Steelers release Hines Ward

NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports the Steelers will not bring Hines Ward back in 2012.

"He has one year left on his deal worth $4 million," said La Canfora. "According to my sources, he won't be back there. So that's $4 million off the books." Ward could take a pay cut all the way to the minimum and he still wouldn't be worth retaining, because No. 4 receivers have to play special teams. Creating cap space at a rapid rate with restructurings and cuts, the Steelers are likely hoping to find some way to make Ward's release go as smoothly as possible.

Source: NFL.com Feb 10 - 9:58 PM

I think he should retire, but would not be surprised if he got offers.

I think we as fans would like to see him retire so we don't have to have the nagging 2 years spent at Team X to finish off his career.  But for him the player, I'm sure he wants to play somewhere else.  I doubt he'll get signed though to anything other than a "try out" contract.

Number 4s have to play STs? Rule book please show this one. Ward is in over his usefulness, retire while the noodle can take a sobriety test without flunking.

While Hines Ward is only the 4th best wide receiver on the Steelers - he's also the second best tight end and the best H-back on the team

I don't see Mike Wallace or Antonio Brown blocking defensive ends one on one..... 

Yeah, cause you pay that much to a blocking TE or HBack, you can sign one of those off the street for cheap and they'll surprise you.  Think Jake Ballard, all the Giants originally thought they were getting was a blocking TE for cheap.  He sprinkled in some pretty good catches to go with that production.

A blocking WR (when I say that I mean a guy who is known more for blocking than catching at THIS point in his career) is about as valuable as a running QB that can't get through his progressions or throw accurately, think Michael Vick with the Falcons.  Multiple threat players whose greatest strength is something other than the primary role of the position are generally worthless, especially for a high price.

When you're tight against the cap there is no room for nostalgia.

If he still wants to play, and will sign at the league minimum, it's a no brainer to sign him.  4th receivers don't always play special teams, it was the Steelers 6th receiver, Arnaz Battle, who played special teams last year.  4th receivers are slot receivers, and their primary responsibility is finding holes in zones.  You don't have to be fast to do that, and in fact, sometimes being slow is helpful in that regard.  If it is man coverage, Ward is still good enough to beat a LB, 4th corner, or safety.  If the opposing team puts anything better against him, then there is a mismatch somewhere else to be exploited, and he served as a great decoy on that play.

Yeah, cause you pay that much to a blocking TE or HBack, you can sign one of those off the street for cheap and they'll surprise you. 



Obviously you don't pay an H-back $4 million a year.  But Hines Ward is still a useful player, even if he's not going to catch 90 (or 30) passes.  Teams do use blocking receivers in certain packages - the Jaguars do it with Kaseem Osgood, the Patriots did it in the Superbowl with Matt Slater.

And why can't Whines Hard play special teams?  He likes hitting people.  He played special teams early in his career.  With his blocking, he'd be better on the kick return team than a dime corner or a 4th string running back. 

Tim Tebow could block a DE.. just sayin

Not QUITE accurate. He's working to restructure his contract so he can stay and I know we'd love to have him. He's a great possession receiver and run blocker. IMHO, his a future HoFer and has something left in the tank. Do we still need him, no. But he's only got one year left on his contract as it stands and I'm sure he'd like to retire a Steeler, as we would love to have him do so. Money comes first, it IS a business - something Hines reminded us of when he held out for more money going into the 2005 season - so hard choices have to be made.

Hopefully they can get things restructured. The article on NFL.com also mentions some other people who need to have contracts restructured - amoung them LeMarr Woodley and Big Ben.
 

A blocking WR (when I say that I mean a guy who is known more for blocking than catching at THIS point in his career) is about as valuable as a running QB that can't get through his progressions or throw accurately, think Michael Vick with the Falcons.  Multiple threat players whose greatest strength is something other than the primary role of the position are generally worthless, especially for a high price.

Look, from a guy who cannot stand Michael Vick and hopes he does not succeed because I thought he should not have been let back into the league along with some other off field deviants...

The Falcons had moved on from Mike Vick while he was incarcerated...They did not let him walk because of his "skillset"...they did it for PR reasons and the fact that they had just drafted Matt Ryan to be the face of the franchise.

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It will come down to the amount of money the Steelers have left going into next season.

If Pittsburgh can afford the veteran minimum or slightly higher to keep him as the 5th WR he'll be back.

I'm not sure if Hines Ward wants to retire and if he did I am sure he wants to be a Steeler when he does so.  I am not sure if he wants to play for another team being a career Steeler.


The other thing is, I don't think Hines is a 4th reciever on the Steelers. There is Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emanuel Sanders is to inconsistant to be a third reciever and Arnez Battle barely even sees the field.  $4 million or not Hines is still a 3 in my opinion. Releasing Bryan McFadden and upping Ike Taylor's deal (don't know why) he can't really cover anyone at least in the playoffs he couldn't.


The only reason I can think of is that Steelers management is taking more of an active role in the personnel the Steelers put on the field. Not re-signing Bruce Arians and not telling Mike Tomlin or Big Ben about it or not letting them have a say in it tells you the higher ups don't like the way the Steelers are on the field. Releasing Hines only tells me that they want the younger recievers to step it up and earn their money. And with the management wanting a more running attack then passing tells me that they have way to much invested in Big Ben to watch him get clobbered game in, game out with no O-line protection.  If the Steelers think they can run the ball with Mewelde Moore and Ike Redman until Mendenhall comes back they are sorely mistaken. Mendenhall won't be 100% all year long. Maybe if John Clay and Johnathan Dwyer get a shot they can hold it down until Mendenhall can return but to change to a primary run team because the O-Line can't block is a bad mistake for them. Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown are playmakers that can make plays in the passing game. Heath Miller can still make plays at the TE position. To hire Todd Haley and change the offense to a run first offense when you have lots of talent at the reciever position could make the Steelers miss the playoffs all together next year.     

I'd like to see him retire as a Steelers. I thought he should have retired before this news broke.

Not QUITE accurate. He's working to restructure his contract so he can stay and I know we'd love to have him.

I'm sure Hines is willing to take less, but it's up tp the Steelers if they even want to even think about doing so. He got his 1,000 catches which was somewhat of a distrction at times by making sure he got the ball. Regardless of what he's willing to take, the Steelers could bring someone in... in the off-season, that could provide more speed and catch just as well as Ward.

Look, from a guy who cannot stand Michael Vick and hopes he does not succeed because I thought he should not have been let back into the league along with some other off field deviants...

The Falcons had moved on from Mike Vick while he was incarcerated...They did not let him walk because of his "skillset"...they did it for PR reasons and the fact that they had just drafted Matt Ryan to be the face of the franchise.

Correct, couldn't agree more.  But he DID underperform, that's all I'm saying.  That's how I feel, he was over paid for what he did.  The Steelers are a smart organization, they will not over pay for a "fringe" talent at the primary position.

Restructuring his contract based on what he is good at doing is a win win for both parties.  Even as a Giants fan I don't want to see Hines dress anywhere than Pitt.  I hope this happens.

I'm sure Hines is willing to take less, but it's up to the Steelers.

Yes, it is.

However the title of your thread was, "Steelers release Hines" and that's not quite accurate. They MIGHT release him if they can't work something out.

Keeping Hines though...you're losing a great run blocker if you cut him and it may be worth give him 1M a year for what he does now. He has one year left, let him retire a Steeler.

He should retire (like Derrick Mason should've), but he probably still thinks that he can compete.  He has 1000receptions, 12,000+ yds and 85 TDs.  I remember hime say at the beginning of the season that he wanted 1000/15,000/100 status.  Unrealistic as that is he may not think so.  Browns will grab him.

The Redskins need a QB.  Doesn't he have a prety high completion %?