Hines Ward has been saying from day one that he wants to retire as a member of the Steelers.
It’s sounding more and more like he’s not going to get the chance.
The record setting wide out for the Steelers, and Super Bowl XL MVP is on the verge of being with the team no longer according to Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com.
La Canfora cites unnamed sources in its report concerning the veteran receiver.
As the Steelers work to restructure contracts and manuever below the salary cap, the circumstances are dictating the twilight of Ward’s 14-year career. On the books, he has one year and $4 million left on his current contract. On the field, Ward also took a backseat to youngsters Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, posting his lowest receiving totals since his rookie season in 1998.
The Steelers have adjusted the contracts of CB Ike Taylor and linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. They might not be done, as La Canfora suggested S Troy Polamalu ($6.25 million next season) and QB Ben Roethlisberger ($11.6) could be next.
Ward has left the window open to playing elsewhere next season, but the choice might not be his if he can’t work out his own restructured deal.
There’s no doubt that there’s going to be a lot of backlash at the team if Ward does end up getting released, and Steelers fans might as well get ready for it if the reports from LaCanfora are indeed true.
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Mark
February 11, 2012 at 9:46 pm
I hope they handle this correctly. Ward deserves a farewell year at the very least and if keeping him around for 1 year at the expense of some punt team extra, then so be it.
joe
February 12, 2012 at 2:24 am
he should stay so someone needs to find away to make it happen
DrGeorge
February 12, 2012 at 11:01 am
“Unnamed sources” also think aliens built the pyramids and get strange messages from ouija boards. Nobody knows, including La Canfora.
A better guess is that Ward will be asked to take a big cut in pay (in the same manner as Faneca in his last year), which Ward will decline because he can make more money elsewhere (also like Faneca). However, after Faneca’s contentious departure, the O-line was never the same. A point to ponder in dealing with Ward. If Cotchery departs for greener pastures and Sanders continues to break down, there may still be a starting role for Ward in Pittsburgh.
Hines remains one of the best possession receivers in football. The team and the fans want him back. Arians didn’t want him because his lack of speed and physical style didn’t fit the aerial circus concept. That’s why Ward’s stats were down last year. But Haley may have ideas on how to use Ward effectively. But if the Steelers don’t want him, other teams do — but not for $4 million per year.
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SBSteelers
February 12, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I agree with DrGeorge – I cannot imagine the Rooney’s not willing to make some sort of very low-ball offer to allow future HoFer Hines Ward play one more season. My thinking for the reasons the team will offer Ward the minimum for 1 season are: 1) Cotchery leaving, 2) thinking Sanders may be injury-prone 3) other team members may be more willing to take the pay hit “for Hines” 4) Ward’s locker room importance & his importance for Haley’s first year. Reasons not to re-do Ward are limited to – there are a lot of good WR’s in almost every draft and even if Sanders is injury-prone, the team still has Wallace & Brown.