Super Bowl News and Notes

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin climbed out of the shadow of the Rooney Rule long ago, writes Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Tomlin took the team to a Dave & Buster's on Saturday.

For years now, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has been eager to mentor the team's young receivers.

Both teams play an aggressive, intimidating style of defense, writes Ralph Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith has come to grips with the fact he might not play in Super Bowl XLV.

James Walker of ESPN.com shares some additional thoughts on Steelers Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey's expected absence in Super Bowl XLV.

Players on the Green Bay Packers are treating this week like a business trip.

And are putting this week's Twitter dust-up in the rear-view mirror.

Fans are invited to Lambeau Field this morning to send the team off to Dallas.

Unlike some other teams, if there is a lockout, the Packers will take care of their assistant coaches.

Mentioned for several defensive coordinator openings, Packers secondary coach Darren Perry is focused on the Super Bowl.

Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac has no plans to leave the team for a coordinator opportunity in 2011.

Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji is ready for the national spotlight, writes Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy grew up a Steelers fan in Greenfield, Pennsylvania.

Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel also profiles McCarthy's Pittsburgh roots.

Offensive players on the Packers are happy to be playing the Super Bowl in a dome.

Oh, and the Pro Bowl happened.

Today's NFL birthdays: Falcons wide receiver Brian Finneran (35), Panthers linebacker Sean Ware (24), Texans defensive end Mario Williams (26), Colts second-round linebacker Pat Angerer (24), Dolphins running back Patrick Cobbs (28), Vikings tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser (34), Steelers safety Donovan Warren (22), 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (27), and Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Spurlock (28).

Retired defensive backs Charles Dimry (45) and Louis Wright (58), defensive ends Kenard Lang (36) and Michael Sinclair (43), and quarterback Doug Pederson (43).

The late Kenny McKinley would have turned 24 had he not tragically taken his own life last September.