Originally published August 6, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 6, 2007 at 2:05 AM
PrintHall of Fame Game | Steelers' Tomlin gets debut win
Mike Tomlin got to meet "Prime Time" in prime time. Other than that, he claimed, there was nothing abnormal for the first-year coach of...
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MIKE CARDEW / MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
Mike Tomlin, right, coaching his first game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, watches first-half action in Sunday's exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints in Canton, Ohio. The Steelers won 20-7.
CANTON, Ohio — Mike Tomlin got to meet "Prime Time" in prime time.
Other than that, he claimed, there was nothing abnormal for the first-year coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers about a 20-7 NFL exhibition win over the New Orleans Saints in his debut Sunday night.
"The only thing that was really different was talking to Deion [Sanders] just before kickoff," Tomlin said after the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. "I had never given an interview just before kickoff. That was the only thing that was new and exciting."
Well, not really. Less than three minutes into the game, the Steelers were ahead to stay under the man replacing the retired Bill Cowher. The third coach in the past 38 years in Pittsburgh, the 35-year-old Tomlin had to be thrilled about his team's quick getaway.
"We had a good first step," the no-nonsense Tomlin said. "We did some good things, got some big plays, some chunks [of yardage]. I took myself out of it. I tried to create an environment for the coaches and players to do their jobs."
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sharp in his only series, completing 2 of 3 throws for 73 yards to Cedrick Wilson. On a 55-yard play, Wilson got behind safety Kevin Kaesviharn and later beat New Orleans' top cornerback, Mike McKenzie, on an 18-yard crossing pattern.
"He came up to me at practice," Wilson said of Roethlisberger, "and told me he was going to be looking for me. I appreciate that and can be thankful for that."
Pittsburgh outgained New Orleans 413-214.
"I can't spin it any way but the way we played," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "We were sloppy, sluggish. I thought they were more physical than us."
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
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