Associated Press

The NFL notebook …

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers denied they are finalizing a four-year contract with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin on Sunday, despite multiple media reports he will be coach Bill Cowher’s successor.

The Steelers issued a statement saying they had not concluded a deal, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Fox Sports.com both reported the 34-year-old Tomlin was the choice. The Post-Gazette reported Steelers assistant coach Russ Grimm was told Sunday that Tomlin has been selected.

“We don’t have anything,” Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said. “We will have no announcements today.”

While the Steelers have not interviewed any candidates since meeting with Tomlin for 31/2 hours Tuesday and Grimm for six hours Wednesday, there was a flurry of reports. SI.com, Sports Illustrated’s Web site, and, later, ESPN.com, reported Saturday the Steelers had decided on Tomlin. On Sunday, Grimm, the Steelers’ assistant head coach, was the choice.

VICK UPDATE MIAMI — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick wasn’t carrying marijuana when stopped by security last week at Miami International Airport, ESPN reported Sunday.

Citing anonymous NFL sources, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Vick wasn’t carrying marijuana or any other illegal substance. The ESPN report also cited an anonymous Falcons source, who said the team expects to hear something formal by today.

Last Wednesday, Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at the Miami airport. He was not arrested and was allowed to board an AirTran flight to Atlanta.

The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained “a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana,” the police report said.

Miami police have said it could take weeks to decide whether to file charges.

MORA TO SEATTLE

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Jim Mora is headed back to the Pacific Northwest, but Tyrone Willingham need not worry.

Mora isn’t landing his self-stated “dream job” at the University of Washington. Instead, he’s joining Mike Holmgren’s staff, agreeing Sunday to become an assistant head coach for the Seattle Seahawks’ less than three weeks after being fired as coach of the Atlanta Falcons.