Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

[Eich]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

I wish the Rooney 's would show a little more compassion for the all-time leading reciever in steelers history. Hines will be missed.

MORE COMPASSION?? !!! The last contract they gave to Ward made him the highest paid receiver in the team's history at the time. How much compassion do you want for a receiver that can no longer compete with our current stable of guys?

Hines has made far more money by his mid 30's than 99.99% of us will ever come close to earning in our lifetime. He's rich, he's famous, he's got 2 super bowl rings and a super bowl MVP. He'll be enshrined at Heinz field and likely enshrined in the Hall of Fame one day.

They even went the extra mile to get Hines his 1000 receptions with the Steelers when that really wasn't in team's best interest. What more would you really want the Rooney's to do? !! Pay him another $4M to sit the bench for another year?

[ikestops85]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

Thanks for everything Hines...You will always be in my heart.



Just please don't try to paint a picture that the Steelers are the bad guys. It is just the business and they were in a tight spot based upon your production and cap number. Saying you will take a cut and playing for 1.5 mil wasn't going to happen. You still want to play but it isn't only the coaching staff that doesn't think you can play anymore. You own a phone and could have reached out to the Steelers and found out if you were in there plans. When they told you they were moving on...You could have taken the right way out with the fireworks & parades and said you were hanging it up. You still think you could play and want to play and that is your right. I'm a Steelers fan first & always. It was your choice not to retire a Steelers. What else can you achieve that would make you anymore of hall of famer? Nothing. The End.

Hines has only said good things about the Steelers. I'm not sure where you are going with this. The guy is class and exemplifies everthing we want in a Steeler player. If he still wants to play another year then more power to him. I wish him well everytime he steps on the field except when he plays us.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

Thanks for everything Hines...You will always be in my heart.



Just please don't try to paint a picture that the Steelers are the bad guys. It is just the business and they were in a tight spot based upon your production and cap number. Saying you will take a cut and playing for 1.5 mil wasn't going to happen. You still want to play but it isn't only the coaching staff that doesn't think you can play anymore. You own a phone and could have reached out to the Steelers and found out if you were in there plans. When they told you they were moving on...You could have taken the right way out with the fireworks & parades and said you were hanging it up. You still think you could play and want to play and that is your right. I'm a Steelers fan first & always. It was your choice not to retire a Steelers. What else can you achieve that would make you anymore of hall of famer? Nothing. The End.

Hines has only said good things about the Steelers. I'm not sure where you are going with this. The guy is class and exemplifies everthing we want in a Steeler player. If he still wants to play another year then more power to him. I wish him well everytime he steps on the field except when he plays us.

"This isn't how I wanted this chapter of my career to end. I did everything in my power to remain a Steeler and finish what I started here 14 years ago. I want to thank the organization, my teammates and coaches and everyone who made my run as a Steeler the best years of my life. To Mr. Rooney, thank you for allowing me to play for one of the greatest organizations in the world. To my fans and in particular, Steeler Nation, thank you for your support and all the great memories. I gave my heart and soul for you every down and I will always bleed black and gold. I do feel that I still have more football left in me and I am looking forward to playing in the NFL, again, this upcoming season."

You don't have to tell me about Hines Ward. The classy Hines Ward I knew would have left out the part in the red and not try to paint a picture where the Steelers were the bad guys. The coaching staff didn't want him because he can't play anymore. It isn't there fault. You had a HOF career for the Steelers. Don't seperate your gesture from the business of the game. You understand it is a business decision and want to thank the Steelers. You want to play somewhere else. Very good. Don't try and gain the appeal of the Steeler fans when the right decision was made based upon where you are at in your career. Move on with the class we remember.

[feltdizz]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

he was sincere... nothing wrong with being frustrated it didn't end the way he wanted it to.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

he was sincere... nothing wrong with being frustrated it didn't end the way he wanted it to.

I could understand the frustration. I just have a problem with him taking that jab. Let it be.

[Eich]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

he was sincere... nothing wrong with being frustrated it didn't end the way he wanted it to.

I could understand the frustration. I just have a problem with him taking that jab. Let it be.

I didn't see it as a big deal. But I would have prefered that he was more positive in the opening of the statement, if not the entire statement.

[ikestops85]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

he was sincere... nothing wrong with being frustrated it didn't end the way he wanted it to.

I could understand the frustration. I just have a problem with him taking that jab. Let it be.

Wow ... all the great stuff he said about the organization and the fans and this is what you pick out. Amazing!!

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

Report: Ward wasn't offered a pay cut by Steelers

By Dan Hanzus NFL.com
Published: March 1, 2012


Hines Ward might be remembered as an all-time Steeler, but it appears the team didn't waver over ending its relationship with the 14-year veteran.

One day after the Steelers announced their plans to release the durable wideout, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Thursday that Ward wasn't offered a chance to take a pay cut.

Ward had two years and $8 million remaining on his contract. The Steelers dropped him out of their starting lineup Nov. 13 in Cincinnati, and he played sparingly for the remainder of the season.

The plan to replace Ward already might be in place, as Jerricho Cotchery's agent told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he has had "productive talks" with the team regarding his client.

Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback in both of Pittsburgh's Super Bowl seasons during Ward's tenure, praised the wideout's contribution to the Steelers.

"Hines is Black and Gold," Ben Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette on Thursday. "I see him and wonder what it'll be like for me late in my career, things like that. It's hard. Two of my favorite players growing up, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, they're still 49ers. Hines will always be a Steeler."

Ward, 35, could conceivably try to catch on with another team, but Roethlisberger is right: Some guys will only be remembered in one uniform.

[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827510ca/article/report-ward-wasnt-offered-a-pay-cut-by-steelers"]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... y-steelers[/url]

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

he was sincere... nothing wrong with being frustrated it didn't end the way he wanted it to.

I could understand the frustration. I just have a problem with him taking that jab. Let it be.

Wow ... all the great stuff he said about the organization and the fans and this is what you pick out. Amazing!!

There is exactly the classy Hines Ward from "I want to thank my teammates". I luv Hines Ward and always will but...he he took a jab at the organization before he thanked them. It was a sneer before he said the right things. I don't think any less of him...Just shaking my head at it. You don't have to acknowledge it or agree with it. There have been several beloved Steelers released...We will see if they say the right things.

[Slapstick]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

You're being kind of silly.

What was Hines supposed to say?

"Thank God, the Steelers let me out of this hellhole."

Hines wanted to remain a Steeler. He indicates that in the very first line of his statement. It has nothing to do with taking a jab at anyone as much as lamenting the abrupt end of his 14 year tenure with the team.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

You're being kind of silly.

What was Hines supposed to say?

"Thank God, the Steelers let me out of this hellhole."

Hines wanted to remain a Steeler. He indicates that in the very first line of his statement. It has nothing to do with taking a jab at anyone as much as lamenting the abrupt end of his 14 year tenure with the team.

Has anyone else said "I told them I would have taken a pay cut." No. If you don't see it...So be it. They didn't contact him about a paycut even after he said he would be willing to. Only one who went to the media because he knew it was coming. He is bitter. I get it...but be a professional. He could have said his whole statement without the first sentence. If you don't see leading off with that sentence for what it is you are probably someone who feels scornful towards the Steelers for what went down. I see it for what it is.

[feltdizz]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

You're being kind of silly.

What was Hines supposed to say?

"Thank God, the Steelers let me out of this hellhole."

Hines wanted to remain a Steeler. He indicates that in the very first line of his statement. It has nothing to do with taking a jab at anyone as much as lamenting the abrupt end of his 14 year tenure with the team.

Has anyone else said "I told them I would have taken a pay cut." No. If you don't see it...So be it. They didn't contact him about a paycut even after he said he would be willing to. Only one who went to the media because he knew it was coming. He is bitter. I get it...but be a professional. He could have said his whole statement without the first sentence. If you don't see leading off with that sentence for what it is you are probably someone who feels scornful towards the Steelers for what went down. I see it for what it is.

Nothing wrong with Hines being bitter... and after that sentence everything else was professional.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

You're being kind of silly.

What was Hines supposed to say?

"Thank God, the Steelers let me out of this hellhole."

Hines wanted to remain a Steeler. He indicates that in the very first line of his statement. It has nothing to do with taking a jab at anyone as much as lamenting the abrupt end of his 14 year tenure with the team.

Has anyone else said "I told them I would have taken a pay cut." No. If you don't see it...So be it. They didn't contact him about a paycut even after he said he would be willing to. Only one who went to the media because he knew it was coming. He is bitter. I get it...but be a professional. He could have said his whole statement without the first sentence. If you don't see leading off with that sentence for what it is you are probably someone who feels scornful towards the Steelers for what went down. I see it for what it is.

Nothing wrong with Hines being bitter... and after that sentence everything else was professional.

So you agree with me. Like I said, after the first sentence. I also said "I get it" about being bitter. I could think of many words to describe his first sentence...None of them would be "professional".


"The organization has always been good to me. It was a great run in Pittsburgh. I have no problem with them at all. I think it was a tough decision that they had to make, and it was one they had to make and they did it in the right way."

You know who said that? You want to know what it is like to bite your tongue and show respect for the organization that you praise and have nothing but good things to say. Being a professional on the way out the door. I give him Respect right back.




Joey Porter

[Slapstick]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

Hines: "You know what? Actually, this is how I wanted this chapter of my career to end! I'm actually super-duper pleased that the Steelers decided to release me, because I never actually enjoyed being here."

Would that be better?

[feltdizz]

Re: Per Art Rooney, Hines Ward will be released

Hines trailer for the new batman movie was a pretty good indicator that his time was coming to an end.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yh6SriAjdE&feature=player_embedded#"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yh6SriA ... _embedded#[/url]!