Hampton, Ward Await Contract Talks With Steelers
Reporting
Bob Pompeani
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ?
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The Pittsburgh Steelers came out for the team's first spring practice Monday.
It was a voluntary workout before a required minicamp next month.
But the start of the season brings with it a large group of Steelers in the last year of their contracts.
So far, only Max Starks and James Harrison have come away with any new deals – although in Starks' case, he's got the franchise money, but the team still wants to engage him in a long term deal.
Those conversations are going on right now which is why others have not heard from the team just yet.
One of them is Hines Ward who hopes to get something done before the season starts.
But this time, unlike the last when Ward staged a two-week holdout, he does not plan any such action.
He would like to either get an extension or a restructured deal.
"I want to be a Steeler, so I mean if it came down to both parties agreeing on a situation – then I'm for it," Ward said. "I don't want to put on another uniform. I mean, I'm late in the game now … and you know, you look at all the previous players that went on and played for other places, you know, I learned a lot from Jerome and what he did and I think for me I want to go down and still in history as being one of the better wideouts that ever wore the black and gold."
The same applies to Casey Hampton, who like Ward, has one year left.
What's different this year is Hampton attended the OTA's. Last year he didn't.
There's still no talking going on between the team and his agent but Hampton understands.
"My recent history coming in out of shape," he said. "I think they want to see me come in – see how I'm going to come in, stuff like that – that's cool. I mean, it is what it is.
"I'm going to be ready to play in September, I mean that's the bottom line. … I'm [going to be] ready to go. I mean, that's all that matters," he added.
Clearly though, this is a defensive line whose members are all over 30. That doesn't concern Hampton.
Don't be surprised, however, if the Steelers look to draft a stud defensive lineman, given the age of the starters.
KDKA's Bob Pompeani thinks it's possible the Steelers could trade down, given their position at No. 32 to get another pick and still get a player they want.
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