Super Bowl XL Champion Steelers Update.

Same old Steelers
By Mike Prisuta

If the Steelers are as distracted as the soap operas, mini-dramas and other headline-inspiring highlights of their Super Bowl offseason suggest, they're hiding it well.

Coaching sessions resumed Tuesday on the South Side.

It might as well have been St. Vincent College in August.

The steamy conditions contributed mightily to what was taking place resembling just another training camp practice, the type that has been integral to the Steelers going 13-3, 10-5-1, 15-1 and 11-5 in four of the past five regular seasons.

The exception in that run of double-digit victory totals and playoff appearances was the 6-10 disaster of 2003, an injury-plagued campaign that also was dragged down by soggy conditions that affected the Steelers' ability to practice in the preseason and, in retrospect, an overall attitude that fell short of the nose-to-the-grindstone approach Bill Cowher has since consistently gleaned from his team.

There was no evidence to suggest that commitment had waned yesterday afternoon.

Even though linebacker Joey Porter has had to offer an explanation/clarification of tongue-in-cheek comments directed at President Bush.

Even though wide receiver Hines Ward has had to clarify the context of quotes attributed to him relative to his relationship with Cowher in a national publication.

Even though No. 1 pick Santonio Holmes has been arrested and briefly detained in South Florida.

It's still all business on South Water Street as far as the Steelers are concerned, which includes the players entertaining themselves while going about the business of getting their work in.

It has been all along this spring.

"These have been the best coaching sessions since I've been here, unquestionably," said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, acknowledging the "effort and focus" of the players he coaches.

Speaking for the offense, tight end Jerame Tuman allowed for a certain ragged character surfacing on occasion due to the preponderance of inexperienced newcomers taking part. Still, "When it's the No. 1's and No. 2's going against each other, it's been very competitive," Tuman said.

You'd expect them to say nothing less, not because of their ties to the team, but because LeBeau and Tuman know NFL titles aren't won in May and June.

When training camp cranks up July 28, the Steelers will begin to reveal how committed they are to repeating.

Until then, conspiracy theorists can deduce what they will from offseason developments that are about as relevant to the upcoming season as Ben Roethlisberger riding a motorcycle without a helmet ultimately was to the quest for Super Bowl XL.

In the meantime, the Steelers will do their thing, which includes linebackers paying for dropped interceptions with push-ups and injured players such as Mike Logan running individual sprints during team drills.
The Steelers are doing it this spring with an approach that suggests they're out to make a statement about winning The Big One having in no way, shape or form altered their resolve.

"I would hope so," LeBeau observed, although on this point he and Tuman disagree.

"I'm not consciously thinking about that, and I don't know if the rest of the guys have," Tuman said. "It's just something that's in the character and the makeup of this team.

"When it's a work day we come to work."

Film at 11.
(Thanks to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for the heads up.)