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As far as the poll itself I have to laugh. 18 percent of the players voted and Ward received 11 percent of the 18 percent. So in other words he received what accounts to the votes of around 2 percent of the players. What a joke .

So many blind rabid jealous haters on this site. Grow up.

He’s probably not going into the Hall, but it’s a pretty stupid accolade. I love it when the same people (almost everyone) who talk about how stupid the Pro Bowl is, get into huge heated debates about the Hall of Fame.

I think Ward should get in as a football player. I think what determines Hall of Fame shouldn’t be purely statistical, but how much a player meant to his team. Ward’s numbers in some areas are lower than his contemporaries, but he played in a very different offense. He’d probably have more touchdowns if he didn’t play with Jerome Bettis for so long, and he’d probably have more yards if…he didn’t play with Jerome Bettis for so long. Just like Randy Moss would never be a HOFer in a million years if he stayed with the Raiders. There can be good WRs in any offense, but there can only be good statistical WRs in a few.

So many people saying mean things about Ward. What if he reads this? All he’ll have to comfort him are his friends and family, his millions of dollars, his Super Bowl rings, his Super Bowl MVP award, his elite status among all time reception leaders, and the countless loyal Steeler fans who adore him. How are any of those things going to make him feel better when he finds out that people on the internet think he’s just a “cheap shot artist” and that he “isn’t a HOFer?”
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We don’t care how he feels and he is not a HoFer.

You forgot to mention his Dancing with the Stars championship. That will surely aid in his lasting enjoyment of life, don’t you think?

Fair enough Deb, however our whole back & forth started because I said Ward is no HOF’er..then you lashed out at me..

Personally not a fan of Goodell’s “arena league” style either..ie: whinny Pats recievers flopping around after every dropped ball motioning for a flag, Brady screaming at refs for a roughing flag if a defender even looks at him wrong, players flopping etc etc..

Just said Ward is not HOF, nothing more. As someone said above “Hall of very good” yes..Carter too. personally don’t think either should be there. Apparently the committee agrees with me so far on Carter, and I reckon they will agree with me on Ward..
Time will tell.
Peace.

The Ravens fans on here will tell you I can be objective about my team and others. Or just check out the threads on last night’s game. I’m not saying that Hines will get into the Hall. Frankly, I doubt it. And if you read my previous posts, you know I think your … uh … “former” team’s Chris Carter is much more deserving than Hines. I’m just trying to explain to a football neophyte that receiving used to be about more than making big downfield catches and padding stats. And that’s why some knowledgeable people like Peter King–who has a HOF vote, btw–are pushing him for a spot.

As for how Hines is viewed by other players, maybe you need to get out more. I’ve read interviews with a lot of other players–like the Ravens’ Terrell Suggs (the t-sizzle I referenced to Ravens4life52) who respect him so much they don’t want to play us if he can’t be in the lineup because it takes the fun out of the game. Apparently you’re taking your cues from the results of a two-year-old dirtiest player poll that was completed by only around 12 percent of the league’s players–probably the guys who ride the bench and have time to fill out surveys.

Great comments. And you’re right about fans of the game recognizing great players regardless of rivalries. Was watching the Ravens w/my family during the holidays and Ed Reed was on screen. My 10-year-old nephew asked who he was. I said, “Ed Reed, the best in the league at his position.” My brother gave me a dirty look, said something about getting me a purple jersey, and asked if I’d forgotten Troy. I said “They don’t play the same position.” My little nephew immediately said, “Oh, he’s a free safety.” Wonder why the adults can’t grasp the difference so easily?

Yes, I am getting very tired of Goodell’s arena league. It was a pleasure watching the Giants’ running attack Sunday. Hope they go far.

PS: #1 defense against the pass? El oh El

Among his contemporaries who entered the league within 3-4 years of Ward, Isaac Bruce, Marvin Harrison, and Terrell Owens rank ahead of Ward in both receptions and yards. Randy Moss and Torry Holt rank ahead of him in yards.

Other contemporaries entering in the same time frame who rank behind Ward in both receptions and yards (as of today) include Derrick Mason, Reggie Wayne, Donald Driver, Steve Smith (CAR), Chad (Johnson) Ochocino, Rod Smith and Muhsin Muhammad.

Then there are those who are climbing both lists who entered the league more than 3-4 years after Ward: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Andre Johnson.

Ward will be up against a crowded field of receivers with more dazzling statistics. There is an argument to be made that Ward might have been the single biggest factor in changing the value teams put blocking skills at WR – not just downfield but at the line of scrimmage. Ward did it so well and so aggressively that the league changed the rules because of him. Keith Rivers, Rod Woodson and Ed Reed might not like blind side blocks, but Ward played to win on every play. Period.

Perhaps that will be the greatest asset he carries over most of the rest of these WRs: Ward is a football player who plays WR. He brings his best on every play in every game, puts the team first, has never been a prima donna, and has never been a distraction like some of these other clowns. Sure, he might actually shed tears when he loses a big game, but that just proves his heart and determination are true.

Randy Moss took plays off? Never saw that. [That's sarcasm].

Hines Ward was a very good all around WR, but he is not a HOFer and not “elite”. You say that a true fan recognizes their rival and gives them their due credit. Just because I don’t think Ward is HOFer doesn’t mean, as a Pats fan, that I don’t recognize what he’s done. Also, fans of teams have to stop overrating their own players too. That’s the other side of the spectrum too. You can say what you prefer (Ward over Moss), but that doesn’t make what you prefer a HOFer.

And, I’m with Deb. Until Cris Carter gets in, then no more WRs get in.

Theres a reason Hines is only the 8th WR in footlball history to get 1000 receptions. Its because at this moment in time its a huge accomplishment. Thats “8″, not 100, not 50 not even 25, only 8 al time. 15 years from now there will probably be 25-30 receivers with 1000 receptions, simply because of the current rule changes.

You can have your Randy Moss’s with all his yards, but who takes off half a game by not running his whole route, simply because the ball isnt being thrown to him.

I want a receiver who runs his routes regardless of getting the ball thrown to him, a receiver who isnt afraid to go across the middle, (when going across the middle meant the possibility of being destroyed by a linebacker or a DB, because the term “Defenseless Receiver” didnt exist yet) I’ll take a receiver who gets hit but hangs on, a receiver who fights for extra yardage, a reciever who isnt afraid to block a linebacker or a DB.

In short I’d take a receiver like Hines Ward over many of the primadonna recievers in this new game. Hines never took a play off, never shyed away from taking on a linebacker, and who made defensive backs complain because they werent used to a receiver hitting them harder then they could hit.

In the next fewdecades a lot of offensive records will be a joke, due to Goodells areana style rules. But right now, under the rules hines had to play in, on a running first team, Hines is a true ALL around receiver.

As many before have said, hate him when he is on the other team, but you would have loved him if he was on yours.

We all can hate on our rivals, but a true fan recognizes elite players, and gives them their due regardless of who they played for. For those of you who cant be objective, just go sit on the bench with the rest of the “Homer” fans, because your opinions dont mean jack to those of us who understand the game.

Hall of Fame? No… Hall of very good is more like it. If Chris Carter, Andre Reed, Tim Brown, etc can’t get in, being an above average receiver and good blocker doesn’t put you over the hump.

Just more bad news for Steeler Nation today. Sorry folks!

I didn’t say best receiver, I said best all round receiver. Catching deep balls, short, over the middle in traffic. Running after the catch. Great blocking, never taking plays off. He can pass too.

Never went down on first contact.

Dragged many players all over the place.

Great hands.

Good speed when younger.

Great clutch player.

Brutal blocker, best of all – time.

Pound for pound, strong and physical as any receiver.

Smart.

Total heart.

In the “dictionary” they should a picture beside the definition of “NFL PLayer”

Love you Hines.

PS: Enjoy your next “Life’s Work”

But he might be one of the greatest football players of all time.

He put up respectable numbers without guys like Peyton Manning, Joe Montana or Steve Young throwing to him, but that’s all secondary as far as I’m concerned.

He’s the only WR that has ever been asked to block defensive ends. And I know there is no stat for blocks, but it shows how complete of a player he is.

Hines did everything that any other receiver has done plus everything that any other football player has done.

T.O. and Moss were WAY better receivers, but who would you rather have on your team? The guy who will and can do anything to help win? Or the guy who will quit on his team and be a locker-room distraction?

Those guys were great at catching the ball and making big plays, but there’s a reason that they each played for several teams and not just one–they weren’t football players. They were just receivers. They didn’t want to do anything else but run and catch, and when they were asked to do anything else, they caused problems.

I’d take Randy Moss on my fantasy team over Ward 1 million times. But I guarantee a coach like Belichick would take Ward over a distraction like Moss.

With that being said, Carter HAS to get in first.