PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – At what point do Pro Football Hall of Fame voters recognize one of the toughest players in NFL history. Toughness was once revered in football. NFL highlights were full of huge hits, but most are illegal now.
Does that mean given today’s rules that the pound-for-pound toughest player of his era shouldn’t be considered for the Hall of Fame?
Hines Ward, who was announced as a Hall of Fame semifinalist for the ninth time, wasn’t just tough, but productive-a thousand catches, 12,083 yards, 85 touchdowns, seven seasons with at least 975 yards.
The third-round pick from Georgia showed up in big moments, Super Bowl XL MVP, leading the NFL in postseason receptions with 18 and touchdowns (3) in just two games in 2002. He also led the NFL with three postseason touchdowns as part of 15 catches in 2005. Ward had a 135-yard playoff game in 2007, averaged 18.7 yards-per-catch in the 2008 playoffs.
He wasn’t pretty, sorry Hines. He wasn’t the 6’4”, 220-pound gazelle running down the field. He didn’t have 4.3 speed or a 40” vertical. He just gave every ounce and became a player opposing defenses had to account for.
Those arguing for Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith, Sr. will point to bigger stats. Three had more catches than Ward, although its within 76 and all had more receiving yards. Ward is behind in those categories, but does that mean he was less important. Put it this way, Hines was still very productive and defensive coordinators had to know where he was. Not only because he would make a huge first-down catch but because he’d impact the game with a block. Boldin and Smith were tough players, none of those four receivers could change the game with a hit like Ward. There are 48 players in the Hall of Fame exclusively for their blocking, this receiver not only blocked better than any receiver of his era, he also had huge receiving numbers.
It’s not just about yards and receptions, the Pro Football Hall of Fame recognizes the best football players. Ward was one of those with a passion for the game, who did all of the other things as well.
If it’s just about numbers than make sure you note on any career best list that Adrian Peterson and LaDainian Tomlinson are better than Jim Brown. Make sure that list notes Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan are better quarterbacks than Dan Marino.
Or I might say it this way, if the Hall of Fame is purely a numbers game, Hines Ward is a better receiver than Randy Moss, Steve Largent, Michael Irvin, Fred Biletnikoff, and other Hall of Famers, because he has more catches than all of them, hundreds more than Biletnikoff.
“Hines was a football player first and a receiver second,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently. “I used to say that about him all the time about the ridiculous consistency of his toughness.”
“Ask the men that played football against them of that generation. Their impact on the game and how the game is played. In some instances, how the game is officiated.”
Hines Ward is a Hall of Famer, it’s time for voters to realize.