Hines Ward: Player, Mentor, Friend and Coach

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 12:13 AM EST Comment 24 comments

The following exchange between Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward sums up exactly why I think there's zero doubt that Ward will be in a Steelers uniform until the day he retires. I actually feel we can't afford to lose him as an offensive weapon given our running game and lack of help to compliment Santonio Holmes, but even if we did, he's still too valuable to let go for leadership purposes. Holmes, who could potentially get sidetracked from team goals if put in the wrong situation, will walk the straight and narrow and continue to just work, work, work so long as Hines is pushing him physically, emotionally and mentally.

While waiting for the ruling during the review following Santonio Holmes' epic TD grab, #10 and #86 had the following exchange.

'I say you in my brother.'

'No doubt.'

'Thats how you ball out today, That's how you ball out. You make a boy proud. I told you ,you make a name for yourself in this Super Bowl.'

'Yes, sir.'

'You keep working hard. You score right here you brought us sixth championship. That's a TD!'

Think Santonio has any respect for Hines? Yes sir? It's just an exchange and I'm sure they view each other as peers and equals not hierarchically, but nevertheless, it's a very telling sequence that shows just what kind of presence Ward has amongst even the most talented and confident of teammates.

Hines Ward. More than just an 80 catch guy and terrific blocker. An extension of the Rooney family, Coach Tomlin and basically the ultimate personification of what it means to be a Steeler.

Full NFL.com video can be found here.

2 recs | Comment 24 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

that video is fantastic

by Mizzou12 on Feb 12, 2009 12:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I've watched the Superbowl 10 times now

And I’ve watched that NFL films (god bless them forever) presentation probably 10 times as well now. It just gets me so fucking pumped. My favorite moment though, is definitely the 3 second shot of Ben just after Larry Fitz makes that huge catch and run. They cut over to Ben and every time I see it I thrust my fist in the air and shout “That’s right Big Ben!”

SO FUCKING PUMPED!

You see him for literally 3 seconds, but in those 3 seconds you see it all. He’s not worried that they are down, he’s not reeling, he’s not worried about losing the game. The look on his face is pure determination. He’s not surprised. He’s calm, like he was expecting this.

And a few plays and 88 yards later he proves himself as one of the greatest QBs of all time.

SO FUCKING PUMPED!

by BallsofSteel on Feb 12, 2009 1:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why I'm posting that here.

Other than the fact that this Holmes/Ward exchange gets me SO FUCKING PUMPED!

Also, the Tomlin exchange with the ref/Charlie Batch is hilarious. The man has SWAGGER!

by BallsofSteel on Feb 12, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agree about the shot of roethlisberger. when i saw that live it w as a complete gift of confidence for me. i was frustrated and upset, sure, but when i saw the calm on ben’s face as he grabbed his helmet and prepared to take the field, i knew – i simply knew – that we would go down the field and at the very least score a field goal to tie.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Feb 12, 2009 6:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

On the other hand, when the camera pans to Warner after the Holmes TD, his face is full of shock and anger. Granted, Big Ben had 2:30 to turn the game around and Warner only had something like 35 seconds, but Warner was clearly not prepared for it. In his head, he was already signing autographs.

by Varmint on Feb 12, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+10000

what can i say? i’ve waxed eloquent a hundred times or more about my man love for hines ward who is my favorite football player of all time, perhaps my favorite athelete ever. and while it has a little to do with his God-given physical ability, it is MUCH MORE about the way he chooses to behave himself in games and in practice and on the sideline and with his teammates and coaches. i admire his determination. i admire his toughness and tenacity. but i also admire his decision making. i love his attitude and his team-ness and his leadership. i love that he will run a great route and catch a tough pass. i love that he will not give up on a play that doesn’t involve him catching the ball. i love that he teaches other guys how to act, not just how to play. iand i love that he seems to be enjoying all of it with that big smile on his face, because, God knows, we want him to enjoy it for us, because most of us wish that we could have played football. hines plays the way i would have wanted to play, if i could have played football. and i admire him for it.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Feb 12, 2009 6:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

i can get behind that agent :)

It’s a pretty ideal combination to take names out there like Hines but be a naturally humble great guy at the same time.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 6:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Amen

Hines is a class act. He plays like a demon, but has the soul of a saint. He is miles removed from knuckleheads like TO and Ocho Cinco.

by Varmint on Feb 12, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lets keep the profanity a bit more under wraps

I can show some extra tolerance when talking about a SB legend. BUT, things are getting frsiky around hereThanks.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 6:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hines is not only that way with Santonio

Theres footage of him giving encouragement to Lamarr Woodley after the SB win. He was hugging him and said something like “I told you, you make some plays and now you’re making a name for yourself. Good job, I want you to keep it up, take it from here.” He said something along those lines, I remember thinking , wow, Hines is not leader on offense, he’s a leader of the ENTIRE team.

by ismail on Feb 12, 2009 8:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, Blitz

Just got a little too pumped.

by BallsofSteel on Feb 12, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol, all good!

Ive been known to do it too when I’m pumped.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i like enthusiasm

a lot.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WOW

brought tears to my eyes ………………nothing else to say !!!

by Sch Lotan on Feb 12, 2009 8:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I love Hines, but...

this coming year is the last year in his contract, correct?

I hate to say it, but the Steelers will prepare for his departure by renegotiating and extending Holmes’ contract and by signing a journeyman 27 year old free agent. Whether Ward signs his last contract in Pittsburgh or not depends entirely on how much of a home-town discount he is willing to give the Rooneys.

by PaulMorel on Feb 12, 2009 10:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Loved the exchange

But watching that whole video, I had the sense that Hines was not quite his normal self. What I mean is that usually you catch sideline shots of him and he is the one jawing and talking to his team mates. Now this may largely be a product of the editing of the video, since NFL films wanted to focus on the guy who won the MVP award, not the guy who had a bum knee and only caught two balls, but it was Tone who was on fire both on the field on on the sidelines.

There are so many moments, including the last exchange when Tone’s confidence is absurd. You would expect him to have some doubt, some nervousness, but the kid is just jawing about he is “daring to be great” and telling Ben that he wants the ball.

During the exchange between the two, you almost get the feeling of some type of torch being passed. Ward is telling Tone that he can make a name for himself if he worked hard in this game, but Tone KNOWS that he already has made a name for himself. He KNOWS he made the catch. He doesn’t have a doubt. He KNOWS that he just entered Steelers lore, like Hines did before him.

I have no doubt that Holmes appreciates what Ward has given him. More importantly I have not doubt that Holmes would not be the same player without Ward’s mentoring. But in that moment I think you saw the torch being passed from one number one receiver to another. For me it was bittersweet.

by SteelerBuddha on Feb 12, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

as always buddha

Your insights are really interesting and potentially spot on in this instance.

Was a touch bittersweet for me too to see somebody other than Hines get the ultimate glory, but I just don’t see any egos about to surface or any sort of elevation of Holmes to a new status within the team’s hierarchy, if there is one at all.

I think it’s just that Holmes finally might get some due from fans of the game and fans of the Steelers. But inside that locker room, nobody’s replacing Papa Smurf just cause they had a legendary Super Bowl. This is all the more reason that Hines needs to stay around though – to keep things on the straight and narrow in the locker room next year post Super Bowl.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I think that Hines will get a deal that pays less than his last, but probably slightly above market value for a declining 32 year old WR. The Steelers often pay a little more for a guy who high character and a leader in the locker room. I think they did that for the Bus. He did get paid less than before, but he was clearly not the same player he had been either. I hope and expect that Hines will take the same approach.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 12, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea good pt about Bettis

If there was a way to wager on Hines being back in 2010, I’d bet every cent I have on it. Plus sell all my stuff to get some more cents.

Remember that Ben can re-work his contract too a bit down the road to accommodate things like this. Brady did it right away. Same with Manning.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 12, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If I was Ben

I’d be right there to keep Hines!

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 12, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Number one Receiver

Thanks for the love Blitz!

I want to clarify that I don’t think Holmes was replacing Ward as a team leader. He has a long, long, long way to go to do that. My guess is that he will never get there. Ward is a unique football player.

Pappa Smurf didn’t get to be Pappa Smurf because he was the fastest receiver or because he had the best hands. He got there by being a football player first and a receiver second. Unlike most receivers in this league his primary concern is not stats, his TD dance or the number of times that he makes SportsCenter. If he makes Sportscenter, more often then not its because he knocked some linebacker into next Tuesday. You know you have a special guy when the offensive linemen talk about working harder because they don’t want to be “outblocked” by a receiver.

What I think happened in that last drive is that Holmes became the Steelers number one receiving threat. At least I think that it shifted the power dynamic a bit. If Ward is healthy than there is a good chance he catches some of those balls on the final drive and that Ben or Deebo is SuperBowl MVP – not Holmes. But it didn’t play out that way.

Holmes made a name for himself. Its clear that he has the ego to go with that name too. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so, but to me it felt like some sort of subtle but dramatic shift. Its clear to anyone watching who the most talented Steelers receiver on the field is. Does that mean Ward is done? Not by a long shot, the guy caught 30 more balls then Tone this year. As I said, if he was healthy, I think that he makes some huge plays in the Super Bowl. Actually if he’s healthy I think we win the game by 14 plus. But it doesn’t play out that way.

by SteelerBuddha on Feb 12, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holmes

I would hope that Holmes is able to draw and beat some double teams now, and then Hines can become our Art Monk (i.e. the guy that always gets open and catches every pass thrown his way on 3rd down for one yard more than we need).

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 12, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hines

I read/heard before SB, Hines basically telling Holmes he’s not 100% and Holmes is going to have to pick it up.

I think that had a lot to do with Santonio’s mindset on that last drive…he knew Hines was hurt and so he prepared to be ‘great" as if Hines wasn’t even there.

I also think it’s why Hines was so emotional after…he challenged Holmes to step up on the biggest stage and produce and boy, did he!!!

by SteelerMike on Feb 12, 2009 3:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I remember

attending Steelers training camp at St. Vincent during Holmes rookie year. After practice Hines had Santonio out on the field catch balls. The only other player working that late was Troy. That’s what I was thinking about when I saw the two of them together at that ultimate moment. Ton knows what he owes Hines.

by RickVa on Feb 12, 2009 4:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs