San Francisco ? Seattle fans were annoyed when Terrell Owens autographed a ball in the end zone with a felt-tip marker after a touchdown catch against the Seahawks.

The folks who make Sharpie pens loved it.

To thank the San Francisco receiver for the free advertising, the maker of markers will launch an advertising campaign — featuring a reference to Owens — for its new metallic marker on Christmas Eve, the company said Friday.

The print ad shows a Christmas stocking with the marker clipped to the top and the name “Terrell” embroidered in cursive. The ad reads in part: “Mr. Owens, have we got a stocking stuffer for you.”

The company also is donating $25,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association on Owens’ behalf.

“My grandmother is fighting Alzheimer’s, so I’m grateful to Sharpie for its generosity,” Owens said.

Owens received no payment for his involvement in the ad campaign and had no conversations with the marker company prior to the game, according to Sharpie spokesman Mike Finn.

Owens’ agent, David Joseph, confirmed that his client is not getting paid for the ad, although he said Owens has established “an ongoing relationship with Sharpie.”

“We had never envisioned a relationship with them. It just developed after he signed the ball,” Joseph said.

Steelers punter ailing

Pittsburgh — Steelers punter Josh Miller had season-ending shoulder surgery Friday and be replaced by former Denver standout Tom Rouen. Miller, one of the AFC’s most reliable punters, will be placed on injured reserve and will undergo surgery.

Rouen, released recently by the New York Giants, worked out Thursday in Pittsburgh after the Steelers determined that Miller’s injury had worsened to the point that it was affecting his kicks.

Bears place Miller on IR

Lake Forest, Ill — Jim Miller’s season officially ended Friday when the Chicago Bears placed the veteran quarterback on their crowded injured list. He’s the 11th Bear and sixth starter to go on IR this year.

Miller was bothered by tendinitis in his shoulder and elbow for much of the year, with the pain so bad he rarely practiced. He plans to have surgery in the off-season.

But it was a knee injury that ultimately cut his season short. In Chicago’s Dec. 9 loss at Miami, Miller sprained a ligament in his knee and bruised a bone, putting him on crutches for several weeks.

Ex-Giant Wietecha dies

East Rutherford, N.J. — Ray Wietecha, who didn’t miss a game in his 10-year career with the New York Giants, has died of an aneurysm. He was 74. Wietecha died Dec. 14 in Phoenix.

Elway’s dog disciplined

Cherry Hills Village, Colo. — John Elway has promised to get rid of his dog if it’s found wandering the streets again. Elway appeared before a municipal judge Thursday after being cited last month for allowing his malamute, Kimo, to escape. It was the fifth such citation in two years for the ex-Denver QB.

Elway was fined $500, with $250 of it suspended as long as there are no further violations in the next year.