Steelers coach Mike Tomlin meets the press

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin met with the media one last time Monday morning before leaving Tampa. Read the full transcript here:

Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes meets the press

Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes met with the media one final time before leaving Tampa Monday morning. Here is the complete transcript:

James Harrison's return 'biggest' play of the game

''Lost in all the late drama and an improbable finish, Steelers linebacker James Harrison had one of the best plays in Super Bowl history.

In Pittsburgh's 27-23 victory Sunday Harrison's 100-yard interception return for a touchdown at the end of the first half was "the difference in the game," Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley said.

"I think it was the biggest play of the game," Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden said. "It took the momentum from them."

Read the full story here.

NFL has never seen anything like this Super Bowl

''In a hundred years, they will talk of this game. In a hundred years, they will talk about the plays, about the comebacks, about the amazing finish that came after the other amazing finish. In a hundred years, they will talk about the finest Super Bowl of them all.

Forty-three years, and a championship has never been this exciting, this breathless, this much fun. Forty-three games, and none of them has measured up to this: Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23.

And tell me: Is your heart beating normally yet?

This was terrific stuff. This was amazing entertainment. This was everything you ever wanted in a Super Bowl. It was Ben Roethlisberger's arm and Santonio Holmes' toes tucked inside the sideline and James Harrison's wild ramble down the sideline. This was Kurt Warner's toughness and Larry Fitzgerald's speed and Anquan Boldin's hands. It was a team that refused to lose against a team that would not go away.

This was Super Bowl XLIII, and the NFL has never seen anything like it.''

Read Gary Shelton's entire column here.

Santonio Holmes is latest Steelers' Super bowl hero

''The list of the Steelers' past Super Bowl heroes is as long as it is impressive.

Names such as Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann, each enshrined in Canton, immediately come to mind.

And then you have the man who can be credited with saving Super Bowl XLIII for Pittsburgh: Santonio Holmes.

The third-year Steeler didn't even rank as the most feared receiver in the game. But it was Holmes — not Hines Ward, not Larry Fitzgerald, not Anquan Boldin — who made the winning reception in a breathtaking 27-23 Pittsburgh victory Sunday over Arizona, a catch that will go down as one of the most remarkable in Super Bowl history.''

Read the rest of Stephen F. Holder's story here.

Ben Roethlisberger among Super Bowl's best

''Given a handful of moments, he changed history.

Entrusted with the dreams of a franchise, he passed for glory.

In one unforgettable evening, Ben Roethlisberger made you reconsider all that you once thought about a quarterback whose bottom line has always been better than his line of statistics.

Remember this moment. Savor this performance. For it was as good as any you will see by a quarterback with a championship in the balance. It took 122 seconds, it covered 78 yards, and it will last an eternity.''

Read John Romano's entire column here.

Tampa International Airport running smoothly despite Super Bowl exodous

TAMPA -- The citywide exodus of Super Bowl visitors began early this morning at Tampa International Airport, with officials expecting the busiest day in more than a year.

Despite the traffic, there were no big delays at ticket counters or security-screening checkpoints. Airlines began checking in passengers as early as 3 a.m., and the Transportation Security Administration brought in extra officers from Orlando to open all 27 of the airport's screening lanes.

Airport officials estimate about 32,000 passengers will fly out of Tampa through Monday, likely the most since the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2007, said airport executive director Louis Miller.

Word goes out: 'Final score: 27 to 23. Steelers.'

TAMPA -- Super Bowl transportation dispatcher John Gundersen flipped on the mic and called all 16 radio channels.

"Final score," he announced, "Twenty-seven to 23. Steelers."

Next channel.

"Final score," he said, "Twenty-seven to 23. Steelers."

Next channel...

Gundersen has done this for 15 Super Bowls now. He's as good at calling the game as he is communicating with lot managers, golf cart drivers and bus escorts to move masses of people at one time, his boss says.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

 

Quiet, then chaos for Steelers fans

After some quiet moments, the pro-Steelers crowd just erupted as Pittsburgh receiver Santonio Holmes' go-ahead touchdown was upheld after review.

The NBC TV replays showed that Holmes got both feet down in time, but those replays weren't shown on the replay boards, leading to some anxious seconds for the Steelers faithful.

But now the towels are waving.

-- Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

Partying like it's a Steelers home game

TAMPA -- The scene on Himes Avenue resembles a Pittsburgh Steelers home game.

One of the more impressive parties is raging at the corner of Himes and Leroy Street, where a group of coworkers from the Konica Minolta Danka Imaging have rented out a house. They've got Steelers theme songs playing on the loud speakers.

A defacto block party has formed outside the house with fans in face makeup waving flags and towels and taking turns stomping on a jersey of Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Inside the yard, the coworkers are brewing brats and taking turns placing temporary Steelers patches on each other.

"We call ourselves professional tailgaters because we bring everything," said Beth Swain, 37.

"We even rented our own port-a-potty too." said Nancy Hill, 36.

Next door, an outpost of about three dozen Arizona Cardinals fans were undaunted. They gathered beneath a grove of trees north of West Dewey Street.

Who's the man wearing an Eagles jersey?

TAMPA -- In the sea of black and gold jerseys and crimson and white ones, 40-year-old James Stento stood out. He came to Tampa's Super Bowl wearing the jersey of the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that was one step away from the Super Bowl before losing to Arizona.

But what in the world would possess the suburban Philadelphia man to come here?

Steelers fan, in town to see Mom, hopes for a "miracle" ticket

TAMPA -- Back in December, Dave Wolfe bought a $137 round-trip ticket from Pittsburg to Florida, not knowing that his hometown Steelers would end up in the Super Bowl the same week as his mother's 80th birthday celebration.

Tampa Wal-Mart becoming Steel-mart hours before kickoff

There was football being played Sunday morning but it wasn't at RayJay but instead in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart just south of the stadium. It was 11:20 a.m., seven hours before Super Bowl kickoff.

About six fans, all clad in bright yellow Steelers shirts and jerseys, used the back end of the lot to throw the ball around as they waited for friends. About a half hour later, an SUV full of Cardinals fans drove into the Steelers fans' makeshift field and yelled out "Big Ben is a big b----!," referring to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

They exited and also began throwing the ball around.

Friday's Super Bowl Photos

Tampa Bay native Tracy Williams performs at the 2009 Bud Bowl Block Party, between Channelside Entertainment District and the St. Pete Times Forum, on Friday. [EDMUND D. FOUNTAIN   |   Times]

Tomlin: Ward looks "awesome" in practice

Steelers star WR Hines Ward practiced Thursday for the first time since suffering a right knee sprain in the AFC Championship game, running at about three-quarter speed, with coach Mike Tomlin saying Ward looked "awesome," according to pool reporter Peter King.

Ward worked with the regular offense, blocked and caught the ball at midseason form. Tomlin reiterated that Ward will play Sunday, "He is where I thought he'd be today."

-- JOE SMITH

Steelers deny report Roethlisberger had x-rays

The Pittsburgh Steelers shot down a profootballtalk.com report that QB Ben Roethlisberger underwent X-rays on his back this week, but a pool reporter at Thursday's practice noticed Roethlisberger appearing to be trying to stretch his mid-torso region.

Roethlisberger was speared in the rib/back area in the AFC Championship game, but has said he's fine, and nothing had come up about his torso until Thursday. Roethlisberger "practiced effectively" Thursday, throwing the ball well on short and deep routes, according to the pool reporter.

"Ben's health is often the subject of inaccurate reports," Coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's fine."

- JOE SMITH

Tomlin and Farrior recall going head-to-head

When you're a young head coach like Mike Tomlin, who is 36, there's a chance you may have competed against some of your own players, back in the day.

That was the case with Tomlin and team-leader, LB James Farrior, 34. The two matched up Oct 1, 1994, when Farrior's Virginia Cavaliers crushed Tomlin's William & Mary team, 37-3. Tomlin, then a star senior receiver, caught four passes for 58 yards. Farrior made two tackles and had an interception.

When Farrior was reminded of the matchup, he joked:  "I definitely would've tried to take a few more shots on him if I knew he'd be my coach."

Tomlin, who didn't play in the NFL, was asked about Farrior's comments, and responded with a laugh: "James knows where I am if he wants to get a shot."

Tomlin then quickly backtracked: "No, I can't defend myself anymore."

- JOE SMITH

Max Starks dabbles in two family businesses

Steelers OT Max Starks, a former Gators standout, has followed in the footsteps of his family – in more ways than one. Starks has four relatives who played professional football, with his father Ross Browner a former Bengals defensive lineman.  But before Starks got into football, he helped out at the “family business” of undertaking, helping out with funerals.

“Every once and a while, I’d drive to Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) in a hearse,” Starks said. “And kids would look at me funny cause I’m wearing a black suit. But I’m very happy with the tradition we have – I’m a fourth generation.”

- JOE SMITH

Steelers' Tomlin earns coach of the year honor

Upon reaching a makeshift stage at the USF Sun Dome for his Thursday morning media session, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was presented the Motorola NFL Coach of the Year Award.

"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized...it's doubly special because it was voted on by the fans of the game," said Tomlin who, at 36, is the youngest coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

"They're the reason why we do what it is that we do; I'm very appreciative of that. But at the same time I recognize, like I ask all my guys to recognize, this is all a team game."

With that, Tomlin began taking questions from the media throng, but not before the portable "Coach of the Year" backdrop was replaced by one bearing the official Super Bowl XLIII logo.

These NFL folks, they don't miss a thing.

JOEY KNIGHT

Thursday's Super Bowl Photos

Bruce Springsteen jokes around with E Street Band members Max Weinberg (left) and Steven van Zandt at a press conference on Thursday. The band is the performing at half time of Super Bowl XLIII. [BRIAN CASSELLA   |   Times]