Super Bowl News and Notes

The Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl window is just opening, writes Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

For the moment, contract extensions for Packers general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy are on the back-burner.

McCarthy's upbringing drives his success, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took issue with injured teammates that rehabbed off-site.

One of those players, linebacker Nick Barnett, fired back on Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary will be challenged by Rodgers and the Packers' passing offense.

Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall feels he's grown as a player, writes Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger feels he's grown as a person this year, writes Ron Cook.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison thinks the defense will have opportunities to make big plays against the Packers.

Veteran Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is the 2011 recipient of the Art Rooney Award.

Senior Bowl News and Notes

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder picked up MVP honors in leading the South to a win on Saturday.

Ponder separated himself from the Senior Bowl quarterback pack on Saturday, writes Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports.

Greg Bedard of The Boston Globe identifies Senior Bowl players who would fit on the New England Patriots.

University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker had an up-and-down performance on Saturday.

North linebacker Mason Foster, Locker's teammate at U-Dub, lead all defenders with eight tackles.

Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com identifies the standouts in Mobile this week.

Adam Caplan of FOXSports.com lists his risers and fallers from Senior Bowl week.