PITTSBURGH - Chris Gardocki spent four years in Chicago and four years in Cleveland, so punting in Heinz Field doesn't faze him.

"I've had my share of punting in nasty weather," the Pittsburgh Steelers' new punter said Monday. "Playing in nasty weather in places like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, New England, that should be to the home team's advantage."

Gardocki also punted for four years in Indianapolis. That's where he played for special-teams coach Kevin Spencer, who is now in Pittsburgh and was instrumental in directing Gardocki to the Steelers.

Gardocki needed the help. He once presented Steelers coach Bill Cowher with an obscene hand gesture after linebacker Joey Porter had knocked the wind out of him with a post-punt block. At the time, Gardocki and the Browns railed about the so-called cheap shot, but Gardocki put the 2000 incident behind him yesterday.

"When you're out there, you don't have any friends," Gardocki said. "That's football. In between the lines, people change personalities and you want to win. I'm a competitor and if you're not in this game to compete and win, you shouldn't be playing."

Asked if he'd talked to Porter yet, Gardocki said he hadn't sought him out.

"I'm going to hide from him," he said. "I think he got the best of me."

Gardocki signed a five-year, $6.5 million contract with the Steelers Saturday, a deal that included a $1 million bonus. On Monday, the Steelers released eight-year veteran punter Josh Miller, who, like Gardocki, will be 34 on opening day. Both punters averaged 41.9 yards per punt last season, but Miller had the better net average of 37.4 to Gardocki's 34.8.

The Steelers also hosted free agents Artrell Hawkins and Duce Staley on Monday.