After landing six players on the AFC Pro Bowl team, the Steelers had three players named to The Associated Press All-Pro first team yesterday -- inside linebacker James Farrior, guard Alan Faneca and center Jeff Hartings.

It was third time Faneca has been named to the team (2001, '02). Farrior and Hartings were first-time selections.

"The Pro Bowl is a little vacation, but All-Pro counts both sides -- the AFC and NFC -- and they only pick 22," said outside linebacker Joey Porter. "When you make the All-Pro team, they feel you're the best at that position."

Porter was one of three Steelers named second-team All-Pro, along with receiver Hines Ward and safety Troy Polamalu. All six are headed to the Pro Bowl.

Farrior, voted the team's most valuable player, could make it a clean sweep if he is named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, which is scheduled to be announced tomorrow.

"He definitely deserves it," Porter said. "He did everything and more that the coaches asked of him. He put us in the position we are now because he played so well."

"It's good to see a player that good get the credit he deserves," defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said.

Honor for Reed, too

Jeff Reed should have a new nickname.

Mr. December.

Reed was named the AFC special teams player of the month for December, the second time the third-year kicker has won such an award. He was named special teams player of the month in December 2002.

"It's a great honor," Reed said. "I always give credit to the guys blocking for me, and Mike [Schneck, long snapper] and Chris [Gardocki, holder]. If it weren't for those guys, my job would be really tough."

Reed has made 17 field goals in a row -- two shy of Gary Anderson's club record -- and was seventh in the AFC with 107 points. But he has made 13 field goals in the past five games, including the winner in Jacksonville with 18 seconds remaining. He also kicked four field goals in a 33-30 victory in New York against the Giants and five in the 29-24 victory Sunday in Buffalo.

"I'm confident right now," Reed said.

"It's where I need to be going into the playoffs. I know every kick is going to matter, just as it has all season, no matter if it's an extra point or not. You got to kick it through."

A dangling conversation

Inside linebacker Larry Foote delivered a thundering hit on Buffalo running back Willis McGahee in the victory against the Bills, not only knocking McGahee sideways but out of the game for a couple plays.

McGahee stood up after the hit and began trash talking with Foote, pretending not to be woozy. Then he turned toward the sideline and had to be checked by team personnel.

"I'm definitely not going to hear him in a game with 80,000 people screaming," Foote said. "I didn't hear him. I was trying to get my words off, too, and we were just shouting at each other."

Asked if he saw McGahee receiving assistance on the sideline, Foote said, "I saw him over there. I was talking some smack to him on the sidelines."

Quick hits

Running backs Jerome Bettis (ankle) and Verron Haynes did not practice or the second day in a row. ... The Steelers spent Wednesday preparing for the San Diego Chargers and yesterday getting ready for the Denver Broncos. Those practices are the longest ones of the week. They will spend practice today, the shortest one of the week, preparing for the New York Jets. That's because the Steelers played the Jets less than a month ago. ... The players will practice today, then won't report back to work until Tuesday. ... The Steelers worked out former Pitt basketball player Julius Page as a wide receiver the other day. Page played that position at Turner Carroll High School in Buffalo.