Steelers seek improvement in secondary

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Dewayne Washington had the kind of miserable ending to a playoff game that can ruin a season.
An offseason, too.
Washington was in coverage on Tennessee receiver Justin McCareins' 31-yard overtime catch in a divisional playoff game, then committed a rarely called penalty on Joe Nedney's missed 31-yard field goal try.
Given a second chance after Washington drew a running-into-the-kicker penalty for brushing against his leg, Nedney made the subsequent 26-yard attempt.
The Titans went to the AFC championship game and the Steelers went home, about the worst possible finish to a season that Washington could imagine.
"Obviously, it took a little while to get that out of my head," Washington said.
What the Steelers didn't do despite a disappointing season by their secondary -- and not just because of their game-long troubles in stopping Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair -- was get rid of Washington.
Despite speculation they would overhaul a pass defense that dropped from No. 4 in the league in 2001 to No. 20 last season, the only change was bringing in rookie strong safety Troy Polamalu to replace Lee Flowers. Flowers subsequently signed with Denver, but drew a four-game suspension Saturday for violating the league's steroid policy.
Washington and the other starting cornerback, Chad Scott, will return, even though the Steelers allowed 1,103 yards passing in their last three games to McNair, Cleveland's Kelly Holcomb and Baltimore's Jeff Blake. Also back are free safety Brent Alexander and his backup, Chris Hope.