--WR Hines Ward agreed to a new five-year contract with the Steelers that should be the last of his career. The deal was done in part to save the Steelers some salary cap room this year because Ward had a salary of $5.8 million and a cap number of $8.55 million.
"I want to be a Steeler," Ward said after the team's first spring practice. "If it came down to both parties agreeing on a situation, then 'I'm for it. I don't want to put on another uniform."
--The Steelers signed their first UFA from another team, Colts CB Keiwan Ratliff, 27, to a one-year deal. He will provide depth at the position and also compete as a return man. The Bengals drafted Ratliff in 2004. He was primarily a backup in Cincinnati, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.
--Six veterans did not show up for the team's first two spring practices the past week -- Willie Parker, Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Larry Foote, Tyrone Carter and Nick Eason.
"We have the main core of guys," said Hines Ward. "Once training camp comes around and minicamp next week, we'll have the full team. Everybody will be here. We never had that problem with us."
--The Steelers' lone required minicamp will be held this weekend, Friday-Sunday.
-- The Steelers released RB Gary Russell, who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII, for what personnel boss Kevin Colbert said were salary cap reasons so they could re-sign backup QB Charlie Batch.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I didn't grow up too much listening about the Pittsburgh Steelers because at the time they were not my team. But now that it is, I'm going to learn everything, every history point." -- Ziggy Hood.
