Steelers 86 Hines Ward, but don't 86 your Ward jersey

A lot can change in 24 hours.  The Steeler Face has taken that amount of time to come to terms with the Steelers' release of their greatest receiver ever, Hines Ward.  For 14 years Hines was a staple of Pittsburgh's wide receiving corp, and he is the team's career leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns.  Moreover, despite his relatively small frame, Hines was a punishing downfield blocker, an unselfish player, and role model for younger receivers on the team.  Ward was also a four-time pro bowler, a Super Bowl MVP, and two-time Super Bowl champion.  He is without a doubt one of the all-time Steeler greats, and Steeler Nation was blessed to be a part of the era he played in.  All of that makes it difficult to accept the end of an era, but it has ended.


No matter how you feel about it, the NFL is a young man's game and Ward isn't young anymore.  That makes his 14-year run all the more impressive, and his departure more acceptable.  As a fellow Steeler fan reminded me, Ward's productivity has been in great decline since the 2008-09 AFC Championship game against Baltimore in which Hines suffered a leg injury.  But that isn't the image of Ward that we should dwell upon; rather, this one is --

"I'm going to Disneyland . . . and then Canton!"

That is the signature moment in his illustrious career -- the game-clinching touchdown in Super Bowl XL.  And, that wasn't just any Super Bowl either.  It was the Steelers' first championship in 26 years -- the illusive "one for the thumb."


What Steeler Nation should be looking forward to now is Hines' entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but that is likely to be a long battle too.

In the meantime, hold on to that Hines Ward #86 jersey and wear it with pride.  Hines is an all-time Steeler great, a Steelers' Super Bowl champion, and thus, his jersey ranks up there with the other Steeler immortals -- Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Mean Joe Green, and the others.