Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

[fordfixer]

Ward deserving of Hall of Fame when his time comes
August 10th, 2010
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Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

The Steelers wide receiver said earlier this week that he may the last person to ask that question.

“I really don’t know what the criteria is,” Ward said of making it to Canton, Ohio. “Is it stats? Is it Super Bowls? Is it both? Is it off the field, relationships with the media and stuff?”

Ward appears to be covered in all of those categories.

He enters his 13th NFL season with almost 11,000 career receiving yards and 78 career touchdown receptions. He owns nearly every major Steelers receiving record.

Ward has won two Super Bowls as well as a Super Bowl MVP Award and he has been a good ambassador for both the Steelers and the NFL. Oh, and yeah, he has been as reliable in filling reporters' notebooks as he has been in hauling in passes.

His Hall of Fame resume, assuming Ward does one day actually retire, does not appear to be missing anything. What may hold Ward back is the eye test HOF voters will put him through when he is eligible for enshrinement.

He is more workmanlike than spectacular at a position where we expect the top players to also serve as human highlight reels.

Ward is one of the best blocking wide receivers of all time if not the best ever. That may not be sexy but more than a few Pro Hall of Famers told Ward last Saturday in Canton that they appreciate the hard-nosed approach he takes to football.

“Floyd Little actually came up and said he was a huge fan,” Ward said of the former Denver Bronco who was inducted into the Hall last Saturday along with Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. “For me if I go or don’t go (to the Hall), just having my name mentioned with Swann and Stallworth that’s a big enough accomplishment for me.”

Ward has eclipsed Swann and Stallworth statistically -– it’s not even close with Swann -- and you can make a strong case that he is the greatest wide receiver in Steelers history.

He won’t go into the Hall of Fame on his first try. But he should eventually join Swann and Stallworth in Canton.

No matter what the criteria is.

[Flasteel]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Ward deserving of Hall of Fame when his time comes
August 10th, 2010
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Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

The Steelers wide receiver said earlier this week that he may the last person to ask that question.

“I really don’t know what the criteria is,” Ward said of making it to Canton, Ohio. “Is it stats? Is it Super Bowls? Is it both? Is it off the field, relationships with the media and stuff?”

Ward appears to be covered in all of those categories.

He enters his 13th NFL season with almost 11,000 career receiving yards and 78 career touchdown receptions. He owns nearly every major Steelers receiving record.

Ward has won two Super Bowls as well as a Super Bowl MVP Award and he has been a good ambassador for both the Steelers and the NFL. Oh, and yeah, he has been as reliable in filling reporters' notebooks as he has been in hauling in passes.

His Hall of Fame resume, assuming Ward does one day actually retire, does not appear to be missing anything. What may hold Ward back is the eye test HOF voters will put him through when he is eligible for enshrinement.

He is more workmanlike than spectacular at a position where we expect the top players to also serve as human highlight reels.

Ward is one of the best blocking wide receivers of all time if not the best ever. That may not be sexy but more than a few Pro Hall of Famers told Ward last Saturday in Canton that they appreciate the hard-nosed approach he takes to football.

“Floyd Little actually came up and said he was a huge fan,” Ward said of the former Denver Bronco who was inducted into the Hall last Saturday along with Steelers defensive coordinator bad word LeBeau. “For me if I go or don’t go (to the Hall), just having my name mentioned with Swann and Stallworth that’s a big enough accomplishment for me.”

Ward has eclipsed Swann and Stallworth statistically -– it’s not even close with Swann -- and you can make a strong case that he is the greatest wide receiver in Steelers history.

He won’t go into the Hall of Fame on his first try. But he should eventually join Swann and Stallworth in Canton.

No matter what the criteria is.

No way he makes it. After all...he is divorced you know.

[rpmpit]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

yes

[Northern_Blitz]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Ward has eclipsed Swann and Stallworth statistically -– it’s not even close with Swann -- and you can make a strong case that he is the greatest wide receiver in Steelers history.

He won’t go into the Hall of Fame on his first try. But he should eventually join Swann and Stallworth in Canton.

No matter what the criteria is.

Unfortunately for Ward, I think the fact that he doesn't have the wow factor and that there are so many Steelers in the Hall will work against him. I think this is the same reason that Dirt Dawson isn't in the Hall (although he also gets the shaft because he's an O-Lineman and they are massively under represented). I think both deserve it, but I'm also not unbiased.

I think that the next Steeler in the Hall will be Ben (unless 86 can make another great contribution to a championship run).

[frankthetank1]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Ward has eclipsed Swann and Stallworth statistically -– it’s not even close with Swann -- and you can make a strong case that he is the greatest wide receiver in Steelers history.

He won’t go into the Hall of Fame on his first try. But he should eventually join Swann and Stallworth in Canton.

No matter what the criteria is.

Unfortunately for Ward, I think the fact that he doesn't have the wow factor and that there are so many Steelers in the Hall will work against him. I think this is the same reason that Dirt Dawson isn't in the Hall (although he also gets the shaft because he's an O-Lineman and they are massively under represented). I think both deserve it, but I'm also not unbiased.

I think that the next Steeler in the Hall will be Ben (unless 86 can make another great contribution to a championship run).

i think the next steeler in the hof will be bettis, ben is still playing. i would even think troy will be in before ben sense he has a year or two on ben. the number of steelers in the hof shouldnt affect hines or dirt. players dont go in affiliated with the team they played for like baseball. i think hines will have to wait but he will get in. he owns every steeler recieving record. chris carter and hines are the same kind of wr and carter isnt in yet, so that doesnt bode well for hines.

[CanadianSteel]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

The thing is Ward is still playing at a high level, he could have another 2000-3000 yards and 10-20TDs + Who knows. If he retired today i would still put him in. Not sure about the voters. As was said Carter is not in yet and don't get me started on Dawson

[virgilbosetti]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Ward "should" get in, and Dawson "should" already be in. Leave anything up to the media and it gets screwed up big time. Prisuta took a hard stance on DVE last year saying he won't get in.. It's almost like media types enjoy the attention of holding outrageous opinions. Makes them feel like they know something that the public doesn't.

If Ward doesn't get in.....it will only help re-affirm my opinion that the NFL HOF is tainted......just like MLB.

[frankthetank1]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Ward "should" get in, and Dawson "should" already be in. Leave anything up to the media and it gets screwed up big time. Prisuta took a hard stance on DVE last year saying he won't get in.. It's almost like media types enjoy the attention of holding outrageous opinions. Makes them feel like they know something that the public doesn't.

If Ward doesn't get in.....it will only help re-affirm my opinion that the NFL HOF is tainted......just like MLB.

i am convinced that they love the attention. i have never understood why the media votes on who gets in. media types in a lot of cases are just as or more biased then fans.

[D Rock]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

If the Hall of Fame truly is a place for the greatest players at each position in NFL history, then Ward absolutely should get in.


He's the best blocking possession receiver possibly in the entire NFL history, certainly in recent history.


There are plenty of flashy WRs in the hall, and players with gaudy stats, but that is not the only thing that contributes to being a WR. He is the best at what he does, and he deserves credit for that.

[Sugar]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Hines gets in if he retires today. Assuming he plays a few more seasons the legend only grows. I see no reason why he wouldn't be a first or possibly second ballot guy (depending on who else is eligible when he retires).

[papillon]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Hines gets in if he retires today. Assuming he plays a few more seasons the legend only grows. I see no reason why he wouldn't be a first or possibly second ballot guy (depending on who else is eligible when he retires).

If it depends on who else is eligible when he retires then he probably isn't a first or second ballot Hall of Famer. It didn't matter who was eligible with Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith; that's how you can tell you're a first ballot guy. I do agree that he will get into the HOF, but he'll wait in a similar fashion to Cris Carter. I believe that Jerome Bettis will have to wait as well.

Pappy

[RussBII]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

If the Hall of Fame truly is a place for the greatest players at each position in NFL history, then Ward absolutely should get in.


He's the best blocking possession receiver possibly in the entire NFL history, certainly in recent history.


There are plenty of flashy WRs in the hall, and players with gaudy stats, but that is not the only thing that contributes to being a WR. He is the best at what he does, and he deserves credit for that.

I was discussing this with a buddy the other day. How are there no punters in the HOF? The best punter of all time should be in. And that's not even a tough one, it's more or less consensus that Reggie Roby was the all time greatest. I think maybe even ST aces should make it. Steve Tasker was clearly the best at his job for a long time in the NFL. He was also integral to those Bills teams.

I think the voting is really stupid. I think every year 1 player from each position should make it to the final round, and then 4 or 5 of those make it. This bias towards skill players is really upsetting given how important OL and DL are to the rest of their respective units.

The whole thing is flawed, imo.

And this whole "There are already too many Steelers" is really chock full o' crap.

That's like excluding the Yankees from post season play because they already have over a quarter of all WS wins.

Crap, I say, crap!

[frankthetank1]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

If the Hall of Fame truly is a place for the greatest players at each position in NFL history, then Ward absolutely should get in.


He's the best blocking possession receiver possibly in the entire NFL history, certainly in recent history.


There are plenty of flashy WRs in the hall, and players with gaudy stats, but that is not the only thing that contributes to being a WR. He is the best at what he does, and he deserves credit for that.

I was discussing this with a buddy the other day. How are there no punters in the HOF? The best punter of all time should be in. And that's not even a tough one, it's more or less consensus that Reggie Roby was the all time greatest. I think maybe even ST aces should make it. Steve Tasker was clearly the best at his job for a long time in the NFL. He was also integral to those Bills teams.

I think the voting is really stupid. I think every year 1 player from each position should make it to the final round, and then 4 or 5 of those make it. This bias towards skill players is really upsetting given how important OL and DL are to the rest of their respective units.

The whole thing is flawed, imo.

And this whole "There are already too many Steelers" is really chock full o' crap.

That's like excluding the Yankees from post season play because they already have over a quarter of all WS wins.

Crap, I say, crap!

isnt ray guy in the hof?

[cruzer8]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

If the Hall of Fame truly is a place for the greatest players at each position in NFL history, then Ward absolutely should get in.


He's the best blocking possession receiver possibly in the entire NFL history, certainly in recent history.


There are plenty of flashy WRs in the hall, and players with gaudy stats, but that is not the only thing that contributes to being a WR. He is the best at what he does, and he deserves credit for that.

I was discussing this with a buddy the other day. How are there no punters in the HOF? The best punter of all time should be in. And that's not even a tough one, it's more or less consensus that Reggie Roby was the all time greatest. I think maybe even ST aces should make it. Steve Tasker was clearly the best at his job for a long time in the NFL. He was also integral to those Bills teams.

I think the voting is really stupid. I think every year 1 player from each position should make it to the final round, and then 4 or 5 of those make it. This bias towards skill players is really upsetting given how important OL and DL are to the rest of their respective units.

The whole thing is flawed, imo.

And this whole "There are already too many Steelers" is really chock full o' crap.

That's like excluding the Yankees from post season play because they already have over a quarter of all WS wins.

Crap, I say, crap!

I think this guy might disagree with that consensus.

[RussBII]

Re: Is Hines Ward a future Pro Football Hall of Famer?

If the Hall of Fame truly is a place for the greatest players at each position in NFL history, then Ward absolutely should get in.


He's the best blocking possession receiver possibly in the entire NFL history, certainly in recent history.


There are plenty of flashy WRs in the hall, and players with gaudy stats, but that is not the only thing that contributes to being a WR. He is the best at what he does, and he deserves credit for that.

I was discussing this with a buddy the other day. How are there no punters in the HOF? The best punter of all time should be in. And that's not even a tough one, it's more or less consensus that Reggie Roby was the all time greatest. I think maybe even ST aces should make it. Steve Tasker was clearly the best at his job for a long time in the NFL. He was also integral to those Bills teams.

I think the voting is really stupid. I think every year 1 player from each position should make it to the final round, and then 4 or 5 of those make it. This bias towards skill players is really upsetting given how important OL and DL are to the rest of their respective units.

The whole thing is flawed, imo.

And this whole "There are already too many Steelers" is really chock full o' crap.

That's like excluding the Yankees from post season play because they already have over a quarter of all WS wins.

Crap, I say, crap!

I think this guy might disagree with that consensus.

You sir, are correct. I meant Ray Guy, I have no idea how Reggie Roby sneaked into my consciousness.....