Steelers sign Ward to 4-year, $22 million deal

[Curtain_of_Steel]

Scrolled across espn channel ticker about 10 times now.

[Steel_Bus_24]

a truly great Steeler, glad for him

[Steelman16]

Source: Ward signs through 2013 season
Comment Email Print Share
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Archive

The Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to make sure Hines Ward would complete what he had started -- one of the great receiving careers in Steelers history.

Ward agreed and signed a four-year, $22 million contract extension that will allow him to stay a Steeler the rest of his career, according to a source. Ward was scheduled to be a free agent after the season. He is now signed through 2013.

The deal also frees up valuable cap room for the team.

The 33-year-old Ward has 800 career catches for 9,780 yards and 72 touchdowns.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

Only on ESPN right now...but wow.

[Curtain_of_Steel]

I think its fair for both sides. I was thinking a little less would get it done, but if he deliever the same leadership and stats over this time, its great for the team.

Once the years get announced we will see the true value of the deal.

Need to get Miller under wraps now.

[Preacher]

Can't find it anywhere else... but That is pretty good. It creates room for us.

[lilyoder6]

that is a very good thing.. free up some space and another player done bout 10 more decisions to go

[Steel Head]

sign and trade

(lol just kidding)

exactly what I mentioned earlier this week to free up cap space

good deal

[tony hipchest]

allow me to pat myself on the back for calling this deal last week-



http://forums.steelersfever.com/show...highlight=ward

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

now for contract extension he counts about 9 mil this year. extend him 3 more years at 5,4,3, per year regressively = 4 yrs/$21 mil.

guarantee $12-13 mil which is about double what he is scheduled to make this season.

reduce his cap hit this year to about $6 mil (if we need the space), which would mean pushing $2 mil per season into the 3 remaining years.

year 2 = 7 mil cap hit
year 3 = 6 mil
year 4 = 5 mil

i would prefer not having to reduce this years hit and save an extra mil/ season for the next 3 years.

this would be a very fair and generous offer and i dont think it takes into account a hometown discount i think we can get.

EDIT- after posting this, i read the parameters of the torry holt to JAX 3 year deal (holt is a year younger than ward and statistically more accomplished)...



and am convinced my scenario was very generous. leverage to extend ward. i like it!

(i really need to become an agent- that was easy)

[Curtain_of_Steel]

yup, glad they consulted you on the deal, lol.. Is heath next?lol Come on fill us in, lol

[Edman]

Hines will retire a Steeler. This is fantastic news.