Report: Steelers Don't Want Ward

If this turns out to be true, the day they cut him will rank up there with the day Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls (the second time) as one of the two saddest days of my life as a sports fan.

Ooookay… I got the feeling from some reporters that covered the Steelers that the FO was hinting that it was Arians’s call that Hines was benched. Some were cheering that Arains being gone would be great for Hines. It hits me as odd that someone in the FO would leak this (If it is not Hine’s people) when Hines said he would work somethig out to stay.

If Hines is gone I guess signs point more to a new offense than a tweek.

after the season for the future Hall of Famer, but this is a tough decision to make, if it turns out to be official. We don’t know exactly what went on in the recent meeting between the club and Ward, it’s possible Hines offered a reduction which wasn’t quite in range for the team.

Hurting Ward’s case was the salary cap crunch, and he can’t play special teams like he did back in 1998. In a perfect world, Ward would have stepped down like Swann and Stallworth, but in the big picture, his contributions far outweigh the less than ideal ending.

Those of us old enough to remember Franco in a contract dispute with the Steelers and finishing up with Seattle realize the great memories outshine everything. This type of situation occurs in all sports, the business aspect comes into play. Even the legendary Babe Ruth didn’t go out with the Yankees, he finished with the old Boston Braves. John Unitas was let go by the Baltimore Colts and finished up with San Diego. These things happen, even if we prefer Ward doesn’t sign elsewhere.

If it is true, then Hines will have to see if another team would want a soon to be 36 year old WR with no quickness anymore. I am still holding out hope Hines will come back at the veteran minimum with heavy incentives for one more year. 2012 can become much like 2005 for Jerome Bettis and we all know how that turned out :)

I also have a feeling Jerricho Cotchery wants big money. Given he is 30 and he realizes this is his last chance at a multiyear deal, he will go for it but I think he will find it elsewhere. I just don’t see the Steelers with their impending cap issues giving Cotchery what he wants. We could also lose Mike Wallace (however unlikely) if another team offers him a huge multiyear deal. Those two moves alone could bring Hines back into the fold. I mean, as much as Sanders and Brown (especially Brown) developed from year one to two, I don’t think the Steelers want to go into next season with those two guys and not much depth behind them. As long as Hines knows his role will be that of 3rd/4th WR and perhaps red zone packages, I don’t see why he could not come back.

If Hines Ward wants to retire a Pittsburgh Steeler, and he is reasonable in his restructuring it would be a mistake for the Steelers to not restructure and keep him. He is a once in a generational player, someone who fans can truly identify with. You hold on to those guys if it reasonable to do so. He is not asking to be the first or second option on your team, just a contributor. He has been an important part of not only two SB champoinships, but also of a winning tradition that in many ways extends through two generations of Steelers football.

It matters little to me that there might be a WR on the roster who currently has better skills than Hines who could conceivably take his place. There is no one who has his heart. He is the example of Steelers football and you just don’t cast that aside because his skills are not what they once were.

I know that Hines is no longer at the top of his game, and that there will be others on the 53 that can perform at a higher physical level than he can now, but no one can embody Pittsburgh Steelers football like Hines could.

Do the right thing Steelers, find a reason to keep him on the roster. His leadership, his legacy are too much to simply ignore. He is one of the great Steelers of all time.

If I see someone post that him going to another team wouldn’t taint his legacy, than I think vomiting is in full order.

Please don’t come to me with your logical arguments that Hines should be replaced. He’s not like any other player, and anyone who is a legit Steelers fan should recognize that. he deserves to go out on his own terms (provided his demands aren’t outrageous) Do the right thing Pittsburgh, take care of Hines Ward, He gave all to you for so many years. Heart and soul.

I am speaking for a group that I know is out there. If you choose to simply cut Hines, I will lose some of my passion for your football team. I’m not saying I would abandon the Steelers, but I would recognize the cold blooded plan made and reject it.