Tomlin extended through 2021

The Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin have agreed on a oneyear contract extension that will run through the 2021 season.

The club announced the deal on the eve of Tomlin’s 13th training camp with the team.

Tomlin, 47, had two years left on his previous deal, a time frame when the Steelers typically renegotiate or do new contracts for prominent coaches, players and front-office members.

“Mike is one of the most successful head coaches in the National Football League, and we are confident in his leadership to continue to lead our team as we pursue our goal of winning another championship,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement.

Tomlin is 126-66-1 since replacing Bill Cowher in 2007. He has led the Steelers to a pair of Super Bowl appearances — winning one — while capturing six AFC North titles and eight playoff berths overall. Pittsburgh is looking to bounce back from a late-season collapse last winter that forced it to miss the postseason for the first time since 2013.

Bell sets high goals for 1st year with Jets

Le’veon Bell took a screen pass from Sam Darnold, shifted around some would-be tacklers and scooted down the sideline for a big gain.

Nope, no sign of rust here.

While it was just an early moment in the New York Jets’ first training camp practice Thursday, it’s the type of scenario Bell and the Jets envision playing out over and over again this season.

“I felt good,” the star running back said. “Yesterday, I did the conditioning test twice. So, yeah, I feel good.”

That’s a positive sign for Bell, the native of Groveport who sat out all last season during a contract dispute with the Steelers. He signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract with the Jets in March, but there were questions about how the long layoff might affect him — and whether he will be the same type of dominant dual-threat backfield presence he was for five seasons in Pittsburgh.

Bell led the NFL with an eye-popping 406 touches in 2017, and he’s ready for a similar workload with the Jets.

“I mean, I’m up for 500 if it’s going to take us to the Super Bowl,” Bell said with a laugh. “It don’t matter how many touches I get, I’m just trying to win games. If I have 19 touches and we win the Super Bowl, you think I’d care?”

Bell last played in a game on Jan. 14, 2018, in a playoff loss to Jacksonville, more than 18 months ago. Many considered Bell the best all-around running back in the NFL at the time, and it was tough to argue.

Others have now entered that conversation, but even with a year off the field, Bell has set loftier goals for himself.

“I expect to be better,” he said. “I don’t want to just say I’m going to be how I was two years ago. Each and every year, I feel like I want to be a better player.

“I’m confident. I feel like I’m healthy. I’m just ready to go out there and just perform.”

Lewan expects appeal to be denied

Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan plans to appeal his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’S policy against performance-enhancing drugs, even while knowing he’ll most likely lose.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection and former Michigan All-american spent his interview time Thursday answering every question from reporters defending himself, apologizing for missing the Titans’ first four games of a crucial season and explaining what happened.

He passed a drug test in April, then failed a test May 28. Lewan said that likely was due to a bad batch of a supplement found to contain the banned substance ostarine.

“Really horrible situation to feel like this and walk into the locker room and tell those guys you’re not going to be with them for four games,” he said. “It breaks my heart.”

The Titans open the regular season at the Cleveland Browns.

Jets rookie ends holdout quickly

Quinnen Williams’ contract holdout lasted all of one practice.

The New York Jets and the first-round pick agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $32.5 million fully guaranteed.

The former Alabama defensive tackle was the No. 3 overall selection in the NFL draft in April. He missed the Jets’ first practice of training camp but is expected to rejoin the team today.

Williams’ deal includes a nearly $21.7 million signing bonus and a standard fifthyear team option.

Williams was regarded as possibly the best all-around player in the draft. He was limited with a calf issue during minicamp last month.