It was reported over the weekend that the Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to cut their once Superbowl MVP Wide Receiver sometime soon. Both the Steelers and Hines Ward quickly refuted that report both claiming it was inaccurate and no decision has been made yet.
Hines Ward, who turned 36 next month, went even further to say that his goal is to finish his career with Pittsburgh and is willing to take a Jerome Bettis like sweetheart deal to accomplish that. Ward currently has 2 years left on his contact both slotting him to make a little over $4 million in 2012 and 2013. Certainly that is extremely overpriced for the veteran wide receiver who saw his role dramatically decrease in 2011 from being the team’s starting slot receiver to pretty much an afterthought.
The Steelers are hurting for cap space. Immediately following the SuperBowl they found themselves a whopping $20 million over the projected cap. The Steelers have already begun reworking deals with linebackers Woodley and Timmons to free up some space but cutting Hines would surely put a decent dent in that number. Ward expressed to the media that he’s spoken with Steelers owners Art and Dan Rooney to express his want to stay. But as a 36 year old guy who would more than likely start the 2012 season behind three very explosive young guys, what value would keeping Ward around really bring to the Steelers?
The offensive philosophy has changed in Pittsburgh. These aren’t the Cowher years where Hines Ward not only shined with his sure hands, he also complimented Cowhers ground and pound extremely well with punishing blocks up field. Viewed easily as the league’s best run blocking Wide Receivers, the Steelers have transformed themselves into a pass first kind of team with running the football in the back of their minds.
However what Hines Ward does have going for him is he is easily that team’s biggest leader in the locker room. Everyone from those young receivers, to Big Ben, to even some young coaches look upto Hines as a guy who leads that team. With these young receivers and their early success Hines Ward has been adamant at keeping them grounded and focused. He brings that veteran mentality this young bunch needs to remain level headed and not let all that success allow their heads to swell up.
So even if Ward is willing to take vet minimum to remain a Pittsburgh Steeler, would it be smart for the Steelers to keep a glorified receivers coach who will very rarely see any playing time? They’ve done it before with players like Jerome Bettis and Deshea Townsend in recent years, so there is a very good chance they’ll do it again with Ward. Only time will tell.
