Steelers rout Saints in Hall of Fame Game
A dominant first half made new Steelers coach Mike Tomlin a winner in his debut, 20-7 over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night in the preseason opener. Just the third head coach in the last 38 years in Pittsburgh, Tomlin had to be thrilled about his team’s quick getaway in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
Ben Roethlisberger was sharp in his only series, completing two of his three throws for 73 yards to Cedrick Wilson. On a 55-yard play, Wilson got behind safety Kevin Kaesviharn, then he beat New Orleans’ top cornerback, Mike McKenzie, on an 18-yard crossing pattern.
Najeh Davenport, starting for 1,400-yard rusher Willie Parker, bulled in from the 4 for a 7-0 lead.
Pittsburgh’s first-stringers were, by far, more efficient than New Orleans’ starters, who missed blocks and dropped passes on offense and couldn’t handle Roethlisberger or Charlie Batch when they threw. And that was just in the first quarter.
In the first half, Pittsburgh outgained New Orleans 305-56, including 205-32 in the air.
“This is how we want to play all season,” linebacker Larry Foote said of stymieing the Saints, who didn’t use starting running back Deuce McAllister and gave Reggie Bush only two carries for 8 yards. “We want to be dominating this year.”
On hand were five of the six men inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday: Michael Irvin, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Matthews, Roger Wehrli and Charlie Sanders. The ailing Gene Hickerson was not in attendance.
T.O. misses practice
Terrell Owens missed the Dallas Cowboys’ practice in San Antonio because of tightness in his lower back.
Owner Jerry Jones said Owens was getting treatment instead of standing around on the field during the two-hour workout. Jones said he wasn’t worried about the receiver’s absence, and that the team didn’t consider the muscle stiffness to be serious.
Buffalo D.E. charged
Buffalo Bills reserve defensive end Anthony Hargrove was charged with several misdemeanors after a confrontation with police outside a nightclub in Rochester, N.Y.
Hargrove was one of hundreds of people involved in an altercation outside the Venu Night Club around 2 a.m., according to Rochester police spokeswoman Deidre Taccone. He was arguing with a bouncer when police arrived and is accused of shoving an officer in the face, breaking his glasses but not injuring him.
Around the league
Carolina Panthers rookie Jon Beason ended his eight-day holdout when he signed a five-year contract that includes more than $6 million in guaranteed money. … Browns center LeCharles Bentley returned to the practice field, but only as a spectator. His injured knee is approximately 70 percent, and he hopes to practice by the end of the month.