Ward reflects on his end here, hopes Troy can work something out.

Me neither, Blast. I do remember that he had slowed way down that year and looked like he could no longer run. Now I know why.

 

It also confirms what many of us said before that black friday, that Hines offered to play for the league min if they let him. I'll say it to that whole article had me close to tears both for Hines, Troy, James and Aaron. Miss those guys

 

Me too. I'm so glad they force fed Hines in that last game to get him his 1000 receptions. That was a class act.

 

Hines slowed down the year before his last.

 

He was doing well until he was concussed and benched halfway through the season. 6 months prior to that, he was starting in the Super Bowl against Green Bay. The Steelers also sucked on offense after he was benched, if you go back and look at the stats.

 

I go back at look at that opening day game against the Ravens where they tried to throw a bubble screen to Hines as he came in motion and got to the TE position, the pass was tipped and Suggs I think it was just destroyed him, rang his bell and no one did anything about it. After that it seemed liked the old Hines was gone and in his place was just someone going through the motions. I think he had another year in him, not as a 1-2 but he could still block and the surest hands around. He could have helped that year. Any way you slice it he is missed.

 

In 2010 Ward played all 16 games, started 15, and finished with 59 receptions - 755 yards - 5 TDs

He was struggling to get open.

 

Emmanual Sanders, in 2013 or his last season as a starter in Pittsburgh had 67 catches for 740 yards and 6 TDs. The year before he had 44 catches for 626 yards and 1 TD. He went on to get a fat contract and have a great year last year under Manning, but had the same or worse stats than a slowed down Hines Ward in the same offense, but the team thought Ward wasn't useful anymore for veteran min as the 4th receiver?

 

Roethlisberger was forcing the ball to Wallace every chance he got regardless of help over the top, double teams etc.

Ward could easily have contributed as a number four.

Ben always has a number one receiver he feeds above all others. Obviously AB is his guy now.

 

That's why we lost the Super Bowl to GB, Ben was trying to force feed the ball to Wallace on that last drive and the Packers were having none of it. It was like he was laser locked on 17 and Wallace showed he was no Santonio Holmes on that drive.

 

Yes Ben was a part of the loss but they put up 31 points. Lets not give the Defense a pass which I blame for the loss.

Ward was using a hyperbaric chamber for the ankle injury. Unfortunately the ankle never fully healed. Ward could have retired and should have. He will eventually go into the Hall as a Steeler.

 

Sanders hardly got a fat contract. And he got paid based on potential, not so much production. Ward's potential was all behind him in 2010. He was declining fast, and was done before the 2011 season even began.

 

Wallace had only 1 more reception than Ward in 2010 ... but racked up 1,257 yards & 10 tds

Wallace was targeted 99 times that season ... Ward was targeted 93 times.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/byposition?pos=WR&conference=NFL&year=season_2010&sort=32&timeframe=All

 

Is Troy willing to take a pay cut and reduced role as a mentor or will he go to tenn and lure Harrison there as well

 

True. It's what makes gauging the likes of Wheaton's actual ability more difficult...

However, last season, Ben was checking down much better, which was helped by Bell also getting into sync with him.