Like his predecessor, Mike Tomlin came up through the NFL pipeline, making a rapid rise as an assistant coach and coordinator before he was hired as Steelers coach in 2007.

Unlike Bill Cowher, Tomlin isn’t about to criticize the Indianapolis Colts — this week’s opponent — for hiring Jeff Saturday as interim head coach. Saturday, a former Colts center, replaced Frank Reich, who was fired Nov. 7. Saturday’s only coaching experience was three years as a high school coach in Georgia.

On CBS, where he is employed as an analyst, Cowher railed against the hire, calling it a disgrace to the qualified candidates on the Colts staff.

Tomlin, at his weekly press conference, took a more tactful approach.

“My opinion doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m not a part of that organization. I’m not part of that decision-making process. I know Jeff. I like Jeff. I think he’s a dynamic personality, football lover and charismatic leader. But I have no opinion worth mentioning regarding their hiring practices and that selection in particular.”

The Colts are 1-1 under the 47-year-old Saturday, beating Las Vegas in his debut and nearly upsetting Philadelphia last Sunday before losing 17-16.

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