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Steelers Trade Helmets For Hard Hats To Build 'Champions House'

Super Bowl Champs Team Up With Habitat For Humanity

POSTED: 5:02 pm EDT June 8, 2009
UPDATED: 6:15 pm EDT June 8, 2009

Members of the Super Bowl XLIII champion Steelers traded in their helmets and cleats for hard hats and boots to join the Habitat for Humanity team Monday.

"We got Deshea Townsend in there using a nail gun like he's in a western or something," said long snapper Greg Warren.

The black and gold aided in building a "Champions House" for Pittsburgh resident Debbie Miller and her three grandsons.

"I have a whole lot of plans -- beautiful yard, beautiful inside, beautiful all over. I'm going to make it beautiful," said Miller.

Willie Colon

Miller -- who is putting in 350 labors of her own time to build the home -- was shocked to see the Super Bowl champs show up at lunchtime to help.

"We're swinging some hammers. We maybe should have signed some release waivers before this house," said defensive end Brett Keisel. "It's been a lot of fun."

Some of the players even needed a little coaching.

"Somebody needs to get Willie P [Parker]. He's just painting too fast. He wants to do everything fast. He's not on the football field -- somebody needs to tell him," said linebacker James Farrior.

Townsend was also quick to point out that not all of his teammates came prepared.

"I got on all the guys because in order to do work like this, you have to have boots on. None of them have boots on. They all came out here with tennis shoes," said Townsend.

While they may have a long way to go as craftsmen, assistant head coach John Mitchell was not surprised so many of his players donated their day to help someone else.

"I see these guys day in and day out, week in and week out, year in and year out -- I know what they do. I know how much time they give of themselves to the city, so this is nothing out of the ordinary," said Mitchell.

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