Hyoung Chang, Associated Press Broncos coach Mike Shanahan did not want to play the Steelers in the season opener at Heinz Field because of when Denver plays its final preseason game. Click photo for larger image.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NFL general managers were so impressed with the Steelers' accomplishments last season that they not only voted Art Rooney II as the George Young executive of the year, but they also placed Kevin Colbert fourth.

Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations, gathered seven write-in votes from the league general managers, the most in the history of the award.

The Steelers made more history because Art is the third Rooney from the Steelers to win the award. His grandfather Art Sr. received the award in 1974 and his father, Dan, won in '72 and 2001. Art II has been the team president the past three years.

"My father gave me a hint the other day this was coming," Art Rooney said during a ceremony yesterday morning, "and, of course, added immediately that 'you know I've won two of these things.' So, there's always a challenge."

Said coach Bill Cowher: "It's probably long overdue. You certainly look at our ability to stay consistent over a long period of time, the ability to manage the cap, the ability to bring in the right people, the ability to have stability. It starts with Art and Mr. Rooney.

"They've always done a good job of making sure you look at the big picture and make sure you look down the road. That's the one thing more than anything, our ability to be so consistent for so long and not sell out for that one year. Again, as you see, we'll bring back a lot of pretty good players next year. It's long overdue and well deserved."

Another opening

The Steelers will play the first game in the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium, albeit a preseason game.

The defending Super Bowl champions will play in Arizona's new stadium Aug. 12, the Cardinals announced.

It's another in a list of new stadiums the Steelers have helped open. They played the first preseason game in Detroit's Ford Field and the first regular-season game in Cleveland when the Browns returned in 1999.

The Rooney family that owns the Steelers long has been friendly with the Bidwill family that owns the Cardinals.

"We couldn't think of a better team to open up against in our new home," said Cardinals vice president and general counsel Michael Bidwill.

Taylor gets unexpected bonus

Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor received an extra $206,513 from the NFL recently for his play last season.

Each of the past four years, the league has doled out performance-based pay, a system to reward those players who performed remarkably better than what they were paid in salary.

Taylor was the 19th-highest paid player under that system for 2005. Former Pitt player Rob Petitti, who started at tackle as a rookie in Dallas, received more than anyone with $271,287 extra coming his way.

Broncos exercise clout

The Denver Broncos, who lost to the Steelers in the AFC championship, were the logical opponent to open the season Sept. 7 in Heinz Field, but they successfully lobbied not to do so.

Denver coach Mike Shanahan explained that the Broncos will finish their preseason the Thursday or Friday the week before in Arizona, and because the NFL would not let them move the game to Wednesday, he did not want to open the following Thursday in Pittsburgh.

"What you'd like to do is have a full week for preparation, especially if you're going on the road," Shanahan said.

"Getting ready for a game plan, especially for a team like Pittsburgh on the road, you don't have the same preparation time."

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told the Rocky Mountain News: "It may be fun for [the Steelers] to wait at home for us there, but it wouldn't be a hell of a lot of fun for us. We know we're going to play them in Pittsburgh this season, just not that first week."

Upon further review

Cowher changed his mind and supports the emphasis on the rule not to allow players to hit quarterbacks from the knee down.

"I didn't initially because I thought it was hard. But the more you look at our quarterbacks and the amount we have invested in them and how important they are to our game, I think safety has to take priority.

"I don't think it's any different than it used to be, but the money we put into quarterbacks and with the cap -- whatever we can do to protect that position. Going back to the entertainment element of our game, if you don't have a good quarterback you're not going to be a very entertaining team.

"I just think we have to develop quarterbacks, we have to keep quarterbacks healthy for the best of the game."