Peter Diana, Post-Gazette President Bush drops back to throw a pass to Steelers receiver Hines Ward during a ceremony honoring the Super Bowl XL champions yesterday in the East Room at the White House. At left is Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Team Chairman Dan Rooney is at right. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Full text of President Bush's remarks at Super Bowl XL champions ceremony Steelers' Day at the Whitehouse Photo Journal Mission accomplished for 2 Steelers

WASHINGTON -- President Bush, according to some polls, has only a 35 percent approval rate, something even the Steelers might appreciate after they pulled into the final four games of the 2005 regular season with a 7-5 record.

"Halfway through the season, a lot of people counted the Pittsburgh Steelers out, said you don't have a chance,'' Mr. Bush said during a 14-minute ceremony yesterday afternoon at the White House to honor the Super Bowl champions.

"I kind of know the feeling."

Mr. Bush lauded the Steelers for being "champions on the field and off the field,'' joked around with several of them and even threw a short pass to Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward in the East Room of the White House. The ceremony had been moved indoors because of thunderstorms around the nation's capital.

"You had a ring for every finger,'' Mr. Bush said, "and now you got one for the thumb.

"It's a tough brand of football. It wasn't always flashy, but you learned how to win and you're the kind of team that Pittsburgh Steelers fans like to watch -- hard-nosed football.''

Team President Art Rooney presented Mr. Bush with a black Steelers jersey with his name and the number 43 on the back to honor him as the 43rd president of the United States. Mr. Ward presented Mr. Bush with a Super Bowl XL football autographed by the team.

Sens. Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter, both R-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, attended, as did Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and former Pennsylvania Gov. Richard Thornburgh, a former U.S. attorney general

Also attending along with his family was the new CIA chief, Gen. Michael Hayden, a native of Pittsburgh's North Side. Gen. Hayden was once coached in youth football by Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney.

"You have no greater fan than the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency," Mr. Bush said.

The president alluded to the Steelers going after a second straight championship next year when he commented, "I'll be around here next year to see you come back."

As the ceremony ended, Mr. Bush threw a short pass back to Mr. Ward with the football.

"One hundred percent very accurate," Mr. Ward said afterward with a big smile. "It had a nice spiral to it."

Mr. Bush shook hands with many of the Steelers standing behind him, and singled out linebacker Joey Porter and nose tackle Casey Hampton, who threw his arm around the president as their photos were taken.

Mr. Porter, who joked two weeks ago that he would walk into the White House with a swagger, wore big dark sunglasses during the entire ceremony.

"You got a man known for his swagger," Mr. Bush said. "I've been looking forward to Joey Porter's new dance." Mr. Porter smiled, and the two shook hands.

Mr. Hampton, who played football at the University of Texas, used to lift weights at the school with Mr. Bush when he was Texas governor.

"You got a Longhorn -- we used to pump iron together," Mr. Bush said, prompting a round of laughter from the room. "His took, mine didn't."

The president did commit a faux pas, if you will, when he said he was a fan of the "Texas Cowboys." He quickly amended that to the Dallas Cowboys. Mr. Bush was once a part owner of baseball's Texas Rangers.

The Steelers filed into the East Room with chants from the crowd of "Here we go, Steelers, here we go.'' After hearing that, Mr. Bush remarked, "Sounds like some people have been drinking some Iron City Beer here."

The president praised Jerome Bettis for his charity work and Mr. Ward for his attempts to help fight racism in his native Korea, calling his trip to Seoul with his mother "an act of a champion."

Mr. Bush also poked fun at coach Bill Cowher's history of angry sideline displays.

"He has the most unusual expressions on the sideline,'' he said. "So I told the vice president I was going to be able to congratulate Coach Cowher in person. And he said get him to give me some tips on his scowl."

After the ceremony, Mr. Cowher said the visit, which included a tour of the White House for the team, will be "a day we will always remember."

Earlier, six players headed by Mr. Bettis visited wounded U.S. soldiers from Iraq at the Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Several players who left the Steelers as free agents, such as Antwaan Randle El, Kimo von Oelhoffen and Chris Hope rejoined their old teammates for the White House visit as did Willie Williams, who was released. Quarterback Tommy Maddox, also released, did not attend.

"It was an honor to be here,'' Mr. Cowher said. "It was a special year with a special group of guys and a chance to reflect on all of it."