Someone found a way to take the fun out of the game for Hines Ward, at least momentarily.

Ward acknowledged yesterday that coach Bill Cowher had some harsh words for him after he helped cause a 15-yard penalty Sunday in Atlanta for celebrating a Nate Washington touchdown. Ward and rookie Santonio Holmes were flagged for joining Washington in mocking the Falcons' "dirty bird" dance.

"I apologized to coach," Ward said. "That's uncalled for. Was it planned? No, we just went off emotions.

"That was all emotional stuff. Santonio saw me dance, and he wanted to get into it. We all were just having fun, it wasn't to taunt anybody. But that's the rule, and we have to be smart about it.

"Coach Cowher talked to me about it, and it won't happen again."

No big deal

In one day, Sean Morey doubled his career receptions since he entered the league in 1999 with the New England Patriots.

He had one catch Sunday, now he has two for his career.

Morey is the Steelers' special teams captain, and that has been the area of his expertise with three teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, in what officially is his fifth NFL season.

Both of his receptions have come with the Steelers. He caught one pass last season for 8 yards to go with his one of 14 yards Sunday.

"You would probably assume that it's some big deal," Morey said. "But to be quite honest, it's not, I'm just trying to do my job.

"I do what I have to do."

Keeping his head

Chris Kemoeatu won't be star-struck if he gets an opportunity to start at right guard and play against Oakland defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who has made seven Pro Bowls and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.

"Our guys are pretty big names too, like Aaron Smith," said Kemoeatu, who practices often against the Steelers' first-team defense. "They do a pretty good job of preparing us every week."

Cowher said Kemoeatu might replace Kendall Simmons at right guard against Oakland.

Sapp loves to talk trash on the field, but Kemoeatu said he won't engage him in any of it. He said he used to talk all the time on the field but learned his lesson after it led to some fights on the field in college.

"I got into some trouble, so now I strictly work. I matured from incidents that have occurred from before."

Big Ben 'fair game'

Sapp said if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger plays Sunday, "he's definitely fair game."

"You go after any quarterback with the same intensity as anybody because, in this league, the quarterback is the key to any situation," Sapp said. "You wish him the best with the concussion because you never want to see a guy hurt or injured."

Legend of 14

Cornerback Bryant McFadden will see Raiders receiver Randy Moss up close and personal for the first time, whether McFadden starts in place of Deshea Townsend or plays only in the dime defense.

McFadden heard plenty about Moss when he played at Florida State. Moss transferred to Marshall University from Florida State, where he went through a training camp but did not play.

"They used to call him '14,' that was his nickname," McFadden said.

Why 14?

"Every time he practiced, he guaranteed 14 points. They had a bunch of tall-tale stories when he was there and, when I got there, everybody was still talking about it."

Injury update

Linebacker Joey Porter, who missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, returned to practice yesterday, but Clark Haggans, the other starting outside linebacker who has an ankle injury, did not. Both are listed as questionable.

"Joey worked throughout the whole practice," Cowher said. "Clark did not. We'll see where he is tomorrow."

Also not practicing were receiver Cedrick Wilson (groin) and nose tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring), both questionable. Linebacker James Harrison (ankle) and safety Mike Logan (hamstring) are out.

Suspension lifted

The Raiders were forced to lift their suspension of wide receiver Jerry Porter yesterday after the NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association agreed to a settlement. They agreed that the two-game suspension that Porter already served was enough. The union appealed the suspension after the Raiders extended it from two games to four for "insubordination."

Porter, from West Virginia University, has not played in a game this season.