Hines Ward: 'I Won't Play Beyond 2013'
by Neal Coolong on Oct 13, 2011 5:09 PM EDT
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PrintSteelers veteran and captain Hines Ward was on The Jungle on the Jim Rome Show this afternoon. He gave some Hines-like positive sentiment and provided plenty of reasons why SteelerNation has cheered for him harder and longer than perhaps any other player on the roster.
He did admit this contract will be his last. Ward doesn't have any plans to continue playing after his contract expires.
"I won't play beyond (2013, the end of his contract)."
Ward continued, almost nostalgically, about his role on the Steelers currently, and particularly, the fatherly sense of pride he has in the development of the younger Steelers wide receivers, dubbed "Young Money."
"My role's diminished due to the rise of our young guys, and Mike Wallace. My job, when I see those guys making plays, I know I have an effect on that because I'm helping those guys understand the game and (to me) the game has slowed down and they can do less thinking and use their ability to go out there and make plays.
"I'm more like a coach on the field. Some guy may have a question on what route it is, and I'm there to be like, 'look, you've got this and you've got this.'"
As always, Ward provides plenty of reasons for Steelers fans to think highly of him. He summarizes his feelings about the game, even with the self-confessed "diminished" role he now has.
For me, I still love the game, I'm still smiling on the field. I've been hit hard before, and I just get up and I laugh about it, you know, it's football. Until I lose that edge, I'm going to continue playing football.
Don't think for a second he's not hungry, though. When asked what the driving point is in his career, Ward responded very simply:
"I want one more. I want one more. To win three Super Bowls, only a small number of guys have done that. I've been blessed to play in three Super Bowls, I've won two, but I think three is, like, you're the 'don.' You're the 'don' of all football players. You walk in with three rings on, regardless of what people think about you, they can't even say anything about you...I don't want to walk away from the game and sit there and say 'I still miss it.' I don't want to do 'Brett Favre' or something. When I walk away, I want to walk completely away. I want to say I gave it all I got. (I want to say) I miss the guys, but I don't miss the game.'"
It definitely doesn't appear Ward feels he's gotten to the point he's ready to hang it up tomorrow. And he points to his acrobatics in Week 5 as evidence.
"When I'm jumping over guys heads like Michael Griffin, there's still a lot of football left in me. When I line up across from a guy who I think I'm supposed to get open the majority of the time, and you're not going to win every battle, but if I go out there and say 'I should win this battle,' and I'm not winning that battle, I'll walk away."
I'll walk away from the game when I know I can't play anymore, but for me to jump over some guy's head to get in the end zone and help my team to a victory, there's still a lot a bit of football left in me."
Listen to all of Ward's interview on The Jim Rome Show (interview begins at 28:00 mark)
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Steeler Mt. Rushmore
Four faces and four only to represent the franchise. I believe Hines must be one of the four. The other three? Wow, good luck. But Hines has risen to Bettis-like levels of popularity with the fans, and has deserved every bit of adulation.
Wow, I pray he sticks around to coach the WRs. I doubt he will (he’s made his money, why put in those hours for such relatively little pay), but Hines on the sidelines as a coach in 10 years? Or in the box calling plays? I for one think he’s smart enough and his leadership credibility with the players would never be questioned.
Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, Joe Greene, Jack Lambert
honorable mentions to Mel Blount, Joey Porter, Troy Polamalu, and Mike Webster.
i chose these 4 since they all were known for being perhaps the most physical at their position in NFL history. they all contributed to superbowl winning teams and all are or will be in the Hall of Fame. and no Ben or Terry for a reason: the Steelers are not about the QB, they are about the Defense and run game.
by steel.curtain.number2 on Oct 13, 2011 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
All record holders as well...
"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 13, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
No Jack Ham...No Mike Webster....???
too many to choose frm.
This team would need an entire mountain
for all the faces of “The Steelers” Rushmore would be ok for our backfield. Bleier, Harris, Bettis and __________.
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."
by 1BlkGldFan on Oct 13, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dude,
A whole freakin mountain range. Like the Himalayas…
But, I would pick:
Bettis, Ward, Bradshaw, Rooney (chomping a cigar)
Yes I threw the owner in there. How could you not?
The Chief is there....absolutely....as number two....
….number one HAS to be Joe Greene. Without him, there is no Steel Curtain, no dynasty, no nothing.
He was indisputably the greatest Steeler of them all.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
I love Bettis but would have to go with someone off the D
I mean how do you have no D on the mountain, Lambert or Greene
and now Troy is working his way
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Oct 14, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I was about to say
The Chief has to be on there…
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter
by John Stephens on Oct 14, 2011 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
Rushmore: Rushers
Mt. Sack: LB’s
Peak Secondary: Corners & DB’s (Blount… has his own)
Base of the mountain which is the foundation: Owners, Coaches, Kevin Colbert
Difficult Pass: Steel Curtain D-line
Yes… the whole damn mountain range and we’d still have trouble leaving deserving players out. How friggin lucky are we???
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."
is there a graphic artist among us
who could design a steelers mt. rushmore? that would be freaking awesome.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
Ward, the Chief, Joe Greene, Jack Lambert
Honorable mentions to Stautner, Bettis, Troy, and Faneca.
need a Mt for each decade
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Oct 14, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Faneca?
Nah….
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter
by John Stephens on Oct 14, 2011 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
maybe if
he stayed with the steelers
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Oct 14, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Heard he stopped by the Steelers office today
I wonder why
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Oct 14, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, but they need to start chizeling away at mount everest, cuz there is no way
that it can be only four guys…
Joe Greene is the first. He is the one that started “Steeler Football” from the Defensive side of the ball.
IMHO Troy and Hines are the recent guys that are in no question.
Shit.. We’re gonna need a bigger mountain. LOL
Stee
I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from May, 2011 to Sept., 2011, to raise money for charity. For more info, please visit: http://thf2.wordpress.com
by Fifty-Eight on Oct 14, 2011 3:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Mt Rushmore by Decade
70s- Noll, Bradshaw, Greene, Lambert
80s- tough decade- Lipps, Rooney, not sure who else was Dermonti Dawson there yet?
90s- Cowher, Woodson, Lloyd, Greene
00s- Big Ben, Ward, Troy, Harrison
10s- Wallace, Pouncey and a lot of years to fill it out
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Oct 14, 2011 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions
You can put the Steeler's Mt. Rushmore of the 80's
Right next to the Pirates Mt. Rushmore of the 00’s…
Well, all good things must come to an end
And honestly, it would be preferable to him trying to tough it out, and have what happened to Randy Moss
Needs moar Dukes
Sean Lee is the only tolerable thing about the Cowboys
by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Oct 13, 2011 6:13 PM EDT reply actions
Hope he wants to coach
Scottie Montgomery seems to be doing great as WR coach. He may move up by the time Hines retires.
If he does want to coach
I can’t imagine him going outside this organization. Who knows though, maybe he will go do color commentary somewhere.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter
by John Stephens on Oct 14, 2011 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Arians almost retired after last season.
By the time Hines retires from playing, Arians is out of coaching, Montgomery → OC, Hinest → WR Coach.
by Romain El 82 on Oct 14, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I am going to be crushed when Hines retires
He is one of my favorite players of all time and I love watching him play. Hopefully we win two more Super Bowls before he retires.
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As my coach, Coach Toal says, "if your tougher than them and you play harder than them and you whoop their a** but only win by six, I don’t give a s**t. You still won the game. The media might not like it but we don’t give a f**k about the media, all we care about is winning."
by seton hall and steelers on Oct 13, 2011 7:34 PM EDT reply actions
all of this
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Oct 13, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
HOF talk
I think he’s easily a first ballet Hall of Famer, but some people outside of the Steeler fan base think he shouldn’t get in
im not gonna get my hopes up
after the way the bus got shafted
by MAN_OF_STEEL_86 on Oct 13, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
not a firts ballot guy
Cris Carter is still waiting to get in. Not saying Carter is necessarily better, but that was one badass WR that’s still waiting his turn. Ward ain’t going in first try. No way, no how.
Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)
by Michael Bean on Oct 13, 2011 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
It will take awhile
Especially with how many receivers are up for it over the next few years and the explosion in their numbers. Ward’s blocking will be the only thing that gets him in – it might help him stand out from simply the stat guys like Carter, Moss, or TO.
He might not get in on the first try, but as long as he eventually does, I'll be happy with that.
Still hoping Dirt Dawson makes it in someday.
by Anthony Defeo on Oct 13, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
If Carter can't get in Ward won't
However Ward hasn’t pissed off the media who votes. Doesn’t have the numbers, they look for guy who were so much better then their opponents when playing Ward not that he is just a hard worker that won’t give up.
Can you tel the story of the NFL without Chris Carter? Maybe.
Can you tell the story of the NFL without Hines Ward? forget about the rule they invented to protect poor defensive playes from him, and his eventual 1K catches to go along with his MVP and the fact that he is the all time leader of Steeler receivers (including Lynn Swan and John Stallworth)… If he is not in the HOF, I’ll…I’ll… I plead the 5th..
Earlier in his career
Ward was regarded as arguably the best all around player in the league. He changed the way the game is played, before him receivers didn’t block the way they do now. He was Superbowl MVP and has two rings and played in three. He still is the best blocking WR in the league. First ballot all the way, even if he doesn’t get another ring.
Chris Carter was a hell of a receiver, but he didn’t change the way the game is played.
"Ziggy got weight-room strength, I got grown-ass man strength" -- Casey Hampton
Retirement
Well, I heard that he might retire if they won the SB last year. As much as I’d love to see him win two more, if he wins one more, he might hang it up then, a la Bettis.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 13, 2011 8:16 PM EDT reply actions
There will be no doubt
that when the time does come; Hines Ward did indeed give his all. He’s a true Steeler and I’m proud to call him one.
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."
Hopefully he makes the HOF
I mean the guy could have the numbers. He probably won’t be a first ballot but he’ll sneak in eventually. I just hope it doesn’t take too long.
Guy is one of the best possession receivers and is just so crafty and smart. He still sometimes breaks a 30-40 yard play because he just knows how to fool a D.
And the man has moves too. That TD last week was awesome.
he deserves it, a 3rd ring would seal it
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Oct 14, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
When he retires
I may cry…
"I think every quarterback should believe they’re the best. Do I think there are better quarterbacks than me? Possibly. But would I take anyone else with the ball in their hands at the end of the game? I don’t think so." - Ben Roethlisberger-
I said the same thing
in a different post the other day. I don’t know..maybe it’s because of how much of my Steelers fandom he has been a part of (13 out of 24 years as a fan) Either way, i’ve always loved him as a Steeler, and feel like he embodies what being a Steeler is all about. It will be a sad day.
I just hope none of young money gets big heads, and want to model themselves after Hines.
Listen to this live
I like where Wards mind is at… still need the savy vet to keep the young guys in check and provide a spark when needed.
When I was only learning about football
(it was in 2005), Hines was holding out of a camp seeking a new contract. My first thought was “who does he think he is?”, as this kind of thing is not acceptable in soccer in Europe. It only took me a few weeks to recognize the value of #86 for the team and for the city, and his trademark smile always tells the story. He’s a hard worker and he is good at what he does (and has been, for a very long time).
The day he retires will be a sad day in the Steeler Nation. But like a wise veteran, he does whatever he can to mitigate the consequences of his retirement – to prepare the new generation of WRs to assume leadership roles.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
Steeler nation will be sad as well as happy when Ward retires
We will mourn the loss for our team of a great dynamic player, but will celebrate his career and (hopefully) leaving the game on top and at the right time.
=((((
.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter
By 2013,
his numbers will be ridiculous (they already are, imo) and his play will be “below the line”. A great time to call it – and wait for the call from Canton.
Way too hard for the mountain
I can only say one for sure Greene
There are arguements for
Noll – built it all
Art Rooney – started it all
Dan Rooney most respected owner in league right now
Bradshaw – biggest in big games
Harris – immaculate reception
Lambert – best middle linebacker ever
Ham – was LT before LT
Blount – No other DB had a rule made to change his play and he adjusted to it
Bettis – brought the heart and soul back to the Burg – throw back to 70’s
Polamalu – most gifted football athlete in game ever and has the instinct
Ward – best blocker ever does not ever begin to capture his accomplishments, will retire in two 1/2 years with 126 more catches giving him 1100 for career or 4th all time. Four more than that will put him second all time. He is already 2nd all time in playoff catches.
MT. RUSHMORE
I have to get into this conversation. My belive that if you were not drafted and retire with with steelers you can not be on the mountain. Sorry Bettis we love you as a steeler but your more like a cousin. I think you should take one offensive and defensive from the 70’s team and one offensive and one defensive person from any other era. Here is my selection and the steeler nation tell me what you think.
From the 70’s:
1. Defensive: Mean Joe Greene
2. Offensive: Mike “the best center ever and god speed” Webster
Any other era:
1. Defensive: Polamau would be there but has not retired yet and so would have Rod Woodson but to my dismay he did not retire a steeler. I would have to say Jack Lambert
2. Offensive: Have to go with Terry Bradshaw. No Terry No Super Bowls. We all know what happend when Terry retired Malone, Maddox, Slash, and on and on and on.
Those are my thoughts, if you disagree, I would love to here what you have to say. Go Steelers, We need one more Super Bowl.
by PITTSBURGH FRANK on Oct 14, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions
My big 4
Greene, Ham, Blount, Ward
The guys that hurt me to leave out: Webster, Lambert, and Polamalu.
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