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YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    WR Ward willing to restructure deal with Steelers

    By WILL GRAVES | Associated Press – Sat, Feb 11, 2012

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — Steelers' wide receiver Hines Ward wants to retire with the Pittsburgh Steelers, offering to restructure his contract to do it.

    Ward posted on his Facebook page Saturday that he's already told the Steelers he's willing to work with them on altering his deal so he can remain with the team. Ward's comments came after NFL.com reported the Steelers are planning to cut the franchise's all-time leading receiver.

    "I don't normally like to respond to rumors, but as I've said all along, I want to finish my career with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Ward posted.

    The 14-year veteran is scheduled to make $4 million in 2012. He's coming off a season in which he finished with 46 receptions for 381 yards and two touchdowns, the lowest totals in each category since he was a rookie in 1998.

    Ward, who turns 36 next month, became the eighth player in league history to reach 1,000 career receptions in the regular-season finale against Cleveland. He and Jerry Rice are the only players in league history to reach 1,000 receptions and win multiple Super Bowls.

    Yet Ward's role within the offense diminished as Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders passed him on the depth chart and Mike Wallace became a Pro Bowler. Ward pushed aside speculation he would retire after the Steelers' season ended with a 29-23 overtime loss to Denver in the wild card round.

    "No, I'm not even thinking about that," Ward said at the time.

    The 2006 Super Bowl MVP did not catch a pass against the Broncos, the first time in Ward's career he was held without a reception in a postseason game. His future is one of several questions that will need to be addressed during what's already been an active offseason for one of the league's most stable franchises.

    Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was not offered a new contract and spent just over a week unemployed before taking the same position with the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers hired former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley to replace Arians, though Haley didn't mention Ward's name at all during an introductory press conference on Thursday.

    The Steelers will look for receiver depth after releasing veteran Arnaz Battle this week and the possible departure of Jerricho Cotchery, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Pittsburgh has just four receivers under contract for 2012, including Ward.

    Wallace, Brown and Sanders have spoken at length about Ward's leadership and all want his No. 86 to be on the field next season.

    "He sets the tone in the room," Brown said of Ward. "We definitely want to help a guy like him win."

     

    22 comments

    • ruth
      ruth  •  3 mths ago
      Hines Ward deserves to stay with the Steelers ! He will continue to a big part of the team !
    • Charles P
      Charles P  •  3 mths ago
      I watch all steeler games and I don't recall him falling off. yes sanders and wallace are good, sanders is great, but hines ward dosen't drop any passes. this is highly important on every down especially 3rd! Big Ben has a great rapport with Hines as he should for playing with him the longest. Every defense steelers play knows to guard Hines and therefore allows for wallace and brown to get open easier! Some of the games last season when we were not scoring often was when Hines was not on the field.
      Rapport with the qb ben, and respect to have to pay attention and cover you from defenses is highly beneficial to win games in crucial moments. This is what most tight games boil down to to get the win. I do not recall hines limping or hopping of to the sidelines with any pulled hamstring injuries. He can still run, block,and most importantly catch the ball when its thrown to him! Restructure that deal and don't leave him out off the mix!!
    • Former ref
      Former ref  •  3 mths ago
      He's still a good blocker on occasion.
      • Tom
        Tom 3 mths ago
        Not since they created the 'Hines Ward' rule.
    • jaime c
      jaime c  •  El Paso, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      By all means, Ward should be resigned. Or course, he's up there in age, but he's remained healthy. Hines is still productive. Bruce Arians may have demoted Ward this past season and Arians is history. Coach Haley would be wise to keep Ward in the mix, and Hines would continue to serve as a valuable mentor to his younger teammates!
    • Mary
      Mary  •  Scranton, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      I hope the Steelers keep Hiines on even if he is not a full time player he can bring the newer players along with his knowledge & experience. Don't let Hines go.
    • Kim
      Kim  •  East Liverpool, Ohio  •  3 mths ago
      Not a Steeler fan but hope they do what is right and work it that Hines get to finish his career as a Steeler
      • J
        J 3 mths ago
        what is right is what is best for the Steelers. time to jettison aged deadweight. buh bye Hines
      • Kim
        Kim 3 mths ago
        get it right sometimes there is more important things and he has given evrything he has to the team so shut hell up!!!
    • Imperium Americanum
      Imperium Americanum  •  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Hines still has some football left in him, and he is showing team loyalty, which is a rare trait in professional sports these days. It takes class to be willing to take a pay cut to remain with a team. I hope he rides off into the sunset like Jerome Bettis did . . as a Steeler.
      • J
        J 3 mths ago
        loyalty? ha! ward knows no team in the league would pay him $4 mil at this point in his career. his career is done. the best he can hope for is a #4 or 5 WR spot with little playing time. keep trying to juice those teams Hines, someone may pay you veteran minimum
      • Charles
        Charles 3 mths ago
        like Jerome Bettis did announcing retirement on the podium holding a SB trophy after a Steelers victory.
    • themerryprankster
      themerryprankster  •  Honolulu, Hawaii  •  3 mths ago
      Like Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward is a class act. His low production this past season likely had more to do with Big Ben's injuries than with any huge dropoff in his own athletic ability. His offering to renegotiate his contract is a huge testament to the type of person he is. The Steelers should do everything they can to keep him for the next season. It is impossible to replace his leadership in the locker room and on the field. That Wallace, Brown & Sanders want him back should be enough for the Steelers to want to bring him back. With Ward sharing his experiences and knowledge of team defenses and individual players is irreplaceable.

      And, I'm not a Steelers fan! However, I am a Hines Ward fan. Good luck!
      • J
        J 3 mths ago
        ward is a 36 yo WR. he's dropped off physically, no doubt. His desire to rework a contract is his way of showing he wants to milk the league for a few more bucks before he's forcibly retired by teams who wouldn't pay veteran minimum for an aged player. time for Hines to move on.
      • dandy
        dandy 3 mths ago
        So retire already!!!! What's so hard about that??
      • Jeff R
        Jeff R 3 mths ago
        Actually, I read somewhere, and I wish I could remember where it was, that Bruce Arians had a lot to do with Ward's role being diminished. Arians is a pass-first OC and with the great young receivers the Steelers have Arians felt it was best to have them all out there as much as possible. To some degree I agreed but with all the talent the Steelers had on the field, they still finished 21st in the passing game.
    • AlQ
      AlQ  •  Altus, Oklahoma  •  3 mths ago
      Call me naive, but I am really surprised that Hines Ward only makes 4 mil next year. Yes I know-- Only 4 mil- but with his stats and record, I'm just surprised.
      • dandy
        dandy 3 mths ago
        At 4 mil, he was wwwwaaaaaaayyyyyyy over paid!!!
      • AlQ
        AlQ 3 mths ago
        I totally disagree, with the obscene salaries some of the players make.
    • JOE PRO
      JOE PRO  •  3 mths ago
      I'm hoping this all works out on paper and on the field.
      He still the desire and his moves are still great, even if his 40 speed has increased a few tenths. Best Wishes to the Steeler and Heinz.
    • Jeff Waldsmith
      Jeff Waldsmith  •  Madison, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      Hines, if you're out there, you're physical, good hands, and after taking a good hit/pop you still come up smiling. you are good at blocking and should be used as a quick slant,3rd down reciever. Work on it my man...
    • Carlos
      Carlos  •  Hershey, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Who cares!....ward sucks and the steelers suck!!! retire allready.
    • Tom
      Tom  •  Baltimore, Maryland  •  3 mths ago
      Use the Trump method. You're fired!
    • dandy
      dandy  •  3 mths ago
      Going forward, 50 grand per game is plenty. He's basically a 'has been' who is just trying to squeeze in another season or two before he quits.
    • Frederick
      Frederick  •  3 mths ago
      It's time to hang it up. Hines is washed up.
    • dandy
      dandy  •  3 mths ago
      Offer to pay him one million $ and see if he wants to stay that bad. Otherwise, stick a fork in him, he's done.!!!
    • AIP GUY
      AIP GUY  •  3 mths ago
      Good i hope they keep him...They are getting older and older.
    • David
      David  •  3 mths ago
      they need to let Batch go instead and pick up a better 2nd string Q-B so B-Ben can rest when he get's all F**ked up Hines is to valuable to the team good mentor also get rid of Ike Taylor he sucks
    • Rev Morbid
      Rev Morbid  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  3 mths ago
      so what is he going to contribute now that he's at the bottom of the depth chart? His best days are past him and he's 36 years old. Make this year your coup de grace Hines or just flat our retire.
    • G
      G  •  Sunnyvale, California  •  3 mths ago
      go to the Texans
     Post a comment
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