Hines Ward to Retire

**PeterB58** · 01-09-2012, 10:37 AM

http://tracking.si.com/2012/01/09/re...?sct=nfl_t2_a3

**bensmotorcyclehelmt** · 01-09-2012, 10:40 AM

THe way a few of the guys were hugging him after the game, I thought he might be close to retiring too...

**lovefootball** · 01-09-2012, 11:00 AM

Steelers were hoping to go to SB and hav refs hand them the game for wards last game. Just like they did for bettis.

**HoustonRaven** · 01-09-2012, 11:08 AM

Moved to the main page, since it's our most heated rival ....

Discuss.

**B-more Ravor** · 01-09-2012, 11:12 AM

He's had a great career, no doubt, but am I wrong to wish that we could have been the team to beat them to end his career?!?!?

**Knox Harrington** · 01-09-2012, 11:12 AM

ahhhh, my lasting image will be JJ leveling him Week 1. What a way to send him off for Ravens fans.

**GOTA** · 01-09-2012, 11:12 AM

A year too late. Ward was a shell of himself this season.

And before someone asks......I know the HOF selection guys are Steelers homers but there is no way Ward has any shot of getting in.

**edtude** · 01-09-2012, 11:13 AM

It was quite apparent and I do not believe it will be the last change in the Steelers roster. I look for changes similar to what the Ravens did this pre-season. Quite honestly I see some turnover in our roster as well for next season. Though not as dramatic as it will be for the Steelers

**B-more Ravor** · 01-09-2012, 11:13 AM

That team is going to look A LOT different next year.

Their cap woes are reported to be epic.

**PeterB58** · 01-09-2012, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

He's had a great career, no doubt, but am I wrong to wish that we could have been the team to beat them to end his career?!?!?

In a way, the Ravens did. And perhaps quite a few more.

I posted this article in the Non-Ravens forum:

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbur.../s_775706.html

Look at Baltimore and the decidedly different approach the Ravens took last offseason, shipping out a few veterans, keeping a few and allowing the youngsters to pick up the slack when the Ray Lewises went down.

I thought it would knock the Ravens backward. Instead, it gave them fresh life.

I raised that example with Rooney after this game, and the man with the final say on these things didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement for keeping everyone together again: "That's something for us to sit down and consider in the days and weeks to come. Right now, the loss just hurts.

**Ravens75** · 01-09-2012, 11:15 AM

If he wasn't a dirty player and a grade a asshole, I'd be very respectful in his retirement.

What's sad is that he made himself into a very good receiver after being a college QB. Had he not felt the need to try and hurt people (unaware that is) he would've gotten major props and maybe would've made the HOF after some time on the ballot.

I will say that he paid the price this year because he took some viscous shots because he simply had no lateral quickness and could no longer protect himself.

Glad he got his 1,000 reception on a shovel pass for a 5 yard loss.

**chicagoravensfan** · 01-09-2012, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by GOTA

And before someone asks......I know the HOF selection guys are Steelers homers but there is no way Ward has any shot of getting in.

I'm not so sure about that. His blocking in the run game, good guy reputation and the fact that he owns all those Steelers all time records will carry a lot of weight. Even his "dirty" reputation over time will be seen as a guy who would push the limit to win. Two Super Bowl rings and MVP of one of them -- I think he gets in eventually. Plus there is the idea that he "revolutionized" the slot WR position which led the way for Welker and others.

**wickedsolo** · 01-09-2012, 11:20 AM

Figured he would retire when the game was on the line in Denver and Cotchery and Sanders were the 3rd and 4th receiver instead of Ward.

**wickedsolo** · 01-09-2012, 11:21 AM

Prob should be expecting retirement statements from a few more Steelers as well.

Farrior, Hampton, and Aaron Smith to name a few.

**Ravenswintitle** · 01-09-2012, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by B-more Ravor

That team is going to look A LOT different next year.

Their cap woes are reported to be epic.

No surprise that he is retiring and as said above, it's a year too late. Regarding their cap woes, is it any different than what the Ravens did this year, cutting a slew of veterans and moving on? I've read some articles that predict major gloom but usually teams figure out ways around a lot of that.

**Irish Raven** · 01-09-2012, 11:31 AM

And so it ends

1,000 receptions and Superbowl MVP, a career any receiver would be happy to have

Not a suprise, Wallace, Brown, Sanders and Cotchery ahead of him
And I think I read he was due four million next year so he was certain to get cut

Retire with his team now so and go out on a good note rather then scrambling around as an unattractive free agent this offseason

**RAVENOUS52** · 01-09-2012, 11:37 AM

Buh-Bye! His best days were waaaaaaay behind him. Better to get out now while he still has his health.

**GOTA** · 01-09-2012, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by chicagoravensfan

I'm not so sure about that. His blocking in the run game, good guy reputation and the fact that he owns all those Steelers all time records will carry a lot of weight. Even his "dirty" reputation over time will be seen as a guy who would push the limit to win. Two Super Bowl rings and MVP of one of them -- I think he gets in eventually. Plus there is the idea that he "revolutionized" the slot WR position which led the way for Welker and others.

There is such a log jam at WR that a player needs stellar numbers to get in. Ward just doesn't have that. Hall of Fame seems to come down to numbers given your peers. Ward made 4 Pro Bowls in 14 years and never led the league in anything. Chris Carter, TO, Isaac Bruce, Tim Brown and Tory Holt all have to get in before Ward. That's just too many players.

**esmd** · 01-09-2012, 11:39 AM

402964_10150579631Hines_Dickhead.jpg

**B-more Ravor** · 01-09-2012, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

No surprise that he is retiring and as said above, it's a year too late. Regarding their cap woes, is it any different than what the Ravens did this year, cutting a slew of veterans and moving on? I've read some articles that predict major gloom but usually teams figure out ways around a lot of that.

Oh, they'll figure out a way, but it sounds like it's going to be more than cutting 3 guys like we did.

I haven't looked too much at it myself yet, but it sounds like they're going to have to have a major purge and aren't going to be in a position to reload, other than through the draft. Remember, we cut guys to be able to sign and re-sign other guys (Yanda, Leach, Pollard, Ricky, McKinney, Evans). At least based on what I've read so far, I don't think they are going to be in that position. They're going to need to cut guys just to get under the Cap. Although, granted, a lot of those guys are pretty old/injured anyway (Ward, Hampton, Farrior, Smith, McFadden, etc).