Rejoice!! Hines Ward To Retire With The Steelers

by Michael Bean on Apr 26, 2009 12:36 AM EDT

This was of course posted earlier in the day, but with the selections being made at a fast clip during Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2009 NFL Draft all afternoon, perhaps not enough celebratory attention was devoted to the Steelers re-signing their career leader in Receptions, Receiving Yards, and TDs. And the team's most important leader. And the city's best community guy. And the guy that's most fun for us fans to watch play, loving every last time that the Hines Ward smile gets flashed following a big first down catch.

The terms:

Ward, about to enter the final season of his contract, agreed Saturday to a contract extension that will pay him a lower salary than the $5.8 million he was to make this season but will make up the money in a signing bonus.

The deal was being finalized Saturday between the Steelers and Ward's agent, Eugene Parker, but is expected to be worth about $22 million over four seasons, although only a portion of that would be guaranteed.

Hines Ward Career Stats: 800 receptions, 9,780 yards, 72 TDs, 4 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl rings, 1 Super Bowl MVP Award

Hines_medium

Love it!

This is much better than any draft day present we could have gotten today. A big day tomorrow finding talent, particularly in Round 3, and we'll be in great shape to compete for Super Bowls in the immediate to intermediate future.

Go Steelers! Go Hines!

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Comments

AGREED!!!!

Hines is worth 3 1st round picks, my opinion. He’s my favorite Steeler and i could care less what happens with this draft after this news. Something tells me that Hines will be rewarded with another SB win and his individual goals met.

by Hypocycloid on Apr 26, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Great news!!!

The guy still has plenty left in the tank. I bet he plays out at least 3 of those years.

by JHolmes on Apr 26, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

It's a good thing

No other team’s jersey would fit this Steeler.

by betelgeuse on Apr 26, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Good. I’m glad to see Ward let down his ego and lower his cap number for this year. It would have been a shame to see him go.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Apr 26, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions

I knew you'd throw some reality on our euphoria

Ward can be a little bit of a princess, but I still LOVE this guy to death. A true champion.

by BallsofSteel on Apr 26, 2009 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions

all the great ones have a little ego

It’s a pre-requisite for greatness if you ask me.

by Michael Bean on Apr 26, 2009 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions

and ward's ALWAYS

found the right balance.

by Michael Bean on Apr 26, 2009 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he really has, but he’s just on that edge where you’re not 100% sure what he’ll do.

Also, I didn’t mean my comment in a derogatory way, even if it may of come off that way. It’s really hard to have an accurate sense of yourself, especially when it’s you’re admitting that your career is nearing its end. I really appreciate what Ward is doing because it’s not the norm among athletes, and you’re just never sure how a person will react.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Apr 26, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

good times

seems like a fair deal all round. I’m used to letting vets go, and would have been prepared to see Hines retire elsewhere, but this is good for everyone involved; in my mind, hopefully this benefits Sweed as much as anyone.

by tkired on Apr 26, 2009 2:07 AM EDT reply actions

Wheww

Franco a Seahawk … Iron Mike a Chief … I cringe every time I think of those. A different outcome to this would have been on that scale.

by 86HOF on Apr 26, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

+1 totally agree

by Michael Bean on Apr 26, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Great news!

Really the best news of the offseason so far (ok, maybe second to Harrison’s extension, but I’ve been a Hines fan longer:). I knew Hines would re-structure. The way he felt about the Bus and having Bettis’s example made me pretty confident he would follow that example.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 26, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions