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PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Mike Tomlin likes his quarterback and wants to keep him. Signing Ben Roethlisberger to a new long-term deal may be the easiest thing to check off on the Pittsburgh Steelers lengthy off-season to do list.Pittsburgh returned to the top of the AFC North in 2014, going 11-5 and finishing with a perfect 4-0 run through December. Staying there, however, will require another big step from the young core on both sides of the ball and some shrewd decision making by a franchise that has now gone four years without a playoff victory, the clubs longest drought in two decades.We didnt realize our goal and our goal is and always will be to be the champs, Tomlin said.The Steelers return to the post-season lasted all of six days. Baltimore pushed them around in a 30-17 wild-card win last Saturday as Pittsburgh struggled to find a consistent rhythm without running back LeVeon Bell, whose hyperextended right knee forced him to watch in sweatpants. Bells knee might be good enough to play in the Pro Bowl later this month and there should be no ill effects moving forward.Just who else will be along for the ride when Pittsburgh begins organized team activities in the spring remains uncertain, especially on defence. The status of everyone from Hall of Fame co-ordinator Dick LeBeau to safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Ike Taylor is unknown. Tomlin declined to confirm LeBeau would return for a 57th season on the sideline, saying he needed to speak to LeBeau first.Either way, whoever is in charge of the defence will take over a unit in the midst of an identity shift. Polamalu is weighing retirement while Taylor and defensive end Brett Keisel — who ended the season injured — might not have a choice. Linebacker James Harrison hasnt ruled out one more year after an eye-opening 5 1/2 sacks in 10 games.Here are a couple things to remember for Pittsburghs offseason:ON TO 2015: Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert have started the process of looking to next fall even as the pain of an early post-season exit lingers.It never gets stale, Tomlin said. You better love it because the wheels keep turning. Kevin was like, Hey, sorry about the season, want to talk (salary) cap? Thats Kevins mentality.KEEPING BEN: The Steelers have two months before free agency begins, though their biggest order of business will be in house. They gambled by not signing Roethlisberger to a contract extension and he responded by tying for the league lead in yards passing and tied a career high with 32 touchdown passes. He wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh, but it is going to cost them. Thats fine by Tomlin.Weve got a good quarterback. I like him, Tomlin said. Id like to keep him.Tomlin also dismissed the idea that Roethlisberger and tight end Heath Miller did not receive proper medical attention after briefly leaving during Pittsburghs final drive on Saturday night. Roethlisberger complained of whiplash and Tomlin said neither player displayed concussion-like symptoms.I take offence to assumption we would put those guys in harms way, he said.WHAT IN THE WORILDS: Outside linebacker Jason Worilds will hit the open market as a free agent after registering 7 1/2 sacks. He said Monday he would happily stay in Pittsburgh if things work out but will weigh his options with a hefty payday in the offing.YOUNG CORE: In Bell, wide receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, centre Maurkice Pouncey and defensive end Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh has a growing group of cornerstones expected to carry the team through the rest of the decade. The Steelers have rebuilt themselves on the run and their streak of 11 consecutive non-losing seasons is the second-longest in the NFL. That still doesnt quite pass the test at the only place with six Vince Lombardi Trophies in the front hallway.Asked to grade 2014, guard David DeCastro shrugged and said F I guess based on the expectation that each year should end underneath celebratory confetti at the Super Bowl.ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Even after setting a new franchise mark for points and finishing second in total yards, Tomlin is confident the offence can improve.If theres a ceiling in this thing its because you put in on yourself from a perception standpoint, he said. Why cant we get better in all areas?___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Nicklas Backstrom Jersey . For the Athletics, hes extremely important at the top of the order, especially with Coco Crisp hurting. Jaso drove in three runs Sunday night, helping Scott Kazmir and Oakland beat the Texas Rangers 9-3. Mike Gartner Jersey . -- First baseman Carlos Pena and outfielder Brennan Boesch have signed minor league deals with the Los Angeles Angels. http://www.officialcapitalspro.com/John-carlson-capitals-jersey/ . Pospisil, the seventh seed, saved match points in each of the last two sets before falling to the unseeded Dutchman. "I wasnt very happy with the way I was playing,"said Pospisil. Lars Eller Jersey . -- Downcast before the final game of what had been a difficult road trip, the Ottawa Senators found a way to dig out a little momentum in the desert before heading home. Alex Ovechkin Jersey . Jeff Carter had two goals and an assist as the Kings stretched their streak to seven wins in a row with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.The Toronto Maple Leafs have received updates on a pair of players who were injured during Saturdays loss to the New York Rangers. Head coach Randy Carlyle said that forward David Clarkson has a deep bone bruise but no broken bones and is listed as day to day. Clarkson had an off-ice workout on Sunday morning and tested his foot at practice on Monday but had to leave the ice. He is going to have a CT Scan done Monday to make sure nothing is broken. Defenceman Carl Gunnarsson is also day to day with an elbow injury and is sscheduled to have an MRI on Monday morning.ddddddddddddHe also took part in an off-ice workout on Sunday. Clarkson left the game in the first period after blocking a shot with his left foot. Gunnarsson played only one shift after taking a body check from the Rangers Carl Hagelin. Carlyle also said there would definitely be lineup changes when the Leafs return to action on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. He suggested that newly-acquired defenceman Tim Gleason would dress for his club debut. 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