Ward Returns; Steelers Prevail

The Pittsburgh Steelers had reason to be positive Monday after Pro Bowl wide receiver Hines Ward ended his 15-day contract holdout and the team came away with a 38-31 exhibition victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field.

Before returning without signing, Ward talked at length with Steeler Coach Bill Cowher, who convinced the receiver of his importance to the team, which was 15-1 last year.

“For me, I needed to hear that from my head coach, this support -- that’s all a player can ask for. If your coach doesn’t have confidence in you as a ballplayer, maybe you need to part ways,” said Ward, after showing up two hours before the exhibition and watching the game. “It’s been a long time since we had a conversation like that. ... That’s why I’m here, showing good faith, because I want to retire a Steeler.”

Ward had been the team’s first major holdout in 12 years, keeping his promise not to report to camp without a contract extension that would make him one of the NFL’s top-paid wide receivers. The Steelers promised not to negotiate with a player under contract who is not in camp.

Ward hopes his arrival will lead to a new deal. He has one year left on a contract worth $1.66 million this season.

Ward says he disliked being mentioned almost daily with Terrell Owens, who wants more money after signing a $49-million contract with the Eagles.

“It’s totally different. ... I don’t even think I’d look right in another uniform,” Ward said. “It’s unfortunate it came to a holdout because I wouldn’t miss this season for the world.”

In the exhibition, the Steelers scored on Willie Williams’ 10-yard interception return -- of Donovan McNabb’s first pass of the preseason -- a 66-yard punt return by Ricardo Colclough and a 100-yard kickoff return by Ike Taylor to take leads of 14-0, 21-7 and 28-10 before the Eagles rallied to make it close.

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Top Miami Dolphin draft pick Ronnie Brown ended a three-week holdout, participating in practice at training camp after signing a five-year, $34-million contract that included about $20 million guaranteed.

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Jerry Rice, 42, moved up the Denver depth chart, running as the No. 3 receiver at Bronco practice, ahead of Darius Watts. “I pretty much approach every season never thinking about what I accomplished the year before,” said Rice, who said he was simply trying to make the team.

Rice was limited in practice last week because of a sore foot.

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Alex Barron, the St. Louis Rams’ first-round pick, practiced for the first time after ending a two-week holdout last week and landed at a new position.

All of his snaps came at left tackle, Orlando Pace’s position, a clear indication that, at this point, the Rams consider him a high-priced backup.

“He’s got a long ways to go to learn how to play,” Coach Mike Martz said.

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Agent Drew Rosenhaus told the Tennessee Titans he would like to pursue a trade that would allow Billy Volek to be a starting quarterback in the NFL sooner rather than later.

“To me, that wouldn’t make sense based on you have to have two good quarterbacks to have a chance to win,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “Why would you give one away unless you had a chance to get a better one?”

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Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, who had been sidelined by hamstring and toe injuries, returned to practice and said he should be OK to play in the San Diego Chargers’ exhibition Sunday against St. Louis. ... Buffalo Bill running back Willis McGahee was held out of practice because of a sore right leg. ... Oakland Raider receiver Jerry Porter, who has been out with a hamstring pull, has set Aug. 26 as his return date. ... Seattle Seahawk rookie linebacker LeRoy Hill is expected to be out for 10 days after spraining his right knee in practice.

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Baltimore Raven return specialist B.J. Sams was arrested and charged with drunk driving after a traffic stop early Monday in Towson, Md. Sams was pulled over shortly after 2 a.m. on Interstate 83, just north of the Baltimore city line, after his Chevrolet Tahoe was clocked going 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, Maryland State Police said.