NFL Wire Notes: Steelers' Cowher to focus on future

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers gather today for the first time since they were celebrating their Super Bowl XL victory over the Seahawks in February, beginning a weekend minicamp that segues into three weeks of spring workouts.

If the words "NFL champions" are spoken at any time, they probably won't be coming from Steelers coach Bill Cowher.

Despite losing few players by Super Bowl standards — three starters, plus motivational leader Jerome Bettis — Cowher said the Steelers probably won't be favored to win the AFC title when the season starts in September.

Cowher doesn't want the Steelers to lose their let's-show-them mentality that drove them to eight consecutive victories, including four away from Pittsburgh during the postseason.

"I've said I don't think we were the best team in the AFC last year or even close to [being the best team in] the NFL," Cowher said. "I think we played our best football at the right time and we played with a level of desperation that allowed us to play with anybody. We played smart, we made plays when we had to make them and we never stopped believing.

"But I don't think we were the best team. We have to recapture that — and we lost some key players."

The Steelers managed to replace those lost players without spending a bundle of money and by signing one player from another team, former Washington safety Ryan Clark. He will replace Chris Hope.

First-round draftee Santonio Holmes from Ohio State or 2005 Steeler Cedrick Wilson most likely will replace wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, who signed a big-money deal with Washington.

There will be one final Super Bowl celebration June 2, when the Steelers visit the White House and receive their Super Bowl rings. By then, Cowher will have long since shifted all attention to the 2006 season.

Notes

• Albert Haynesworth of the Tennessee Titans surrendered to authorities to face a charge of reckless endangerment after another motorist complained the defensive tackle tried to run a car off the highway with his truck.

Smith County (Tenn.) authorities issued a warrant for Haynesworth's arrest after James J. Bond filed a police report about an alleged Sunday incident. Haynesworth, 24, was released on $1,000 bond.

• Detroit finalized a trade that sent quarterback Joey Harrington to the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Herald and ESPN reported the deal was for a sixth-round pick in 2007, which becomes a fifth-round choice if ex-Oregon standout Harrington reaches a designated amount of playing time.

Harrington, 27, was the third player drafted in 2002. He was 18-37 as a starter with the Lions.

• Kansas City agreed on a one-year deal with offensive tackle Ian Allen, 27, who played for the Arizona Cardinals last season.