Steelers intrigued by new coach Mike Tomlin
HONOLULU (AP) – Willie Parker can’t wait to play for new Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu are reserving judgment until they know a bit more about the man replacing Bill Cowher. The Steelers’ four Pro Bowl participants had divergent reactions to Pittsburgh’s surprising decision last month to hire Tomlin, a 34-year-old with one season of experience as an NFL coordinator. The Steelers passed over veteran assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt in the process, essentially guaranteeing a major overhaul of last season’s champions.
“I wanted Russ to get the job,” said Faneca, the Steelers’ six-time Pro Bowl guard. “It’s a guy we know, and a guy I’m experienced with. I hoped Russ would get that opportunity, but it didn’t work out.”
Whisenhunt and Grimm quickly left for the Arizona Cardinals, with Grimm serving as Whisenhunt’s assistant head coach. Faneca knows the Steelers are unlikely to make another change in his career, since Tomlin is just Pittsburgh’s third coach in 38 years.
“When Cowher retired, everybody in the league wanted two of our guys, so you’d think we would want at least one of them,” said Faneca, and All-Pro this season. “But the Rooneys have a process they go through, and it’s a good process. Hopefully it will work out for the best.”
But Parker, the Steelers’ rising running back on his first Pro Bowl trip, needed just one meeting with Tomlin to be sold.
“He made a hell of a first impression,” Parker said. “He came and found me, and we had a big meeting in his office about what he expects out of me. He seems like a great guy, a tremendous guy. It’s going to be really exciting to play for him.”
Parker said he was bowled over by Tomlin’s passion for football. Polamalu, Pittsburgh’s three-time Pro Bowl safety who also met with Tomlin, is waiting to see what that intensity means.
“The first impression doesn’t go too far in this world,” Polamalu said. “It’s about how you execute, and what you do with it. We’ll see how things go once we really get down to work.”
Faneca and defensive tackle Casey Hampton haven’t yet met Tomlin, but Hampton also is looking forward to next season after speaking with Vikings defensive stars Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.
“I heard he’s a real smart guy, very cool,” Hampton said. “I don’t know much yet, but it might be a real different experience.”