Troy Edwards did not practice yesterday, and it may be awhile before he starts another game if Hines Ward has anything to do with it.
Ward led the Steelers with five receptions for 75 yards when he replaced the injured Edwards in Cleveland on Sunday
Coach Bill Cowher praised his play, saying he had seized his opportunity. Cowher would not say whether he had earned the starting job.
"Who doesn't want to start?" Ward said. "Yeah, I want to start. I didn't feel I did anything wrong to lose my starting job anyway. But it is a business. You don't pay these guys a lot of money to sit on the bench."
Ward started at flanker last season, and Edwards eventually started at split end. But after they drafted Plaxico Burress No. 1, they put him at split end and moved Edwards to flanker. Then, they promoted Edwards over Ward.
Ward and Edwards tied for the team lead with 61 receptions apiece last season.
"Troy's a great receiver," Ward said, "and I respect him a lot. If he's the guy in there, I'll be one of his biggest fans and I'm sure he'll do the same with me."
Ward and quarterback Kent Graham have developed a rapport that began in the exhibition season when both played on the second team.
"All preseason, I was going with Kent," Ward said. "I guess he got a better feel for me when we were out there. He talks to me constantly -- ' If this happens, I want to come to you on this.' It's good to have a quarterback who has confidence in you and can look out there and depend on you."
Ward makes bid for No. 1 
