Ward predicts Ravens will win the division

Hines was on Sirius NFL today and predicted the Ravens would win the division.

I actually appreciate his honesty, rather than picking the Steelers just because he played for us.

 

sorry hines, with picks like this, you must have been to vegas and sold your hair to a wig shop.

don't sell your hair to a wig shop.

 

Well, first let me say we all know that Hines is no dummy.

This gets Hines some benefit, but it also provides some benefit to the Steelers.

It will get Hines MAJOR props from all of those in the press who think that the Ravens are the best run organization in the NFL. It doesn't matter that they have won exactly 1 Conference Title and 1 Super Bowl in their existence and that was in 2000. 3 Division Championships and 8 playoffs including 2000. To contrast that for the Steelers...3 Conference and 2 Super Bowls, 6 Division Championships, and 8 playoffs in 11 years. So...um, yeah it is what it is. That being said, Hines will get MAJOR props for picking the Ravens who the media loves, but also for picking against his boys in Steel Town. Every time they play, every time a highlight is brought up on a show with Hines on it where Ravens do XYZ or the Steelers lose, they will reference this pick. If at any time during the year the Ravens are leading the division, every week we don't make up games on them...this will be referenced.

So what do the Steelers get out of this? They get motivation. Hines knows this as well. He knows that Harrison and Woodley and Polamalu HATE being picked against. It will motivate them...and Hines knows that. He is a smart guy who inside is rooting for his Steelers, I am pretty sure this was calculated.

 

There could be some of that as well. In Hines' case though he needs to understand that if someone wanted him, if there was another team who thought he could play, guess what...he would be there. He isn't so all the teams made the determination that Hines was done.

 

woodson is a knob.. Tarheel is right Hines did this to piss off everybody ,,in a good way. We all know Hines bleeds the black and gold

 

Bettis rubs me the wrong way occasionally... Esp the season right after he retired he kept saying they lacked a bruising RB, and that's why they'd fail... Basically saying b/c he was gone.

I could see Hines being a little miffed, but the organization bent over backwards for Bettis and he was able to go out in a fairy tale like story, so he has nothing to be mad about.



Hines has the right to say what he wants, but I just don't want him to become a "reverse-homer" because he's my all time favorite player.

 

What were his reasons behind picking them over us

 

He's mad because the Steelers didn't give him one more year.

 

The steelers don't need any motivation to win the division.He has already become one of them.How come ex steelers who get analyst jobs go against their former team but other former players and coaches alike from other teams choose and support their former teams to win.EX: bradshaw(has come around of late),woodson(still haven't),bettis(wishy washy),and now hines!!WOW

 

Maybe they're just being honest. We can't expect them to always pick the Steelers just because they used to play for the Steelers. The Ravens won the division lat year so it's not a reach to predict they'll win it again. They are a good team.

 

I don't have a problem being picked against, just some guys (like I mentioned Bettis, at least earlier on) seemed to pick against us to be an anti-homer.

I love Cowher. He very rarely picks against us, but he typically has good reasoning for when he picks us or against us... But you can tell he still loves the organization.

 

The Steelers don't need extra motivation to win the division.

 

The Ravens almost made it to the big game and beat the Steelers twice so I can understand why people are picking them to finish first until the Steelers show they are a different team than the one who limped out of Denver. Not being negative; just trying to keep it real. That being said I hope we stomp the Ratbirds twice this year.

 

Right because you know the players and staff better than Hines right? He knows how to motivate his team and I think that's what he's doing. I don't believe he's bitter about not getting another year, he retired a Steeler and he bleeds Black and Gold. He knows that the Steelers flourish in the underdog roll. That's what it feels like he's doing me.

 

Ward can't win...if he would have picked the Steelers he would be biased, and just backing his boys.


and the Steelers did not give up on Woodson...they offered him a lot of money to move to safety....he refused...he wanted to prove he could still play corner....so he signed a CORNER $$$ deal with San Fran...who cut him after one bad season at CB...then signed a safety money deal with Ravens...and played safety.

HACK

 

There are two that never wavered and they were Coach Cowher with his every weekend battle with Shannon "the Steeler hater" sharpe and Merrill Hoge with his constant battle with jaws. Which brings up another turn analyst and turned coat on us ....Mark Malone ...who wasn't even a good qb.

 

he couldn't dance either, i bet.

 

Seriously? I never said I know the players and staff better than Ward, I'm just saying that I don't think his comments were to give them extra motivation to win. I think it's pretty safe to say that the organization is all about winning.

There is no doubt in my mind that if he said he thinks the Ravens will win the division, that is exactly what he means. I don't think there is a hidden agenda.

 

I dont believe the ratbirds win not with 2 Defensive guys out with ACL injuries plus they lost a few players and gained Painter. lol

 

i'm with you. they could start being the ones getting old on defense now. they ain't gonna beat us twice this year.

 

I've got to choke down vomit and agree with ScottChab... I believe Hines is saying what he thinks. I know in "not reality land" this would be against all the laws of nature but a guy is entitled to his opinion. Do you think he would stay on TV for long if he predicted the Steelers to win every game, every time? Even as much of a homer as some players are accused of being do pick against their own teams from time to time. I wouldn't hold it against Hines or questions his loyalty but I also wouldn't claim he is trying to motivate the team either.

 

Probably. They won the division last year, there's no reason to not have them as the favourite. Once the games started though, I'm sure his outlook would change, but being a player is different than sitting in a booth thinking objectively.