Steelers Take Colts Seriously Overconfident Last Year, Pittsburgh Guards Against Hype, Distractions

They’ve turned down the stereo and turned up the intensity. Rather than business deals, the Pittsburgh Steelers are focusing on business as usual before this AFC championship game.

Last January, the locker room was more like a merchandise mart or a recording studio as the Steelers readied for the San Diego Chargers. It seemed at times like the game was an afterthought as the Steelers busied themselves for a supposedly certain trip to the Super Bowl.

Eric Green, the now-departed tight end, lined up half his teammates for a Super Bowl rap video. Ray Seals marketed his Steelers T-shirt and proffered predictions of a shutout. Brentson Buckner choreographed an end zone dance and discussed cutting a rap music album.

Then came the Steelers’ bum rap, and nobody was dancing to it: San Diego 17, Pittsburgh 13. No video. No Super Bowl. No merchandise deals. No championship rings. Nothing.

“We got caught up in the awe of being in a championship game,” Buckner said. “It’s not like that this year.”

This time, if any player is working on a Super Bowl deal, he isn’t doing it in the locker room. There are no rehearsals or record deals, and the atmosphere has been transformed from chic confidence to get-serious concentration.

Fast-buck marketeers of the world beware: No Super Bowl Shuffle Part II will emanate from this locker room.

“There will be no rap or nothing,” fullback John L. Williams said. “We can’t do things unrelated to football.”

“We’re going to have a very professional work ethic and attitude,” said linebacker Kevin Greene, who, at 33, may never be this close again to the Super Bowl. “I’m not going to talk about last year … but there is a definite sense of urgency among the older guys here. We may not have any more chances.”

Or at least a chance as good as they have had the last two seasons. An 8-1/2-point favorite before losing a 10-point lead and, ultimately, the game to San Diego, the Steelers are favored by 10 points over Indianapolis.

Only this time, they’re not acting like big favorites.

“But last year was a different year. There was a lot more hype,” Seals said. “We played Cleveland twice in three weeks, we played the Raiders and there was a lot of talking back and forth. This year, there hasn’t been all of that stuff. We’ve just gone out and played.

“There were a few things said by Buffalo last week, but it was no big deal. We just went out and played.”