For an eighth straight year, Hines Ward has been tabbed as a modern-era semifinalist for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One of his former coaches, Mike Tomlin, is hoping that Ward’s wait has ended this year when the committee selects up to five modern-era candidates for enshrinement in Canton, Ohio next summer.
Tomlin provided a unique perspective on Ward when asked about the former Steelers wide receiver being a semifinalist once again during his weekly press conference. Tomlin compared Ward to a defensive back he coached with the Buccaneers who had to wait several years before finally getting his call to Canton.
“Hines is like John Lynch to me,” Tomlin said of Ward, who he coached from 2007-11. “I coached both guys. Stats don’t tell their story. Ask the men that played football against them of that generation. Their impact on the game, how the game is played and in some instances how the game is officiated.
“Hines was a football player first and a receiver second, and I used to say that to describe him all the time because of just the ridiculous consistency of his toughness in the passing game, in the running game, running the football or after the catch or blocking.
“He is well-deserving of consideration and I hope it happens for him this time. I think if I’m gonna phrase this succinctly in terms of my experience and exposure, I feel similarly to how I felt about John Lynch. Stats are just a component of the story in terms of the type of player that he was.”
Stats may not tell Ward’s story, but the former third-round pick put up some pretty good numbers during his 14-year career. In fact, Ward is one of just two players in NFL history with at least 1,000 career catches, 12,000 receiving yards, 85 touchdowns and was also a Super Bowl MVP. The only other player to accomplish that feat is Jerry Rice.
Arguably the most physical wideout in league history, Ward…
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Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2023-11-28 19:56:09
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