Baltimore coach Brian Billick admits there is a strong competitive fire that burns between him and Steelers coach Bill Cowher, but there is "no rancor or bitterness." Billick appreciates how Cowher welcomed him into the coaching fraternity when he was named head coach of the Ravens in 1999. "When I first came into the league as a head coach, Bill was one of those people who was really very gracious towards me," Billick said. "I was very appreciative of that. You come in and feel a little like an outsider, but Bill was very inclusive. "I admire what he's done. There is always competitiveness, sure. Bill and I are two pretty strong-driven individuals, but always there is a huge amount of respect." Cowher has refrained this week from commenting about his rival, but he wasn't pleased two months ago when Billick ran his winning streak in Pittsburgh to three games and then told reporters how much he enjoys playing there. Reminded by a reporter that Billick never has lost in Pittsburgh, Cowher said, laughing: "Is that right?" Cowher also wasn't fond of Billick's comment about statistics being for losers after the Steelers pointed to their large edge in yardage in a 13-10 loss in Heinz Field in November. But Billick also has mentioned the Ravens only lost by five points in Baltimore when the Steelers clearly dominated much of the game last month. "I have learned from Brian that you don't talk about stats because that usually means you're on the losing end of a game," Cowher said. FRIENDLY FIRE Ravens quarterback Elvis Grbac helped lead his team to a playoff victory Sunday in Miami, but his first season in Baltimore hasn't been a party. He is 14th in the AFC with a 71.1 passer rating that includes 18 interceptions and only 15 touchdown passes. Fans, opponents - and teammates - have noticed. Tight end Shannon Sharpe was among those not especially pleased with Grbac after the Ravens' second loss this season to the Cleveland Browns. "He was brought here to do a job," Sharpe said, "and the job's not getting done." READY, IF NEEDED Steelers running back Jerome Bettis admitted backup running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala was "a little antsy and indecisive" when he first replaced Bettis in the starting lineup. But that's in the past, according to Bettis. "He looks like a veteran guy who's started three or four years now," Bettis said. Ma'afala's role will be significantly diminished Sunday, unless Bettis re-injures his groin. But Bettis has emphasized for the past two weeks that he is almost totally healed and will be fine when the game begins. CONFIDENT, BUT REALISTIC Billick said he is confident every time he steps on the field, but, sometimes, it can be misplaced. "I took a Utah State team into Nebraska when they were ranked No. 1 (in the late 1980s) and I felt confident and we got our (butts) kicked," he said. "But I was confident going in." Of playing the Steelers, he said, "You are confident, but you are respectful of the fact that this is the No. 1 seed with the best record in the conference, (playing) at home and is well-rested." GOOD CATCHES Billick also was especially complimentary of the Steelers' young wide receivers. "It's kind of sadistic for me to say it this way, but it's going to be fun to watch those guys continue to grow," he said. "It's an excellent young group that's going to get better and better. They're going to be good for a while. "I think Kordell (Stewart) is the (NFL) MVP. That was my vote, quite frankly, and a lot of it has to do with the maturity of the receivers." WHY NOT MARVIN When the Ravens hired Billick as their head coach in 1999, they had to wait, according to the rules set forth by the NFL, until after his duties as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings were satisfied. And that took Billick all the way through the NFC Championship game. Billick hopes another team offers Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, a Fort Cherry High School graduate and former Pitt and Steelers assistant, the same consideration. "I was fortunate," he said. "We've been moderately successful (in Baltimore) so, hopefully, someone will take that lead, say, 'You know what• This guy's a helluva coach. Maybe we ought to wait and really take a good, hard look at him.'" Billick acknowledges there are fewer openings this year and many of them are already "pigeon-holed" for specific coaches (Bill Parcells in Tampa, for example). But he hopes Lewis gets a chance, anyway. "For teams not to have a coach like Marvin Lewis at the top of their list ..." he said. "I think they are ill-advised in doing so and that they're making a huge mistake in doing so because he's an outstanding coach. "There's a part of me that's going, 'Great. The longer the guy sticks around here, the better we're going to be. But from a personal standpoint, it's unfortunate." NO PANIC IN RAVENS Billick said the defending Super Bowl champion might have an edge in the next year's playoff run, but it doesn't last long. "There's an experience factor that you hope that you can tap into," he said. "Psychologically, I don't know. All that psychological stuff lasts about as long as it takes to run down on that first kickoff and you get knocked on your (butt) and you come up looking through your earhole (of your helmet)." But playoff experience can be helpful in dealing with adversity. "There's a confidence factor of knowing we've been here before, so you tend not to panic," he said. When the Ravens' Jermaine Lewis fumbled the opening kickoff against the Dolphins last Sunday, the Ravens were equipped to handle it, Billick said. "You don't blink," he said. "Your defense comes in and knocks them off the field and all they get is three points and that's it for the game." The team reacted in the same manner last year when the Tennessee Titans scored on their opening drive in a second-round playoff game. "They weathered that storm and that's the only touchdown we've given up in five playoff games. This team has that experience to know whatever storm we need to weather early in the game, yeah, we're OK and we can fight through this." WEAK LINK? Sharpe has called Steelers linebacker Earl Holmes the "weak link" among Pittsburgh linebackers. Holmes just smiled when the remark was relayed to him. "That's the comment he made," Holmes said. "Quite frankly, after that I put him on his butt. One thing about it, once he comes across the 5-0 area (Holmes is No. 50), I'm going to let him know I'm there. You can say what you want to say. "I'm going to play my game. He's a talker, but you can't take anything away from his game. He's one of the better tight ends in the NFL. You have to give him that."

INJURY UPDATE Steelers right guard Rich Tylski was bugged by rib and ankle injuries in the last six games of the regular season, but he appears ready to return to the starting lineup. "This is the best I've felt in six weeks," he said. Running with speed and power again, running back Jerome Bettis looks like he never was injured. "He's making cuts. I think he's relieved a little bit of the apprehension just from that," Cowher said. "I think he's going to be close to full speed (by gametime)." BRAVING THE ELEMENTS With cold winds blowing off the Monongahela River, the Steelers practiced outside yesterday for the third consecutive week. "We'll be out here (today) ... weather permitting," Cowher said. The Steelers haven't practiced in their South Side indoor facility since the week before the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 30. Kicker Kris Brown kicked well, including a well-stroked 46-yard field goal. When someone on the sideline suggested it might have been good from 51, Brown said, "61." PREGAME FESTIVITIES About 40 men and women from the Pittsburgh Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Pittsburgh Firefighters and Pittsburgh Paramedics will be honored before the game. Darnella Wilson, a member of the city's EMS unit, will sing the national anthem. Heinz Field parking lots open at 7:30 a.m., and because of extensive security precautions at the gates, the team recommends that fans arrive at least an hour before the 12:30 p.m. kickoff. BY THE NUMBERS Players on the winning team get $16,000 for a divisional playoff game, $34,500 for a conference title game and $58,000 for the Super Bowl. ... The Steelers issued about 700 media credentials for the game Sunday. ... The Steelers are 4-12 all-time against the defending Super Bowl champion.

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