Steelers and Pirates fans seem to be in a sort of Goldilocks mood this week.
Some think my porridge is too hot. Some think it is too cold. Some think I am serving the wrong people.
Personally, I think you’re right.
Are you the judge of this week in “Are you crazy, bro?”
Robert seems to believe that I was too tough on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this season.
“Mr. Benz, it’s easy to hit Ben when he’s near the end of his career. But why don’t you even mention Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert and the silent owner Art Rooney II as responsible for the Steelers’ situation? It’s fun to hit Ben when he’s down, isn’t it?“
Well, Robert, the Cleveland Browns certainly enjoyed beating Ben during that playoff game, don’t they?
I would prefer not to. I would have preferred Roethlisberger to remain at the Pro Bowl game level he exhibited for the first two months of the season. This did not happen, however, and he needed to be criticized for it.
Besides, it’s not like I avoided criticizing Tomlin. And the end of Rooney’s postseason is expected to happen sometime this week or next. So, you can be sure that I will make some comments after he speaks.
As far as Colbert is concerned, the squad he assembled was good enough to go 11-0 to the start of the season. But, yes, there are huge holes along the offensive line and in the running back that were not properly resolved this offseason. As well as the impending depth concerns in the internal linebacker, pass rusher, cornerback and tight end that need to be addressed this spring.
The Steelers woodchuck dived into its hole a few weeks ago. It will be a long winter here. Much blame for everyone, Robby. Hold on.
This guy doesn’t like some photos I took recently at JuJu Smith-Schuster or my mention of how he stimulated the free agency’s speech during a recent video game session.
He seems to think that I didn’t go hard enough in Roethlisberger.
He’s misinterpreting you. LOL. You are failing because it trolls. Clowns like high school girls. We all laughed at you idiots, doing anything to divert Benny’s attention by giving the playoff game and crying because the baker hit him
– # Mason21 (@ Mason2113) January 16, 2021
I think you mean “fall”, but I get it. We’ll see who’s tweeting laughing emojis if Smith-Schuster returns to Heinz Field in another team’s uniform soon.
And as for distracting “Benny”, who’s doing it exactly? How many times do I need to write about how he played poorly over the course of the season before you know I’m calling for him too?
Just ask the guy above you.
David didn’t like my recent post – defending an old post – about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
“Why would you suggest Brady for QB in Pittsburgh when he is at the end of his career? You even said that he looked (badly) in last year’s playoff defeat. So, what’s different this year?
“It’s obviously the rest of the team around you. As it used to be in New England, and a line. All day to play. Tampa Bay is trying to buy a Super Bowl ring. I don’t believe you can in football. Anything less than a ring for them is a failure, even in a 19-year season.”
Some things, Dave.
• The original column (in January 2020) suggested that Steelers should be ready to join the bidding for Brady (in March 2020) only if Roethlisberger’s elbow did not recover. What eventually happened.
Well, at least as far as they started 11-0.
• If Bucs are trying to “buy” a Super Bowl, it doesn’t offend me. And, as you said yourself, is this possible to do in the NFL? And how is it impossible to do if you are four quarters away from winning one?
• How is 2020 “a failure” when it’s just the franchise’s second NFC championship and its first trip to the Super Bowl in 20 years?
• New England’s offensive lines during Brady’s career were good enough. But if you think the Patriots’ offensive lines did Brady, more than Brady did the offensive lines over 20 seasons, then … well, I can’t help you.
On top of that, your email made sense and was 100% accurate.
Theodore sent me an email about speculation about the Steelers’ level of interest in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“Don’t promote a bad idea. Mason (Rudolph) will be fine … Fortunately, if Ben retires and the Steelers think they need a QB, they must choose one in the first round. I wouldn’t mind Mac Jones or maybe even Kyle Trask, from Florida. It would be better to get a QB that plays in a professional attack game.“
You’re right, Teddy. Why not summon an unproven college student instead of the guy who just led the NFL in passing yards, finishing yards and was second in passer rank? At 25 years old.
If you want to argue that the Steelers can’t (or shouldn’t) do Watson’s contract, great. If you want to argue that it would cost a lot of money in stock to buy it, that’s fine.
But don’t try to tell me that Mason Rudolph is as capable for the job now as Deshaun Watson.
It is almost like saying that Tom Brady is a product of his line attackers. Not that anyone would say that.
Oh, right.
Nathan did not like some of my recent comments about the Pirates and general manager Ben Cherington.
“His negativities in judging Cherington, his purposes, business, etc. have become so exhausting that I no longer wish to read. A true fan has high expectations outside the season.“
OK, Pip. Anything you say.
“Great expectations” in the off-season? Which out of season? Approximately 2040? Because it seems to me that this is Cherington’s plan before putting a competitive team on the field again.
Since you are no longer reading my column, perhaps you should read “Great expectations”.
“The suffering was stronger than all the other teachings.”
“God knows that we never need to be ashamed of our tears.”
“Don’t ask questions and you won’t hear lies.”
“Don’t take anything in your appearance; take everything in evidence. There is no better rule. “
It seems to me that Charles Dickens was a fan of the Pirates.
Tim Benz is an editor on the Tribune-Review team. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be posted again. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
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Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz