His style of play fits in perfectly for the team he plays for and the city it represents.
However, Ward is 34 years old and is starting to look a little slower. Ward had two catches for 34 yards against the New York Jets. Two games before that he had just one catch for 13 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. On the season Ward has 51 catches for 672 yards, which translates to four catches and 56 yards a game on the season.
Now I understand that Mike Wallace is the No. 1 receiver on the team, but Ward's production is not what it should be. Last year Ward had 81 receptions and 1,167 receiving yards. That's a decent drop-off. Ward is also having a lot of trouble getting open, especially in man coverage. He's dropped a few key passes this year and had a bad fumble against Cincinnati.
So the question I have to ask is, are Hines Ward's days as an effective starting receiver coming to a close? Ward is 34. He's played 13 NFL seasons and has been one of the most physical receivers in the game. It would be a miracle if his body wasn't breaking down.
With Wallace becoming a borderline "elite" receiver and the Steelers having two good-looking rookie receivers, I have to ask where Hines fits in the Steelers' future.
Also, what if there is a work stoppage next year? In the 2012 season Ward will be 36 years old. If Ward is still on the team, will he still want to start? Will he accept a lesser role with the team?
I don't want to see Ward stick around too long. If he can't perform up to his standards, he should leave the game on a good note. It would benefit him and his team to start thinking
Just because Ben and Hines don't always see eye to eye doesn't mean that you have to say that Hines is washed up, he has at least 2-3 years left.
ReplyDeleteto Bodman- What the hell are you talking about? Ben and Hines are on great terms. Did I even say Ben's name in this article? You're an idiot.
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