Steelers draft Florida lineman Pouncey

Addressing their interior offensive line with a brainy and brawny player who may start right away, the Steelers took Florida guard/center Maurkice Pouncey Thursday night with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

“I’ve wanted them from Day One,” Pouncey said. “I just like the Steelers so much. I can’t wait to get up there.”

Despite rampant speculation surrounding Ben Roethlisberger’s future in Pittsburgh, the Steelers did not trade their franchise quarterback during last night’s first round. Roethlisberger has been suspended for up to six games at the start of the 2010 season for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy, although his punishment could be reduced to four games for good behavior.

That the Steelers held onto Roethlisberger, who has been accused of sexual assault twice since July, is a strong indication that they will stick with the two-time Super Bowl winner.

On Thursday, the Steelers got some help up front for Roethlisberger, who was sacked 50 times last season.

The 6-4, 304-pound Pouncey is the first center the Steelers have used their first draft pick on since they took Boston College’s Chet Gladchuk in the second round in 1941 — when team president emeritus Dan Rooney was 8 years old.

Pouncey, who doesn’t turn 21 until July, will start his Steelers career at right guard, although it appears he will eventually move to center.

If he is as cerebral as diretor of football operations Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin make him out to be, Pouncey shouldn’t have any trouble picking up the offense – and challenging Trai Essex and Ramon Foster for the starting job at right guard.

One of the many things that sold the Steelers on Pouncey, whose twin brother plays for Florida, is when they hosted him for a visit earlier this month.

Pouncey wowed both Colbert and Tomlin with his football aptitude while going over plays with Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler during a blackboard sesssion.

Pouncey is also known for his toughness. He played in the Sugar Bowl in January the same day he got treated in the hospital for kidney stones.

“He has a playing demeanor that we covet,” Tomlin said. “He’s a finisher. He’s a physical player. He likes to compete in the weight room.”

The draft started, as expected, with the St. Louis Rams taking Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford first overall. By the time it got to the Steelers’ pick at No. 18, there had been three trades, more running backs taken (two) than quarterbacks and a run on defensive linemen.

That left the Steelers to choose among a number of players they liked, including Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson and Pouncey.

Colbert said the pick was easy to make.

“He’s just that good,” Colbert said of Pouncey, who will arrive in Pittsburgh today. “It was evident early on (in the evaluation) process that this was someone who was going to be interesting to us where we were going to be picking.”

The Steelers still have nine picks left in the draft, which resumes tonight and runs through Saturday. Colbert indicated that the Steelers aren’t planning to package any of their picks to move up in either of tonight’s rounds.

“We’re content to stay put,” Colbert said. “There’s a lot of quality players to be had.”