DEARBORN, Mich. — If Jerramy Stevens stands his ground against Pittsburgh storm-creator Joey Porter at Ford Field as deftly as he did at his team's suburban hotel, the Seahawks will have neutralized one of their biggest Super Bowl threats.

The biggest threat in the days leading up to the game — manufactured distraction — was seemingly thwarted with Stevens' standup act Thursday.

One day after a handful of reporters passed by Stevens during a hour-long session, the media swarmed. Reporters with microphones on long poles and short sticks, cameras on tripods and shoulders created a phalanx five deep around a podium.

Porter, the Steelers' mouth that roars, stayed on the offensive.

"We're going to try to tap out as many people as we can, I'm going to put it like that," he said at the players' final pre-Super Bowl news conference. "We're going to try to send as many people to the sideline as we can."

Asked to explain "tap out," Porter patted the top of his head with his hand — a signal that the player is tired or injured and wants out.

Stevens called the media attention "ridiculous."

The dustup began after Stevens said that while Jerome Bettis' Detroit homecoming is a nice story, the Seahawks were going to ensure the Steelers running back "a sad day when he leaves without that trophy."

To most, the comment portrayed confidence. To Pittsburgh's havoc-wreaking outside linebacker, it was disrespect and prompted a colorful, pointed and personal response.

"Some people need something to be motivated. If that's what he found, that's what he found," Stevens said, after greeting the media mob scene with a stoic face that he maintained through most of the hour of incessant questioning about Porter.

When asked if he would say the same thing about Bettis in retrospect, Stevens said, "I would."

"I don't feel I was out of line," he said. "I meant what I said. I am not going to repeat it to stir something up. I meant it, and I meant it with no disrespect."

So it went for another 55 minutes, variations and repetitions of the same Stevens stance.

"Jerramy won't say anymore the rest of the week," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said, with a wry smile before Stevens stood his ground.

Holmgren and Steelers coach Bill Cowher have both spent the last week stressing to players the need to not create distractions.

Stevens, a 2002 first-round draft choice, finally emerged this season from off-the-field problems to become a favorite receiving target of Matt Hasselbeck on third downs and near the goal line. He had career highs of 45 receptions and five touchdowns.

With an additional eight catches and one score in the postseason, Stevens has equaled his touchdown total over the previous three seasons combined.

In the last few days, though, he came Porter's target. Yet Stevens remained poised, even stoic.

"I would say I am almost unaffected," he said. A plain expression above his bushy, dark goatee suggested his words were true.

His teammates seemed almost bemused by the spectacle.

"I don't think it's that big a deal," 13-year veteran fullback Mack Strong said, adding he felt no need to talk to his younger teammate.

"I know people are looking for any sort of morsel or crumb to make it more than it really is," he said.

All Stevens would give Porter was a reminder.

"I'll be out there Sunday. He will be, too," he said. "We'll let our actions decide."