Steelers give thumbs up to XL design
Steelers players left Heinz Field on Sunday night sporting rings the size of some North Shore doorknobs.
Big, bright, illuminating and diamond-studded, the jewelry marking their Super Bowl XL victory signaled an end to a 114-day whirlwind and the beginning of an attempt at another Super Bowl run next season.
"This was a great way to finish things up," right tackle Max Starks said, sporting a pinstripe suit and a smile even brighter than the ring. "Now we have to try to do it again."
About 150 members of the Steelers organization received their rings during the banquet, which lasted more than three hours and featured the sounds of Morris Day and the Time, an R&B group formed by Prince.
The gaudy gold jewelry -- designed by chairman Dan Rooney, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and retired running back Jerome Bettis -- features five diamond replicas of the Vince Lombardi trophies on the front, representing the franchise's five Super Bowl titles, along with the Steelers logo.
One side of the ring shows the score of Super Bowl XL -- Steelers 21, Seattle 10 -- along with the Super Bowl XL logo. The other side is highlighted by a player's name and number, along with the NFL logo.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was the first player out the door, but he refused interview requests as he hopped into his vehicle and headed for the airport.
Starks said he was thrilled with his new hardware, but linebacker James Harrison, seemingly in jest, said he wanted even more.
"I thought it would be a little more flashy," Harrison said, proudly modeling the ring. "I'll still wear it for two or three months."
Some players seemed to be mesmerized by the size and style of the rings. The Steelers wouldn't say how much they cost.
The NFL pays Super Bowl-winning teams $5,000 per ring for up to 150 rings, plus adjustments for increases in the cost of gold and diamonds. If a team wants more than 150 rings, it must pay the extra cost.
Typically, ring makers offer reduced rates for promotional purposes. That enables teams to be liberal in the design process without fear of cost overruns.
"It's nicer than I expected," Starks said.
Only two other franchises -- the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers -- can claim five Super Bowl rings.
"I imagine I'll be doing a lot of talking with my hands for a while," Harrison said, again flashing the ring.
Super Bowl rings have come a long way since the first title game in 1967. The Green Bay Packers, winners of that event, received modest rings with one diamond on the face and not much else ornamentation. The Steelers' first ring after the '75 season was also modest, with just one diamond.
Today, the rings are flashy and pricey. The New England Patriots' rings after Super Bowl XXXVIII reportedly cost more than $20,000 apiece. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, also spared no expense in constructing the three rings won by the Cowboys during his tenure.
It has been a wild four months for the Steelers since their Super Bowl win on Feb. 5. They were honored by a quarter-million revelers at a downtown parade days after the Super Bowl, have sent players off to Disney World, David Letterman, Jay Leno and "Deal or No Deal," and appeared Friday at the White House with President Bush.
Last night provided the final sparkle to their Super Bowl season.
"It's been a lot of fun," Starks said. "We'd like to do it again."
