"I don't discuss free agents," Tomlin said yesterday, only a few hours after the Steelers returned from their 28-10 victory in Denver on Monday night. "That opens Pandora's box. I tend to focus on the guys that are in our locker room."

Tomlin made similar comments when quarterback Michael Vick was on the market last summer before signing with the Eagles.

The Chiefs cut Johnson - who was 75 yards short of breaking the team rushing record - two weeks after he posted a gay slur on Twitter, insulted fans and questioned the competence of coach Todd Haley. Haley's father, Dick, once was a Steelers executive.

Johnson was benched for three consecutive games last season for violating team rules, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for a fourth game for violating the league's player-conduct policy.

Johnson believed he was going to be drafted by Pittsburgh in 2003, but the Steelers traded with Kansas City to move up in the first round and take safety Troy Polamalu. Kansas City chose Johnson with the pick that was to have been Pittsburgh's.

Johnson was an all-state running back at State College High, which is 135 miles from Pittsburgh. He stayed at home to play for Penn State, where he gained 2,087 yards in 2002.

Broncos. Josh McDaniels had the Midas touch at the start of the season, with every move paying off as Denver shocked the NFL with a 6-0 start.

Then, the first-year head coach started fiddling with his roster during the bye week and suddenly the Broncos (6-2) have hit the skids, dropping their second straight with the loss to Pittsburgh on Monday.

Denver's rushing attack was nonexistent against the Steelers, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions, and a dependable defense wore down over the final quarter.

A once flourishing team is now floundering.

Meanwhile, the surging San Diego Chargers (5-3) are closing ground in a hurry in the AFC West. Denver's lead, once at 31/2 games, has been whittled to one.

"There is no panic here," defensive back Andre' Goodman said. "We just have to get back to the drawing board."

Before the Broncos lost their first game of the season against Baltimore, McDaniels made his first in-season roster move by releasing punter Brett Kern, who signed with the Tennessee Titans. Kern's decent averages have been replaced by 16-year veteran Mitch Berger's adventures as he has alternated between shanks and short punts. Berger's gross average of 38.5 yards ranks at the bottom of the AFC.

After Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco exploited some shortcomings in the Broncos' secondary, McDaniels retooled the roster again. Denver brought in Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law and let go of the younger Jack Williams, a second-year pro who was quickly snatched up on waivers by Detroit.

Although not fully up to speed, Law was thrust into action against Pittsburgh in passing situations. Law spent time helping shadow Hines Ward, who had a pair of 3-yard touchdown receptions.

"Once I knock this rust off, I know I'll be able to help the team and hopefully be a bigger factor," said Law, who came out of "semiretirement" to join the squad. "We just didn't play well in the second half as a team, and they did."

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger caught fire in the second half, throwing three touchdown passes to turn a close contest into a rout.

Pittsburgh went to a no-huddle look in the second half, catching Denver off guard.

"We really didn't have an answer for them," linebacker Andra Davis said.

Seahawks. Seattle added defensive end Derek Walker to the active roster off the practice squad and released wide receiver Mike Hass. The Seahawks also released guard Brian De La Puente from the practice squad.

Browns. Cleveland linebacker Eric Barton will miss the rest of the season with an unspecified injury.

He is the Browns' second inside linebacker to be sidelined with a season-ending injury. D'Qwell Jackson underwent shoulder surgery last month.