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Steelers release WR Hines Ward (1 Viewer)
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- Start date
loose circuits
Footballguy
I think his best position at this point would be as a fullback. He can still block...
5Rings
Lurker
HOF? Wtf no way. Not even close.
Borat
Footballguy
HOF? Wtf no way. Not even close.
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Unless the Steelers bring him back for almost nothing, I think he retires. I doubt he'll want to play for another team.
duaneok66
Footballguy
classic.
Hm? Don't see that. He was only going to sit and get even less touches as a Steeler this year than last. It's kinda win-win for him really, either he withers away on another bench and then no one remembers it at all anyway, or he has a surprisingly effective year or 2 and bolsters his stats even further.Like it or not, he's got a decent chance at the HOF at some point. I mean hell, there are already players in there who might not have really deserved to do so. Hines is one of those memorable players with championship rings that could get steal a bunch of votes one day.
Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
ESPNStatsInfo: Hines Ward to be released by Steelers; 1 of 8 players in NFL history with 1,000 catches, he & Rice only ones with multiple Super Bowls.
cobalt_27
Footballguy
Not HOF.Not even close to HOF.
Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
We'll see, Lynn Swann & John Stallworth have already been down this road.
SWC
Bromigo
since the steelers gave him a walkabout he should go to austria and go on a real walkabout down under and then come back and sign with cleveland and beat up ben rothlisburger every time they play him and then every time he sacks rothlisberger stand up over him and say ill be back like arnold in terminator take it to the bank amigos and ladies too
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
Good move Steelers, and yes, he's a HOFer, but it will be awhile and after Carter, Brown, Holt and the locks that arent yet eligible.
David Yudkin
Footballguy
I'm kind of exhausted discussing Ward as a HOFer, but here's more to ponder over.The other 6 players with 1,000 catches are Tony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrison, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Terrell Owens, and Isaac Bruce . . . none of whom are currently in the HOF.By the time Ward is even eligible, it's possible that there could be 6 more guys with over a thousand receptions (Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Jason Witten, Larry Fitzgerald, Wes Welker). By then, other younger guys could also be in the vicinity.That leaves a lot of players who will be looking to get in the HOF from essentially the same era, many of whom will be waiting like Ward for a HOF phone call. Maybe he gets in, maybe he doesn't . . . but at this stage it certainly looks like there are many other receivers who also will garner a lot of consideration.
CalBear
Footballguy
Well, it's pretty clear that three of those guys will make it (Harrison, Owens, Gonzalez), and the other three (Carter, Brown, and Bruce) are probable. Ward doesn't really deserve the HOF. But, I predict he will get in the same way that Art Monk did (and that Andre Reed is threatening to); lots of people claiming he was an important part of a good team, and responding to statistical arguments by claiming he's a Football Player and that only Football Players understand what Football Players are important. (The person making the argument understands, of course, because he was the punter on the JV squad in high school).
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
That's what you do when you have no quality response to them... insult them. Good job.
ReHOF, I know I'm always saying it, but his blocking being eons better than what 80%? 90%? of WRs before him has to somehow be considered when discussing him for the HOF.
I'm sure 32 teams are interested in having his technique and work ethic in camp. I'm not sure about the regular season.
While playing, Ward appeared to have an excellent understanding of the game and the ability to react. If I'm not mistaken, several of his former teammates are now positional coaches. Generally its a while after they retire and not sudden but I'm curious if Ward will be an NFL coach someday. I have little doubt Steelers fans would want him as a positional coach.
I'm sure 32 teams are interested in having his technique and work ethic in camp. I'm not sure about the regular season.
While playing, Ward appeared to have an excellent understanding of the game and the ability to react. If I'm not mistaken, several of his former teammates are now positional coaches. Generally its a while after they retire and not sudden but I'm curious if Ward will be an NFL coach someday. I have little doubt Steelers fans would want him as a positional coach.
So what do you make of this, if anything.In time, will 1000 catches be a good marker for WRs to seek if they want to make the HOF or will a good number of these guys not make the HOF and thus lessen the significance of the 1000 catch mark?
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Or the hall of hit the blinded defenseless player.
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Bill Young
Footballguy
On the Steelers, things that will be missed by releasing Hines Ward:
1. Veteran Leadership
2. Blocking downfield
Hopefully, the Young Guns will pick up the slack in #2!!!
1. Veteran Leadership
2. Blocking downfield
Hopefully, the Young Guns will pick up the slack in #2!!!
B-Deep
Footballguy
Apparently we know at least one team is not interested, the team that knows him best.
gandalas
Footballguy
As said above, I think the parts of his game OUTSIDE just the receiving stats will get Ward into the HOF one day.
Best blocking, most Tenacious WR I have ever seen. And he also has borderline receiving stats to get in as well?
Just like in Baseball some players make it more based on their complete game (Ozzie Smith with his defense for one), I think Hine's complete set of attributes should be viewed as a package.
Best blocking, most Tenacious WR I have ever seen. And he also has borderline receiving stats to get in as well?
Just like in Baseball some players make it more based on their complete game (Ozzie Smith with his defense for one), I think Hine's complete set of attributes should be viewed as a package.
belljr
Footballguy
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Steelers ain't bringing him back, reduced rate or not. Hines is pretty much done, and they know it. It's already being reported they didn't even give him a chance at accepting a pay cut as an option. Other reports are surfacing that Tomlin wanted him cut last season.
That said, I fully expect him to be an Arizona Cardinal for '12....and basically do a repeat of his '11 production(e.g. not really have any) as a "farewell tour."
And he's going to wind up enshrined eventually. May as well come to grips with that right now. 1,000 catches, 2 SB rings, one SB MVP, another SB appearance, media loves him, etc. etc. And that doesn't even bring the intangibles into the discussion. It'll be a while before he gets in, but he's getting in.
That said, I fully expect him to be an Arizona Cardinal for '12....and basically do a repeat of his '11 production(e.g. not really have any) as a "farewell tour."
And he's going to wind up enshrined eventually. May as well come to grips with that right now. 1,000 catches, 2 SB rings, one SB MVP, another SB appearance, media loves him, etc. etc. And that doesn't even bring the intangibles into the discussion. It'll be a while before he gets in, but he's getting in.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
I agree with 5-ish. Ward's people said he did everything in his power to stay with the team, which I take to mean offering to play for the veteran minimum. I think given his stature and history with the team, keeping him as the 4th or 5th WR just made no sense, would've been too big a distraction. Plus, realistically you need your 4th and 5th WRs to play specials.
CalBear
Footballguy
Who am I insulting, exactly?(I'm sure you were a very good punter.)
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Agree with Ward being released. Tough decision but they had to move on. I am guessing they gave him the opportunity to announce his retirement before the release but Hines feels he isn't ready. Hines has always had an inferiority complex and loved proving people wrong. I am guessing he feels he'll latch on with someone else and show everyone that he still has gas in the tank. Personally I think he is done but maybe he can help someone out -- I just wonder if he'll even get the chance.
Steelers4Life
Footballguy
It's hard to remember that he spent the first half of his career catching passes from the likes of Tommy Maddox and Kordell Stewart on run-heavy offenses, and he'd been in the league for 6 years already before Big Ben took over. In the following 4 years (2004 through 2007) Ward averaged 95 catches, 1,125 yards, and 7.5 TDs, still on run-heavy teams. By the time the Steelers started to really open things up because the line and running game struggled, Ward was already 10 years into his career and past his prime, and I'm sure his playing style took a toll on him that other WRs didn't.
I can only imagine how different his numbers would look if he'd played on a team with a good QB and that passed the ball a normal amount. He was never a speed guy, but he was always awesome at getting open and finding the spot he needed to be so the QB could find him. He had the talent to put up huge numbers, but also the work ethic and desire to become revered for his blocking.
Thanks for the memories, Hines. You were a great one.
I can only imagine how different his numbers would look if he'd played on a team with a good QB and that passed the ball a normal amount. He was never a speed guy, but he was always awesome at getting open and finding the spot he needed to be so the QB could find him. He had the talent to put up huge numbers, but also the work ethic and desire to become revered for his blocking.
Thanks for the memories, Hines. You were a great one.
SacramentoBob
Footballguy
Good player. Liked him a lot. Not HOF caliber, but will probably make it in eventually.
The_Man
Footballguy
Except that Monk at one point in his career held the all-time NFL records for career receptions and for receptions in a season. And that Monk's career started 18 years before Ward's, when it was far les easy to amass receiving stats.
CalBear
Footballguy
That's assuming that Art Monk deserves it, which he doesn't.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I am not saying that Ward deserves to be in or not but the HoF shouldn't just be about stats.
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
Not to derail, but sounds like the Steelers are also releasing Farrior and Aaron Smith. That team is going to look much different in a short amount of time.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Will that be enough to tag Mike Wallace?
Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
Franchise tag doesn't benefit Steelers in this case.
AhrnCityPahnder
Yinz-o-riffic
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loose circuits
Footballguy
not like he got caught driving around half drunk at 230am with some chick other than his wife or anything
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belljr
Footballguy
He's not married
He got divorced in 2010
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The_Man
Footballguy
Right. It's also about whether or not a player was a Steeler.
AhrnCityPahnder
Yinz-o-riffic
If only there was some sort of shirt you could motion towards.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I am about as big a homer as there is but I don't think he'll make the HoF. While it is nice that Ward has a SB MVP in his trophy case it will not be enough. Neither will be the best blocking WR of his era or the fact that there was a rule that was written specifically because of him.It is tough for a WR to get into the HoF and with today's prolific passing you are going to need monster numbers. Ward has very good stats but not great and when it comes time for Ward to be considered there will other receivers that will have better stats.I say he does not get in.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
He'll get in. It will take a while, but he'll get in eventually.
Has little to do with him "being a Steeler." Has a lot do with the media/writers loving him and those are the guys who vote. They may put him lower down the pecking order, but he'll be in the queue.
Has little to do with him "being a Steeler." Has a lot do with the media/writers loving him and those are the guys who vote. They may put him lower down the pecking order, but he'll be in the queue.
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