... of the many things that sets the Steelers apart from other organizations is that they consistently have a true player hierarchy. Rookies and young guys rarely step into the starting lineup right away. It’s a very old-school mentality, and it often gets overlooked.

 

Hines Ward, the franchise leader in almost every receiving category, played pretty much exclusively on special teams his first year. James Harrison, the future NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was a backup who didn’t see the field much until Joey Porter was released.

 

Bleacher Report - NFL