Hines Ward's final preparation for the game Monday night will come during warmups at 3Com Park. There, he will size up things and map his routes. The Pro Bowl wide receiver is searching for a receiver of his own, someone to hand the football to after he scores another touchdown.

	Peter Diana/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
	The Steelers' Hines Ward pulls in a pass from quarterback Tommy Maddox against the Denver Broncos.
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"I look in pregame warmup," said Ward, who searches for fans wearing his No. 86 jersey. "Fans are pointing at me, 'I got your jersey.' That helps a little bit. It's just me appreciating the fans for their support; to go out and buy my jersey really means a lot to me. What better way to reward them by giving them a touchdown ball?"

He's passing them into the stands at a record pace. Ward has eight touchdown receptions. He tied the team record last season with 12; he's on pace for 14, which would tie Franco Harris' team record for touchdowns scored in any manner.

But there's one $75 souvenir he wished he had given away but did not. He scored on a 2-yard reception in Seattle. Ward ran to the inside, and Tommy Maddox threw to the outside. Ward had to twist his entire body to the left while his momentum carried him to his right to make one of the finest 2-yard touchdown receptions anyone will see.

That fourth-quarter score brought the Steelers within three points of the Seahawks, and Ward was so excited he spiked the ball at the feet of the defender. Not only did the officials on the field penalize the Steelers 15 yards on the kickoff for taunting, but league officials recently fined Ward $5,000 as well.

"I wasn't very happy about that," Ward said. "Just because I have money I'm not trying to give $5,000 away just for spiking it. I'd rather hit the guy, at least it would be worth it. But the referee made the call, and I know not to get into that position again."

Otherwise, he has been in nearly perfect position all year. The Steelers' offense has slogged through the season like an old dog in a snowstorm. They rank 30th in the league in rushing average per play, 20th in passing average, 27th in total average.

Through it all, Ward has excelled. If it weren't for Ward, the Steelers might have no offense at all.

He leads the AFC with 60 receptions and is tied for the lead with those eight touchdown catches. That gives him four more than the Colts' Marvin Harrison, the runaway leader in the fan voting for the Pro Bowl on NFL.com.

Ward has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons but never earned All-Pro. He trails only Torry Holt (66) and Randy Moss (63) of the NFC in number of receptions.

He believes his lack of recognition around the country comes for two reasons -- he's not a tall, fast or particularly flashy receiver, and he wasn't drafted in the first round.

"I'm not 6-5. I'm not the receiver who stands out. I don't have blazing speed, so people don't look at me as being an All-Pro. Plaxico, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss. Those guys are 6-5. People automatically assume they're the best receivers in the league. I'm not that prototypical wideout."

Monday Night Football could change all that.

Ward's numbers might be outstanding, but to watch him play is to put perspective behind them. Nothing but video could do justice to his 2-yard touchdown catch in Seattle. He will be the best receiver on the field , even though Owens, who actually is 6 feet 3, will get more attention. Ward gives the football away after touchdowns, but he does not pull a Sharpie out of his sock to autograph it before he does. Owens has 48 receptions and two touchdowns.

Ward would love to have a big game in the Monday Night showcase, but not because it would help bring All-Pro votes.

"This picture is bigger than what I do on Monday night. I just want to win a game. If I don't catch any balls and we win the game, I'm happy. That's our whole goal, to just take it one game at a time and try to win one game. That's all my concern, it's not what I do it's what the team does."

Ward said he'd love to be the guy who goes deep all the time, but that's not the case. So, he'd like to erase some descriptions he's picked up along the way.

"I don't want to be labeled just a possession guy. I hate when people label somebody. Why can't they just say he's a great wide receiver, he's a good wide receiver? I'd rather be labeled that.

" 'The best blocking receiver in the league.' I hated that title for the longest. I just wanted to be a good wide receiver in the league. By going out and playing consistent, I'm going to make a name for myself that way."

Someday, they might even name a stadium after him.