Tim Benz Columns category, Page 5
Madden Monday: ‘I’m tired of Aaron Rodgers, and he has not taken a snap yet for the Steelers’
The “Madden Monday” podcast with Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X will be off next week. I’ll be back with Madden again on June 16. That’s when “Madden-Benz: Unfiltered” will come back as well. That certainly feels like a long time from now. One question I have heading...
Tim Benz: Latest round of Paul Skenes trade talk has a nugget of intrigue within the hyperbole
After a brief lull, the hypothetical Paul Skenes trade conversations have kicked up again. The Athletic ran a column from Jim Bowden investigating the idea of the Pittsburgh Pirates trading their burgeoning All-Star pitcher, potentially before he begins his third season of Major League Baseball. The column showed up Wednesday,...
First Call: J.J. Watt goes quiet on his brother’s contract talk; interesting quote from Kenny Pickett
Thursday’s “First Call” features some interesting comments from J.J. Watt and Kenny Pickett. The Pittsburgh Pirates look for some retribution in San Diego. And the Penguins may have their eyes on a pending restricted free agent. Nothing to say J.J. Watt was on the “Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday. And he...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans revolt over Aaron Rodgers coverage; take turns defending and ripping Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers have returned to practice. The weather somehow feels like fall in May. And readers are flooding my mentions and my inbox with Steelers-related outrage. The 2025 season must be closer than I thought! Here’s this week’s “U mad, bro?” Let’s start with a message I got from...
Tim Benz: Growth of Steelers’ young O-line is the most under-discussed aspect of 2025 team
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback position has been talked to death. Don’t expect that to stop anytime soon. Also, as you may have heard, the Steelers are yet again in search of a No. 2 wide receiver. And the running back duel between Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson will no doubt...
Tim Benz: We’re having the wrong conversation about the Aaron Rodgers waiting game
When it comes to attendance at organized team activities, it seems like Pittsburgh Steelers players assign a level of importance based on how the question is asked. And who the subject of the question may be. In general, tight end Pat Freiermuth placed a high value on spring practices. “Being...
First Call: Terry Bradshaw rips idea of Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers; no joint practices with Carolina
Terry Bradshaw hates the thought of the Pittsburgh Steelers signing Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers won’t be practicing against the Carolina Panthers this summer. An ex-Penguin continues to help the cause of the Edmonton Oilers. And a Pitt hoops alum is hoping to increase his NBA draft stock. All that and...
Calvin Austin’s and Roman Wilson’s actions need to speak as loudly as Omar Khan’s words
After the first day of organized team activities at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice facility, quarterback Mason Rudolph was asked about “the noise” surrounding the prospect of Aaron Rodgers joining the team. “That’s nothing new to me. There’s been constant noise,” Rudolph replied. “That’s the nature of the NFL. I’ve been...
Tim Benz: Beyond the Aaron Rodgers watch, there is plenty to track at Steelers’ OTAs
As organized team activities are set to begin Tuesday, Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t signed a contract to become a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. You might have heard something about that. But while we obsess over that ongoing situation, there will be a few other storylines to monitor this week....
Local author contributes to Library of Congress recognizing, preserving Bill Mazeroski’s 1960 homer
For Pittsburgh Pirates fans, Bill Mazeroski’s home run to win Game 7 of the 1960 World Series has been immortalized for decades. Now, on a national level, the Library of Congress has done that permanently. In April, the Library of Congress inducted 25 recordings as part of the National Recording...
First Call: Differing opinions on Steelers’ ‘Plan B’ if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t sign; Hurricanes stay alive
Tuesday’s “First Call” features different opinions on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fallback plans if Aaron Rodgers flakes. We also spread the word on Duquesne’s newest basketball recruit and how a former Penguin helped the Carolina Hurricanes finally get it in gear against Florida in the Eastern Conference finals. Best they can...
Madden Monday on Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh: ‘It just can’t work’
With the way Aaron Rodgers was speaking about his future during a public Q&A in Austin on Friday, it sure sounds like he’s planning on playing for the Steelers. Just In: The legendary Aaron Rodgers seemingly confirms that he will be signing with the Steelers for this upcoming season: "I...
First Call: Adam Schefter’s latest prediction on Aaron Rodgers; Browns share Steelers’ interest in WR
Friday’s “First Call” has an Aaron Rodgers prediction from Adam Schefter as the Pittsburgh Steelers wait for his arrival. We are looking at Friday’s start for Paul Skenes against the Brewers. There’s a twist to the Chris Olave trade conversation. And a member of Duquesne’s basketball team has decided to...
Paul Skenes trade talk ‘an utterly illogical premise’ born from a ‘completely logical conclusion’: It’s the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington appeared to be somewhere between annoyed and bemused by the very question. Is trading Paul Skenes — less than two full years into his career — a genuine consideration? “No,” Cherington said Thursday afternoon, “it’s not at all part of the conversation.” Would #Pirates...
Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers situation is now more about saving face for Steelers than it is the football calendar
I want to thank ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. He sat through an entire three-hour appearance by Aaron Rodgers on Joe Rogan’s podcast and took notes. So we don’t have to. I don’t always agree with Florio’s opinions or presentation. But that’s doing God’s work, my friends. Thanks, Mike. Furthermore, Florio endured...
First Call: Art Rooney’s insight on ‘heated’ debate over tush push; new NFL postseason award
Thursday’s “First Call” has quotes from Steelers owner Art Rooney II about how things went down in a prickly meeting surrounding the idea of eliminating the tush push. We also have a new award in NFL circles, recruiting information from Pitt and Duquesne and a look at the Pirates’ next...
U mad, bro?: NFL fans angry about failed playoff changes; Pirates fans hate Paul Skenes trade talk
For “U mad, bro?” this week, we’ve got a lot of people who are angry that the NFL ended up keeping its current playoff format in place. We’ve also got folks all tied up about the idea of trading Paul Skenes, and some guy is ticked about the use of...
Tim Benz: Starters diluting Pirates’ historic futility at the plate
How good has the Pirates’ starting pitching been of late? Good enough that on a day when the franchise’s anemic offense tied an MLB record for run scoring futility, the Pirates still managed to win. For a second game in a row. Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Reds marked the...
Pirates take different fork in a very familiar road to break losing skid
In many respects, Tuesday’s game was very similar to most of the ones that the Pittsburgh Pirates have played recently. They got great starting pitching while the hitting was almost entirely absent. In some other key areas, however, the latest contest against the Cincinnati Reds was extremely different. First and...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s 2025 Steelers predictions; early reviews of George Pickens in Dallas
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers predictions from Ben Roethlisberger. He and Cameron Heyward also have a warning about going over to Europe this season. We get an update on George Pickens in Dallas. Plus, we preview T.J. McConnell’s chances of advancing to the NBA Finals with the Indiana...
Tim Benz: Proposed NFL playoff changes are unnecessary, reactionary, shortsighted
This week’s vote at the NFL owners meetings as to whether or not the league should adopt a playoff format change is typically stupid, prisoner-of-the-moment, 2025-style overreaction. Mark Maske of the Washington Post is reporting that the proposal is unlikely to pass. Let’s hope he’s right. As of now, winners...
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: 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’...
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...
