Hines Ward is released from steelers.

[Jeffg010]

This a sad day for Steeler fans.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/29/sports/s144346S25.DTL

 

[manimal]

I always wish guys would rerun the combine at the end of their careers to get ONE LAST CHANCE.

would be a great TV show.

 

[kranky]

It won't be sad for me if he retires, only if he goes to another team. I can't think of any other WR who could block like him and it is a very much underrated skill.

 

[slayer202]

should be a happy day if it gives them a chance to get mike wallace back

 

[Crono]

Great receiver and blocker.

He is getting a little old, though, so it's not a huge surprise.

 

[ponyo]

Best blocking WR. Future HOF. I hope he retires instead of bouncing around.

 

[rudeguy]

Best blocking WR. Future HOF. I hope he retires instead of bouncing around.

100% correct

 

[JD50]

Perfect way to end a career full of cheap shots, he got knocked the F out his last two games against the Ravens.

 

[Q]

It won't be sad for me if he retires, only if he goes to another team. I can't think of any other WR who could block like him and it is a very much underrated skill.

QFT. Hopefully he will retire.

 

[sactoking]

Best blocking WR. Future HOF. I hope he retires instead of bouncing around.

If Tm Brown, Chris Carter, and Andre Rison can't get in then no way Ward should get in.

 

[BoomerD]

I don't think anyone is surprised by this move. His contract wasn't renewed during the regular season, and it was predicted that the Steelers would cut him.

It's too damned bad, but as has been noted, he was getting a bit "long in the tooth" for the position he plays.

 

[rudeguy]

I don't think anyone is surprised by this move. His contract wasn't renewed during the regular season, and it was predicted that the Steelers would cut him.

It's too damned bad, but as has been noted, he was getting a bit "long in the tooth" for the position he plays.

No one is surprised but it sounds like we are all hoping he rides off into the sunset instead of getting on another horse.

 

[BoomerD]

No one is surprised but it sounds like we are all hoping he rides off into the sunset instead of getting on another horse.

We'll have to see. At one point, he said he wasn't going to retire if he was cut by the Steelers...<shrug>

I figure he's as entitled to play for another team as any player in the NFL...but at his age, he may not be too desirable. Maybe a coaching job?

 

[Crono]

No one is surprised but it sounds like we are all hoping he rides off into the sunset instead of getting on another horse.

I'm betting he will ride off into the sunset... in a limo or SUV.

 

[rudeguy]

We'll have to see. At one point, he said he wasn't going to retire if he was cut by the Steelers...<shrug>

I figure he's as entitled to play for another team as any player in the NFL...but at his age, he may not be too desirable. Maybe a coaching job?

I'm sure there would be a line of teams waiting to give him job catching or coaching. I'm also sure that most of us fans would love to see him replace the ugly chicks as a sideline reporter.


I'm thinking the NFL Network should do an Intervention style show. When athletes get too old, Brett Favre shows up with Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice to deliver the bad news. Kind of like a reverse Publisher's Clearinghouse.

 

[anxi80]

I'm sure we'll see him again...

Spoiler

in the new Batman movie! :sneaky:

 

[rise]

Best blocking WR. Future HOF. I hope he retires instead of bouncing around.

future HOF? lol, no.

 

[kranky]

future HOF? lol, no.

What? He's a lock. 8th all-time in receptions, 18th all-time in receiving yards, Super Bowl MVP, widely acclaimed as the best blocking WR in his time. Stallworth and Swann are both in the HOF and Ward's stats are better than either one for career receptions, career receiving yards, career TDs and receiving yards/game.

"lol, no" indeed.

 

[rise]

What? He's a lock. 8th all-time in receptions, 18th all-time in receiving yards, Super Bowl MVP, widely acclaimed as the best blocking WR in his time. Stallworth and Swann are both in the HOF and Ward's stats are better than either one for career receptions, career receiving yards, career TDs and receiving yards/game.

"lol, no" indeed.

Maybe I should have said "meh, no". I don't see him as a HOF'er. Yeah, he is undoubtedly the best blocking and a solid all around WR and his numbers are decent but he was never a dominant wide out in his time. He finished top 5 once and top 10 once more in receiving through his career.

He'll also have some tough competition on the ballots when he is eligible (harrison, moss, bruce, TO to name a few).

And comparing him to stallworth and swann is not really fair as the eras are so different.

 

[NeoV]

First of all - he's the biggest cheap-shot blocker in the history of the NFL that wasn't a lineman - hands down, it's not even debatable. His 'highlight' blocks were almost all blind-side hits by people that never saw him coming.

As for the HOF - I don't see how he goes in before Chris Carter, Andre Reed, and probably Tim Brown - not to mention guys soon to retire like Moss and Owens, and Marvin Harrison (officially retired?)

 

[chalmers]

If your biggest compliment playing WR is how good a blocker you were, that's not really that impressive.

Most of the positive posts in this thread are how great a blocker he was...congrats? He was never an elite WR...because he went over the middle and blocked he deserves hall of fame? Until Cris Carter gets in he doesn't belong anywhere near it...Carter blew him away in WR ability, as did TO and Moss.

 

[Jeffg010]

Here come all the haters. When Hines played under Bill Cowher Pittsburgh was a dominate run team. What if Hines would of play his whole career in New England he would have better stats. Most receivers are pussies and don't block Hines was the best all round receiver.

Ya Chris Carter have better stats but he was a fucking dope head and even admits he was cut from the Eagles because of it.

 

[Stuxnet]

future HOF? lol, no.

You are going to EAT those words, son.

 

[BoomerD]

4X Pro Bowl
MVP 2006 Super Bowl
1000 catches
12,083 yards
85 receiving touchdowns
3 AFC Championships
2 Super Bowl wins

I'd say Hines Ward has a VERY good shot at getting into the HoF.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

There's a good chance he makes it to the Hall of Fame, but I wouldn't say he's a lock by any stretch. He's one of those "yeah, he's pretty good I guess" sort of players that doesn't really ever do anything truly miraculous but quietly gets his stats.