Tim Benz Columns category, Page 119
Tim Benz: NFL playoff expansion actually makes some sense
In a perfect world, the National Football League would trim its preseason by at least two games, keep its regular season at 16 games and leave the playoff bracket alone. But it’s far from a perfect world, even in the NFL. The collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season....
Tim Benz: Attacks on Pirates’ Steve Blass are shameful, unwarranted
I’m not going to defend Steve Blass. Mainly because the Pirates broadcaster’s six-decade-long reputation in baseball should stand on its own. It’s a reputation of being an ambassador of the game, rooted in his ability to be well-liked and respected by those of many different races and nationalities. For 36...
Tim Benz: NFL preseason long overdue for change. Some Steelers agree.
I’ve long been an advocate of ditching the NFL’s preseason. Or at least cutting it back to two games. The risk associated with core roster players participating is massive, even if their reps are limited. By extension, their snaps are usually so few that the reward of playing a couple...
Tim Benz: Bryan Reynolds’ tools are fixing 2 Pirates trades at once
The defense of the Chris Archer trade always has been, and always will be, its intent. It was a rare moment the Pirates went for it. A rare instance when they sacrificed prospects to get an established veteran, with a willingness to absorb salary in the process. Criticism of that...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Ola Adeniyi adding to pass-rush repertoire
The size. The number. The sacks. The bio. The similarities were too obvious to ignore. Steelers rookie Ola Adeniyi spent last preseason flashing as a 6-foot-1, 248-pound undrafted MAC outside linebacker, wearing No. 92. Adeniyi frequently popped during training camp and had three sacks and two forced fumbles in four...
Ex-Steeler Steve McLendon, now a Jets teammate, implores Le’Veon Bell to show up
In Pittsburgh, we’re used to stories about Le’Veon Bell being absent from practices. In New York, that’s not going over big with one of his new teammates. And it’s a guy who used to be one of his former teammates. Former Steeler and current Jets defensive lineman Steve McLendon said...
U mad, bro? Readers pop off about showboating, Phil Kessel trade, Antonio Brown’s grass
“U mad, bro?” this week features Pirates fans in a snit over Derek Dietrich of the Reds, the Pirates’ failure to support Josh Bell and our coverage of Antonio Brown. Well, our coverage of Brown’s lawn care, anyway. On Twitter, “Corby Corb 12” chimes in with an opinion on Derek...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ Kevin Newman making big strides in Year 2
Across the parking lot from PNC Park, after a preseason game in August, you’ll probably hear Steelers coach Mike Tomlin say something about James Washington, Jaylen Samuels or Chuks Okorafor “being on the rise from Year 1 to Year 2” of their NFL careers. Tomlin is big on that one....
Tim Benz: Mike Munchak’s offseason departure among hardest for Steelers
Much of the discussion at Steelers organized team activities this week has been about the guys who are gone. Namely Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. But a third Steeler of importance has departed and probably hasn’t been talked about enough. That’s offensive line coach Mike Munchak. He left Mike Tomlin’s...
Tim Benz: If Pirates, Reds weren’t so lame, they could have a decent rivalry
Given all the attention on how the Pirates may retaliate against Derek Dietrich preening after his three home runs Tuesday, tempers were a little hot Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati. The Pirates beat the Reds, 7-2. But it wasn’t without incident. Pirates pitcher Clay Holmes, not exactly renowned for his control...
Tim Benz: Broadcasters shred Derek Dietrich as he shreds Pirates
It appears the “grandpa shaming” of Derek Dietrich has backfired. As we documented following Cincinnati’s Tuesday night victory over the Pirates, Dietrich decided to strike a pose after homering against the Pirates. Again. That got former Pirate and current team broadcaster John Wehner talking. He was on 93.7 The Fan...
Tim Benz: Phil Kessel to Wild would’ve been wrong move for Penguins
If there was a trade in place between the Penguins and Wild involving Phil Kessel, it appears to be off now. And it appears it’s off because Kessel doesn’t want to go to Minnesota. The Wild aren’t on his eight-team approved list for trades. And, according to Sportsnet, Kessel doesn’t...
Tim Benz: NFL simplifies replay, poised to complicate Hail Marys
I’ll give this to the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary: They sure are a diplomatic bunch. I approached many of the defensive backs who were at organized team activities Thursday, looking for some reaction to the tweak of the new NFL pass-interference rules. In case you missed the news Wednesday, the league...
Tim Benz: Quieter Steelers on social media? So far, no good
An early question has been raised about the 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers. Did the team purge itself of players who do distracting, corrosive, nitwit-like things such as Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Martavis Bryant and James Harrison? Or did they just pave the way for younger, louder, less-accomplished nitwits to emerge? Unfortunately,...
Tim Benz: New Steelers already pressed for jobs they were just hired for
Welcome to town. Now go fight for the job opening you just thought you were hired to fill. That is the message being sent by the Steelers to each of their three significant free-agent signees this offseason. Inside linebacker Mark Barron, formerly of the Rams, inked a two-year, $12 million...
Tim Benz: If anyone is two-faced, it’s Antonio Brown, not Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger admitted to KDKA-TV that his comments about Antonio Brown after last season’s loss in Denver went too far. He apologized for that during a sit down with Bob Pompeani that aired Monday. That wasn’t good enough for Mr. Big Chest. As Roethlisberger himself pointed out, sometimes when it...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ offensive line might not be as impressive as you think
You probably liked the numbers ESPN.com’s Brian Burke gave us about the Steelers pass-rush Thursday. So you are inclined to believe them. You may not like what he has to say about the Steelers’ offensive line, so these stats you’ll probably want to dismiss. That’s usually how it works when...
Le’Veon Bell responds to reports that his signing ruined Jets front office
Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is responding to criticism that his signing is part of the reason the Jets blew up their front office Wednesday. Sort of. The Jets fired general manager Mike Maccagnan and vice president of player personnel Brian Heimerdinger on Wednesday. Head coach Adam Gase will...
Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s signing may have helped cause Jets firings
Le’Veon Bell is already causing problems for the New York Jets. And he hasn’t even practiced with the team yet! This time, it’s not Bell’s fault, really. You can’t blame “Juice” for a drug violation, a tardy appearance at a walk-through, a rap diss or a social media faux pas....
Tim Benz: Understanding what ‘Benny Snell Football’ should be for Steelers
In a three-minute interview posted on Steelers.com, Steelers rookie running back Benny Snell refers to himself in the third person three times. OK. Just so long as Benny Snell realizes that Benny Snell is still third string. For now. “Benny Snell football could be second (down) and 3 (yards to...
Tim Benz: The biggest reason for lagging MLB fan interest
By now, you have probably read some of the alarm-bell columns discussing Major League Baseball’s attendance issues. As USA Today reports, MLB saw an attendance drop in March-April 2019, on the heels of a 4% season-long decline in attendance in 2018. That was the largest dip in a decade. Furthermore,...
Tim Benz: Pirates can’t afford injury bug within starting staff
In his usual Sunday media scrum with reporters, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington rattled through the litany of injuries that have beset his club. “We haven’t had an at-bat from our regular left fielder (Corey Dickerson),” Huntington said to begin his mental checklist. “Our regular right fielder (Gregory Polanco)...
Tim Benz: Penguins fans must prepare for real change … eventually
This is always a frustrating time of year to write about the Pittsburgh Penguins. Well, at least in non-Stanley Cup winning seasons anyway. The cycle is drudgery, and it is familiar. The Penguins lose a series. The fans, media, locker room, and management call for change. Rumors emerge about potential...
Tim Benz: So much for prioritizing Artie Burns’ confidence, or his option
Remember how we started yesterday’s “First Call” with Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert telling the world the team was hoping that struggling cornerback Artie Burns could regain his confidence? Yeah, forget that. Unless the organization thinks that refusing to pick up Burns’ fifth-year option is the best route to restoring...
Tim Benz: Time for Evgeni Malkin to follow his own advice
On locker cleanout day following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ sweep at the hands of New York Islanders, Kris Letang was indignant at suggestions that he may need to change his game. You know, be more structured and patient. Take fewer chances. Play more conservative. The response was not one of agreement....
