After 11 seasons, Ward still shines

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

January 03, 2009 Last Updated: January 03, 2009 11:04 AM Professional

Receiver Hines Ward runs for yardage after one of his six receptions in the Steelers' victory over Cleveland last Sunday. In his 11th year with the team, Ward shows no signs of slowing down.

PITTSBURGH— He was too small, too slow and a low-profile draft pick.

"I was never supposed to do much in this league,"Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. "I've heard it all before."

He's done it all since.

Now in his 11th season, Ward reached some personal milestones during last Sunday's regular season finale against Cleveland.

The 6-foot, 205-pound receiver, originally drafted out of Georgia for his versatility, made his 800th career NFL catch, and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and 80-catch plateau for the season during the Steelers' 31-0 victory over the Browns.

He had not reached the latter two figures since the 2004 season.

"When you go a few years without doing it, you wonder if you still can do it,"Ward admitted. "But I've been banged up the last couple of years. This year, I stayed healthy.

"It's not all in your control, either. I can't throw the ball to myself. I had one catch for two yards against Dallas. That's OK. We won the game."

He also put to rest any notion that the emergence of fellow receivers Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington — along with the second-round selection of receiver Limas Sweed — would begin phasing him out as the team's primary receiver.

Holmes, Washington and tight end Heath Miller all set career-highs for receptions in a season this year.

Yet Ward keeps on ticking.

"What keeps me going?You guys,"Ward said, smiling at a group of reporters around his locker. "You all keep writing me off.

"That's OK. I love the media. I have all of those little articles up on my wall. I look at them every day before I work out."

While Ward had a big day in terms of personal numbers, he was more excited that his team had a big day running the football.

"Man, we needed to do that,"he said. "This was our last dress rehearsal before the playoffs and we need our running game.

"The line came together and everybody pitched in. You have to be able to run the ball to win in the playoffs."

Ward would know. He and cornerback Deshea Townsend have played in 11 playoff games for the Steelers, most among active players on the team.

While head coach Mike Tomlin has been around for only one of those playoff games, it didn't take him long to realize Ward's talents.

"He's been performing at a high level for a long time,"Tomlin said. "Hines knows how to stay motivated.

"He tricks himself into believing he's the underdog. He feeds off that."

Besides catching the ball, Ward has developed a reputation as the most punishing blocker among NFLwide receivers. He broke the jaw of Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers while blocking him in Cincinnati and his physical play has drawn the ire of the Baltimore Ravens, who reportedly put a bounty on him earlier this season.

Despite his own physicality, Ward has recorded five 80-catch and five 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his career, including a 112-catch campaign in 2002.

"I believe I am the underdog,"Ward said. "Nobody thought my body would hold up over time, playing the way I do.

"I was a third-round draft pick. I remember people questioning whether I'd even make the team my rookie year. All along, I knew I could succeed in this league.

"That doesn't mean I expected to make 800 catches. That number's pretty special to me,"Ward added.

Ward has 263 more catches than John Stallworth and more than twice as many as Lynn Swann. Both of them are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ward will be joining them.

"Just being mentioned with Stallworth and Swann in Steelers history — that's something nobody thinks of achieving,"Ward said.

"I remember something (former Oakland Raider receiver) Tim Brown told me at my first Pro Bowl. The biggest thing that defines a player is consistency over the years.

"I'm proud of what I've accomplished," he added.

Here is where wide receiver Hines Ward stands in the Steelers record book:First: 800 career catchesFirst: 9,780 yards receivingFirst: 72 touchdown receptionsFirst: 112 receptions in a seasonSecond: 13 receptions in a gameSecond: 3 touchdown receptions in a gameThird: 73 career touchdownsThird: 10,210 career yards from scrimmageFifth: 12 touchdowns in a seasonSixth: 454 career points scoredSeventh: 1,471 yards from scrimmage in a season