"The Steelers will take the first step toward their 76th season Sunday when they open training camp, which could be their last under the Rooney family name.

Coach Mike Tomlin, entering his second season, acknowledged yesterday that the sudden uncertain future of the team's ownership could become a distraction for his players as they practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

"Potentially,'' is how Mr. Tomlin put the chances of it affecting his ballclub. "Because there'll be questions that I'll have to answer in regards to that and there will be questions that potentially our team has to answer in regard to that."