Keeper of Steelers’ flame

It’s no wonder Kevin Colbert is such a good fit.

Colbert, the team’s director of football operations, is one of the NFL’s better-kept secrets. He’s the team’s top decision maker when it comes to personnel, and his leadership has contributed to the Steelers winning two Super Bowls in the last four seasons.

So why doesn’t the NFL know more about Colbert, and why isn’t he mentioned as one of the league’s top executives? When teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns were looking for general managers, as they were this offseason, why wasn’t Colbert’s name at the top of the list - or even mentioned at all?

It starts with Colbert himself.

Like the Steelers’ style of play, he is not the flashy type, not into headlines or self-promotion, instead content to work behind the scenes to keep the machine well oiled. It also helps that he’s a Pittsburgh guy, with ties to the team’s rich tradition, content to hold a position that any kid from the North Side dreams of in his youth.

Couple that with the Steelers having traditionally been known more for their strong ownership (Rooney family) and head coaches (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin), and it’s no wonder Colbert flies under the radar. He’s happy to do so, simply blending into the Steelers’ way.

“This has been a great franchise for a lot of years,’’ Colbert said. “It’s not about this team, or the coach, or the personnel director, or players. It’s about the whole organization.’’

Colbert, in his 10th year on the job, has quietly positioned the Steelers to vie for another Super Bowl title by staying true to their approach of drafting and cultivating talent, and then keeping those players around for the long haul, instead of investing heavily in players in the free agent market. That was once again evidenced last week when tight end Heath Miller - a 2005 first-round draft choice - signed a six-year contract extension.

The Steelers return 20 of 22 starters, with inside linebacker Larry Foote (Lions) and cornerback Bryant McFadden (Cardinals) having departed in free agency. Third receiver Nate Washington (Titans) is another key loss.

Lawrence Timmons, a 2007 first-round draft choice, is expected to step into Foote’s shoes, while William Gay (2007 fifth-round pick) is the favorite to replace McFadden. Limas Sweed, a 2008 second-rounder, is a candidate to replace Washington.

As he assesses the Steelers, Colbert views a familiar picture.

“You see a core of the same players returning,’’ he said. “Coach Tomlin did a great job in reminding them that last year is last year, we all start out fresh, and everybody has the same chance. They understand that, they believe that. We didn’t lose a lot in terms of starting players and you just hope that the starters you do have improve more than they regress over the course of this season. You hope that some of the young talent can come in and supplement them.’’

It has been Colbert’s job to oversee that supplementing process since 2000, which is when he made his homecoming after 10 years with the Lions and five with the Dolphins. He broke into scouting with BLESTO, a service that provides reports on prospects to teams.

“A lot of my family was in the football business, and I participated in sports at every level, but I wasn’t a very good athlete,’’ Colbert said. “My way to get into professional sports was certainly not as a player, it was going to be in some type of personnel work or coaching, and I just always felt that personnel was more interesting to me.’’

One of Colbert’s main influences is Ron Hughes, his high school coach who later moved on to the NFL and hired him in Detroit as pro personnel director. When Colbert landed his job in Pittsburgh, he in turn hired Hughes, and points out that the overall scouting system the Steelers use was created by Hughes.

Colbert said the Steelers, like many teams, are looking for “good players who are good people, smart, and who are physically and mentally tough.’’

“If you get enough of the players like that, enough players who are of that ability and mind-set, then they’ll be able to work together to hopefully put together a winning team,’’ he said. “I think Herb Brooks told that to Craig Patrick from the movie ‘Miracle’ - it’s not necessarily the best players, it’s the right players.’’

Tippett now a return man

Will you be heading to the Hall of Fame ceremonies next weekend?

AT: “I’m welcomed back every year as long as I’m alive, and I’ll be heading out later this week to welcome the new class in. That’s all part of the Hall of Fame and what it stands for. A lot of people returned last year to be there for our Class of 2008. I made these plans three months ago when I got the letter inviting me back. I’m looking forward to partaking in all the events, and when it comes to the induction ceremony I’ll be in a different place than last year - in the background, hoping these cats don’t go too long with their speeches.’’

Can you empathize with the inductees for some of the nerves they might be feeling at this time?

AT: “I thought I was going to pass out because I knew I had to deliver that speech. You try not to put pressure on yourself. I had started my speech in February, when I found out I was going in, but by the week before the ceremony, I was ready to go dig myself in a hole and hide. Behind the scenes, I was lucky to have [Patriots employee] Jeff Cournoyer. The Monday before I left, I told him, ‘I can’t do this.’ It reminded me of when I first got into the league and had my first opportunity to play in the preseason - I threw up all over myself. All of a sudden my mind went blank. We were getting ready to play the Pittsburgh Steelers and I couldn’t remember the defense. So I was panicking with this speech and Jeff helped me get it together. He closed my office door, set up a makeshift stage, and told me, ‘We’re going to get through this.’ He turned out to be my safety blanket.’’