Willie Reid barely beat fellow rookie receiver Santonio Holmes to the punch when he signed his contract yesterday morning and reported to training camp.

He hopes to stay ahead of Holmes as the two compete in training camp at receiver and to return punts.

"I think there's a lot of competition between everybody who's out there in the receiving corps," said Reid, a third-round choice from Florida State. "We have a lot of talented guys. We'll see how things unfold."

Reid received a signing bonus of $453,100 on a three-year deal that was reached late Thursday. He receives annual salaries of $275,000, $360,000 and $445,000.

His arrival yesterday at St. Vincent College was not as he expected, though.

"It was kind of mixed feelings when I first saw it, different from what I expected," Reid said. "But it seems like a real nice place. It's in the middle of nowhere, it looks like, but it's somewhere to have a good camp."

Now the veterans

With all their rookie contracts done, the Steelers can concentrate on two veteran starters who they would like to sign to extensions. Cornerback Ike Taylor enters the fourth and final year of his deal and would become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Halfback Willie Parker enters the third and final year of his contract and would become a restricted free agent.

"Those are still ongoing," said Kevin Colbert, the director of football operations. "Everybody's here and we'll see if anything continues to develop. Our policy is to talk up until the first regular-season game. We're always open to any negotiation up to that point."

Taylor said he never thought of holding out, something receiver Hines Ward did in the first two weeks last summer. Players can be fined as much as $14,000 a day under the new CBA if they have a contract and do not report.

"I'm going to let the chips fall," Taylor said. "I'm just going to play football. I'm glad to be back; let's get ready for the 2006 season."

Car show

It looked more like a classic car show than the first day of training camp.

Safety Tyrone Carter came in driving a lime-green Chevy Caprice Classic convertible with a white soft roof with green trim. Tackle Max Starks drove a light blue '65 Chevy Impala SS. And receiver Cedrick Wilson had a white '67 Cutlass.

They arrived at the same time at St. Vincent College, as planned, blaring their horns. Shortly thereafter, cornerback Deshea Townsend arrived in a yellow '71 Cutless convertible, replete with white racing stripes.

"I was late, so I couldn't join them," Townsend said.

Carter's car was easily the best of the classics -- and maybe one of the best in camp history. The interior featured white leather seats with green trim and the dash was green with two video screens. Even the alloy wheels were trimmed in green.

Pass or fail

Today's run test -- a series of 40-yard dashes for the players -- is the final stage of each player's physical for training camp. Fail the run test and a player can fail the physical.

Colbert did not anticipate any of the players being put on the physically unable to perform list for previous injuries -- including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker Joey Porter -- but he said coach Bill Cowher will not make that decision until after today's run test.

"As of right now, we feel everybody's healthy," Colbert said.

No rings

If any player wore his Super Bowl ring to training camp, none could be found.

"I highly doubt you'll find someone wear their ring," said special teams ace Sean Morey. "I know a lot of guys are proud of their ring. The only time I wear mine is at football camps in the summer time for kids."

Said Colbert, also not wearing his ring: "I think we've all moved past 2005. Really, we're just one of 32 teams right now all trying to do the same thing. It's a new challenge. I don't think there really is any momentum left over because I think this team has put everything behind them."

Replacing Kimo

Defensive end Brett Keisel is one of two new starters in the 3-4 defense, replacing departed veteran Kimo von Oelhoffen on the right side. Keisel might be the team's best pass-rushing lineman, registering three sacks in the regular season and two in the AFC championship game victory in Denver while playing on a limited basis.

"I was out there with the first team all through minicamp so it's going to be exciting," Keisel said. "Kimo was built for the 3-4 defense. I know people are going to be looking at me and, if a run kicks [to the outside], they'll say, 'If Kimo would have been here he would have stopped it.' So I have to be able to perform."

Quick hits

Heads turned at St. Vincent College when a player reported to Rooney Hall who looked suspiciously like former Steelers linebacker Kendrell Bell. "Guys tell me there's a striking resemblance," said Branden Joe, a 6-foot, 242-pound first-year fullback from Ohio State. "They call me Little KB, that was my nickname in the offseason."

Former Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford was released before camp opened. Rutherford, who was on the practice squad late last season, injured his foot and then re-injured it in the offseason.

Wide receiver Marvin Allen will join the Steelers as an extra man on what usually is an eight-man practice squad this season as part of the NFL International Development practice squad program. Allen, a native of Dorking, England, spent time with three NFL Europe teams last season, his second in the league. Rules permit him only to be on the practice squad.