Sign Him

Usually I have a pretty solid view when it comes to professional football players “holding out” for more money. 99.9% of the time I side with management. You signed the player to a contract, the player should honor that contract, no gray area, it is black and white.

In the case of Hines Ward (WR for the Pittsburgh Steelers) I have to side with the player in this dispute. Hines Ward has been a 4 time Pro Bowler and is paid a base salary of $1.25 million. I know this sounds like a lot of money still, but he is one of the lowest paid WR and is nowhere near being paid his value. Hines asked to renegotiate his contract with the Steelers last summer. The Steelers said they do not renegotiate contracts with players until they are in their final contract year, but they would renegotiate with Hines and make him their “priority” in the off-season.

So Hines played the year, and when the season was over he thought he would be a “priority.” So then February, March, April, May, June and July all came and went and other players signed and Ward, who was their “priority” was left without any negotiations.

Now right before training camp the Steelers and Ward started talking and there is a rumor out there that the Steelers had and offer out there that would make Hines the highest paid Steeler ever, which is like telling a homeless person that they are living in the nicest box on the block.

The Steelers are notorious for letting players go at the right time in their careers and casting players away because they are asking for too much money, but in this case they need to swallow some of their fiscal pride and sign Ward to a deal that will keep him a Steeler for life. Ward is a fan favorite, a positive influence in the community, and has been the example all players should follow on how to play the game.

Pittsburgh, sign Hines. Don’t you remember Rod Woodson?