PITTSBURGH — It wasn't anything flashy — just a solid 15-yard pass reception from quarterback Charlie Batch that helped the Steelers move toward a field goal.

When Hines Ward brought down that pass in the second quarter against Cleveland Sunday night, however, it became a catch for the ages as it pushed him past Hall of Famer John Stallworth as the Steelers' all-time leading receiver with 538 receptions.

Ward marked his milestone night with one of his best games of the season, hauling in 8 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown that energized Pittsburgh in its 34-21 victory over the Browns.

"The way I wanted to lay out the record-breaking night, this is how I envisioned it: Win, get the record, help get the win and beat Cleveland," Ward said. "It was a perfect night."

Head coach Bill Cowher offered Ward his congratulations for breaking the record and his appreciation for the receiver's effort Sunday night and throughout his career.

"He makes the plays he makes week in and week out," Cowher said. "I'm very happy for him to have achieved what he achieved today. He's with some of the great Pittsburgh Steelers that have played on the offensive side of the ball, and he deserves to be there."

When Ward joined the team as a third-round draft pick in 1998, he wasn't thinking about records. The former Georgia quarterback was far down on the depth chart and had to content himself with playing mostly on special teams his first few years.

After he became a regular wide receiver, detractors said he was too short and too slow to become one of the better ones in the league.

But Ward persevered and proved to his coach, his teammates and the NFL that he could play at a high level, and the struggle necessary to get there makes him relish the record that much more.

"It meant so much to me, considering everything I've been through," Ward said. "But I kept working my tail off to put myself in this position."

An indication of how much more the Steelers pass the ball in Ward's time with the team than they did in Stallworth's day is that Ward snapped the record in less than eight full seasons (1998-present) while Stallworth needed 13 seasons (1974-87).

Stallworth, who earned four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers, caught 537 passes for 8,713 yards and 63 touchdowns. His best season was 1984, when he caught 80 passes for 1,395 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Ward's best season so far was 2002, when he pulled in 112 passes for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns. He'll continue to build on these career numbers: 543 catches, 6,613 yards and 18 touchdowns.

But Ward is more than just a numbers generator. He's a vocal and emotional leader who helps to stoke the Steelers' competitive fire.

"It's a credit to him and his ability," running back Jerome Bettis said about Ward's historic catch. "He's been a hard worker since he's been here, from special teams to being a full-time Pro Bowler.

"He gives us his heart. He gives everything to this team. He's the ultimate teammate, and I'm proud to say I played with him."

Now that Ward is among prestigious company in the Steelers' record book, he's aware that he'll be compared with Stallworth and Lynn Swann, the Steelers' other Hall of Fame receiver from the 1970s dynasty years.

That won't fly with Ward.

"I don't really care for comparisons," he said. "I just want to be in the same class.

"When people think of the Pittsburgh Steelers receivers, you say Stallworth, Swann, and now you add Hines to that list."