Tomlin and Ryan birds of a coaching feather

PITTSBURGH - If Jets linebacker Bart Scott played for Mike Tomlin, he probably would give Pittsburgh's media a good tongue-lashing for its failure to discern the difference between perception and reality regarding the Steelers coach. But in his own verbally unassuming way, Tomlin mildly rebuked a reporter whose question Tuesday suggested Ryan and he are at opposite ends of the spectrum in coaching style.

"No, I tell you, our styles are probably more similar than you would imagine," Tomlin said. "Rex just has more fun with you guys."

In other words, Tomlin was saying that, although his "the less you say" approach with the media might be poles apart from the bombastic Jets coach, they actually are kindred spirits in terms of their coaching style. Tomlin lit up during a pre-AFC Championship Game news conference that was televised live locally when someone mentioned that Ryan described Tomlin as one of his favorite NFL coaches.

"I love Rex," Tomlin said. "He has a lot of fun with you guys, but when you see past all of those things, this is a great football coach. He has the pulse of his football team; he does a great job of motivating them; he's very sound schematically in all three phases, and his glass is always half full. I appreciate that."

It sounded as though Tomlin was asking the media to get past his own all-business exterior to see a leader who is just as passionate and just as much of a player's coach as Ryan. He simply prefers understatement to overstatement when speaking publicly.

And he sure wasn't going to offer any criticism when asked in a skeptical tone if Ryan's outspoken nature is good for the NFL. "I think he's great for the Jets, and that's all he's concerned about being great for," Tomlin said. "He's got them in the AFC Championship Game. I'm sure he's not concerned about the National Football League."

Tomlin celebrated what Ryan and the Jets achieved to reach Sunday's AFC title game for the second straight season as a sixth seed. "Looking at the Jets, it's nothing short of remarkable what they've done to get to this point," Tomlin said. "They went to Indianapolis and beat those guys, and they went to New England and beat those guys. They've been in Heinz Field pretty recently and whacked us, beat us at our place."

SEE PHOTOSAFC Divisional: Jets 28, Patriots 21

Tomlin was referring to the Jets' 22-17 victory Dec. 19 to snap a two-game losing streak. The Steelers outgained the Jets by 102 yards and only a Jets safety prevented them from kicking a tying field goal at the end of regulation to force overtime. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw end-zone incompletions on the final two plays of the game.

Now, they meet again for the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLV. And because of the immense respect Ryan and Tomlin have for each other, trash talk has been nonexistent so far. Will the Steelers and Jets find reasons to dislike each other before Sunday?

"That's sidebar stuff," said Tomlin, displaying his media savvy by using the correct term. "We're in the AFC Championship. Likes or dislikes are irrelevant.

"They've been pretty consistent about stating their intentions all year, which is to be world champions. We've been pretty consistent about stating ours. So you know where that's going to lead us. That's two trains on a track."