right? Well, when the result was a scattered 16-10 nail-biter in the shadow of the Cincinnati Bengals 0-11 “Escaloser” at Paul Brown Stadium, I hope you’ll...
Tim Benz: Feats of strength after excruciating Steelers win over BengalsVideo
You know how it’s going to go this week. All “Duck vs. Mason.” All the time. Not that Devlin Hodges doesn’t deserve credit for sparking the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-10 comeback win. He does. But aside from one pass, Hodges was only 4-for-10 for 39 yards. And he threw a really...
Tim Benz: Browns’ Myles Garrett should be suspended for what he did off the field, too
Not only should you dismiss Myles Garrett’s claim that Mason Rudolph uttered a racial slur. You also should dismiss Garrett’s defense of making it. At his hearing to reduce his suspension for ripping off Rudolph’s helmet and swinging it during Week 11 of the NFL season, Garrett apparently made the...
First Call: Patriots reportedly consider Antonio Brown reunion; mockery of Myles Garrett
In Friday’s “First Call,” are the Patriots really thinking about trying to get Antonio Brown back on their roster? Myles Garrett’s celebrity twin. The Bengals have many problems. We focus on one in particular. And former Pitt basketball star Steven Adams brings the funny in a new commercial. `Kicking the...
Another Penguins-Islanders battle: More scoring, lots of stress
Penguins fans, sick of the New York Islanders yet? I already was after the playoffs last spring. And I sure as heck am now! On Thursday night, we will witness the third game in 14 days between these two clubs. The Penguins won Game 1 of the season series 4-3...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin’s comments on Myles Garrett triggers rage from Browns fans
During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the following comments about Myles Garrett swinging his helmet at Mason Rudolph in last Thursday’s game. He was asked if it was at all a “teachable moment” for his players. “I don’t know that we did anything to...
Tim Benz: Breaking down Pirates GM Ben Cherington’s ties to Neal HuntingtonVideo
It could just be one of those “funny how things work out” stories. Or, it could make more sense than that. “He was someone who helped me get an interview for an internship with the Cleveland Indians in 1998,” new Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said of his predecessor Neal...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey shouldn’t be suspended for defending Mason Rudolph in Myles Garrett melee
Anyone outside of Pittsburgh will disagree with this stance, but who cares? The NFL should not suspend Maurkice Pouncey for his role in that Steelers-Browns brawl Thursday night. The Steelers center started punching and kicking Myles Garrett after Garrett swung a helmet and struck Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during the...
Tim Benz: Airing of grievances from Steelers’ loss to Browns … before the brawl
A lot of preconceived notions Pittsburghers had about the Cleveland Browns were confirmed Thursday night during their 21-7 win over the Steelers. Like for instance, Myles Garrett is a hot-headed jerk. Myles Garrett doing the unthinkable and unimaginable. pic.twitter.com/Y0UXzrCskn— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 15, 2019 The prosecution rests. As a...
Tim Benz’s airing of grievances: What Steelers must fix vs. Browns
Fittingly, Bob Dylan was just in town performing in Moon Township on Sunday. Because, “times they are a-changin’”! The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from 1-4 to 5-4. So things are looking up. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, though. And a lot of it must happen fast. Because...
