Operations director signs long contract

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Director of football operations Kevin Colbert on Thursday signed the very document the Pittsburgh Steelers wish coach Bill Cowher would agree to -- a lengthy contract extension.
Colbert, credited with helping build the Steelers into a Super Bowl champion by overseeing some of their best drafts since the 1970s, signed a four-year contract that runs through the 2010 season.
"Obviously, he has played a vital role in our success over the past several years, including the Super Bowl title last season," team president Art Rooney II said in a statement issued by the club.
What he does
Colbert effectively serves as the Steelers' general manager, but the team has never had an executive with that title. He is in charge of all player personnel and scouting decisions and serves as the Steelers' liaison between the NFL and its clubs on football matters.
By agreeing to a new deal, the 49-year-old Colbert has three more seasons on his contract than does his coach; Cowher is signed only through 2007. Cowher has never gone into any of his 15 seasons in Pittsburgh with so few years left on his contract, but has not said if he plans to coach beyond this season.
The team had hoped Cowher would sign an extension during the off-season.
Pittsburgh native
Colbert, like Cowher, is a native of Pittsburgh. He is entering his seventh season with the Steelers after spending 10 years as the Detroit Lions' pro scouting director. He replaced the fired Tom Donahoe following a 6-10 season in 1999, during which there was considerable speculation Cowher might be let go.
Instead, the Steelers replaced Donahoe and brought in Colbert, who moved quickly to build a closer relationship with the coach than Donahoe had. His scouting background helped result in a series of successful drafts that led the Steelers to go 13-3 in 2001, 15-1 in 2004 and 11-5 before winning the Super Bowl last season.
Among the players drafted under Colbert since 2000 were current or former starters Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Casey Hampton, Chris Hope, Larry Foote, Kendrell Bell, Clark Haggans, Antwaan Randle El, Heath Miller, Max Starks, Ike Taylor, Kendall Simmons, Marvel Smith and Plaxico Burress.
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