mesaSteeler
02-15-2012, 07:35 AM
No happy ending likely in Ward saga
http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog/31917-no-happy-ending-likely-in-ward-saga
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 00:30
Written by Bob Smizik
The Hines Ward saga hovers over the Steelers like a dark cloud, and well it should. The future of one of the greatest wide receiver in team history and one of its most popular players is publicly dangling in a most unseemly fashion.
It’s not a pretty sight to see Ward, the man with the perpetual chip on his shoulder, pleading for continued Steelers life. He’s made it known he will play another season and desperately wants it to be with the Steelers. But if unwanted in Pittsburgh, he'll end his career elsewhere.
The Steelers are considering their options. They understand the emotions of the situation. Ward is the Steelers captain, a team leader by word and example and loved by most fans.
But this is not about emotion. If emotion ruled the Steelers, they would not be the most successful franchise in the NFL.
It’s this simple: Can Ward make more contributions next season than a potentially younger replacement?
To anyone who watched the team with some frequency this season the answer, clearly, is no.
The coaching staff lost confidence in Ward. He rarely played in the latter stages of the season. He was the last wide receiver in the rotation. If he can’t help the team at age 35, how is he going to help it at 36?
Ward’s game-by-game totals tell the story of what he no longer can do. He did not have a 100-yard game last season. His biggest yardage game was the opener when he caught five passes for 67 yards.
In his final 10 games, he caught 26 passes for 191 yards, and that figure was inflated by nine catches in the final two games as the team repeatedly threw him short passes to get his career total to 1,000.
For the season, he caught 46 passes for 381 yards, both the lowest totals since his rookie year of 1998. His yardage totals the past three seasons have dropped from 1,167 to 755 to 381.
Wouldn’t it be great is Ward woke up tomorrow and decided he didn’t want to play anymore. Then the Steelers could tie a neat bow around his fabulous career and send him off in the grandest style.
But that famous chip is weighing heavily on Ward’s shoulder these days. He’s got one more thing to prove. It’s the nature of the man. It’s why he’s been so great.
I saw Franco Harris try to recapture the glory with Seattle after he left the Steelers in a contract dispute. It was ugly. (It was not only ugly it was horrible. - mesa)
I hope the same fate does not await Ward. I’m afraid it does.
(I have to agree with this. I don't think this story will end happily in the short term. In the long term I expect all will be well when Hines enters the Hall of Fame as a Steeler. - mesa)
http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog/31917-no-happy-ending-likely-in-ward-saga
Wednesday, 15 February 2012 00:30
Written by Bob Smizik
The Hines Ward saga hovers over the Steelers like a dark cloud, and well it should. The future of one of the greatest wide receiver in team history and one of its most popular players is publicly dangling in a most unseemly fashion.
It’s not a pretty sight to see Ward, the man with the perpetual chip on his shoulder, pleading for continued Steelers life. He’s made it known he will play another season and desperately wants it to be with the Steelers. But if unwanted in Pittsburgh, he'll end his career elsewhere.
The Steelers are considering their options. They understand the emotions of the situation. Ward is the Steelers captain, a team leader by word and example and loved by most fans.
But this is not about emotion. If emotion ruled the Steelers, they would not be the most successful franchise in the NFL.
It’s this simple: Can Ward make more contributions next season than a potentially younger replacement?
To anyone who watched the team with some frequency this season the answer, clearly, is no.
The coaching staff lost confidence in Ward. He rarely played in the latter stages of the season. He was the last wide receiver in the rotation. If he can’t help the team at age 35, how is he going to help it at 36?
Ward’s game-by-game totals tell the story of what he no longer can do. He did not have a 100-yard game last season. His biggest yardage game was the opener when he caught five passes for 67 yards.
In his final 10 games, he caught 26 passes for 191 yards, and that figure was inflated by nine catches in the final two games as the team repeatedly threw him short passes to get his career total to 1,000.
For the season, he caught 46 passes for 381 yards, both the lowest totals since his rookie year of 1998. His yardage totals the past three seasons have dropped from 1,167 to 755 to 381.
Wouldn’t it be great is Ward woke up tomorrow and decided he didn’t want to play anymore. Then the Steelers could tie a neat bow around his fabulous career and send him off in the grandest style.
But that famous chip is weighing heavily on Ward’s shoulder these days. He’s got one more thing to prove. It’s the nature of the man. It’s why he’s been so great.
I saw Franco Harris try to recapture the glory with Seattle after he left the Steelers in a contract dispute. It was ugly. (It was not only ugly it was horrible. - mesa)
I hope the same fate does not await Ward. I’m afraid it does.
(I have to agree with this. I don't think this story will end happily in the short term. In the long term I expect all will be well when Hines enters the Hall of Fame as a Steeler. - mesa)