Players Past And Present Look Up To Tomlin
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Coach Mike Tomlin still is only 38 years old, still hasn't played a down of NFL football, and still has only one year as a coordinator on his resume.
But after his Pittsburgh Steelers secured their second Super Bowl appearance in his four seasons as coach, the last thing Tomlin has to worry about is whether he's gained the respect of his players, past or present.
"I think a lot of guys,'' Pittsburgh defensive tackle Chris Hoke said, "would love to come play for coach Tomlin.''
Former Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend concurs. And he should know. He played for both Bill Cowher and Tomlin, and was a key member of that transition phase.
"He had to put his identity on the team. He had to do things he felt would make us better, and he had to do his own way,'' Townsend said of Tomlin. "He was coming in for an established coach, one that guys respected. So, not only was he the new guy, he was the new guy for a guy who had been there a long time.''
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
