PITTSBURGH - Coach Bill Cowher read down the list of the Pittsburgh Steelers' six Pro Bowl players as practice ended Wednesday, pausing for clapping each time. The last name drew the biggest ovation of all.

While center Jeff Hartings and linebacker James Farrior also are going to Honolulu for the first time, his teammates' lengthy salute recognized how far second-year safety Troy Polamalu's career has come in a short time.

Polamalu, a disappointment a year ago when the first-round draft pick played only as a backup, was chosen in his first season as a starter. That's something not even rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could accomplish - though, as a first alternate, Roethlisberger will go to the Pro Bowl if the AFC's Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Tom Brady chooses not to play.

Polamalu called his selection a testament to perseverance and patience - namely, that of his teammates for patiently waiting out his underachieving 2003 season.

"I don't know what to think, really," Polamalu said. "I definitely have a lot of work to do to get better, and that's the exciting part."

Guard Alan Faneca and wide receiver Hines Ward were selected for a fourth consecutive season, while linebacker Joey Porter made it for the second time in three seasons. Six other Steelers are alternates: Roethlisberger, defensive end Aaron Smith, kick returner Antwaan Randle El, offensive tackle Marvel Smith, punter Chris Gardocki and fullback Dan Kreider.

Hartings was a Pro Bowl first alternate four times, twice as a guard with Detroit, only to finally make it in his ninth season despite almost retiring a couple of years ago with troublesome knees.

"It means maybe a little bit more because I've been an alternate three, four, five times," he said. "On top of that I feel I have played well. I don't feel like I don't deserve it. It comes as being part of a great team; any time you have a winning team, you have a lot of Pro Bowlers."

Just not as many as some teams. The Steelers (13-1) have three fewer picks than the NFL's other one-loss team, the Eagles (13-1). Ward doesn't see that a snub, not with the Patriots (12-2), Chargers (11-3) and Colts (11-3) also having big seasons.

"It's because of the parity of the AFC, all the teams having winning years, whereas in the NFC there's only one dominant team, and that's the Eagles," Ward said. "You have the Patriots, and Indy and San Diego, so we're all going to bump heads (for the AFC team)."

His teammates seemed most disappointed by Aaron Smith's omission. He has a career-high eight sacks, though his primary duties in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense are as a run-stopper.

Porter promised Smith will be his guest in Honolulu even if Smith doesn't make it as a first alternate.

"I'm a little frustrated Aaron didn't go," said Porter, who also plans to take the other defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and linebackers coach Keith Butler.

Porter said Polamalu can pay for the defensive backs' trips - a notion that caught Polamalu by surprise. Despite making millions as a first-rounder, Polamalu still dresses like a college student on a budget and drives a $12,000 sport utility vehicle, rather than a fancy, customized Hummer or Mercedes like many teammates do.

"It wouldn't be bad if we had two people in the secondary (to pay)," Polamalu said.

Meanwhile, running back Duce Staley (hamstring) and Ward (hip) were among those sitting out practice, though Ward is listed as probable and is all but certain to play Sunday against the Ravens (8-6).

Staley didn't sound optimistic, saying he still can't cut properly because of an injury that has kept him out of five of the last seven games. He is listed as questionable.