PITTSBURGH— The unique statistic was tossed in front of Tyrone Carter.

But the ninth-year NFLdefensive back and backup Steelers safety refused to grab it.

"I don't pay attention to any of that stuff,"Carter said when informed that his two interceptions and 50 yards in return yardage made him the Cleveland Browns' top receiver Sunday at Heinz Field.

The only Cleveland player to catch two passes on the day was Jerome Harrison — and he lost a yard.

"They were down to what? ... Their fourth quarterback?,"Carter said of the Browns. "We knew he (Bruce Gradkowski) wasn't going to do anything to us."

With starting free safety Ryan Clark inactive Sunday with a shoulder injury, the Steelers were down to Carter in the secondary.

And he did plenty to the Browns.

Carter intercepted two passes — giving the Steelers 20 picks for the season — and returned one for a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 31-0 triumph. The Browns managed only 126 net yards all day, a mere 26 yards through the air.

"There's a certain level of expection we have on this defense and Tyrone Carter lived up to that today,"Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "He made sure that expectation wasn't slipping.

"Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons ... It doesn't matter who we put out there. The 11 guys we put on the field understand the standard of Steelers defense."

Carter's first pick occurred with Pittsburgh holding a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter. Bryant McFadden blitzed from his corner position and pressured Gradkowski into an errant throw.

Carter corraled the ball and returned it 18 yards to the Cleveland 12-yard line, setting up a 22-yard Jeff Reed field goal.

"I would have loved to have taken that one in,"Carter said. "It's fun anytime you get your hands on the football. You want to complete the play."

He completed the play on his second interception, one which capped a day of fun for the home team.

Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis had a pass deflect off his fingertips, into the hands of Carter. He wouldn't be denied this time, rambling 32 yards for the game's final touchdown with 8:43 left in the contest.

"I know what to do when the ball is in my hands," Carter insisted. "I was an all-county running back my senior year in high school — and that was in the state of Florida, baby."

Carter rushed for 1,349 yards and 23 touchdowns for Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., as a senior. He went on to the University of Minnesota figuring to be a running back.

"My redshirt year, they switched me over," he said. "I didn't mind a bit. I was a standout defensively in high school, too. Find a way to get on the field and shine once you get there."

Carter wound up setting a NCAA Division I record for most career tackles by a defensive back, tallying 528 at Minnesota. He won the Jim Thorpe Award his senior year with the Gophers as the nation's best defensive back.

His 414 career solo tackles set a NCAA record for all positions.

"He's a veteran guy who took advantage of an opportunity today," Tomlin said.

"We had a standard to uphold," Carter said. "We had some guys out of the lineup, but we still wanted to end the regular season as the No. 1 ranked defense overall, against the run and against the pass."

While in high school, Carter also returned kickoffs 90, 95 and 97 yards for touchdowns.

"I've been bugging the coaches to give me a shot at returning kickoffs here,"Carter said. "I guess I have to wait my turn on that one."