Tim Benz Columns category, Page 93
Tim Benz: Penguins-Hurricanes regular season battles did little to reveal clues for a potential playoff showdown
Often after Penguins games, head coach Mike Sullivan seems to draw a pretty thick line between the process and the result. The Penguins may win a game but not necessarily play well en route to victory. Under those circumstances, Sullivan has a hard time hiding his agitation. After other games,...
Tim Benz: Should we buy Brian Burke’s hard sell about the idea of a quiet trade deadline for the Penguins?
Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke is doing a really hard sell on not buying at the trade deadline. So much, in fact, that every time he addresses the topic, I now find myself more convinced that the Pens are going 180 degrees the other way toward being the...
Tim Benz: Tying Deshaun Watson to Steelers feels like QB’s camp trying to speak a hope into existence
Former NFL quarterback Shaun King explained his tweet from Wednesday that suggested if Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson receives a favorable outcome in his legal battle Friday, he’d likely be heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hearing if things go well friday Deshaun Watson to the steelers is happening soon after......
First Call: 6 teams high on Steelers’ receiver; Giants like Mitch Trubisky; Brian Burke challenges Kasperi Kapanen
Thursday’s “First Call” sees heavy interest in a quarterback the Pittsburgh Steelers might want to sign and a wide receiver they may want to keep. Brian Burke refuses to mince words about a struggling Penguins forward. The Washington Capitals lose, but still gain ground on the Penguins. And a blossoming...
Tim Benz: Accelerated development of Mounir Hima a bright spot for Duquesne in 2022
Duquesne center Mounir Hima didn’t play any basketball as a child. Growing up in Tillaberi, Niger, soccer was his sport. “Me playing basketball is a destiny. I never thought about basketball,” Hima said Monday. “Basketball where I came from wasn’t a priority sport. You don’t even have a lot of...
Mitch Trubisky discusses prospect of playing with Steelers: ‘I think of a legendary franchise’
Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers are “out” on Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers (if they were ever “in” to begin with), it’s time for Pittsburgh to recalibrate expectations on what will happen with the franchise’s quarterback position in 2022. The fanbase can start working itself into a lather over Malik...
Tim Benz: Let’s stop the blame shifting when it comes to Calvin Ridley’s gambling suspension
Long ago, the National Football League surpassed Major League Baseball as America’s favorite pastime. In part that’s true because another favorite American pastime is gambling on America’s favorite pastime. Unfortunately, if you are a player in the NFL, you aren’t allowed to gamble on the NFL. That’s what Atlanta Falcons...
Tim Benz: I’m skeptical of the Aaron Rodgers story, too. But the Steelers should be doing what was reported
If this weekend’s ProFootballTalk report about Aaron Rodgers is true, then the Steelers are exactly where they should be in the process. Granted, that is a massive “if,” but let’s start at that point. PFT ran a story over the weekend, citing anonymous sources that “Rodgers has specific deals lined...
Tim Benz: Feeling nostalgic about college basketball after a rough year for the sport in Western Pa.
Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing in sports. Just look at the way Pittsburgh recently basked in the memories of Ben Roethlisberger’s career as he faded into retirement in January. We are also just getting back from our extended trip in the “way back machine” to relive Sidney Crosby’s journey...
McConnell brothers show pride as sister Megan carries on family tradition at Duquesne
In advance of his team’s Atlantic 10 tournament opener against St. Joseph’s on Thursday (5 p.m.), Duquesne women’s coach Dan Burt was discussing second-year guard Megan McConnell. For Burt, the description is easy. “Simply, she’s a McConnell,” Burt said. For those that follow basketball in the Pittsburgh area, that succinct...
Tim Benz: As Penguins face Tampa Bay, plenty of reasons why the Lightning are in legit position for a ‘3-peat’
A brutal stretch of games for the Pittsburgh Penguins resumes Thursday night in Tampa Bay. The Pens face the Lightning at 7 p.m., looking to win a third straight outing. Meanwhile, the Lightning have won five in a row. They are one of seven consecutive opponents for coach Mike Sullivan’s...
Tim Benz: Kevin Colbert’s comments on Najee Harris unexpected, but not unfounded
When it comes to Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert, I don’t think he goes out of his way to lie to the media during his rare meetings with us. But I do think he avoids giving direct answers to the best of his ability. It’s as if he has...
Tim Benz: Denouncing Vladimir Putin isn’t as easy to do for all Russian hockey players as some Americans assume
There is a wave of commentary denouncing some Russian NHL players for failing to take a strong public stance against Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine. I get it. Columnists, talk show hosts and panel members all over our country have taken the time to blast several players for failing to...
Tim Benz: Biggest change necessary for NFL overtime? Stop pretending it can make everybody happy
I don’t really care if the NFL’s Competition Committee decides that changes are necessary for overtime rules. I just want a rule in place that precludes everybody from complaining about them. Because it seems like every season we wind up whining over whatever overtime rules are currently in place as...
Madden Monday: Despite recent wins, Mark Madden says ‘stale’ Penguins ‘need a big trade at the deadline’
On Saturday afternoon, it was a 1-0 win for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the New York Rangers, thanks to an Evgeni Malkin power play goal. HE WILL BE FIRE Evgeni Malkin extends his point streak to five games with this power-play tally (3G-3A). Of Geno's eight goals this season, five...
Penguins have plenty to fix before season’s 1st matchup with Rangers
It’s not often that the Pittsburgh Penguins have to wait until late February to play their Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers. Now that they get to do so, though, they may want to wait a little longer. After a rotten 6-1 loss to the last-place New Jersey Devils on...
Suggestions for an all-Pirates set list when Metallica plays at PNC Park in August
We found out Thursday that Metallica is going to headline a concert at PNC Park on Aug. 14. The heavy metal band pumped out its first album in 1983 and has built up quite a library. So I thought I might help out by suggesting a Pirates-specific set list for...
Tim Benz: Plenty for Steelers to learn from outside candidates in general manager search
When Kevin Colbert leaves his post as Steelers general manager after this spring’s NFL Draft, he’ll leave behind a 22-year legacy of constructing teams that went to three Super Bowls, won two Vince Lombardi trophies and qualified for the playoffs 14 times. He’ll also leave behind a legacy of essentially...
Tim Benz: Of all the things Kevin Colbert discussed Monday, Stephon Tuitt’s status may be the most pressing
Outgoing Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert held his annual offseason get-together with selected Steelers media members Tuesday. Many issues were discussed. The plans to replace him after he retires following the draft. The offseason gameplan about what will be done at quarterback to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. What...
Tim Benz: 3 goals the Steelers can meet by hiring Brian Flores
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to hire former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores as a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach attempts to address three things. Two of them appear to be about battles of perception. The other is about the battle to get the opposing team off the field without racking...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh’s Janice Masters aims to elevate Women’s National Football Conference as new commissioner
For Pittsburgh’s Janice Masters, the workload can sometimes be like a second full-time job. Except she’s not getting paid for this one. Roger Goodell gets between $50 million to $60 million per year to be commissioner of the National Football League. What Masters gets to be commissioner of the Women’s...
After Sidney Crosby’s 50th goal vs. the Flyers, a former linemate recalls how that rivalry began
As the Penguins look to extend their winning streak to five games Thursday night in Canada against the Toronto Maple Leafs, many fans are still basking in the afterglow of Tuesday’s victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Not only was it an enjoyable 5-4 comeback win for the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby wrote the perfect script, Kris Letang authored the perfect ending
It felt like a perfect night of Penguins hockey at PPG Paints Arena. Sidney Crosby scored his 500th goal in front of a raucous crowd of 18,385. A Sid-sational moment for a sensational player.Congratulations, Sidney! ???? pic.twitter.com/WrPh5R4qDx— NHL (@NHL) February 16, 2022 He did so against the hated Philadelphia...
With the 2021 NFL season complete, Steelers have underwhelming public perception, expectations for 2022
When you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers compared to other NFL franchises, do these names pop into your head immediately? The Atlanta Falcons. The Washington Commanders. The Carolina Panthers. How about some other long-standing organizations with a history of winning Super Bowls that have fallen on hard times recently? Teams...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby getting No. 500 against the Flyers would be perfect in so many ways
We can only assume that Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has done this on purpose, right? During the first game back from the All-Star break on Feb. 8, Crosby scored career goal No. 499 of his career as part of a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Crosby then picked...
