Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a quiet moment yesterday as the second-team offense runs playsin the first full day of workouts. Click photo for larger image. Today When: 3 p.m., open to the public Where: St. Vincent College, Latrobe Of note: The campus opens about 90 minutes before practices that are open to the public. Related articles Steelers faithful flock to yearly pigskin ritual paradise Steelers appreciate large, loud reception Steelers Notebook: Cowher and Holmes have 'a good talk' Slideshow: Drills begin Video: First peek for the fans Cook: Showtime Cedrick has caught on with Steelers Training Camp 2006 photojournal More about training camp Map and camp schedule

The boy, age 7 and with his mother, nestled among the black-and-gold throng of Steelers fans packed against the ropes that separated them from the players who trudged up a path after their first training camp practice yesterday.

The excited screams rattled off the ivy-less walls of Rooney and St. Benedict Halls on the tiny St. Vincent College campus: "Bennnnnnn!"

As Ben Roethlisberger approached, he noticed the young boy and asked him to step out. He and his mother happily obliged, and then the quarterback put the youngster to work; the kid lugged his shoulder pads as Roethlisberger walked up the path and signed autographs along the way.

Big Ben has not lost his touch.

Thousands greeted him for his first practice since his June 12 motorcycle accident left him in critical condition and the good news continued for Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Nothing happened out of the ordinary as Roethlisberger took his spot with the first team, threw short, threw deep, threw on the run and even threw interceptions during more than two hours of work on a steamy afternoon in Latrobe.

"He seemed great," coach Bill Cowher said. "He was over there running around and the one drill was the best scramble drill we've had in two years."

The only hitch came when his right thumb struck guard Alan Faneca's helmet on his follow-through, but nothing came of it.

"To me, it appeared to be a normal first day of training camp, which is a good thing," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said.

"He understood, he did a good job in the huddle, he had command of the huddle as well as the plays. So, to me, that was very good. I didn't see anything any different than it was in the spring."

The words "normal" and "good" were the order of the day to describe Roethlisberger's first practice.

"My body feels good, my head feels good. It was a good day," he said afterward.

A little of the old arrogance flashed as well when he said, "You get the arm loosened up and the body and you feel good and prove a lot of people wrong."

Who those people are is anyone's guess, and if those are ones who predicted Roethlisberger would not be ready to play football this summer or even when the season opens Sept. 7, they're quickly fading into the background. Some of those people may have been teammates who saw him after his horrendous motorcycle accident.

A month later, cornerback Deshea Townsend walked into his hotel in Jamaica where Jerome Bettis' wedding took place and saw a guy tossing a ball around on the grass. Boy, that guy looks like Ben, Townsend thought. Townsend checked into his room, came back down and the guy was still there.

"I looked at him but I didn't want to stare," Townsend said. "I kept going and he raised his hands and said, 'Deshea, you not going to speak to me?' It was Ben!"

Townsend could not believe Roethlisberger had recovered to such an extent so quickly.

"He's so blessed to be in the shape he's in now for having an accident like that."

Feelings for his teammate aside, it did not stop Townsend from picking off Roethlisberger's third pass of his first practice in full team drills yesterday, a pass intended for Nate Washington, running an out on the left sideline.

"He threw a nice one out there," Townsend said. "I had a chance to get a good break on it. That's our job on defense, to get our offense the ball back."

There were more interceptions and no spectacular throws from Roethlisberger. Several receivers dropped his passes. It was the first practice of training camp, after all.

"He was practicing, so that's a good thing," Whisenhunt said. "He understood his reads. The timing was off a little bit for everybody, but that's a normal first-day situation."

Roethlisberger said he did not cut loose as he did yesterday since spring drills ended June 8.

"This is the first time I've thrown [deep] in months, so I have to ease my arm into it a little bit. I didn't hold back or anything today. Didn't feel any different than I normally do on my first practice."

Hines Ward caught Roethlisberger's first pass in team drills, a short slant.

"He looked good, man, amazing, considering he's coming back from the injury he had and coming out here right with the first group and throwing the ball well," said Ward, the Super Bowl XL MVP. "What more can you say about him?"

Ward believes Roethlisberger's accident will, in a strange way, help him in the long run.

"I think he really appreciates the game of football a little more, considering that it was almost taken away from him," Ward said. "He looked forward to these days, coming around the guys and working hard to strive to be a better quarterback. I think that will help him be a better quarterback.

"I know he's excited to be out here; I'm excited to have him out here."