Some may criticize — and rightfully so — controversial officiating calls, instant replay and player conduct off the field of late.

But the NFL has finally gotten something right.

The league will present the first Art Rooney Award during an awards show the night before the Super Bowl next weekend.

This award will go to the player in the league who best exemplifies fair play, respect of opponents and integrity in competition.

You know ... like they all should do.

No professional sports owner adhered to those traits like Rooney.

Known for decades as the NFL’s most lovable loser, he missed the Immaculate Reception at Three Rivers Stadium in 1972.

Rooney was already on the elevator, trying to get to the Steelers locker room to congratulate them on a great season as they entered the room.

Even in the middle of his team’s post-game euphoria, Rooney thought to make the trek to the Oakland Raiders locker room, where he patiently waited for Jack Tatum to leave the visiting clubhouse.

It was Tatum, of course, who deflected the pass toward Franco Harris, who proceeded to enter pro football lore. Rooney wanted to congratulate and consol Tatum at the same time.

That’s the kind of man Art Rooney was, after all.

As much as he loved his team, he respected the game and admired all athletes who played it.

We need more like him, to be sure.

The Steelers’ candidate for the first Art Rooney Award is Troy Polamalu.

How fitting would that be?

The soft-spoken, heavy-hitting playmaking safety — a virtual lock for the Hall of Fame when he’s eligible — may have played his final season this year.

To see Polamalu close his career by accepting the Rooney Award the night before the Super Bowl would be a just exit, indeed.

Polamalu has not announced his retirement. One has to figure he’s leaning that way.

So, too, might Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor and James Harrison. The one guy who may come back is Harrison, who did make some big plays this season and may be curious enough to wonder how he might do if he was all-in from training camp on.

If all four of these guys do hang it up, it would leave Ben Roethlisberger as the lone link to the Steelers’ most recent run of Super Bowl appearances.

One never knows how long a wait it will be once a team begins transitioning to a new era. Once the Steelers of the 1970’s faded away, it took another 15 years before the team got back to the Super Bowl.

It was another decade after that.

While Big Ben is here — and he will very likely finish his career here — the Steelers have a shot.

With Art Rooney, they had a legendary owner.

The annual Art Rooney Award will make sure future generations of fans never forget that.

Nice move, NFL.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle