With their Super Bowl XL victory in Detroit, the Steelers already have accomplished the goal of winning one for the thumb. Now it becomes a matter of designing the ring to put on the thumb.

Actually, the process has begun, if the office doodlings of team chairman Dan Rooney matter -- and they do.

"And I'm going to get some of the players involved, like Jerome [Bettis], for sure," Rooney said.

The Steelers might not feature their other four Super Bowl championships as part of the ring design, preferring to let the 2005 team and its accomplishments stand as the beginning of a new era. (You'll never hear me say, 'One for the Thumb,' " Rooney said last week, before the Super Bowl).

But they don't want to ignore their glorious past, either, because the 21-10 victory Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks enabled the Steelers to become only the third franchise in NFL history to win five Super Bowl titles.

That, though, is what has to be determined, said team president Art Rooney II, Dan's son.

"We haven't decided yet," said Rooney II. "We've had some reference to the others [in the past], but it's not like the last time when we had the progression [of four Super Bowl titles in six years]. This is a whole different situation. We may have some reference to the last four."

Rooney II said all players on the 53-man roster (including Quincy Morgan and Russell Stuvaints on injured reserve), all coaches, members of the football staff and members of the front office will receive a Super Bowl ring.

Players on the practice squad will not get a Super Bowl ring, though Rooney II said some will receive a playoff share.

"We had different [rings] for the women and gave them to full-time employees," Dan Rooney said, referring to the previous time the Steelers won the Super Bowl. "But then we gave everybody else something."

The players, coaches and staff will be presented their rings at some type of ceremony or dinner.

"We'll do a ceremony before the [2006] season," Rooney II said. "I seem to remember it being pretty close to the season, as much before the season as we can."

Only four people in the organization actually have won one for the thumb -- both Rooneys, running back coach Dick Hoak and video/facilities coordinator Bob McCartney. They are the only members who have been around for all five Super Bowl victories.

Rooney II said Jostens, which has designed many of the rings for past Super Bowl champions, is among the companies that could help design the fifth ring for the Steelers.

The NFL gives each Super Bowl champion a budget for purchasing rings. The franchise then pays for all costs that exceed the budgeted amount.

"My dad always took the lead in these things, but I remember players who would come in and talk about it," Rooney II said. "When it comes to architectural things, he's a frustrated architect. He never minds getting paper out to draw something. It's a little ring. There are only so many things you can do. It's all got to fit right there.

"We've already had a couple suggestions. I'm sure there will be input from certain players, which is fine. We will welcome suggestions."